The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1907-02-16

1
were resolutely honest, and the &C
cused quartet were tried, and all
| served time in Jail.
| . When Presidents Mckinley or
Roosevelt were in Philadelphia it was
always Detective McKenty who was
placed with them as protector, and
both distinguished men frequently
praised the care with which McKenty
| handled his men on these occasions.
But all this progress was purely
| police work, and it never occurred to
| any Of his associates that McKenty
would some day head the department
he served SO faithfully
1t was not until Mayor Weaver went
into the mayors chair that McKenty
had a chance to demonstrate his ex-
ecutive and directing capacity. Mayor
Weaver made him superintendent of
the house Of correction.
Mckenty promptly reformed the in
stitution. He corrected abuses, put
its gas plant on a paying basis and
even devoted himself to the task of
uplifting the prisoners.
He visited them personally, and all
who were not past the chance of a
helping hand he offered aid.
1t was on this record of achieve
! ment that Mayor Weaver picked Mr..
McKenty to take charge of Fhiladel-
phia's policemen and firemen.
There were some few who caviled
that the new director lacked college
education, but to these Mayor Weaver
replied that while he might take a
lawyer to be district attorney, or a
fnancier to be city treasurer, what
was most wanted in the department OF
public safety was policeman, and as
McKenty had been, the best officer and
detective he knew, it was only fitting
that he should be rewarded with the
place.
There is no vanity in the hero of
this remarkable advance. He is just
the same to-day as when he was COW
cred with the CRIME and SCOT of the
stolehole.
He is Dot the sort of man to tilt his
chin when fortune comes his way.
Nor does he waste words. His voice
could not be careless if he tried. He
talks like telegraph message, never
a word wasted.
This directness Of expression is in
tensifed by a habit Of keeping his lips
close together when talking. His face.
is resolute and full CT expression. It
is strong face, firm but with plenty
of kindness in it, and when be SMILES
the humor is Infectious.
His eyes are small and daep-set,
but they are never still when he is
| awake They draw to mere Sits
when he is merry, and become almost
hidden when he is reused, but this lat
| ter state of affairs is rare, for the new
! director has excellent control of him.
self and never wastes his power in
| bursts of bad temper.
Mrs. McKenty is as large as the d.
| rector is small. She weighs $50
pounds and makes no secret of it.
There are five boys and one girl in
the family, and they are the apples
of the new directors eye.
There is little library in his home
with a we'll chosen stock of books,
which shows that even if the new d.
rector lacks a college education, he
knows the value Of good literature.
| In his conduct of the office Mr.. Nc
Kenty has instituted the most demo
cratic regime the place has ever
known His door is always open,
and in the course of a day he sees
more persons than used to gain access
to the preceding chief of the depart:
ment in a week. Yet so sl1illful is Nc
I Kenty in his understanding of how to
treat men that the idler and trifer