Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-13
CHIEF TO THE CHIEFS
MAJOR SyLVESTER'S ADDRESS
AT CONVENTION.
Makes Strong Plea for Larger Coop
Grafton in Supplying Data for the
Identification Of Law-Breakers.

dispatch from Albany n. Y. last night
says: At the first days session OF the an
nual meeting OF the Police Chiefs Associa-
ton OF New York state. at Albany. n. Y.
today. the chief address was delivered by
Maj. Sylvester, superintendent OF police OF
Washington, d. c., and president OF the
International Association of Police Chiefs.
Maj. Sylvester. who is looked upon
one of the best police authorities In tho
country, talked about the long and contin-
ual fight by the police throughout the coua-
try against criminals. He urged upon the
chiefs the importance and value of
operation in criminal identification and po-
lice work. He also lauded the employment
Of finger prints and palm impressions
criminal identification. His speech was in
part follows:
The more effective the organization for
the accomplishment of certain ends the be-
ter the prospects for success. This is cs-
pecally true with regard to military and
police endeavor If the police forces of tho
country today adhere to the methods and
practices of ten years ago they would not
be prepared to contend with the criminal
and disorderly classes.
Must Cooperate.
ut matters not. in my opinion, how well
perfected the organization OF a force may
be locally, It is weak a police institution
in this progressive age If II cannot COM
mand the earnest cooperation on the part
OF the police heads throughout the country.
1t should not be forgotten that in this
period those agents of the people who are
chosen to combat crime must more than
ever before have higher intelligence more
accurate training. greater courage, moral
and physical. to say nothing of energy and
loyalty in order to cope with educated.
clever unsupported professionals who have
superseded the gold brick man of days
gone by. In time the bank burglar. with
his can OF powder and drill. has given
away to the yeggman, who uses nitrogly-
cerin: the fakir who delighted the citizens
with cheap gold rings. has given place TO
the gentleman who sells cheap gold
mines. and three-card monte has gone over
the divide. and bucketshops and sure
things prevail. The charms of rapid IRE
have produced embezzlers. check -raisers
and forgers. In many cases the financial
absorptions have been so monumental as
to astonish the world. and In other cases
so small and simple As to bring ridcule
upon the victims. The workers along these
lines are not illiterate denizens VINO foiioW
the show. but shrewd Intelligent men; VINO.
to be overtaken. must have intelligence
applied against them, and that means COM
plete cooperation
Does Not Now Exist.
THAT does not exist at this time. but II
is more general than ever known in the his
tory of the country. The organization or
the International Police Association, which
will celebrate the thirteenth year of Its ex-
istence in another year, has been the prime
factor to bring about improved personal ana
official relationships between the ponce
heads of the various cities and towns of the
United States and Canada. Organized with
a membership of fifty. over 200 officials now
lend II hearty support. The annual ex-
change of views production of papers on
appropriate topics and exhibits of appli-
ances and facilities have resulted In abund-
ant good to society. We have improved
methods and devices in vogue: the humane
treatment of prisoners, houses Of detention
and Juvenile courts are all outgrowths.
This association established a national
bureau of criminal identification. which IL
hopes to have the government encourage
1t produced a wonderful exhibit at the
worlds fair in st. Louis, bringing educa-
tional features from England. France.
Japan and other foreign countries. The
sembling of police commissioners and chiefs
from our own and other lands was great
lesson to the world and each and every
participant Those of this country who
pa rticipated in the deliberations of the in
ternational association have been made
broader, better brothers and officials. b9t
the army engaged in fighting crime and
criminals will not be fully organized until
the chief of every city in the country en-
lists and thereby extends the line of bat
tie.
"An outgrowth of this movement IL the
organization in the several states of state
associations, which keep alive the principles
we are contending for and which should
exercise an influence for the enactment OF
proper and timely laws not only for the
good of society, but in the interest OF the
American policeman. Those employed In the
trades-mechanic, railroad man and laborer
have been more adequately paid, given
fewer hours of labor, while the prices OF
necessities have advanced, but the men
who comprise the institution upon which
all others must depend-the policemen-are
overlooked.
'.It Is important that you urge upon the
departments everywhere the value of GRIM
inal Identification. This country has estab-
lished in various cities the Bertillon, or
metric ITEM of measurements. which car
ries with 1t the front and side photo
graphs of prisoners descriptions and marks.
and its placing involves no little expense.
Others operate the finger print or impress
sions In conjunction with the former This
combination is preferable If IL can be had.
but where the expense interposes to prevent
the cost of the finger-print process is so in
significant that IT should he possessed and
practiced by ell. With so admirable a
plant of Identification as New York has. SUI
pervised by SO intelligent and competent
superintendent, no police official In this
sta te should plead poverty or want OF
knowledge of the process an excuse for =
not having It, Whatever you place as an
the national bureau at Washing
ton would be pleased to have you forward
to 1t from time to time any data you may
collect regarding criminals and their rec~
ords."