Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1905-10-22

ders of te police officers of a city like
Pine Bluff. More especially is this
true of the chief officer of the police
department, who must. after all, take
the bulk Of the responsibility for the
faithful discharge of tic duties OF the
police department.. Not least among
this officers many troubles is that OF
looking after the needy. No one in the
city more fully appreciates the need OF
a united charities than does the chief
of police. And yet none hears him
grumble, for it has become one Of the
unwritten laws of the department that
the chief is to look after this class of
people, and he does it willingly, If
not gladly.
It would be difficult matter to esti
mate in cold facts and figures. the
real amount of charity work accom-
plished by the chief of police of Pine
Bluff during years time. Perhaps If
the real figures were ever published
1t would be a revelation TO those per-
sons supposed to be most interested in
charitable work. Suffice to say that
scarcely week passes but that the
chief executive of the police depart
ment is called upon to assist from one
to a dozen needy persons who are
left in the city homeless and friend
less and without funds. They come
here from the four corners OF the
earth. and something must be done to
relieve them. Not only that, but what
soever is done must be done quickly,
for it is one of the peculiarities of
lust such cases that their needs must
be supplied instantly. Perhaps during
his present term of office. Chief of Po-
lice AL. J. Stewart has raised funds ag-
gregating several hundred dollars for
the needy who have been thrown up
on the tender mercies of the city, in
one way or another Some of the cases
afford one an interesting study in eco
nomic conditions.
It was but recently, for instance.
that two women alighted from Cot
ton Belt train. They had with them a
little baby. not yet able to walk. and
the younger of the women was in a
critical condition. They told a tale
of sorrow that would bring the tears
to the eyes of the most callous. The
elder of the women stated that she
was the mother of the younger one.
and that the younger ones husband
had but recently deserted her. AS the
elder one was widow. and homeless
and friend)ess, and in strange COM
nlunity. she begged for the assistance
of the charitably inclined to enable
her to reach some place where she
unaccustomed to the ways of the
world, and equally unaccustomed to
begging for a living. When they made
their appearance at police headquar-
tiers, where they went because they
did not know where else to go, they at
once touched tender chord in the
heart Of the chief. There was nothing
else left him but to assist them. even
though it be at his own personal and
private expense. Mr.. Stewart sue
ceeded in making up purse for them
and enabled them TO get out of town 10
some other point Such cases are by
no means infrequent And the chief
not infrequently bears a large share Of
the exepense Of such cases himself
1t has become a frequent occurrence
for him to appear upon the street So
l:citing aims for some INDECENT per-
son. After collecting all that he has
the time to cOllect-and his time very
frequently is most limited--he simply
makes up out Of his private purse The
deficit required to send the party to
his or her destination. Few people
realize the amount of money thus ex
pended by the chief of polio. of the
city during his term of Office.
Perhaps, too. it Won d afford an in
teresting study in human nature aoh
sociological conditions generally 10
follow the footsteps Of he chief of
police in his rounds for charity He
has become 4 familiar figure among
certain classes of citizens while out
upon missions of this kind. and so
no ln h,t ~
seldoms makes a mistake in soliciting
his aims. The saloon men contribute
freely to this cause. and have done
much to relieve the wants of the
needy. But there are also many pro-
fessiOnal men. and business mon. and