The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1900-06-15
HAvANA's POLITE POLICE. :,
native Guardians of the Peace Are
Now Respected In the
Cuban City.

Havana policemen have turned out
10 be not half-bad chaps. For Tune
the success of native police force
looked a little dubious. There was
lack Of administrations, 1t might
better be called-combincd with an ex-
citability which looked iii Tor the III
lure OF lIavana's b,ue-coated guardians
Of Tie peace. But both the pecrle and
the officers of the law have learned
good deal through the experience OF
The wear just past and a mutual respect
l. 5 ..ecun TO grow up. This has been
wisely fostered by the American au-
thorities sometimes with such meas
ures that individuals appeared TO sui
fer the gravest injustice. In the end,
however. was the great purpose OF
teaching the people, Americans, Cubans
and Spaniards alike, that the repre-
sentatives of the municipality must be
respected because back of them was the
law.
This was difficult lesson for many
Americans to learn. To speak honestly
the rank and file of American repre-
sentatives here arc not of the kiEd
which is meek and lowly in spirit. They
are the sovereign rulers OF a great re-
public. They are deep-chested. long
legged and big-muscied. They have
tendency to look upon those who arc
not like themselves physically with
contempt, especially if the III Eel Tor ones
happen not to understand the English
language. This was especially true CT
the soldiers who were discharged from
the army in large numbers during tie
carly part of last year. In their Cwn
country these fellows would probably
behave as we'll as the next man, 10
doubt somewhat Influenced by the 1sc-
pound policeman who hung Cui around
the corner But down here there were
no such policemen. Instead there was Il
dapper little chap with hollow chest
ard dark skin whose anatomy offered
an irresistible target for just ore
punch. The temptation to find out
what would become Of him il you land
ed lone good one" was often too-much
for the scrappily inclined and when
HUCSt ulSt tuiA Out ~
keep order they really melted disorder
among this grade of men, who too often
had their natures heated to the fighting
pitch by liquor.
The consequence of all this was that
lot of policemen were thoroughly
mauled. Their beautiful tasselled
clubs were often taken away from
them by the riotous Americans, one OF
whom could comfortably handle two or
three policemen in i stand-up fight. So
it came about the eXcitable Cuban, re-
alizing the hopelessness of using his
= cub. got to pulling his revolver at the
slightest squall. Things got so bad that
several drunken soldiers were killed
and the heartiest hatred grew up be-
tween the two forces.
Here is where the American authori-
ties showed their good sense. They
backed up the policemen in every posi-
be case. Riotcus soldiers were guard
housed" merciiessly and turbulent
American citizens who started out 10
do the dago cops" were handsomely
done when they got into the police
court presided over by Maj. William f.
Pitcher, of the Eighth infantry, who
bears the title of supervisor of the po-
lice. His was the work of putting stiff
fleming in the backbone of the police
men and teaching the public, regard
less Of nationality. that the guardians
Of the peace must be respected.
The Cuban, as we'll as the American,
had lot to learn. Like the Irish, he is
naturally ''agin the government" be-
cause for centuries the government has
been foreign and expressing power
and he can't realize in minute that
these policemen are his servants. So
on occasions the natives FLASHED with
The coppers and for the doing of it were
hauled up with SO round turn that
Pitcher became bug-a-boo with which
TO brighten babies. Ten dollars or ten
days" slips from his lips so often that
no stage caricature of him is complete
without the constant repetition of this
phrase.
AS run to-day under the chiefship of
Rafael de Cardenas and the supervisor
ship of Maj. Pitcher, the Havana police
force is really fine organization. 1t
has its faults, but the discipline is
good, its members have learned self-re-
straint and courage has come with the
knowledge that they will be strongly
supported when they have acted rigid
ly. Above all else the Cuban police
man is polite. He can give American
officers of the law lessons in this re-
spect which the latter would do we'll to
learn. Even when under great excite
ment this national characteristic of
courtesy is dominant and occasionally
in ridiculous way. One night wher
there was row at the cafe of the Hotel
Inglaterra and some shots had been
fred, an excited mounted policeman
sprang from his horse with drawn re-
volver. Rushing up to the swaying
crowd: which was dancing around in a
panicky way, the policeman pushed his
weapon under the noses of those in
front and began pushing men back.
'Hage me ell favor!" (Do me the IA
vor), ne kept shouting, waving his arms
violently. "Cabelleros, hage me ell ia
yor!"
Imagine New York policeman try
ing to disperse crowd with gun and
gentlemen, do me the favor" It's not
in the blood. A club and bunch of
baths would be much more likely. A
policeman who is always polite certain
y has his merits even though he be a
little week-kneed and hollow-chested
and sawed-off. Probably when we get
New York policemen who are always
polite and Havana policemen who are
all big and brave and strong the world
will have reached that stage when q no.
lice fOrro will - a .,,r.-1.4