The sun., 1916-09-24
4 CALL FOR
QUICK ACTION M AN
OUTLYING DISTRICT
BY ALBERT HANDY.

building: the windows Of the
first floor are 9arrcd with steel
grill work. and on either side OF tho
entrance is n green lantern. There Is
really little about it to attract special
attention, yet here is u nerve centre OF
a great city, and it might almost bc
said that here each pulschcat Of five
million people * felt. AS ii" rubber
neck bus Gathering down Centre street
ncars II the conductor announces that
YOU arc approaching Police lIeaIuuar-
tiers, and cmbcllishcs tho announce
ment with a lurid account of some
things which aye ?nI of many things
which arc not.
From his ccnt:c run the nerves
millions Of feet of copper wirc-to the
Gttermost ends of tho city. and over
these wires is transmitted every phase
Of sensation which a great aggregation
OF population can develop. With the
cbb and flow of the city's life its nerve
centre d.ininisi,cs ur in,rcisos Ia az
tivity. Days Of calm there are when
the workings of the nerve centre arc
almost automatic, days OF stress there
ere when the nerves vibratc without
intermiss.on as t,lcy convey sensation
after sensation to the nerve centre.
Perhaps 1t may be II great fire or a
great crime. perhaps i, may DC "A great
riot or a great strike.
Yet outwardly the appearance Of the
gray granite building ~ Centre street
never changes. The door is always
wide open so that he who will may
enter. In the lower hall there il per-
haps a policeman in uniform. perhaps
a plain clothes man. Neither II APP
pears to notice YOU.
You climb the stairway and walk
along the north hall at tho extreme
end Of which is the commissioners
ONCE. In the mirror lined octagonal
antcroom you ina "A few people wait
ing. but no signs Of unwuntcd activity.
Some one goes in ana some one else
comes out; finally it is your turn, you
enter.
At a wide Nat top desk sits n man
we'll set up and erect. somewhat
bronzcd from the outdoor life, with
slightly Grayish hair and ii pleasant
smile. From this desk the whole ncr-
vous system of the great body social
which constitutes New York city j.
controlled. Even here j. nothing to
indicate at a glance that anything out
Of the ordinary is happening: the pro-
lection Of life and property under every
condition which may arise is but part
Of the day : work.. anu COMMISSIONED
Woods has always been an advocate
OF preparedness. Measures which are
now effective were thought out and
made ready for execution months, may
hap years ago.
commissioner ! began, "the strik-
crs, or 1t may he only the union lead
ers, are reported to have declared that
the police are unfair: perhaps you Will
take this opportunity to deny cate
Eorically the charge and define the at
t!tude Ut the police
The situation the Commissioner
replied, "has several aspects. There Is
the duty of the police to the striking
employees; then there is the Tut OF
tho police to the traction companies:
but primarily their duty Is to the gem
cral public. They are not employed by
either party to this unfortunate con-
troversy and they have been instructed
to remain entirely neutral in the per-
Torrance of their duty.
"This duty is to see that the passen-
gers and property Of the traction com
panies receive due protection. ON the
other hand. the strikers are entitled to
conduct peaceful pickctinS; they may
solicit the members OF the crews oper-
ating the cars to join the strike. with
the exception that they may not con
verse with q mOtorimln actually EN-
gagged in running Il car, but this Is for
the protection of the public. as a
mOtorman so engaged should not nave
his attention distracted.
LAS a matter of fact the labor mcr
have stated that they have received
tho fairest deal from the police force
hat they nave ever known. Why
after tho parade OF tho strikers last
week several OF the leaders congratu-
lated the inspector upon the attitude
of tho police. There have been but
two complaints against our men since
the strike began and both after care
full investigation have proved to be un'
founded. Furthermore. these com
plants were general rather han spe'
cifc.
1T IL remarkable that the police
have acquitted themselves SO well, fol
iI addition TO thci regular work the,
had the toncy Island Aqirdi Gras I,
handle last week and the primaries thi,
week. which has greatly increased thu
strain under which they labor.
AT the outset Of tine strike tn,
leaders made tho statement thu, thor,
would he no violence. This promls,
was, ] believe. made sincerely and |
has been well kept, az the striker!
seem TO have had no connection wit
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