The sun., 1910-02-23
POLICEMEN HEAR FROM TAFT
S0TR IN TIE SAME LFNE or
BUSINESS, HE TELLS THEN.
EnrIght. Head OF LIeutenants AssOcIa-
tIOn, Halls End or Reign Or Terror In
Force Crhat's Rlngbam) and Says
New York Has q New TiIden (GaynOr).

Force That's BIngham) and Says
New York Has q New TiIden (GaynOr).
Nearly 1000 persons. OF the grade Of
police lieutenant and above. attended
last night in the grand ballroom Of the
Waldorf Astoria the largest dinner ever
given by the Police Liouteuants Benevolent
Associs ton. and although disappointed
by the non-arrival Of Mayor Gsynor and
Police Commissioner Baker had the
satisfaction OF greeting President Taft at
ii:2o O'Clock.
The President was met outside the
banquet hall by an escort Of twenty
lieuteuants. and when he entered the hall
he was greeted by the frantic waving OF
canes bearing silk American flags which
had been presented to the diners as
souvenirs.
MFR. Taft said:
mfr. Chairman and Gentlemen OF the
Police Force OF New York: am delighted
to be here Loud applause and cries OF
Good boy for you'll to tell you that l
am with you Loud applause.l You are
engaged in doing the same thing hope
am doing. You are preserving the law.
loud applause.l You are defending the
rights OF persons and the rights OF prop
erty. loud applause You are giving
everybody a square deal. loud ap-
plause.l
Since I have been n llaughterl can't
remember the time that didn't hold an
ot3oe Ilaughterl, and the duties Of each
Office imposed on me the enforcement
OF the law: and in those Offices generally
l had to count on the members OF the
police to uphold my hand. loud ap-
plause.l Now. / haven't con,e into a
great deal OF contact with the police force
Of New York. Mt least hostile contact.
Il have been in the city OF New York,
when / have enjoyed your protection.
ztarted around Zone night in the
canvass, and I think we travelled a
hundred miles in a veryN short time,
and We slid around corners. and ] am
sure that we should have broken heads
and necks II It had not been that the
Lord was booking after the policeman
that was with us on the machine. laugh
ter and loud applause
But, gentlemen. I am not here to make
speech. am here only 10 thank you
for giving me an opportunity OF coming
here 20 exchange greetings with you
IApplause.l am not saying what am
saying merely-if may use q colloquial ex-
presion--to jolly you. Hisbecause feel
deeply the cause OF law and order that
you represent. IGreat applause.l IL is
because know from your history as the
police force that when IL Is necessary for
you TO move forward to suppress law
less violence you take your lives In your
hands and you know no persons. you
know no favortes. you simply enforce
the law and do your duty as you under
stand It. tGreat applause
1T 10 that principle that We have got to
maintain in this country or else we might
a. well give up the business Of govern
ment. Now I am delighted 70 see that
you have this association, q benevolent
association. with doubtless all those
appurtenances Of life insurance and other
assistance and features that 60 to look
after the wives and the children when
you are taken away. / am also glad to
see that you invite into your associations
and into your social celebration those who
ought TO and do not doubt who can. act
as the police for you Mt home.
-Josh Billings used to say that the man
who consented to be Lieutenant on his
wedding day was never promoted. lap
plauss.l I hope you may all be pro-
NOTED 70 be captains and Commissioners
on the force. but hope you win never
be promoted at home ILaughterl.
because I know from my personal ex-
pcrience thai the home 10 better run under
that permanent arrangement OF lieu
tenancy.
Acting Captain Richard Enright. who
has long been president Of the Police
Lieutensnts Benevolent Association, pre-
sided. At the guest table with him were
Deputy Commissioners Walsh. Reynolds
and Kirby, Comptroller Prendergast, Fire
Commissioner Waldo. Borough Presi-
dents Steers Of Brooklyn and Cromwell
OF Richmond. Chaplains Gems and
Wade, Sheriff Shea, John II. McCooey.
District Attorney Clarke and Assistant
District Attorney Elder OF Brooklyn,
former Police Chief McCuIlagh. Herman
A. Metz, Patrick A. McGowan. Bird 8.
Coler. the Rev. Or. Thomas r. Slicer.
Thomas r. McAvoy. Deputy Fire Com
missioner O'Keefe and Judge Otto A.
Rosalsky.
Toastmaster Enright said in his open
ing speech: The police heutenants meet
tonight under brighter skies than ever
before. They viii celebrate the passing
OF q police reign OF terror and the re-
establishment OF an age OF reason In
police affairs. The police hsutenants
have reason TO be proud OF their supreme
oontempt for all forms Of tyranny and
hypocrisy, FOR any form OF procedure
that does not warrant the support Of
courageous and honorable mon.
For tho future glory OF the nation q
new Tilden has arisen In New York: for
the public welfare the police force Of this
city will receive and be entitled TO receive
q place Of honor in the front rank OF good
government. -
"A large number OF good people are
vastly superstitious about that time
honored will o. the wisp called the 'sys-
TEN. that uncertain and shadowy bug
aboo. that something without form or
substance. that something which cannot