The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-01-08

"We are now face to face with the
proposition: What may we do to
bring about better and cleaner Ke-
noshaT In the first place, public
sentiment must be created, and that
lies directly with this class and with
all other Christian citizens of our
community. Public sentiment Is
aroused when the truth is told regard
ing the conditions here in Kenosha.
However, we must use our intelli-
gence and have facts which may be
substantiated. We know generally of
the conditions here, but we must be
specifically informed, if we are to ac-
complish that which we are seeking.
First Of all, I would suggest that
we encourage every officer we now
have in the performance of his duties
and not use destructive form of
criticism. There is very little thanks
at the most that officials get for doing
their duty. We have come too often
to look upon political officers as men
who are merely after the money the
Office pays, rather than as desiring to
serve the community. AS a conse-
quence, good men shun official posi-
lions. It ought to be considered an
honor to fill any Office, and honor
should be given to officials who do
their duty fearlessly and well.
Praises City Government.
''In competition with this thought, |
wish to call attention to our present
city manager form of government.
Some good people thoughtlessly crit
icize our city manager form of gov
eminent sometimes, not knowing
whereof they speak. Anyone who will
investigate our present form of city
government must conclude that thou
sands of dollars are being saved to the
taxpayers of the city because of the
good business management. And any
one who will recall the situation un-
der the old form of government and
compare the present form of govern
ment with it, must be blind indeed not
to see the vast improvement at the
present time. Our police department
is now more directly accountable for
it's actions than under the old coun-
ell system. Our council and city man
ager, you know, will not tolerate con-
duct unbecoming a police officer.
Where, under the old system, can you
point to policeman being discharged
for being drunk? The city ordinance
relative to the regulation of soft drink
parlors places it in the power of the
police department to go ahead with
their raids regardless of whether the
district attorney acts or not, and en-
tirely independent of him. And they
L1s \ e sc
for improvement, and improvement is
constantly being made. Constructive
criticism suggesting changes of help
fulness or pointing out wrong, / feel,
is welcomed by all members of our CT
ty council, as well as by our city man
ager and chief of police, and if you
have any Of such criticism to offer, |
am sure it will be gladly received. l
feel sure that the city manager or
council will gladly give you hearing
on any or all complaints you desire to
remedy the situation of which you
complain.
Help officers Act.
During my term as district attor-
ney, l always found Chief Logan
ready and willing to cooperate with
me in the enforcement of law, and if
you know of any policeman who is not
performing his duty as you think he
should, why don't you personally take
your complaint directly to the chief
of police and ascertain for yourself
whether or not he is the chief of po-
lice that we ought to have? Some may
he
this, but that is just the point / am
trying to make in all of my talk here
this morning-that it requires the
individual service of every Christian
citizen of our city, as the opportunity
presents itself. The same suggestion
may be made relative to the sheriff or
the district attorney, and if he, or any
other officer, does not act, then there
are two ways of taking care of such
situation. One is to prefer charges
against him, and the other is to pub
lish the facts. Of course, one must
have evidence and be able to produce
that evidence if he makes direct
charges through the newspaper; but
facts may be given to the newspaper
without directly charging anybody
with performance of their duty.
One can read between the lines, if the
facts are given. If it becomes neces-
sary, with an organization of men and
women, quiet Investigations could be
made, the evidence obtained, and the
facts given out in mass meeting.
Such mass meeting could be adver-
tised in such a way as that the hall
would be crowded with people Curl
Gus to know what was going to be di-
vulged In this way, public sentiment
would be created so that no official
could withstand it or long disregard
such publicity. Individual officials
get by unrebuked because the people
are ignorant of what is going on. A
specific exposure, in which names,
dates and places are given will most
surely inspire activity on the part of
law enforcement officials. General
charges are not of very much value;
but specific facts backed up by two
or three witnesses ready to establish
the charges if necessary, are most
helpful in the creation of public SEN
timent.
Report Law Violators.
81 do not much believe in private
prosecutions, only as last resort.
Prosecutions should be made by the
officials elected or appointed for that
purpose, and in obtaining evidence of
law violations, the use of it in making
specific charges would not of course
necessarily stop prosecution under
the same evidence. Another way to
bring about public sentiment is to
write letters to the newspaper: not,