Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-08
PAPER BY MAJ. SYLVESTER
WASHINGTON PoLICE CHIEF DIS
CUssEs NEGLECT OF DUTY.
Annual Session of Police Chiefs Of
United States and Canada
at Cincinnati.


Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
CINCINNATI. Ohio, May s.-Members Of
the Police Union, composed Of the chiefs of
police Of the United States and Canada,
who are guests OF the city. met in annual
session at the Grand Hotel this morning.
Chief A. H. Leslie of Pittsburg, president
Of the association. called the meeting to Or
der, with Chief Harry Carr Of Grand
Rapids, secretary.
Prominent among the chiefs is Major Rich
ard Sylvester of Washington. Although
this Is his second meeting with the union
he has been identified with the police busi-
ness of the national capital for so many
years that he is we'll known Several men,
bers of the union read papers on police
questions. Major Sylvester read a paper
before the union. his subject being Neglect
of Duty
Major Sylvester said in part:
The term Neglect of Duty" applied to
the individual charged with the enforce
ment of the laws, is familiar to you all.
doubt if any one Of you has escaped the
charge at one time or another, no matter
how strenuously you have labored to avoid
it. 1t is equally a fact that you have made
the same allegation against many of those
over whom you have had supervision.
Perhaps no harsher, and at times more
necessary, charge is made than that which
implies that person has been guilty OF the
SlI Ol OMISSION. II may not De true, II may
not have been intentional, yet the mere sug
gestion carries with it pangs and fears
which penetrate the heart. On the princi-
pie that it is far more easy to tear down
than II is to build up, persons of pride and
character have long since learned how long
1t takes to outlive the charge of 'shortcom-
ing" Many are disposed to elevate them
selves by destroying others, though it does
not always follow that when one pulls
down the pillars of the temple he finds
profit in the debris.
Human Nature RevoIts at Restraint.
Human nature rebels against, offers re-
sfstance to those charged with it's restraint.
The disposition to be free, to pursue a
course untrammeled. regardless Of the
rights of others. makes restraint necessary,
and such conditions are controlled by laws
and regulations which you have been select
ed to enforce. While you have agents to
assist, you are not fully relieved of respon-
sibility, as you are the brains, the director,
the guiding star. When you please, you
are gratifed: when you displease, you are
grieved. 1t has long since been determined
however, that you cannot please everybody.
II you are intelligent honest and energetic.
you have not Disseminated. but soon realize
that many who were with you are opposed
to you. You have done your duty, yet
some persons. judging from their own
standpoint, charge you with its neglect. 1t
Is useless to attempt to convince them of
their mistake. because, while you are con-
scious of having done right, such minds are
not open to conviction, their interests hav-
ing run against legal restraint. When
charged with neglect of duty under such
circumstances, being satisfied that you have
been just, you are apt to get an undisturbed
nights rest.
If, under the law, you are subject to the
orders of higher authority. and by such are
denied the right of an independent inter-
probation of affairs, 1t matters not how ir-
regular or how consistent such action may
appear from your point Of view, you may
be charged with neglect of duty. and an
attempt on your part to show that you
have not Disseminated. might be at the
expense of your bread and butter. Silence,
on the other hand, may carry with it. in a
large measure, conviction. Then you suffer
for the sins of others. Such conditions
would so influence an honorable. sensitive
man, that his protestations, If not his res
ignation, would likely follow.
Police Should be Kept Out of Politics.
The probability Of such a condition of af-
fairs occurring accentuates the claim that
to secure a pure, conscientious police ad-
ministration, 1t must be segregated from
machine influences. That police institution
which is divorced from politics and al
lowed to proceed in its legitimate field, with
a capable and honest head, who will stand
by right and permit no wrong, can be de-
pended upon to insure security of person
and enjoyment Of property. All other de-
partments of the state-the courts, the
schools. the collector of taxes the assessor
of values, must lean upon it. 1t is the
balance wheel which should be kept in mo-
ton by a confiding public, and it's chief
should have no fear of the charge, Neg
lect of duty" He should know the laws
and enforce them justly yet firmly; be hon
est and active; know the people and his
force-its strength and defects; should look
for way to help his fellow man. not for a
way to crush him: should be charitable,
acquainting himself with the proverb, "a
kind word turneth away wrath" and the
maxim. 1T is easier to kill with kind
ness than 1t is with the club He should
remember that brains are worth more than
Drawn, although the latter Is very often
a necessity.
Among the questions of interest to be de-
bated is the proposed transfer of the bu-
reau of Identification from Chicago TO
Washington. In Chicago the bureau re-
ceived the support of the state of Illinois,
while in. Washington it would undoubtedly
receive the support of the general govern
ment Attorney General Griggs has al
ready given his Endorsement of the bureau.
and it is stated he desires that its head
quarters shall be removed to the national
initial