Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-09-11
EDITOR
What the Mayor and Sheriff Might
Have Said.

What should t' ni1"l Of III" ely and IL" >i''Fif
have sand +" tn" assembled police fare" If not
thank them f"I. H." I"1ii'dI work h", had done in
the last election
This query might very r,.~"n,htN ln PIT b, honest
political hrn"bm"n Of Honolulu, who have hen
N'hooIvd t" think thai I'll" foundation Of American
liberty. the beginning aud Tn" end is rank regular
! ty of partizanship
This paper is prepared .ijr,r hat II" may or
ard the sheriff 'hought their 'poIircal Thanks
speeches quite proper. They may. prohablr
will, present the comment Of this paper to their
friends evidence Of the unfair criticism Of the
press.
Let it n admitted that the mayor and the sheriff
are entirely honest and well meaning in their ignor,
ance. What should they have said to their men on
the occasion of an official inspection? What central
thoughts should they have left with the members Of
the Honolulu police force?
First. they should have expressed their apprc~ia-
ton of the good work done by members of the force
in the service of the peope-not in the service of the
political fortunes of the mayor and the sheriff.
Second. the mayor and especially the sheriff of
the city should have impressed upon his that
the reputation of the force depends pom the char
acter Of service-tO the public-that each man
renders
Third, member of the force should have been
ALLOWED to leave the conference without having had
fOrcefully brought to his attention that his reten
ton the force would be determined solely by his
record alert, intelligent and thoroughly effic
ent police officer
Fourth, these man should have been reminded that
in the final analysis, they will be treated by the PEG
pie of this city so far salaries and equipment are
concerned exactly in the proportion that they de-
monstrate their ability to handle the particular tasks
that fall to their lot If they show ability, fair
knowledge of their duties, willingness to work,
ready response to the discipline so necessary to
efficiency, then they would be sure to command the
respect and admiration of the public their requests
for equipment would be taken seriously and all the
criticism of the press the partizans, what not,
could not wipe out their reputation the Invest,
snappiest, brainest, best looking police force to be
found under the American flag.
The mayor and the sheriff could have said these
things and besides making their men feel happy,
they would have established measure of public con
idence in their Al iliy to grasp the Importance
of their official job.
Then if the mayor anu the the---c followed out
their words with actual performance in enforcing
discipline and consistently practising the progress
sive principle of service first, they would find men
If Honolulu, without regard to party or class or
CldH puuIClN IhdhhluS IheIH' nePlHS IheH SuppoIt-
ing them and believing them when they say that in
order to be properly policed Honolulu requires more
men.
The mayor and the sheriff must do something
more than have their speeches written for them.
They must wake up to realization that this is
a growing city. 1t is not Niihau or kau. :
They must know that every time they subordinate
public service to their selfish political fortunes
they disgrace the city and dscredt the serving
under them
Just sure day follows the night the march
of efficiency in public service will wipe out the man
and the men who lean partizapship ignore the
pressing demands Of progressive community and
defend incompetence by complaining that they are
being picked all the time.