The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-11-14
SANS
BODY GUARDS
Men Of the Secret Service. Who Pro-
teCt Presidents and Guard
Nations Interests.
foster we'll KNOWN IN CANTON.

| Ine united states secret service
had its origin in the early sixties
under the auspices of the war de-
Dartment. 1t actually grew out of the
fact of Capt. Lafayette e. Baker OF
the Union army Offering his services
to Secretary Seward as police
scout to gather information concern-
ing the Confederate army During
the war the United States began the
issuance of greenbacSs. Then came
the first appearance of "grcen goods"
men. BY an act of congress. in 1861
or 1862. $4,000 was appropriated for
! the maintenance Of Eaker's service
TO suppress counterfiting. The super
vision of the service was then under
the solicitor OF the treasury.
In 1880 the service had grown to
be almost indispensable, and an aD-
preparation OF $4,000 was obtained
for Its support. In that year its SUI.
peryision was placed in the hands of
the secretary of the treasury. For the
last two years congress has allotted
S190.00G TO the service; il has been
advanced TO the grade of division. >
Applicants for admission to the se-
cret service undergo rigid mental
and physical examination, conducted
personally by the chief of the divi-
sion. The qualifications prescribed
include a thorough knowledge "
criminal methods and familiarity
with the law. such as is practically
gained by police experience.
The average of the agents in the
service at present is thirty-fve years.
Most of the men received their de-
toctive training while in the employ
OF railroads, express companies, 20.
lice departments and private detective
bureaus. All must be skilled in some
special way which adapts them for
the work.
One of the duties of the secret SER
vice is caring for the president. In
the United States statues there is q
provision prohibiting the employment
of private detective by any branch
of the government Thus officers must
he borrowed from the secret service
when a presidents bodyguard is
needed.
The agents most familiar to the
public are Foster, Gallagher Ireland,
and Craig. the man who was recently
killed. The first three were guardipg
President Mckinley when he received
his death wound at Buffalo and the
Iattcr has been in constant attendance
On President Roosevelt during his va
cation.
George Foster has been in the ser
vice about ten years. He is about for
y-four years old and he was selected
'or McKinleys bodyguard because of
iis great strength. Detective ireland
S law graduate and has had exper-
ence as newspaper man. He Is
rig man and is also possessed of great
physical strength. He was one of the
irst to seize the assassin of McKin-
ey. Detective Gallagher was trained
r Chicago in some private police
work. While these three men have
'een criticised for not preventing
Presidents McKinley's assassination,
he secret service bureau was salts
led that they were in no way TO
lame.
The United States is divided into ,
secret service districts |
ach having superintendent in
harge and the necessary assistants-l
he districts are arranged with refer
nee to the detection and suppression
( counterfeiting. A written report
rom each man in each district is
ally exacted by the chief of the d..
ision. 4
In the early part of 1895 John Y.
filkie. who was for several years
hicago newspaper man, became the /;
hief of the secret service bureau. He :
egan at once TO recognize the service !
ZACH agents record was examined,
nd number of men we're dropped I
rom the service. Under the red
anized system men were severIy
ealt with for drinking and lying.
II officers taken In the service in !
le last two years were previously I
aimed In some detective work. :