Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1902-07-05
Career of Judge Matt O'DOherty
Is an Object Lesson to
All Men.
Irish Police Chiefs Most PrOmi-
nent in Recent National
Convention.
PAPERS WERE ORDERED PRINTED

During the req convention Vi the
National Association of Police Chiefs,
held in Louisville, it was a subject of
remark that the Chiefs bearing Irish
names dominated the convention. Not
only was this so because of the large
number present as delegates, but it was
evident that in practical suggestions
and intellectual grasp these led all
the rest. The alleged comic papers
are fond of cartooning the Irish
policeman as a dullard or worse,
but if the proceedings of this con-
vention are studied it will be seen at a
glance that the men in authority in the
police departments of American cities,
who happen to be Irish, lead all the rest.
The two most notable papers read in
the convention of Chiefs were by Irish
men. Chief Matthew Kiley, of St.
Louis, read a paper which has attracted
great deal of attention from criminolo-
gists. 1t was on the subject "Do Crimi-
nails Reform?" He handled the subject
in a way which indicated that he had
given it attention, and his suggestions
and deductions showed that he worthily
fills the place of Chief in one of the
great cities of the world. The paper
read by Chief O'Neill, of Chicago, on
the subject of anarchy" was another
thoughtful paper. Both we're ordered
printed in full in the proceedings of the
convention, and will be read by police
authorities over the world
Irish police officers in American cities
make the best of any. Our own German
Chief, Col. Sebastian Gunther, virtually
admits this in surrounding himself with
men like Assistant Chief Patrick Ridge,
Police Captain James Hendricks, Lieu
tenants Bright, Burke, Heffernan, Wick
ham and others who might be men,
toned. The ordinary Irish patrolman
in Louisville, too, knows his business
and attends to it. often at the risk of his
life.
Some people affect to believe that an
Irishman is only fitted to be on the police
force, that he is not intellectually quail
fed to assume the higher positions.
This is shown to be false assumption,
for men of Irish birth or descent are now
at the head of various municipalities. In
the cultured city of Boston Patrick A.
Collins is regarded by everybody as a
model Mayor, and a dozen other in
stances could be named.
Only one Irishman has been elevated
to a high judicial position in Louisville
in recent times, and the manner in
which he has served the public and the
universal praise he has received from
members of the bar since he has been on
the bench show the esteem in which he
is held. Had Matt O'Doherty desired he
could have been reelected Judge with
out opposition in his own party, but he
preferred the harder work of an advocate
in which he has been so successful.
When he retires in November to resume
his law practice it will be with the praise
of all who have had business in his court.
Judge O'Doherty has worked his way up
without the backing of any influential
friends. He labored hard, and his career
is an object lesson to men of his blood.
When the parties come to select Judge
for long term year hence they could
do no better than to pick out man like
the retiring Judge of the second division
to fill one of the judicial positions. 1t
would be a just recognition of the Irish
population in this city to give one OF the
judicial places to some one of the Irish
American members of the bar.
And all that is said above regarding
the guardians of the peace applies with
equal force to the fire departments of the
country. The records TEEN with names
of Irishmen honored for unexampled dar-
ing and bravery to save life and property.