The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-07-11
POLICEMEN
CONTINUED from page as

ana OF the public, becomes lmbued
with the feeling that the police officer
thoroughly represents the strong
arm of the law" which has even
been stronger. than any man or ag-
gregation Of men. It proved more
powerful than Robert MacGregor In
Scotland, in the Eighteenth century,
one of the bOldest and strongest men
that ever lived, supported, too, as he
4 was, by more than thousand hardy
and intrepid Highland followers. The
average citizen hardly seems to I'M
derstand, or appreciate, what he owes
Ito the policeman, or what these gal
liant and faithful men endure, quietly
and uncomplainingly, as part of the
mere daily and nightly routine of
their duties. As onerous and trying
as the duties and responsibilities of
the policeman are, in the day time,
they are heavier and more exhausting
at night. Whilst the citizen Is bask-
Ing at his ease, before his comfortable
fire, or resting in his warm bed,
blessed with a sense of perfect secur-
Iity, the police officer is patrolling his
beat, exposing his health and life in
all sorts OF weather. losing his nat
ural rest, guarding the citizens life
and property; forced to have close
contact with the yilest and lowest
elements of society, oft times sur
rounded by desperate criminals and
outlaws, some of whom would not
hesitate to take his life, If opportun-
ity offered. Truly, the contrast is
striking, and the policeman does not
get his just need of praise, or the real
appreciation, to which his valuable
services and worth entitle him.
An irritable police officer, one lack
ing in self-control, or inclined to bru-
tally, may at times abuse his au-
thority, but considering the number
of men employed throughout the
country, in the capacity of policemen,
such cases are few. 1t is inevitable,
that, at times, in the heat OF great
Iprovocation, police officials may
act with too great severity; or that in
the press Of their duties, dealing with
strangers, through misinformation,
or misconCeption, injustice may bel
done. Considering the complexity of
the relations of the police to society,
the innumerab1e instances, III which
they must have the closest contact
with Its numbers, the vast scope of
their duties and responsibilities, it is
remarkable, that cases of this severity
and injustice are so rare. Before
passing Judgment upon what may
seem to be, needless severity, or ar
bitrary conduct on the part OF police
officials, the circumstances, surround
ing these men, in the discharge Of
their duty should be fully considered.
Individual citizens, and the public
generally, rarely have an adequate
conception of what police officers are
called upon to endure, what they have
to contend with. how sorely they are
tried. or the full measure of their re-
sponsibility.
! He jests at scars
Who never felt a wound"
The bitter, malignant hatred of
criminals and outlaws, the vile and
scurrilous abuse of blackguards, and
rutfians, whom the police officer is |
compelled to discipline, he must bearI
with equanimity, as well as the. often
unfounded, frivolous and unjust
criticism of even good citizens. He
Is condemned II he does; he is con-
demned If he does not. He must face,
often, even attacks upon his person
and his life, by desperate and Grim
inal creatures. In these days, in
stances of police brutality are seldom
met with. The very highest stand
ard of courage, forbearance, human
ity, Intelligence and good judgment,
are exacted of the American police
man, at this day. When we come to
consider fully and impartially the
true record Of the police, in the his
tory Of American cities, their uniform
bravery, faithfulness, and devotion, in
protecting the lives and property of
their fellow citizens; how on many oc-
casions, they have unfiinchingly and
heroically faced every form of dan
ger and death, in the discharge of
their duty, and many times gone un-
falteringly to their death, while SO
doing, as in the cases OF the Draft
riots. in New York in 1868. the rail-
road strike riots in Baltimore, in
1877. the Haymarket riots in Chicago
in 1886. and the railroad strike riots.
in Chicago in 1894. and on numerous
other occasions: the record becomes
history emblazoned with story and
tradition, of chivalry, heroism and
devotion, that immortalizes the name
of the American policeman with hon
or. renown and glory.
On these occasions, the universal
outpouring by men and women of