The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-05-28
ALGC'S WONDERFUL GAP
The Arrangement the Police
Commissioners Want Prison
Keeper Watson to Wear.

Every politician, every city employee,
and almost every boy who passes
through Cooper's place nowadays has
this question to ask: "Aleck, how about
your new uniform?" The Aleck referred
to is the veteran prison keeper. The
uniform everyone is apparently SO anx-
ious about is the one the Police Com
misssoners have directed Aleck to wear.
Everybody knows Aleck Watson and it
Is said a more agreeable man than he
never lived. But the uniform question
makes the genial old prison keeper boil.
The - with you and the uniform"
is Alexis usual ruffled reply to inquir-
ers.
The proposition to put Aleck in a uni
form is one of those alleged reform de-
partures inaugurated by the Police
Board for the specific purpose of max
ing every mans position known"
For thirty-seven years Aleck has been
in the police department and for seven
teen years he has been prison keeper.
In that tipe he has never worn a uni
form. sand as a his spirit
rebels against ~donning one now.
The news that he was to be compelled
to wear a uniform reached him two
''~$@NS oSO diRi Ia Iut 10 dccuSIOm
himself to his new "togs" he started in
by wearing a white cap. He did this
so as to break the thing gently to his
friends, he explains. The white cap
did not suit his complexion. the Police
commissioners thought, and one said
1t suggested too much the idea of Colonel
warnings New York street cleaning
brigade. The white hat. was tabooed and
VIVA he is to wear is probably best de-
scribed by the uneasy Aleck.
My hat is a sight, he said Yesterday.
Il will look Like thisAYon Yonson. who
was in the Academy. The front of it
n too well now without having a paste
poard fence in front of my eyes. The
lpack part has q convenient projection
nsck keep pwnastter from running down my
thought | don't know enough to get ii
out OF the wet, but I do. The e pro-
lection viii at least be convenient if 4
inns creation | am to appear in rises to
a point. wouldn't admit to anyone
except es yourself. but it is the --est look
1t just the same, because the Board has
ordered It. | will make my first appear
anee in II today and I'll bet a box Of
bunch of flowers for looking nice. per-
haps with the idea of improving the ap-
p~earance of the hat there is to be a
Il5 IHd SiSH WIFI read Prison
Keeper" No n will ever think 1 am
ineh long: someonas probably Suggested
large so that if 1 get lost I will be
shipped home top side up with care. I
will be about the funniest thing in town
with that hat on.
My uniform is all right. 1t is of
blue material, made the same as a
policeman's uniform. I will wear a
blouse waist and I imagine with the
top piece on / will be about the hand
soonest thing that has happened around
Police Headquarters in a long time.
we are having reform all along the
line and | am pleased to see 1t. imagine
the next order | will get will be to serve
the prisoners their meals with a white
apron and white cooks cap on. It's a
good thing and should be pushed along.
some might suggest then tina | wear
a big sign on my back announcing that
| am head cook. chief can washer and
Jersey City, New Jersey, u. S. A. There
is no use being MAJ I suppose. The uni
form is all. right, but my figure was
never carved out for the uniform / am.
to appear in. That hat is bothering me.
and If I a | will get a new pattern
adopted. As it stands now it will be q
target for every man, woman and child
who sees me-"
While Aleck is worrying a pound Of
flesh off himself every day about his new
outfit his friends are adding to his de.
comfort by HjoNying's him for all they
are worth. There will be a conversation
of his !acquaintances on hand today TO
greet him in his new rig.