Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-05-20
BRAINS ARE NOT
NEEDED TO RUN
\. POLICE FORCE
Commissioner BigeIow Says
This Contention Actuated Him
in Accepting Position.
PRESIDENT BREIDENBACH
LAUDS MEMBERS OF FORCE
Rev. E. F. Quirk Says the Men
Are Brave and Ef-
J. ficient.

Something brand new as qualifica-
tions for a police commissioner as
well as a police officer was given bv
Commissioner Frederic Bigelow at
the banquet of the First precinct DO
lice at Achtel-Stetter's last night,
and which he said actuated him in
accepting a place on the police
board.
Il had hesitated in accepting the
position of police commissioner" Mr..
Bigelow declared, until a very good
friend told me that if one were only
sincere it did not require any great
brain or ability to fill the position.
A man might become a good po-
liceman in the same way" the COM
missioner concluded.
Tributes to the local police force
on the showing of the men at the
annual inspection yesterday were
paid by speakers at the banquet.
About $50 persons were present.
The guests of the police at the af-
fair were the two department cnap-
lains, Rev. Edward r. Quirk and
Rev. Edmund A. Wasson; the four
police commissioners, Frederick c..
Breidenbach, Mr.. Bigelow, John H.
Donnelly and John l.. Reid; Chief of
Police Michael T. Long, Judge Hor-
ace c. Grice, Richard P. Rooney and
Elmer Freeland, clerk and deputy
clerk of the First Criminal Court;
Richard c.. JenlSinson, former Fire
Commissioner Matthias Stratton and
John f. Murray, jr. Captain John
Caffrey acted as toastmaster.
President Breidenbach Praises Chief.
The four police commissioners COM
plimented the men ont their appear
ance at the inspection and declared
themselves proud to be connected
with the police department. Presi-
dent Breidenbach paid tribute to
Chief Long and his captains for
bringing the department to it's pres
ent standard. 'A
Il have always had very high re-
gard for your chief and for the other
men of the department." Commis-
sioner Breidenbach said. II have had
an opportunity today to see the men
as q body. and they made a grNat inn
preston upon me-"
Commissioner Reid declared it the
policy of the present Board of Com
nissioners to give every man in the
department a. fair deal
"All of the desirable positions in the
force will be awarded on the score of
til fitness of the appointee," he said,
''and not through political or other
connections"
The policeman as the quiet and
often unappreciated protector of
400, 900 citizens was treated by Father
Quirk in his address.
This department does not come be-
fore the public in spectacular way"
said Father Quirk. THE taxpayers
have not the opportunity to appre-
l. -. = 1..f., I..s
the department, as they have of ap-
preciating the work OF other depart
ments in the city"
Father Quirl Lauds Men.
Father Quirk spoke of the amount
of crime which comes to this city by
reason of it's position ON a direct line
between the cities of New York and
Philadelphia. He told of instances
of bravery and sacrifice on the part
of the policeman which have come
under his attention as chaplain of the
department.
"The people of Newark should be
awakened to such an appreciation of
the valued police department as has
been. shown by the mayor and the
Board of Commissioners today
Father Quirk concluded.
Chief Long Praises Men.
Chief Long declared himself proud
of the showing of his men at the
inspection yesterday. and was de-
lighted at the feeling of good-fellow-
ship shown at the banquet. Judge
Grice said that during his short SER
vice as a magistrate he had learned
to appreciate the value of the police
man. He conveyed the mayors re-
grets at his inability to attend tho
banquet, and declared that the chief
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