The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-12
WHEN THE BUTTONS ARE GONE.
why Ex-Pciicemen Arc Failures I'm
Other Walks of Life.

lice force" said Superintendent Colbert
Few days ago. Il believe a majority of
tnose who are acquainted with the work
ings OF the department will agree that the
public would get better service If the police
force were wholly separated from politics"
Inomas Hedian, a Democratic office hold
er, who Is Democrat in the fullest sense
OF the word, heard the statement and at
once offered an objection, saying he be-
heved In politics in all departments of gov
eminent. Hedian argued that civil service
protects incompetent workmen or allows
lazy ones to do just as little as the law will
allow. de said one Of the saddest sights TO
be seen anywhere is man who has been
kept in office for long time and then
turned out on the cold and heartless world.
such man is helpless and knows how to
DO nothing other than he has done. Conse-
quently Mr. Hedian argued that changes
are better for the men concerned and also
better for the public, for men of ambition
ana energy are constantly being put to the
front.
"Can you explain why a policeman is
sucn helpless being after he has been dis
charged?" was asked Mr.. Colbert.
Yes, see why it is, but you can't make
the average understand the situation" be-
liceman is made to believe while he wears
the buttons that he is pretty good sort
of chap; he is apt TO think he is a little
brass king wheels. AS a rule the police
men come on the force from some position
where they came in contact with the public
very little. and they are not in positions
where people address them with GER
tain amount of respect. A man from the
average position gets on the force, and
then he is likely 10 think he is about the
right thing He is stopped and asked ques-
lions; business men stop and speak to him.
ne Is slapped on the shoulder; some one
says, Have a cigar and his treatment is
so unlike anything he has ever known that
IL Is worse for him. l have tried my best
10 make new men understand that all such
talk Is simply fattery and those who adj
dress them that way really think no more
OF them than of anybody else who makes
two and half a day.
In some cases this fattery leads the
policeman to become careless He gets to
thinking that his existence is not dependent
on him being a policeman for with all his
supposed friends he is fixed for a good lob
If he gets fired. The best officers see
through all this fiattery and their heads are
not turned. BY and by there comes a time
in the life of every policeman, at least those
In this city. when he has to go. He is too
old, he has got in rut, he has acquired
bad habits or his politics are unwholesome
or something arises that he must go. He is
thrown out and Immediately consults the
people that have spoken to him every day
and slapped him on the back 1t does not
take him two hours TO discover that those
who have been familiar to him are not his
| friends. OF course. they are sorry and all
| that, but they will not sacrifice themselves
to give him another place. Under these cir
| cumstances the policeman is completely
broken-hearted. The realization is a shock
| to him. He is bitter and discouraged. He
| probably is not capable of going back to his
old trade and taking up where he left off,
| He wanders about hopelessly trying to get
back on the force or get a job as night
| Waterman. You can't put bit of courage
| in him, and. as rule, if he has been on the
| force for any length. of time, he is ruined
| for ali other business. / know men in this
city. who were popular officers in their time,
who are now filling inferior positions as
watchmen and getting but a few dollars
| a week for doing 1t is sad sight to me,
but you couldn't have made them believe
1 that such would have been the result. 1 tell
| policemen to remember at all times that the
| people who are friendliest to them have
| some ak to grind. The best policeman is
| not always the poular one. l try to prepare
| them against disappointment when they lose
their jobs, but If you are wearing buttons
| and having everybody telling you what a
| fine fellow you are, it is hard to believe that
| cloudy weather will ever come"