New-York tribune., 1900-12-02
!. MLSUNDERSTOOD POLICE.
PRESIDENT YORK SAYS THAT THERE IS
NO FINER BODY OF MEN IN THE
WoRLD-ONLY BRUTAL
AT TINES

Fxnectations of sensational disclosures regarding
the Police Department. or some otner cause
brought an unusual audience to the meeting OF the
League for Political Education yesterday. The
members seemed to have brought their husbands
and brothers TO receive enlightenment from Fresi-
do,+ yorlx and with one or two exceptions the
entire press of the city had sent men to report the
talk Mr. York looked around humorously as ne
went 20 the platform and. after Miss Adele Fields
introduction, said that he yielded 10 persistent
| entreatie4 to come 10 the league on the express
condition that nothing but a short talk 10 the
members on the Department he represented should
be expected. but that for two or three days ana
nights since that Informal talk was announced he
had been besieged by reporters yearning TO see
his lecture. Then he added. with amused smile
at the throng of eager men: But there is to oe no
lecture. but just little chat"
He then described the manner of working. the
division into precincts and other familiar details
THE Police Department" he said. comes closer
| than any other to the public. You constantly
| in need Of the policeman-and usually think that
he is never where he ought to be when he is
wanted But he always Is You are all interested
IN him but If you carried your interest further you
would pay him homage instead of finding fault
Mr. York also said: "As whole. there Is no inner
body of men in the world. The number of acts OF
heroism performed in the course of year is far
greater than the people ever know. l have yet to
find an instance of cowardice. They are said to be
brutal at times by those who are too humane from
lack OF knowledge of the circumstances. You
must consider conditions. and be willing to leave
something to the judgment of the men. You pay
them to preserve order and the that will
preserve order in Fifth-ave. will not be sufficient
in other avenue. in the case OF a sectional
disturbance that caused Outcry a short time
ago They have clubs in their hands and guns in
their pockets, for use when it is necessary. You
should be careful about charging them with exces-
sive use. They viii not permit disorder in the
streets of New-York whether they use their clubs
not"
Mr.. York outlined the workings of the various
bureaus such that of Information, in which
they receive letters from all parts of the country
asking questions every conceivable subject, from
the financial standing of a business firm to the
family relations of man keeping company with
a young woman in some other city who wants to
know whether he has wife in NewYork or not"
AS instance of the perfect organization of the
police force, which comprises 1900 uniformed
members. Mr.. York cited the street railroad strike
IN Brooklyn. ION Saturday at $50 o'clock / re-
ceived information that a strike in Brooklyn
ik,ly to occur. At o'clock the hint was con-
frmed a certainty to take place at a. m. on
Sunday. At II O'Clock 1.7OO men. armed to the
teeth, the Brooklyn side OF the Bridge
and at a. m. $500 men were marching ready to be
landed anywhere they might be needed. The very
men who were to strike at o'clock, at 10 were
taking the police who to thwart their plans
for disturbance TO their various stations. Four
days later. when similar plan afoot in New
York, 1900 police from Brooklyn here at three
hours notice. All this happened while you slept
1t was thought by some that 1t might be necessary
TO call out the military, but proved the police
capable Of dealing with any social problem in the
city No other organization in the world could
have moved rapidly"
In conclusion the speaker said that if the league
would investigate II would find much good and
many acts of self-sacrifcing kindness on the part
of the policemen, adding: Even the Commission
ers. who are held up as examples of everything
horrible, occasionally do good in a quiet way"
Opportunity given for the audience to ask
questions. but nothing startling was elected A
conversation overheard as the members dis
peTsed, in which one woman said: why didn't