Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-06

Nh
- IA peace have made
~ ~ them famous In
many lands. Here
In the United States it has long been
recognized that the nations capltal was
fortunate In having a remarkably me
BODY of men wearing the blue uniform
Of the metropolitan police, and IL mas
frequently happened that the police Of
icials Of other cities have come here to
study the methods and the organization
OF the local police.
That foreign governments have heard
Of the efficiency and discipline of our
local bluecoats is also well known. An
instance of this is found in the TACT
that one Of the members of our police
force was for two years the head of the
police department of the entire republic
Of Guatemala, having been chosen to fill
this important position while serving
rs a member of the metropolitan police
This man is Albert r. Lamb, who after
an absence of two years spent in Guate-
mala, is again a member Of the local
force. and is stationed at headquarters
In charge of the Bertillon records
Guatemala as is we'll known, Is nomi-
nally q republic. but has been for the
last ten years under the und sputed sway
Of Don Manuel Estrada Cabrera. who,
although officially entitled the constitu-
lty an abso ute ruler. Holding his po-
sition only by the power exercised by
him through his army, he is naturally
careful not to neglect anything that will
maintain his hold upon the country.
Among the elements that are most useful
Tor the perpetuaton of an absolute govern
nent the police have been recognized since
before the time o. Joseph Fouche.
pne Of the most potent Therefore, when
President Cabrera saw with dismay that
the police of Guatemala, not only of the
capital city but of all the country were
In badly disorganiZed state he deter
mined to correct the evil at once. Adj
dressing himself to the task with the
characteristic energy that is perhaps the
secret of his complete dominion over the
Latin American republic, he quickly be-
tame convinced that a Guatemalan would
ind the task of putting the police on an
efficient bass an Impossible one, and he
then determined to employ a foreigner,
and preferably an American, for this
TASK.
The fame of the metropolitan police
had penetrated to Guatemala. The presi-
dent of that county determined to use a
washington policeman for the reorganiza-
non OF his police, and accordingly under
instructions from his home government.
m May, 1903, the then minister from
Guatemala TO this country, Senior don
Forge Munoz, requested the aid of the
department of State in this matter. The
department referred his request to Mai
sylvester. and asked hum to select a COM
petent man to undertake the task for the
government of Guatemala.
After looking over the men in the de-
1artment who. in his estimation, were
tapable of holding down THIS JoD. he de-
cIded that Albert r. Lamb for fourteen
years member of his force. was per
ma ha hnCt la
important task demanded of him by the
government of Guatemala.
To look at Lamb is to know that he is
a capable man. Tall, and with an erect
ana well made figure, he impresseS one as
man who without giving visible evil
tence Of great physical strength, Is still
Dne who has tremendous endurance and
reserve force. He. therefore. recommend
ed him TO Senior MunoZ, and after a few
negotiations Mr.. Lamb and the repre-
sentative of the Guatemalan government
Fame to terms and soon after Lamb re-
signed from the department and sailed
for the scene of his new Iabors.
:.
He arrived in Guatemala early in July.
1905, 10 find that the work ahead of him
was no light task. His job was to be no
sinecure. but was one demanding the
greatest energy. combined with the great
found that service on the force was in
great disrepute among Che G;uatemalanS,
so much so that II was impossb BILE TO
cruit the force by voluntary enlistment.
Inc government had been forced TO make
The service a compulsory one, as is the
military service IN that country, and the
ranks of the force were filled by con-
scription. The pay of the men was
wretchediy low. y private was paid only
eighty pesos month, which. since at
that time the exchange was twelve pesos
20 one dollar, correspondent To the munifi-
cent sum of six dollars and sixty-six cents
month In American money. Moreover,
the paymaSterS had disagreeable habit
Of occasionally skipping a pay day, and,
worse yet, when the subsequent pay day
rame along the overlooked pay day was
sometimes completely forgotten.
All this naturally tended 10 disgust the
policemen and also To ciriYe the ones who
did not desert into the devious ways of
raising the wind that would have made Il
New York policeman of the pre-Le4ow
period green with envy. There was graft
everywhere. y policeman took toll OF
every one on his beat and levied black
mail right and left OF course, the high
er-ups" all grated. too. but the humble
patrolmen. in other cities where police
corruption has fourished. all got their
little bit. Not content with mere graft.
The policemen sometimes descended to
plain brigandage and would hold up be-
lated passersby on the streets. and il they
did not display proper contributory
spirit would assault them or. worse still,
arrest them on some trumped-up charge.
The new chief had to egin almost ut
the beginning. His first care was to make
he police service so attractive that the
conscripti ton of men for its ranks might
ne done away with. lie made such repre-
sensations to President Cabrera. who
seems TO have taken "A fancy To him from
Ire start and thereafter backed every
move he made that tended to the i'm
provement of the force. that the pres
dent raised the pay OF policemen from 80
70 40 pesos a month. MoreoXer. Lamb in
diced the president to allow him to re-
new the equipment of the force, and soon