New-York tribune., 1909-01-04
M4NT liant TO "SLEUTH.'
Secret Service Agitation Brings
UiII'ie Hundreds of Implications.
LFrom III. Trihnns Bureau !


Washington. Jan. 3.-Chef Wikie of the Secret
Service is being fairly besieged with appcs-
ttons from Sherlock Holmeses Of all Colors and
nationalities, who anxious apply their seuth-
ing ability under his guidance The prominence
given the service by the recent developments in
Congress IS responsible for its present popularity,
for IL is a recognized fact the bureau that every
time the service is prominently mentioned in the
papers the applications increase amazingly. When
there is nothing Eong on 20 bring the Secret Ser
Vice into print the number Of applicants for de
teetIve jobs viii not average more than five or SIX
q week. Now they coming in AT the rate Of
seven or eight day and frequently the chiefs
morning mail Will contain dozen Not one in a
hundred of these letters ever proCUres the appu-
cant even A promise Of chance for place in the
service. hut I'm spite OF the hopelessness Of the
quest pleas continue to pour in and each writer
assures Mr Wtlkie that he is just the sort Of man
the chief is looking for
Il colored barbe-.' writes one applicant
from New York City and in ny conversation
with my customers frequently get fTst class "l"vs
II you will send badge and commission
viii ne glad to take NJ the work m addiuon I"
my other duties. and feel sure that I viii he
valuable man for YOU after while
IT seems SCARCELY worth While to say that d0
not pick my mcn from letters of this kind said
chief Wilkie IT * really wonderful Vhsi hazy
idea the public At large seems have Of the duties
and requirements Of the Secret Service operatives
Tho majority of the applicants seem think that
they can IS detectives vhue they are Attending
their reg Jlar work at home that they can take
up the Secret Service sort Of side line This IN
preston probably fostered by the fake detective
agencies thar are doing in various parts of
the country. Ore of thA largest of these. concern
in Indiana gets 3 apiece out ~ It's dupNs. and for
that sum sends them badge. certificate pub
hcatiou containing the description of some escaped
criminals AM a paper of Instructions The in
strcrins instruct the newly created detectives 70
keep on tho lookout for the criminals that are
wanted AMI arrest them for the rewards that are
offered In other words. they given 2 free hama
10 work as detectives If they frd work to do
Another ort In ohio gets out HftIe o''h
containing the pictures o. famous criminals ana
on elaborate description ~ tust nov to 80 9o"H'
getting each # he comes ground. We succeeded IN
shuttinr M one Of tha agencies. concern in New
York that promised to teach Sc ret SNrv"" ietec
tive work hv mail This correspondence school HStd
the letters u : : 8 the badges II sent ont 20
It's pupils and although the letters we're supP'seu
10 stand for United States Secret School 1t vas 10"
near like United States Secret Service t" he allowed
to continue
All annItcants for the Secret Service who are
wanted in the seryice are recommended ny '"'S'
V-flkie CT some one connected with the department.
and are required to fl ont papers prepared ny Inc
civil Service Commission The applcanfs h'nes-
is measured more by age experience. Strength an"
raoi,1iar qualifications needed in the service Vork
fbar b,- his technical knowledge O. book learning
and after the papers are filed ont ard banded %
the civil Service Commission they are transnI''i
r. the cacretary Of the Treasury. who retains them
as CONFIDENTIAL documents From this list 81 eng
hes the future detectives 81 the Secret Service are
ricked chief WiIke aiming 70 select them IN chr'
oo.f,aI order But fitness for the work 10 he done
is the great reconrn =ndston after all and II me
chief has task In view that can hs pNrI'rrH'"
better nv one of the last men apply for jon
,bo, ~, one or 1bose who have been OF the waiting
Ijs tor Avo years. he viii take him FOR the good OF
the service