The Unceremonious Ousting of Chief Mitchell

We believe that the calmer judgment of the community will be that there was too much haste in the proceedings against Chief Mitchell last night. In the evidence presented there was nothing directly to sustain the charge of corruption which has been so freely, though informally, made during the past week, nothing concerning the misconduct of the chief in relation to anything excepting gambling games—in fact, only a small amount of testimony showing that he was neglectful of his duties in one single respect. The case against the chief, upon this showing, is not a very strong one.

It would in our judgment have been far better if the council had gone about this grave matter with more deliberation. There should have been, and we have small doubt there could have been, a very much stronger showing in connection with the charges concerning neglect in the matter of gambling games. Other charges, too, which have been made against Mr. Mitchell should have been supported by evidence, which we are told is ready. And after all this evidence was in, Mr. Mitchell should have been given a chance to defend himself. This would have been a more regular proceeding and one to which the council might have pointed with assurance for its own justification.

On the other hand, it is notorious that Chief Mitchell has neglected his duties and disappointed the promises and hopes upon which his election was secured. The council has suffered criticism and humiliation through his dereliction, and has with entire justice lost patience with a general disregard of duty that had become notorious and scandalous. On the whole, we must regard the dismissal of Mr. Mitchell as justifiable, but it is not inconsistent with this judgment to regret that the method of the doing was not more deliberate and formal.