New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-17
THE POLICE As PROTECTORS.


The report of the Mayors committee which in
vestigated the riots on the occasion of Rabbi
Joseph's funeral fully confirms the widespread
impression that the police failed disgracefully
in their duty of protecting the Jews who were
assembled to pay honor to their lost leader.
The first mistake was made by the officers of
the department who detailed an Inadequate
force to guard the line of the procession. Some
body whose business it was to be familiar with
conditions on the East Side and to realize the
magnitude of the demonstration was careless
and Indifferent. Then when the employees of
the Hoe factory began jeering the mOurnerS and
throwing at them missiles some of which mar
rowly escaped the hearse, the police who were
turned out instead Of giving their attention to
the aggressors, devoted themselves to clubbing
the poor Jews Since the riot, moreover. the
police authorities have been most lenent TO po-
icemen charged with i'll treating the abused
mourners.
This report reads remarkably like what any
body of disinterested citizens would have said
about the conduct of the police In the negro
riots on the West Side when Tammany was In
power Then white rufiians started n disturb
ance and the police, instead of protecting the
negroes. practically Joined in hunting them
down and beating them. and the authorities by
subordnates. Unlike the Tammany commits
soners, who frankly announced that they did
not mean to let the victims OF the riots get evil
dence of police wrongdOing, Commissioner Par
fridge would doubtless be glad to have police
rioters detected and punished. But It is evident
that Il great number of the rank and file of the
force, as well as many Of the sergeants and cap
tains, sympathize with the rowdles and are
rather glad to see them give vent to race preju-
dices. The fact is that the tough" spirit is
strongly intrenched in the police force. The
rowdies who think it smart TO pummel ''niggers,'
stone poor Russian Jews kick over Syrans'
fruit stands annoy industrious "Dagos" pull
the pigtas of the "Chnks'' and trampIe under
foot plain citizens of American blood are gen
orally the friends of the policemen. The police
men certainly look on persons not of the domt-
nant race in Tammany politics from the same
point of view. Observe them and notice their
habitual rough and uncivil treatment of mem
bers of races handicapped by ignorance and
poverty and past misfortunes The idea that a
policeman owes courtesy to them or must pro-
tect them in their rights never seems to have
been grasped by many members of the force
nor if the Mayors committee is right, by some
of our magistrates.
1t is to be hoped that the Mayor will stir I'D
his Police Commissioner to take vigorous action
to remedy the evils complained of by the com
mittee. No adequate punishment has been
neted out to the patrolmen accused of clubbing
the Jews and men under Indictment for
their part in the riots are still allowed TO wear
uniforms and perform their duties When
Tammany Police Commissioner desired to show
his contempt for reformers he refused 10 Sis
pend men indicted on their complaints The re-
formers used to find much fault with that policv
Were they wrong, and were the commissioners
merely trying, like Colonel Partridge. to do
even handed, If tardy, justice? Under Tam
many it expected that the police would on
press the poor and ignorant but If reform dis
cipline is to amount to anything 1t must teach
the force that every man. Jew or Gentle white
or black, Irish or Italian, has an equal claim to
his protection and that he will certainly he
broken" If he fails to give it. The antiJewisb
riots prove that this state of discipline is far
from being achieved. It is just reported that
fifty-one patrolmen have been dismissed since
January l. q larger number than in any recent
year. The measure Of discipline is not how
ever the number dismissed but the number al
lowed to think they can do about as they please
Under Tammany It of no use for citizens
TO make complaints and few did So Under
Mayor Low many good citizens have tried to
help the administration by reporting violations
of the rules. but the outcome of WARNINGS and
petty fines has done little more than teach the
patrolmen that they can he unfaithful with COM
parative Tpunitv.