South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-12-05
The New Policeman
A Sign of Progress
New York City Now Has Pride
and Faith in Its Finest
Harvard Now Offers Spe-
Cial Course in Police Ad-
miniStratiOn.

BY WOODS HUTCHINSON. VI. d.
The Worlds Foremost Writer on
Medical Subjects.
There was a significant little cpl
sode in the routine of municipal life
in New York City the other day. The
commissioner of police appeared be-
fore the board of estimates in a
time when retrenchment and econ
omy were the order of the day. to
ask for an increase of nearly half
million dollars in his appropria-
ton, for the purpose Of increasing
the number of patrolmen and rails
ing the pay of the entire force. Not
only did he get it, but his request
was supported by most of the lead
ing newspapers of the city. many OF
whom came out with special editori-
ais favoring and indorsing the in
crease and the grant was aCCompa-
MED by expressions of regret that
the finances of the city did not per-
NIT an even more substantial ad-
ditiOn TO the salaries of a group of
public servants whose courage, eff
ficiency. physical fitness and admir-
able morale" we're so highly appre-
ciated by the community.
The admirable and tactful manner
in which the police force had han
died great public emergencies like
the street car strike, the prepared
ness parades the huge rallies of the
national campaign and had prepared
itself TO respond in the event of
threatening war we're gratefully
commented on. and the force was
declared on all hands to be the pride
OF New York city, not merely in ap-
pearance and physique as il has al
ways been, but in tact and character
and efficiency as well.
The New Policeman.
Yet only a few years ago an Of
ficer OF the force was condemned to
the electric chair for corruption
ending in wilful murder. and the
general public belief was that the
entire organized weight and inhu-
ence of the police force was thrown
solidly and sullenly into the scale 10
save him from the penalty Of his
crime. whether he was guilty or not
Nothing was too bad for the aver
age citizen of New York 10 believe
about his police force. whenever the
words graft" and pull were men
toned.
What has wrought such a striking
change in the attitude of the public ,
A new atmosphere in the department
and new policeman who has grown
up in response to II The spirit OF
the age has been painfully strug-
Cling TO assert itself IL the depart
cent for several administrations
/ past, and in the present one
has achieved full recognition and
triumph.
Minority Were Crooks.
The vast majority of.the men were
always sound and decent and wanted
TO do their duty TO the community:
! the blight over the force was cast en-
tirely by a comparatively small
group OF grating. selfish political
| schemers. the famous system" pro-
tected by and doing the dirty work
OF both political parties. the strong
right arm OF Tammany and the
/ faithful. silent partner OF the repub-
lican machine.
with the defeat Of both machines
I by the present fusion administra-
ton, the political gangsters and gun
men inside the department lost their
standing and their pull" and had
to either frankly accept the situa
ton and come in ION the square,
which TO their credit be il said, not
few OF them did-or resign.
Subservient legislatures had care
fully tied the hands OF both mayor