New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-16
Police Problems Are Being
Mastered, and New York,
Compared to Europe, Is
Notably Law Abiding.

1.-TWO strong, vigorous. energetic young
Americans are the respective heads
Of two of the largest and most i'm
cortant municipal departments In the
United States-the New York fohce De
nartment and the New York Fire Depart
ment. Perhaps in no other positions IN
r,,oh c,tv affairs are concerned Is great
or competency and efficiency required. com
missioner Waldo and Commissioner Johh-
son have been in office only Jew weeks
Rhinelander Waldo head OF the police Is
a typical young American, the son OF rlch
parents, who is willing to put ASIDE 'ne
attractions of social life for the hard WORK
-, ,,hl;c emplovment. Fire Commissioners
Joseph Johnson is young sou'herne''
oued with the spirit OF American hus'ie'
,evsnaper man by training. foth nave
decided views.
mt this question to Commissioners
Waldo at Police Headquarters recentN'
..Whv should the problem of policing an
American city be so much more uiill0u''
IN solve than that of policing the great GU
les of Europe? s,a
81 do not believe that it is more oi'h-
cult" he replied Each city mas pioo-
,om of its own Ours, here IN Ne" ioi N,
e diNerent. of course. from that presenter
Ia. o,v European city. hut IT IS not ihoIe
diecult 10 solve Its difference hes ciiie"'
a. tho fact that we have here so MANY
sorsrate nationalities in large masses. 1 nat
gives the police the characteristic CF"'e
methods of not only one race. put seVeia"
ga study and to deal with, but theE n"'o
all been studied. and We understand lhe"'
now. H.
.<eN Works difficulties. have been que
fapcv TO the fact that New Yorks ciu-
,,e have themselves been less interested
:, the administration OF their city govern
mont than are the residents OF most buio.
Non cities We are likely. In absoroeu
erd absorbing America, to be so busy WIN
o,r avn affairs that we forget 10 give
.,,ontiop TO community affairs. The pros
,o,oue citizen here has. proably. shirkeu
r., ,,b,c duties TO degree uncommon III
.bo oldar nations and left more 10 the
professional politicians. but the behet IND.
opr notice have such wonderfully marc
conditions 20 deal with is fallacy.
.orhen Won do not agree with those Wh'
80 .bat Americans have achieved ar
oo,uol habit of lawlessness?' ] suggested
"Ahsurd" he replied succinctly. i don
,.,,,,,otbiza with these chronic critics O
America. This country is all rlght ai'
,be American city is all right. be it big o
u,re The American policeman, too is Al
right. and the citizens he has to deai wiz
orc no worse than are those OF othe
I
statement which is absolutely true ou
,,,nich for some mysterious reason, is un
common. We are the most entlrey Id"
ohidirg reopIe in the world to-day
..vas hut how much Of the disorde
ubicb fills the newspapers with Grim
news is due 10 foreigners ana no" iiiu'
to real Americana" I asked.
commissioner waldo is himself an Amer
;,ar of ancient stock. 1t was fair as
sumption that he might in reply to TINS
haze had something tart 10 say about tn
fore,qn element which has rushed in, an
which. some persons believe, has nearl
swamped us.
"1'he question cannot possibly be an
sUered accurately" he answered, "bu
averaging up humanity, worlds end
worlds end. you viii find that the Amer
can he he native born or foreign born
lust as orderly and honest as any man
earth
But foreigners" l persisted WI
have been law-abiding in their own cou
tries come here and run riot do they no
That seems to be a general complain
Why should mere emigration to u
United States make sinner OF mi
who has hitherto. perhaps. been SAINT
citizen Is not this due to the lack
restraint on this side Of the water
which these people on the other side ha
become accustomed
Your whole question is based on
fauacy." he replied. "Law-abiding f'
elpnors do not come here and becoi
/ rioters. They remain the same in l
VI limited states that they have been
home. They are no more lawless he
than there
So here was TIE new Commissioner
Police making light Of his own diffculu
II was new idea.
London" he went on. rs extreme
orderly. but that is not due TO any bet
disposition on the part Of Londoners TN
We find among New Workers. The Engli
CITY is much older than New York, me
homogeneous in population. and the ma
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