New-York tribune., 1896-11-26
ON CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT INTRODUCES TO THE
WOMAN'S AUXILIARY THREE MEN TO
GIVE THEM AN OBJECT LESSON

THEODORE ROOSEVELT INTRODUCES TO THE
WOMANS AUXILIARY THREE MEN TO
GIVE THEM AN OBJECT LESSON
IN CIVIL. SERVICE.
IAN Object Lesson In Civil Service Reform by
Theodore Roosevelt. the subject announced for
yesterday afternoons lecture in the Berkeley Ly
ceum before the Womans Auxiliary OF the Civil Ser
vice Reform Association: bu, Mr.. Roosevelt so far
altered the programme TO become chairman OF the
occasion, and introduced as speakers the Rev. Dr.
WALL OF the Church OF the Holy Rosary. in IIarlem
the Rev Mr. Lanlose. pastor OF the Methodist Epis
copal Church OF City Island. and Mr. Clarence Cor
don. OF the East Side Settlement House. at Seventy
sixth-st. and the East River
These men. Mr.. Roosevelt said knew exactly where
the recruits FOR the police force came from. and as
he himself was more less of a "rounder' in Civil
Service matters. he thought the audience would
rather hear from those who had talked less on the
subject.
"A few years ago" he continued. "the average
New-York politician would have had a At II he had
been told that member OF a Roman Catholic Ly
ceum or OF Methodist Episcopal Church would ever
have a pull In the Police Board the nominee of
the saloon party. but such is. nevertheless the
To-day. Not that We discriminate against those in
terested in the liquor business such. but feel
that when man has such connection he has some-
thing TO explain, and 1t be explained before he
can be taken on the police force
Neither do We discriminate against creeds We
are glad TO take honest agnostic when think
he will make n good policeman but We have found
by experience that a whole. the best men come
from the ranks OF the different churches and re-
ligious organizations"
Father Wall was then introduced and said that
he had come TO the meeting to bear witness to the
efficiency of Mr.. Roosevclts methods and the ineg
rity of his purpose. and that he would have been
false to his conscience II he had done Father
wall added that. when Mr.. Roosevelt took charge
OF the Police Department. he Immediately became
the most unpopular man In NewYork, but that now
he was rapidly becoming the most popular the very
people who had denounced him at first being loud
est now in his praise Personally. had gone
down TO Mr. ROoscvclt's office. expecting to he con-
fronted by dragon. and had found a most courte-
Gus and amiable gentleman. and he knew then that
new order of things must have been instituted.
for In the good old times he certain that
one of his cloth would ever have been able ~
get inside the antc-cham mber OF the New-IOrk Po.
lice Department Five from his parish. he
said had been appointed without any political pull
whatever
Mr. Roosevelt responded that Father Walls
praise due 10 himself. but to the system.
lie believed that the statement about his former
unpopularity was true. and that he was very un-
popular yet. but he didn't deserve any pity. for no
one had enjoyed his connection with the Police De-
partment more than himself
Il have had an extremely good time he said.
and | know that have done good work. and
work that Will be permanent. Last year wouldn't
be legislated out. but now that We have done our
work, II Is matter of perfect Indifference to me
Mr. Lanioise spoke in a strain similar to DR. Wall.
md said the five men from his church had been ap-
pointed solely on their own merits. while Mr.. Cor
don told OF eleven men from his settlement who
owed their positions 10 the same kind OF influence.