The evening world., 1893-12-19
The "Finest" Are Bound To-
gether in a Secret Society.
It's Influence May Be Felt in the
Byrnes Turn-Down Plot.
Mayor Gilroy Replies to DIR. Park
hurst's Charges.

ElOneTS On one dIll uUu SuEb. yiiifN
on the other, a big factor has been over
looked in the policemen themselves. 1t
will doubtless be a surprise to many.
when the fact is known that the MEM
beers of the Finest" are fully organized,
and that in Its way the organization Is
more powerful than any trade union.
Nearly three years have elapsed since
q few Of the patrolmen got together to
consult over their grievances. IT was
said at that time hat the policemen
had to do considerable dirty work"
They were. besides, badly treated. Days
off, came at long and irregular intervals,
while roundsmen made life a burden. 1t
was openly talked of anon" the men
that while they had to do all the nasty
were treated like dogs.
The result was the forming OF an or
ganization on secret lines, so that
bylaws said the men had only banded
together for mutual benefit, n the
amount paid in each month was only to
guarantee a little over funeral expenses
to the relatives in case of death.
The story of the growth Of that organ
ization would make an interesting chap
ter..how the men met steaithily. at
night In out OF the way places, and how
codes of signals were arranged to give
warning of the r~oundsman's approach
while meetings were being held. No Of
uc1al OF any KIN was allowed 10 MEM
bership. and 1t was expressly stipulated
that In case any member was promoted
he Mould at once give up whatever office
he held In the organization.
On secret lines the movement was
worked until nearly two-thirds of all the
patrolmen In the Department had been
Initiated. then they branched out openly.
n when the Commissioners heard OF
II they were filled with alarm.
The organization was frowned upon.
Every effort was made to break 1t up,
ereasing. and one year ago they held
their first annual reunion I'm Suffers
Harlem River Park.
Finding. that they could not break up
the organization. and not thoroughly un-
Outstanding what 1t really meant. 1t is
charged hat the Commissioners and
their henchmen and ward heelers tried
to turn II into a Tammany adjunct.
During the last election. at one Of the
meetings a score of resolutions were in
~troduced, indorsing the candidate OF a
certain Assemblyman. They were literally
speaking. kicked out OF the meeting
room.
The fact that the men have been able
to come together. to exchange views
danger to the alleged blackmailers.
Very little goes on In the Department
at PRESENT that the officers of the or
ganization do not know all about. They
are fully alive to the present situation
and what the removal OF Supt. Byrnes
would mean. The power they exercise
uldy De lett Ht any moment.
Among the rank and file of the organi-
ration II was the expectation at one time
tEat they would be able. at a not too re-
mote period, TO dictate their own terms.
originated largely in the failure to obtain
Increased salaries. IT will be remember
ed that a bill for that purpose was de-
featsd IN the Legislature on the dictation
1.-The World has 1t right when It
says that not Captains, but politicians.
Headquarters this morning. 81 know OF
n fair. instance which demonstrates the
pull of certain saloon-keepers.
"A policeman one sunday requested n
-a!oon-keeper to draw down his shades.
50 that It would be less evident that
he was doing business in violation of
the excise law. The policeman was told
TO attend to his own affairs. The ser
Eeant was notified, and he made a stint
lar request of the saloon Keeper. but
was also met with q rebuff.
"The sergeant ordered the saloon
keeper arrested, He got off in court. and
q few days afterwards the sergeant was
transferred by order of the Commission
srs from one emo of the city 10 the other.
man who would do his duty. Is it,"
Among the city officials who visited
Police Headquarters this morning We're
missioner Michael c. Murphy.
1t was the calm before the storm that
was observable at Police Headquarters
Ills IIloI iIlS It hlilSNltl dtllNllN us
played yesterday by officials was lack
Ing. Supt. Byrnes was at his desk at
the usual time. but the commissioners
were, II anything. late in getting down.
The Superintendent preserves Il policy
OF silence regarding the scheme on the
part OF some of the Commissioners 10
Dust him from office. but there is an air
of confidence in his bearing which gives
the impression that the turning down
process may result disastrously to the
promoters. The l~atter-the Commission
nro r.t1l E.NlI - NA1,l~ ,ht
and they will probably be heard from,
Doubtless another series of dcnials will be
the result. 1t may be that being driven
into a corner they may turn and fight,
Mayor Gilroy is watchin- the struggle
with interest. He said Yesterday. and he
reiterates this morning. that If any repu.
table citizen would prefer charges against
hear them. Replying to his utterance or
that point. Rev. DR.. Parkhurst said last
night: ou.,u,. -,
fore the Mayor, and they have elected
no attention. We repeated the com,
plants and made one to him "A white
ago as Chairman OF the Commissioner
Of Jurors, and he, instead OF bringing
u before. that body as he was bound
70 do in his official capacity, brought II
body was the very party we had com
lain of. That's the way we ar,
treated and snubbed every time"
The Grand Juror referred TO wa;
%'sbH ~ NAN N6l' was ma W W
running several liquor stores and vic
lating the Excise law.
Rev. DR. Parkhurst is just as accu
rate in these statements as he has beer
in all the others made by him and In IN
policy he IL pursuing" Mayor Gllro,
aid to an Evening World'' reporte
this morning.
In the hrst place. he never preferre,
charges to me against the Police Com
missioners or any one else. He did sen,
10 me a list of disorderly houses, with
letter explaining hat 1t was "A copy OF
list forwarded at the same time TO III
Police Commissioners.
u sent the matter t the Police Com
mlssioners, and In course OF time re
ceived a repor upon IL. a copy OF whicI
was, doubtless forwarded to Rev. DR.
Parkhurst at the same time.
A TO his second complaint, he did no
address me properly when he speak
about my not having brought the mat
ter TO the Commissioners of Jurors, a
he says was my duty. | am not Chair
man OF that Board. and any complaint
OF that nature should be made TO IN
Smyth.
Thirdly, when he speaks OF my hav
ing brought the matter to the Gran,
Jury when one of the persons charge
was a member of that body, ! was the
In Chicago representing the city az Ne,
Yok and had no knowledge OF tn
= matter The papers were sent to tn
Grand Jury by my. secretary at the re