Bankers And Businessmen Laud Police Chief Krasny

"What can we say, the bank is getting tired of getting our windows braken," said Cari Martinson of Ann Arbor Bank. "The situation is getting kind of ridiculous." But bank officials and businessmen say that Pólice Chief Walter Krasny is doing all he can. "What's poor Mr. Krasny going to do with his small force of pólice against a much larger group of demoristrntors. He can only be in so many places at one time," said S. University manager Louis Weindorf. No decisión has been reached by bank officials but they are considering not replacing the windows. Instead the window openings would be filled up with marble, brick or some other substance that would be keeping with the architecture of the building. The final damage figure for this week's activities will probably run in excess of $5,000 since the demonstrators broke the upper and lower level windows this time as well as several spandles, the black plastic material used as dividers between the windows. Several back windows at the main office were alsü damaged when the demonstrators milled around the County Building. Several windows in the bank's Liberty branch aiso were broken. The total damage suffered by the bank is in the range of $10,000, which incluyes the incident several weeks ago, and the one last summer as well as the most recent one. The plates of glass run about $600 a piece, Martinson said. No charges have been brought, but Ann Arbor Bank officials are discussing this situation as well as the possibility of not putting in any more windows. Officials say they have encountered no problems with the insurance company as of this time. "Well, it's an unusual life, today, isn't it," Weindorf said. "Other businessmen in tne area as well as bank officials are concerned, as well they should be," Weindorf said. "But I still have a great deal of faith in the younger generation. In case anybody forgets .he bank is still carrying on business with a large majority of the University students." Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce officials were out of town and unavaüable for comment. But Downtown Business Association President Jack Fagin of Ann Arbor Clothing said area merchants were disturbed by the recent occurrences. "We are in complete agreement with the way Chief Krasny has handled things so far. He has been able to do what he has and will be able to continue along the same lines as long as he is not tied up by some politicians." Krasny and nis men are professionals and know more about what they are doing than politicians, Fagin said. What happened this week can happen at any place or any time since it doesn't take too much for a few people to get together and toss a few rocks through some windows, Fagin said. A small number of policemen can only be in so many places at one time, he added. But overall, the merchants are in "fairly decent shape since they are hoping this type of occurrence is a sporadic thing," Fagin said. Business shouldn't be affected as long as there are not any mugging type of incidents which drove customers away from shopping areas in places like Detroit, he added. Krasny, in an appraisal of Wednesday's disturbances and arrests, said his department intends to continue to take firm action against persons committing violence. "Anyone and everyone has a right to dissent," Krasny said. "But when that dissent becomes violent we don't intend to stand around and let anyone break up this town. Taking the law in your own hands and destroying property has nothing to do with free speech." Krasny said it is "regrettable that the image of 30,000 hard-working University students is being totally destroyed by a handful of radicáis." "Our job is to keep the peace and enforce the law," he said. "I'm certain the majority of University students here today want that done."