Telegram-herald., 1890-10-03

sAsala Psssisiea - Mas ter Dlsa1Aed
Fozkesgez 4aa Etxsnsesr

-
FotkSs1aez 2aa Ftrs8ezr
To tae zaitoE os tas fsszeaAs- aEsAts.
A day cF tso zgo vas lalk.ag vstb :
prominent e.sizea u this ely swho. Tor
the present, shaft be naEnelsssb con-
eerning oar duty - dlsa bed fFsnen
zn1 poacemea- tie ~as somewhat ia
fsYeF g earlag for a Krem2ns bet
sees ~ & eaye little sympathy for thS
s. s.s--. - ga accounted tas.r genera
eassess ness.s lie doubtless h4s fallen
into tie very common error 0f judging
class by = single member 0f i. There
IS good deal Of human nature IN po-
hcenan for m9st excellent reasons.
EiEst. because be, as rule, 5 = strong
naps zad especially because be : IN
constant association vitn the lowest eie-
ments n society. He sees humanity on
rs darkest side and comes 10 regard
every man asmore or less a villain. Is
be very FAR from the TRUTH He also IS
quite apt t0abuse be authority and 10
allow his geEeral disgust for criminals
TO influence his conduct toward them.
Doubtless tAere are few angels on the
I police force, especially OF the angelic
order, as the angels they deal with are
fallen onsi-
| Henry Ward Beecher used 10 say he
was very sorry for hls Satanic Majesty,
/ Tor. said ne, "lt must be awful 10 be
/ Chief Magistrate of He'll" And il
/ must be swiul 10 be 4 policeman IN a
/ city Ike this. II thero are any scOun-
/ drels on the police force they should be
removed Al once. fhe guardian OF the
I clty's virtue should not himself be a
rake. II any man ought 10 be a gen.
J tieman Il = 4 policeman, and l have
reason 10 believe that most Of them are
/ gentlemen.
| cogld readily see, however, that
the real objection TO pepsioning these
men WAS the objection that throtties so
many questions OF sentiment and re-
form, namely-the expense. IL would
cost bo much 10 have city pension
/ roll, No doubt we already have n
number OF city officials who are yir-
| tually pensioners, but that fact only
( strengthens the plea for pensions for
/ those who really deserve them; and |
submit that fireman or policeman, II
/ disabled while in line OF duty, not only
/ is in equity entitled 10 a pension, bat II
would be paying investment IN the
! long run. We can not expect tirst-class
services Tor second class pay. We can
not expect men 10 do their beat when
they are working for u pittance, and
seldom or never receive any just recog-
nitlon Tor services rendered. This lack
OF sympathetic appreciation, and mani
festAtlon OF such appreciation, on the
part of the employers, is one of the
| main reasons why the breach between
labor and capital is constantly widen
| ing. Poor pay is not the laborlng mans
| only grievance. lack of appreciation
| cuts mm much worse. He does not ex-
pect that his employer will treat him as
ms equal, but he does like 10 feel that
| his employer recognizes good service.
SO, when public servant like Il fire
| man or policeman, imperls his life day
after day and night after night, and
| does his best to protect the property
and lives OF the people. it does him
good TO feel that somebody appreciates
1t.
| am certain, also, that the service
| IeDueIeu pN lltcS bIdFc, itlIuAut iiCll
would be- still more valuable TO the city
| il they felt, while pacing their lonely
beats at night, liable at any time TO be
set upon by the midnight assassin, their
loved ones at home would be well cared
for if they should be killed. Do you
not think a fireman would face fire and
smoke more cheerfully if he had the
same assurance TO nerve HIM?
know that sentiment is greatly at a
discount in these days of greed. / do
not plead for pensions for these menon
the ground OF sentiment-as corpora
| tions have no souls, little honor, and
often but little sense-I plead for them
on the ground of expediency, as well as
honor. feel sure that it would pay TO
raise fund out of which, without beg
! ging, without dishonor, and with but
! little trouble, these men and their fam
lies could he comfortably supported rs
long as they needed support. Here you
have my private opinion publicly ex-
pressed. CHARLES h. GIBSON.
Grand Rapids, Oct. 2, go.