The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-12
JOHN NELSON PARTRIDGE
CHARACTER STUDY OF NEW NORF's
NEW HEAD OF POLICE.
Something of the Work He Is En-
pecfed To Accomplishments Public
and Private Career.
New York Herald.


of police When Colonel Partridge takes
command he VIII have a force equal 20
ten regiments. Last year there were 7,461
men on the rolls. Many new appointments
have since been made and more are to
follow. The number of arrests for year,
in round numbers. is 10000. AS each ar
rest means going TO court. securing evil
dence and witnesses, one gets a hint of
the vastness of our police system and the
problems involved in the workings of its
complicated machinery.
Now. after four years of Tammany and
Devery rule. with bitter protests and criti-
cism. all eyes are turned on the new COM
mander Of the police. What kind of a man
IS he? the great public is asking Can he
control his army and protect the city effec-
lively and economically? Colonel Partridge's
friends say yes, and that he will begin by
lifting the department out of politics and
establishing IL on an honest business basis.
A good way TO judge man is to look at
his record. consider his past history. Mr..
Low, whom men know we'll and have con-
fidence in, has selected Mr. Partridge from
all his thousands OF friends.
One fact above all others stands out clear
ly, that twenty years ago. while mayor Of
Brooklyn, Mr.. Low made him his assistant,
and now again calls him TO his cabinet. 1t
shows that the important office has need OF
the man.
Another thing. Experts have long as
serted that the ideal police commissioner
tary training.
Such a man is Colonel Partridge his
friends declare At any rate, Colonel
Partridge Is an acknowledged successful
disciplinarian, who demands unfailing
courtesy from every man under him, from
the lowest and highest.
70. y
absolute obedience and exact performance
OF details, with courtesy to everyone re-
CARELESS OF station, position pull, will
De IKE spring roses and heavenly ozone in
the New York police department, where
rufhanism has so often prevailed on spec
tacular occasions.
1 called on Colonel Partridge the other
day, and found him in the midst of children
and young people at a home gathering in
friends house
He came into the parlOr and talked pleas
antly, without a shadow Of assumption be-
yond the hope that he would succeed in the
work before him and execute the laws i'm
partially He trusted that he would have
the prayers of his friends and the support
OF all citizens interested in good govern
ment.
Much has been said Of Colonel Partridge
and his personality. He is certainly an en-
gaging man. Finer eyes were never put in
an officials head. They flash sunshine or
fire. according TO the occasion. His man
ner Is genial, gracious and self-contained.
He Is man whom women and children
cheers friends and disarms the enemy He
is man of strong and executive force.
Under his soft skin nerves of steel-he
Is anable, yet resolute in the full meaning
OF the word-strongly gentle, yet infiexible
in the performance of duty.
most surprised person is the stranger
who reads that he is sixty-three years old
and finds him a man of fOrty-eight or nifty
In appearance. OF sOldierly bearing and the
charming manners of a genial man of the
world He Is also athletic, fond of Wig
orous outdoor exercise and sports of all
kinds. 1t Is his easy. masterful nature that
makes him born hOrseman.
A "GET-THERE" MAN.
In making trip in the Rocky mountains,
over the snow-capped Continental divide
the average stage driver requires two or
three changes of horses. starting early and
coming in late. shouting and banging
around precipices and down canons, the
horses hecked with foam. Yet a certain
state official. with a single spar of horses.
made the same journey between sun and
sum-, stopping an hour or two at noon and
resting his horses frequently. while going
up the mountains, yet reached his destina-
ton ahead Of time, with the animals
scarcely damp under the collar and the
passengers charmed with the trip
II is this kind OF "get-there-eariy'' driving
that Colonel Partridge does in business or
politics, making life a sort Of picnic while
serious work is accomplished
In the police department IL is declared
that he will make haste leisurely.
Go slow and act fair is the motto on
which he says the department will be run.
1T won't take mind reader he saws
TO tell what will happen to Devery when
i begin my duties in the police department
II intend TO follow the policy of Mr. Low
and do as know he wants me to do"
This argues that harmony will prevail
after Jan. l. as the two men were mayor
and police commissioner of the formidable
and somewhat Vesuvian cftv of RrooxIvn
twenty years ago.
II think it beyond the province of the
elect -, H.
making. but the laws will be executed To
the best of my ability" said Colonel Part
ridge. with an executive twinkle in his
When asked what he would do if Deverv
were to be kept in office by the courts, he
think a bridge will be found TO suit Mr..
Devery's case when the time comes
When asked his views of how the depart
ment should be conducted he said he he
lieved In keeping politics out Of the depart-
ment- ABILITY and good character should
be the only tests of an applicant" and, he
added, II was one of the original cham
pions Of civil service, is known, and ad-
vocated promotion for competence in
Brooklyn. OF course the system is not en-
tirely perfect. but have yet to discover
Letter one"
During the conversation reference was
made to communication said to have been
sent him by DR.. Parkhurst. Colonel Part
ridge explained that he did not receive it
only saw IL N a newSpaper-but he was
greatly pleased with the sentiment:
so long ; pretend TO be doing more
than we can do we shall not succeed In do
ing so much as we might do"
a very close friend of Colonel Partridge
TO whom I was referred by him, gave me
these facts:
81 have known Colonel Partridge all nv
life. and can say that politically he is a
reformer in the best sense. not erratic nor
a poseur. He is a Republican in the true
meaning of the term. While not snowy nor
conspiCouously brilliant, he is broadly and
comprehensively intelligent. He is always
gentlemanly, approachable and unassrm-
ing: but he knows how 10 keep intruders
at proper distance without giving offense.
while maintaining the dignity of his posi-
ton.
IF were asked 10 name his most dis
tinguishing traits / sOuld say a remark
able evenness of temper and disposition a
judicial quality Of mind, dealing fairly by
all a desire to be thorough. painStaking
conscientious and attentive TO details.
while ! do not regard him severe, he
IS firm and a good executive. Though ana
bic and pleasant he has good deal of re-
ser-a
His early ambition was TO engage in
active affairs. He was more concerned
about keeping himself busy than in secur-
ing a good position. One reason why he ac-
cepted the position OF state commissioner
OF public works was that he wanted TO en-
ter upon enterprises, solve problems
of difficult nature and master the details.
While he Is not optimistic and does not
usually overestimate what he can do. he
has the confidence that brings him sue
cess
Colonel Partridge was born I'm Leicester.
Mass, in 1SSS The family has records of