Akron Daily Democrat

Rev. W. F. Crispin preached Sunday night at the Wabash ave. Church of Christ. In part he said: "In Akron, rum rules in all matters touching its business. It is its policy to have the government so divided that each executive may shift the responsibility of maladministration. For example, our Mayor does not appoint the Chief of Police. But this power should be lodged with him and he held to strict account for the enforcement of all laws in his department and in case of failure, be impeached. And so with the head of every other department.

"My experience with the Mayor has not exalted my opinion of that office in Akron. The Mayor once granted me a permit to hold a meeting anywhere on the streets of Akron. The speaker was located where neither trade nor travel were interfered with, but a policeman who, no doubt, had been detailed for the purpose, rushed up and in a brutal manner broke up the meeting and utterly disregarded the Mayor's permit, which I produced. The permit was worthless or else the Mayor was shifting the responsibility for when I called upon him and told him the facts he excused himself by saying, 'I am a figurehead, the Chief has more authority than I.' I reflected, 'If the Mayor is a figurehead his office should be declared vacant and the expense saved to taxpayers. No official should consent to play a part in a farce like that.'

"In Akron we have a sort of double-geared government, such that when charged with maladministration each department may refuse to shoulder the responsibility.

"The Commissioners are partisans, and they are appointed by the old party bosses and they, in turn, appoint the Chief, and seem to have control of the entire constabulary force and should be held to a strict account and if they neglect their duty should be impeached. But in Akron, politicians and rum are in partnership, and officials permit saloons, stalls, bawdy houses, and gambling dens to violate law daily and nightly without fear of arrest; they arrest preachers of God who are trying to save the people whom the saloons have wrecked and ruined and this will continue so long as the saloon is legalized."