The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-19
The Personal Equation.

In selecting a nominee for mayor tho
Republicans of Scranton will do well
10 bear in mind that the chief execu-
tive of a city of 10000 inhabitants.
who In addition TO performing the inn
mediate work Of his own Office, is also
virtually the head Of the fire, police
and Highway departments, should be
no small official unused to command
The city has grown since the police
force CompriSed mere hardful Of
men and the fircmon a bakers dozen
These servants of the people now aG-
greEatc small army. who need above
all things else a capable directing head
This need was never more apparent
than at the present time.
Fault is sometimes found with the
work done by the police. The public
sees things 20 criticize hut it does not
always keep informed as to the reasons
why. The individual material in the
present police force is probably as
good, take i, on fair average, as in
any city i'm the country. With few eX-
Ceptions the men are vigorous, brave
and desirous Of doing their duty. But
when in the doing of this duty they
are not consistently and firmly sup
ported by the executive authority
when the arrest of some malefaCtor
happening to hav" a friend at court
is as likely to bring Ccnsurc as ap-
proval; when in large percentage
of cases the policeman rather than the
prisoner is regarded as the proper sub
lect for mapisterial investigation. dis
heartcnment and disorgan2ation in
evitably follow. This is a frailty of
human nature.
a story is told of an incident happen
ing soon after the enactment of the
bicycle ordinance which illustrates this
point The police We're instructed to
enforce the ordinance thoroughly. One
officer took his instructions literally.
went after a scorchcr who. it is claim
ed. had refused To observe the law,
got into a tussle with him in the course
of which the culprits wheel was
smashed, and had the final consolation
of seeing his prisoner discharged with
out reprimand, and of having soon
afterward to defend himself in a suit
for damages. 1t is not necessary to
add that incidents Of this nature do not
make for efficiency in police discipline
or for zeal in the apprehension Of pub
lie offenders.
A man may be ever so honest in in
tent and ever 50 well NerSCd in the the
cries of municipal government, yet if
he have not the knack of handling sub
ordinates so as to retain their con-
fdence, respect and Jealous loyalty, he
will be a failure as the mayor Of this
big city. The head of the executive
department must stand by the men
under him until sufficient reasons ap.
pear for a contrary course. He must
be an organizer, not a disOrganizer; h.
must know how to get the best re"
suits out of existing conditions. This
personal quality is something entirely
apart from any question of party pol.
itics or public policy. IT is wholly a
matter Of individuality. Republicans
who wish to name for mayor a man
whose election would bring quick bet
tcrmcnt in the esprit du corps of the
police. fire and street commissioner s
departments as well as lift the whole
city government higher in public re-
putc, should consider the personality
Of tho candidates not less closely than
pledges of policy. For after an 1t is
the man, rather than the party label
or platform, that counts.