The Detroit times., 1908-06-05
OOWNEY PUS h s
ASIDE POLICE
CROWN
OFFERED PRESIDENCY OF CHIEFS
ASSOCIATION BUT DECLINES,
AND SYLVESTER Is REFLECT.
ED-0UNN's CLEVER PAPER.

John J. Downey, superintendent or
the Detroit police force, was rendered
the presidency Of the International AS
ISOLATION Of Chiefs OF Police In the
final business session. Friday morning.
This offer was made as a tribute TO
him and TO the department. for which
the visiting chiefs expressed the
greatest admiration.
Downey refused the honor. and Maj.
Richard Sylvester. of Washington.
was reelected for his tenth term.
Downey was made first vice-president
and Harvey o. Carr. Of Grand Rapids.
was reelected secretary-treasurer
When the matter Of elecung officers
came up, the excitement that has been
threatening ever since the convention
began, was on at once. Chief j. II.
Hanger. OF Louisville. began by NOV.
ing that the old officers be elected for
another year. Chief James McWeeney.
OF South Bend, Ind. made a warm
speech declaring against perpetuity
In Office and the old officers manifest
ed desire to withdraw voluntarily TO
allow new heads being selected. Then
Chief George M. Shippy. Of Chicago,
nominated Downey and McWeeney
seconded the nomination.
Maj. Sylvester. took the floor to de-
clare his willingness TO withdraw In
favor OF Downey, but the Detroit chief
would not allow this. In a speech full
OF feeling he declined 10 allow his
name TO be used
This cleared the decks, and when
John c. Whitaker. OF Dayton. insisted
that Downey's name be substituted for
his own as vice-president. the resolu
ton OF Chief Hanger went through.
Resolutions thanking the citizens OF
Detroit for the heanty welcome ac-
corded the chiefs were adopted, the
names OF Fred w. Smith. Mayor
Thompson. Judge Connolly, Allan II.
Frazer Geo. W. Fowle and w. G. May
bury being especially mentioned.
A most scholarly paper on The
Causes and Prevention Of Crime" by
Chief VIM. Gum. Of Hartford. Conn.
was read
His most startling suggestion was
that the danger OF hereditary criminal.
ity be minimized by isolation and.
perhaps, surgery"
Very few persons are exempt from
the tendency to crime as Influenced by
climate. and other causes, he declared.
Crimes against property are especially
prevalent In winter. because hard
times and speculative mania are then
most frequent Crimes against the
person occur chiefly In summer. as
then the heat tends toward high
tension OF temper.
The instructive criminal Is one who
has not outgrown the state OF child
hood; he lacks reason and forethought
Lynching IL cause OF crime from
its effect on the people generally and
all brutality reacts In crime, said the
speaker With regard to foreign immi-
grafton, Chief Gum recommends q
head tax to keep out the undesirables.
The Negro factor he holds to be an
important one. owing to physical and
mental inferiority and racial inheri.
lance, also to the lack OF training for
skilled work among the Negroes.
Other causes OF crime he mentioned
are alcoholism. child labor and crowd
ed conditions In cities.
In the line OF prevention, his chief
suggestion Is for the widespread use
of the Bertillon system to detect the
habitual criminal; aids to the convict
on leaving prison and the prevention
OF grouping Of ex-convicts together.
THE convict enters world Of
scorn," he says.
The Wholesale destruction OF Grim
inals to eliminate criminal hereditary
he condemns as impossible because OF
its reflex action on the community
which would, In his opinion, be thus
transformed into a community OF GRIM
inals.
More widespread insurance against
fire, sickness and old age, laws against
child labor and training schools for
artisans are the chief remedies he
Sees
A paper by Mrs. NJ. E. Holland on
Finger Print Identification" was also
read.
Los Angeles, Cal. was finally chosen
as the next convention city, after
long argument Chief Kern, OF that
city, has been busy with information
regarding the beauties Of southern
California and won over the conven-
ton. Chief Bodeker, OF Birmingham,
presented the claims OF that Alabama
city. while Michael Regan, Of Buffalo,
talked for Niagara Falls.
Never has jollier party occupied
the Sappho than that she carried TO the
Flats Thursday, the chiefs being the
voyagers. A stop was made at Walk
erville for luncheon and other nourish-
ment on the up-trip. and there was
dancing and vaudeville on the main
deck. Supper was served at the Flats
and the return trip was given up to
music and visiting Mai Richard Syl-
vester presented Mrs. Downey, wife OF
the Detroit chief with a statue, In
token OF the appreciation by the police
chiefs OF their welcome here. Mt
Clemens is to be visited Friday after.
noon and the convention breaks UP In
the evening.
GOV. WARNER AT MARQUETTE.
MARQUETTE. Mitch. June 5.-(Spe
cial Gov Warner and party arrived