The Washington times., 1916-01-03
Policeman Shelby Will Start Today to Establish
Peace Between These Heretofore Natural En-
emies-Street Fairgrounds Planned.

Introducing Master Washington small
boy to his friend. MFR. Policeman.
A hard job? You can just bet it is.
because Master Smallboy, from time
out OF mind, has regarded Mr. Police
man as anything but "buddie.'''
Yet that is the job which has been
mapped out by Major Pullman, superin-
tendent of police, for one of his finest.
And the first of a series of coming
out" parties. with this end in view, will
be held in the near future probably at
the Morgan School. Master Small
boy, whose name is legion, will be
represented by the pupils and Mr.. Po-
liceman appearing in the person OF Will
liam S. Shelby. private. detailed in the
office of the corporation counsel at Po-
lice Court
Everybody Is Pleased.
All of the school officials as we'll as
the police seem tickled TO death that at
last a chance has appeared to set the
sturdy guardian of the law in the prop
er light before what in the past has
been his bette nolr.
Up until now most members OF the
police force have regarded the Juvenile
populat ation of their beats As being
potential Of more trouble than anything
else they have to contend with. Not
because the policeman doesn't like Mas
ter Smallboy. Dear me, no. For, you
see. most policemen have small boys of
their own. But they have learned that
Master Smallboy regards a policeman
as a sort of uniformed ogre. to be
taunted as baby snatcher" and cradle
robber" from the safety of a backyard
fence. So ii isn't any wonder that the
average policeman would much rather
face double-dyed villain single handed
than to arrest one of the Master Small
boys on his beat.
All of which, coupled with a desire of
the police to establish at certain schools
in the district street Fairgrounds"
where the youngsters can cavort in
safety during recess periods, has led to
the first meeting Monday morning be-
whom he sincerely hopes, will become
his very good friends and allies.
Policeman Shelby. who will voice the
happy -you"to Master Small
boy, Superintendent Pullman regard
as happy selection.
Youngsters Not Afraid of Him.
Shelby himself admits an extreme
fondness for children. When he did his
four years street duty he was known
In the nelghborhoods where his beat
lay as the friend OF the kids For some
reason or other the youngsters didn't
run from Shelby.
years. He knows the pOliceman's atti-
tude toward the kiddie on his beat
thoroughly. He mas read law, and he
Is used to speaking in public-that Is,
before grown-ups. He confesses. how
ever that he is approaching, the audi
ences made uD of Masters SmaIlhoV
with fear and trembling.
"lf | cannot make them understand
that the policeman wants TO help the
kiddie, and isn't interfering with him
Just for the sake Of being unpleasant,
half Of the effect Of the talks to the
children will be lost" he says. And.
therefore. he is spending his time just
now in mapping out what he wants
to impress upon the Juveniles who will
make up his audiences. and reducing
It all to words and ideas Of small-boy
caliber.
''Tm afraid that tho attitude OF the
average child to the policeman now-a-
days is not very far removed from
policeman represents an intangible
authority, coupled with possible pun
ishment
Policeman Is Human.
Now the kiddies OF Washington
must be made to understand that the
policeman is human, and that when
policeman says they must or must not
do a thing, he Is not speaking with his
own voice but with the voice OF the
law which has aid down certain regu-
lations which the policeman is hound
to enforce. From the policeman =
standpoint. the little fellow on his beat
must be brought TO a point where he
VIII try to analyHe and see the reason