Evening star., 1912-01-12
TOLD TO PERSEvERE
Policemen Assured of Support
in Fight for Pension Fund.
DEMAND FOR SQUARE DEAL
Maj. Sylvester, Representative
Buchanan and Joseph Strasburger
Address Association.

Urging continued effort to secure PEN
sion fund for police and firemen, and de-
clar1ng the fight Is one for justice to a
class Of public servants who are entitled
to every consideration at the hands of
their fellow-citizens, Maj. Richard Syl-
vester, superintendent Of police, and Rep
resentative Frank Buchanan of Illinois
addressed the Policemen's Association of
the District at Pythian Temple last night.
The occasion was the eighth annual in
stallation of officers. Joseph Strasburger.
president of the Retail Merchants Asso-
citation, also delivered an address telling
of the support the business interests of
the city are giving the pension movement.
Maj. Sylvester Pledges Support.
Il am with you and behind you in every
effort to bring about the desired pension
legislation" Maj Sylvester said. "AThis
is not a struggle against any particular
person: It is fight for a square deal. and
we are entitled to 1t. In unity there is
strength. The strength OF the local police
force is crystallized in this association.
and to this association we must look, with
commendable civic assistance, for the re-
newed agitation which will eventually
bring to us what We wish and deserve.
THAT aid should be given the families
of policemen and firemen, particularly II
they are injured or killed in the per-
formance of their duties, needs no argu-
ment. Their duties are extra hazardous
and the risk to life and limb they run
are the most dangerous. There are hum
dreds of men of both forces who never
hesitate to take their lives in their
hands for the benefit Of the common
good. That this has been done in years
gone by we all know. There are graves
in our local cemeteries that stand as
silent tributes to the Self-sacrifice OF
some heroic fireman or policeman. The
District has reason to take a particular
pride in the personnel of both forces.
That it is dere.ict in its duty toward us
is shown by the fact that seventy other
cities Of the country are giving pensions
to their men of the two services"
Maj Sylvester said he regretted what
he described as the inadequacy Of the
present police force. and placed himself
on record as favoring a plan for a spe-
cial force of men to perform duty in the
outlying districts. He said the compare
tive smallness of the force made the
work imposed on the various precincts
more arduous than it otherwise would be.
Urged to Preserve Hope.
''The men of the Washington police
department are not getting square
DEAL" declared Representative Buchan-
an. There should be adequate pension
provision and better station accommo-
dations for them. The men who are re-
sponsible for the legislation of the Dis
trict, were they interested enough to
visit some Of the station houses in the
city. would blush with shame at the ram
shackle buildings they would see. Men
of the idle rich class would hardly con-
slider them fit for dog kennels.
Il consider it my duty as we'll as pleas
ure," he added, Ito assist this associa-
finn in legitimate nt n q
pension fund that will be commen urate
with the duties they perform to the pub
lic You may regard me as heartily In
favor Of any movement that will bring
this about. Don't lose hope at the fail
ure of this year or the failure of last
year or the failure of the year. before
that. but keep up the fight and feel
confident You will eventually win"
Mr.. Strasburger told the policemen the
business interests of the city were be-
hind them in the movement and urged
them not to give up the fight until PEN
sions were theirs.