New-York tribune., 1908-03-01

custom to be untruthful.
In Wall Street, is Obliged TO meet his
obligations. or he IS put out of the market place
This is a sort of disciplined honesty that seems 10
encourage spirit of honor under the threat Of bank
ruptcy Business has regulated certain system
of protective honesty IN its transactions that IS
more or less compelling; but It Is not always the
true instinct of honor.
Il contend that If a be not true IN small
matters. he will not be the big things A small
promise IS the test OF mans spiritual honesty just
as much his conduct of trust involving money
property may be legal test of his material hon
esty But we are fast losing this nice distinction
between the expedient lie and the inherent sense
OF truth >, .,.... .,.-o..o,, 49,, a,o-t;tar.
luxury of our prosperity. In the triumphs of easy
money has come an arrogant indifference to ethical
obligations. The tremendous wave of extravaganza
that has swept the American people IN the last
few wears has drenched them of right feeling, right
thinking What we need is hard times, stress of
fortune a cessation of tremendous luck which Will
compel people to think and feel and understand
the degradation of truth which their present 1dOa-
try of the golden calf has brought about. Hard
times will restore honesty, and something Is gong
to break, or later. We were never IN such
confusion of principles now.
There was time when all detective had to say,
in any part of the world insure respect, that
he came from Inspector Byrness office. A differ
ence of ethical standards between DR.. Parkhurst
and Mr. Byrnes himself resulted in an attack by
the minister against the Chief of Police that deposed
him from power. ] happened to mention to Dr.
Parkhurst that had lust lunched with the former
You don't saw sol Tom Byrnesl Ali" and the
minister adjusted his glasses and looked down at
reminiscent past 1t was the old stOry,-the reform
parson, who in his early enthusiasm had faced the
Goliath of a police departure ent, and having pointed
a moral, found in later years that 1t had certain
practical defects.
We'll | drove Byrnes out of the police depart
ment because didn't like his methods; but | will
say this: We never had more efficient detective
service than he gave US. He has been to my house
since, and | have told him the same thing. He
always restored stolen property but he has had re
tions with the crooks that were not ethlCaly COZ
rect for in his position. Still, he is leader,
a man of great will power, and we can see by the
rules of perspective that he understood his Job
By Thomas Byrnes Ex-Chief of Police OF New York
THE statement which Mr. Byrnes makes indicates
that contact with dishonest men may reveal
certain impractical phases of honor.
why is there much said about dishonesty IN
the police department of a great city2 1t is
not question that | answer without reflect
ing on present conditions in New York; and yet
must try to answer it without doing so, if | can;
because | don't believe there is any department
more continually embarrassed by butters-in than
the police Without using names or dates perhaps
| can, however, show some of the weak places en-
cOuntered and still encounter. though | am not at
all interested in police matters any |
interested because | know thing or two about
their limitations, and because | want to spend the
remaining years OF my life IN peaceful citizenship
Still, | am human, and mans work Is always the
most interesting thing he can talk about.
Il do not believe that a dishonest man can be
leader of men. The Chief of Police must have the
confidence of the entire police force under him, TO
man, and that confidence is obtained only according
TO his sense of Justice toward them. The man IL
command must not only be a routine commander.
but he have knowledge of the physical capaci
ties of the human proportions OF strength and weak
ness, IN the men he commands He must have d
knowledge of the character of their duties. of the
expedient rules that will assist his perform
them, and then he must compel obedience to these
rules. A specification of twenty words, accusing
policeman OF breaking an order of the department,
IS all that IS necessary TO enforce this discipline
Long police trials with philosophic lectures