Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-26
POLICE ARE COMING
Convention of Chiefs Will Be
Held Here.
AIMS OF ASSOCIATION
MAI. SYLVESTER FIVE TIMES
ELECTED PRESIDENT.
Would Interest Congress in a Federal
Bureau of Criminal
Identification.
AIMS OF ASSOCIATION

Police officials are displaying considerable
interest IN the coming meeting of the Inter-
national Association of Police Chiefs, who
will be here the last of May. Members l1v-
ing in the east had expected pleasant
journey to the Pacific coast this year. but a
change in the head of the San Francisco
department caused a change in the ar
rangements for the convention. An elabo-
rate program had been arranged for the
entertainment of the visitors by Chief Witt
man in San Francisco, but when he was
deposed the board of directors had to cast
about for another meeting place. WASH
ington and Atlantic City were mentioned
by the board, and it required but one vote
to settle the problem.
The association has accomplished much
good during the twelve years it has been
organized, and has brought police officials
together and interested them in the work
outside their own cities. Years ago police
officials were not nearly so willing to help
those of other cities as they are now. Many
of them were always looking for the spec
tacular end of every arrest, and were not
always willing co-operators unless they saw
a prospect of getting something in the ma
ture of a bonus or advertisement But
now things are different, and the changed
conditions have been produced by the
closer relationship which now exists be-
tween the members of the association. The
membership extends from one end of the
country to another, and even includes some
noted officials in other countries Some of
the conventions have been attended by for
eign officials, but 1T is --drdly probable that
any of them will attend the session here
this spring, as they made effort to repre-
sent their countries at the meeting in st.
Louis last year. Maj. Sylvester was first
elected president of the aSSOPiat iOn at the
seventh annual convention which was held
in Cincinnati. At that time the local chief
read a paper on neglect of duty" which
was SO much appreciated that his election
to the highest office in the organization
followed. He is now serving his fifth sue
cessive term as president. On each occa-
sion the office has sought him, although at
one meeting Chief Devery of New York
made hard fight for 1t.
Gov. Francis Tribute.
The other officers of the association in
clude John C. Whitaker of Dayton, Ohio
and George c. Tenny of Elizabeth. N j.,
vice presidents, and Harvey o. Carr of
Grand Rapids, Mich, secretary and treas
urer. The executive committee is COM
posed of the officers of the association and
William Moore, Binghamton, N. Y; George
W. Whitman, San Francisco, Cal; Francis
O'Neill, Chicago. ILL.,; Col. Mathew Kelly,
ST. Louis, Mo-; Frank A. Mathews Provi-
dence, R. l.; ]. B. Taylor, Philadelphia,
Pa; Lawrence Cox, Hammond Ind Col A.
Atlanta, Ga; Benjamin Murphy, Jersey
City, n. j.; W. M. ltea, Fort " Worth, Texas;
Fred w. HILL Chattanooga, Tenn; John J.
Downey, Detroit, Mich.
1t is expected there will be 200 members
of the association at the meeting this year.
Last year at st. Louis there was the larg-
est attendance of any annual meeting.
About three hundred attended that conyen-
after the reelection of Maj. Sylvester last
year Gov. Francis, addressing the associa-
ton, spoke of him as follows:
''Twenty-six years ago the city of St.
Louis lost to the national capital a young
newspaper reporter who journeyed to
Washington as the secretary of st. Louis
member of the House Of Representatives.
1t was a sad day for st. Louis when she
permitted this young man to leave her
limits He has remained in Washington
from that time to this, and, after serving
successfully in every subordinate place to
which he was designated. his merits finally
gained that recognition they SO richly de-
served, and he was, seven years ago, made
the chief of police of the District of Co.
lumbfa We have felt, and still hope, that
he is only sojourning beyond ST. Louis, and
in the not far distant future he may return
to the home of his first love. You have
worthily honored him by making him the
president of this association.
During the time Maj. Sylvester has been
president of the association he has. read a
number of papers bearing upon police topics
and has done great amount of work tend
ing to make the organization a necessity to
the law-abiding people of the country. On
one occasion he expressed himself upon
matters relating to the organization. and his
paper very well expresses some of the
aims of the association and the difficulties
under which it labors He said in this con-
nection
Lot of the Policeman.
mott,
wholesome benefits, broadening the minds
and systematzing the efforts of the mem
bers, the tendency being to uplift, to ele-
vate the standard of the police officer, SO
that he is far. better advised and is more
efficiently equipped to meet the conditions
of society, which have undergone such Won
derful changes within the past few years.
The lessons of the instructive sessions have
better prepared the police to cope with the
situations incident to the worlds progress.
1.-The spirit of progress and betterment
manifested by the police heads, the efforts
made to place themselves and their insti-
tutions In the esteem and confidence of the
public, by illustrating their mode Of con-
duct and accomplishments, at personal ex-
pense, is an ambition and work deserving of
appreciation. When it is considered that
they must encounter the gross criticisms
heaped upon municipal government often
unjustly; when it is remembered that they
are condemned If they do and condemned
If they DON'T" when it is realized that they
are but human, laboring under constant
temptations and are continually exposed to
many of the ills and risks that prevail the
good citizen cannot help sympathizing with
them. He should do more by cooperating.
to the end that the police establishment
shall be exempt from political influence.
officers be retained in the service during
faithful performance of duty, be sufficiently
paid for what they do and the exposure
they undergo. 1t should not be considered
a humiliation to encourage the police Their
very work makes them unpopular, but such
would not be the case would the reputable
citizen sustain them, except SO far as nom
enforcement of the laws and obedience to
the regulations are concerned They will
be better men, and more efficient officials in
proportion to the confidence and backing
received at the hands of the respectable
element of the population. Pride and am
bition can only be instilled in the police
oraani,ation nv a recognition of thair 49,
CHI ho