The Washington times., 1903-09-20
PRAISE FROM OUTSIDE
FOR MAJOR SYLVESTER
WashingtOn's Chief a Model
for Other Localities.
HE BELIEVES IN REFOR M
Deals Intelligently With the Criminal
and Defective Classes-Hol-
lands View.

i wonder IL Washington people know
the estimate in which Major Sylvester
and the Police Department which he has
Luilt up here are held on the outsider"
The speaker was Philip c. Holland.
known In all police circles as Phil
Holland, Of Chicago. managing editor of
The Detective" the official organ of the
International Association of Chiefs ofPo-
lice. and the National Bureau of Crimi-
nal Identification. Mr.. Holland has been
stopping In the city for a week on
pleasure trip, and was sitting in the club
room with reporter, after a hearty
lunch. and while the waiter had gone for
the cigars.
Richard Sylvester has impressed his
personality on the police circles of this
country more than any man engaged In
police work. At the time of his firsS
election as president of the then Ma
tional Association. there was considera-
bic opposition. on the score of his youth
end short service as chief. On his sec
ond election this opposition had turned
upon the score OF his reserve. some of
the rough-and-re members arguing
that he was too distant in his manner.
At the May meeting in New Orleans,
however. all opposition had disappeared,
and he was unanimously elected to sue
coed himself, because his manner had
come to be understood as natural, and
his ability as a presiding officer and his
services to the police of this and other
countries left him alone in his candidacy.
Believes in Reform.
Major Sylvester is a clean and edu-
Gated gentleman. and a man of strong
personality. With all respect to the po-
lice chief who has risen from the
ranks, he has an executive ability and
a grasp OF the ultra-significance OF po-
lice work. such as the reform rather
than the punishment of the criminal
and defective classes. such as is rare
in a police officer. His parliamentary
superiority has been several times dem
onstrated. when he had occasion to take
the floor for few minutes in national
conventions. and others were called to
the chair.
Among the greatest effects of his
administration of the police system of
the country Is the close touch ia viii IN
each Is with all others. Five years ago
five OF the larger towns we're in touch
with each other in the way OF police
service, while now there is cooperation
throughout. This rebounds to the bene-
fit of society through the prompt cap
ture OF criminals. For this, for the
better care OF police records. and COR
the enlargement OF the association TO an
international one. Major Sylvester in
my judgment. is mainly responsible.
Faulty Uniforms.
LAS to the effectiveness of the Wash
ington police. as a whole. think I can
tell it all when l say TO you that the
under world is shy of coming TO Wash
ington- Crooks don't like to come here,
and avoid your town in their peregrina-
tions about the country. That SO salu-
tary a condition is obtained with so lin
tied a force speaks well. both for the
personnel of the force, and for the abil-
ity OF its head
There Is one point. however. Oh which
think the Washington police is open
10 kindly criticism, and that is in the
matter OF summer uniforms. / have not
a
tidy. or who wore a soiled shirt. but /
do not think the unbuttoned coat is neat
/ think the police, seni-military or
ganization, should present at all times a
military appearance. This could be ac-
complished. l think. by the adoption of
a cloth for summer use so light that the
blouse could at all times be worn but
toned A blue serge coat. made Nor
folk pattern. has always struck me as
q solution of the problem of summer
dress"
Mr.. Holland has left Washington for
Baltimore He is making tour Of East
ern cities. His paper is OF great SER
vice to the police. owing to his policy
OF printing pictures OF all the principal
rogues arrested or wanted. This makes
him a welcome guest TO the police Of