Chicago Tribune
CIVIC AWAKENING HAILED IN
REPORT
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Citizens’ Association Praises State’s Attorney Wayman and Chief Steward.
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ASKS TWO MORE ORDERS.
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Wants Resorts "Dry" and United Police Disbanded; W. C. Shurtleff President.
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A "notable civic awakening and ‘cleaning up’ process in Chicago" was hailed in the annual report of the Citizens’ association at its annual meeting yesterday afternoon.
The credit for the beginning of this process is divided by the executive committee, Julius Stern, president, and Shelby M. Singleton, secretary, almost equally between State’s Attorney Wayman and Chief of Police Steward. Each is given praise without criticism, but there is a suggestion that the chief of police can advance by at least two more sweeping efforts.
The report recommends that Chief Steward without delay issue the order he has under consideration stopping the sale of intoxicants in disorderly houses, and that he proceed to seek the disbandment within the police department known as the United Police.
The opening section of the report follows:
"At the beginning of the thirty-sixth year of its existence the Citizens’ association is glad to take cognizance of recent developments which seem to presage a notable civic awakening and ‘cleaning up’ process in Chicago. Every friend of honest government in the community has derived encouragement and new hope from the success which up to this time has crowned the campaign against official ‘graft’ begun by State’ Attorney Wayman.
Praised for McCann Conviction.
"By securing the indictment and conviction of Police Inspector Edward McCann for taking bribes from keepers of disreputable resorts on the west side Mr. Wayman has performed a service of great public value and has given nation-wide aid and comfort for the betterment of the cities. By his effort to put an end to attempts to tamper with jurors Mr. Wayman is also earning the gratitude of the public.
"Adopting the policy which for years has been urged by many students of police affairs, Mayor Busse, after the exposure of corrupt police conditions in the Desplaines street district, appoint as chief of police a man with military training who previously has not been connected with the department. The wisdom of this course has already been vindicated by the vigorous handling of police matters by the new chief, Col. Le Roy T. Steward.
"The manner in which Col. Steward, untrammeled by previous affiliations with any police clique or ring, already has imparted new life and effectiveness to the force under his command has been extremely refreshing to observers who had come to regard the city’s police force as almost hopelessly demoralized.
Further Moves Are Urged
"His sweeping orders in behalf of decency, if persistently enforced, will accomplish wonders in redeeming Chicago from the stigma due to police toleration of the open and shameless flaunting of vice. But he can strike a supreme blow on behalf of decency by divorcing the social evil from the liquor traffic. This can be accomplished by putting a stop to the illegal sale of liquor in houses of ill fame. This enforcement of law not only will largely reduce the number of resorts in the city but will mitigate conditions in those which remain.
"By putting a stop to the granting of special favors, by holding each patrolman responsible for conditions on his beat, and by enforcing the disbandment of the organization within the police department which has for years hired lawyers to defend policemen called before the trial board, Chief Steward can vastly better police conditions in Chicago."
At the meeting officers for the coming year were elected as follows:
President — Wilford C. Shurtleff.
Vice President — Robert S. Hotz.
Treasurer — John C. Black.
Secretary — Shelby M. Singleton.
Julius Stern, Joseph Donnersberger, and Moses E. Greenebaum were reelected members of the executive committee for terms of five years, and C. E. Wentworth was elected as a member of the committee to fill a vacancy.
Association’s New President.
The new president, Wilford C. Shurtleff, who has been a member of the executive committee of the association for two years, is vice president of Morrison, Plummer & Co. He is a member of the national supreme council of the Royal Arcanum, of which he is past grand regent, and he belongs to the Union league, the Chicago Drug and Ouilmette Country clubs. He is 49 years old and lives in Wilmette.
