Evening star., 1901-05-31
DEFEATS CAPTAIN DEVERY
MAI. RICHARD SYLVESTER ELECTED
HEAD OF POLICE CHIEFS.
Chosen Instead of the Well-known
New Yorker by a Majority
of One Vote.

Richard Sylvester major and superin-
tendent of the District of Columbia metro
politan police force, was today elected chief
of the Association of Police Chiefs of the
United States and Canada at the conven-
tion of the body that has been in progress
for several days Major Sylvester defeated
the redoubtable Devery of the New York
police force by one vote. The contest pre-
ceding the final fray was animated one.
AS soon as the vote for president was
nounced Chief Devery moved that Chief
Sylvester be declared president by &C
clamation The motion carried with
loud cheers and hand-clapping and hurrahs
for Devery. The new president said he
had made no canvass for votes, but he was
glad his associates had seen fit to honor
him and his city. Washington.
Deputy Commissioner Devery of New
York was elected vice president by accla-
nation. Chiefs Donahue of Omaha and
Howard of Richmond were elected men,
bers of the board of directors, and Chief
Carr of Grand Rapids was reelected sec
retary. The convention received letters of
invitation to hold the next years meeting
In Louisville. Colorado Springs and Jack
sonville, and decided to meet in Louisville.
Was Hot Contest.
The New York World of this morning
said: There was a hot fight on between
Devery of New York and Sylvester of
Washington for the presidency of the asso-
citation. The New York delegates had
been assuming that Devery was to be the
next president of the association and this
had aroused antagonisn and stirred up the
friends of Chief Sylvester. There was
meeting of the latter's friends yesterday
afternoon at the Savoy Hotel the object
being to stem the tide that is setting to-
ward Devery.
southern and western delegates. 1T Is an
outrage, said one of these, that New
York politicians of high standing should be
dabbllng in this affair and button-holing
members of this convention for the purpose
of electing Devery president of the con-
Vent1on. There Is such a continuous war;
fare upon Devery right here that he will be
kept too busy minding his own affairs to be
attending to the duties of president
Other members declared that Sylvester is
the most available man because of the ma
tional legislation they hope to secure The
police chiefs are interested in securing a
they think can be procured if Sylvester of
Washington is made president of their or
ganization.
The chiefs closed an interesting day with
a banquet last night at the Savoy Hotel.
Mayor Jones Of Toledo.
An Associated Press dispatch, speaking
of the proceedings today, says:
opened the proceedings with paper on po-
lice of London. AS a preface he made a
plea for the larger liberty of the citizen
and contrasted conditions in the German
cities, where everything is open Sundays,
with Glasgow. where he found 1t impossible
to buy even cigar on Sunday.
What may have suited pastoral times
and towns" he said, lis not suitable for
the present time and great Cities
Mayor Jones of Toledo addressed the con-
vention. I'm glad to be with you," he
began. Il always like policemen when
they are not trying to arrest any one. l
vas especially pleased to be here to hear
Mr.. Henschels plea for larger liberty tnd
to observe that most of you applauded his
sentiments. Too much restraint is far
worse for the average city than too much
liberty | hope to see the efficiency of a
policeman measured by his service to the
people. l hope to see the time when each
policeman will know 1t is duty to make It
easy for the good to be good and hard for
the bad to be bad"
This closed the business of the conven-