Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-26

vote of the deputies. and 1t is possible that
their united opposition might cause
French president to thank" q project of
police of Paris-but 1t has never happened.
If the Paris police commissary is the
father Of his division. then Monsieur Lepine
may be called the dread grandfather OF
the whole capital. The Paris mob knows
him as it does not know the president, and
the exclamation There's Lepine!' dashes
cold water on the sturdiest Apache
I would emphasize the dignity and i'm
portance of his everyday position. lie
Is not a municipal officer. He is a func-
donary of the general government in an
exceptional situation, which he has OBJ
tanned by successive promotions in a vast
Intervening national administration.
ne Is gentleman, scholar ana
Raphael Lepine of the faculty Of Lyons
and editor of the Revue de Medicine. 1t
is a family of what was called in other
days ''noblesse de robe descending from
generations of lawyers, doctors and func-
uonaries.
Indeed the proper designation for Louis
Lepine is administrator. He was born at
Lyons In 1915, went through the university
and became a full ''avecat," which Is to
'aveue' what solicitor is to barrister. But
he entered the administration in 1877 as
sub-prefect. not Of police, be 1t noted, and
he became full project of the indre depart
ment in 1885. A project is a kind of gov
ernor administrator. in dignity equal and
in responsibility more than equal to the
governor of one of our states.
In 1885 he became secretary general to
the project of police of Paris a mounting
In grade and something very different from
the plain project of a department. Then in
1901 he was made plain project of the
Loire; in 1893 project of Seine-et-O Disc; and
later in the same year, project of police
of Paris. In this interchanging one clear
ly perceives the European idea of O. govern
or-one who governs; who jumps from
police to administration and back again,
the velvet glove with the iron hand in it.
Noted for His Activity and Firmness.
Succeeding from project of police of Paris
to Loze, Lepine became known at once for
his activity and firmness. He reconciled
the municipality with his department-they
had been seriously estranged-and crushed
out anarchy, then rife in Paris. In the
prefecture he brought about important
innovations, like the organization of the
policemen's orphans work with its pro-
fessional school, which he set up in the
police barracks of the Cite. In word,
he Worked SO hard that his health broke
down and the government, to reward him,
made him governor general of Algers.
Here Monsieur Lepne found himself in
n place of great dignity, which it depended
only on his wish to make one of luxury
and ease. The activity of the man, how
ever, threw him at once into a vast scheme
of public works Then came troubles with
the natives, and practical politics. in the
cities. Governor General Lepine was for
maintaining order at no matter what price
whereupon he became the object of attacks
which, In July, 1898. forced him to resign
He was needed in Paris-thls little man
with big stick. The Dreyfus affair with
Its riotfng and violent possibilities, was
more threatening than ever; so that when
he was again made project OF police. in
1899, the business men or the capital
breathed a sigh Of relief. Again and again
Paris was on the verge of grave troubles,
and few wilLever know the thousand and
one wise ruses and diplomatic stratagems
by which Monsieur Lepine managed to
avoid them.
SrERLING HElLlG