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

nave Sdld 10 me aSSelnltu ltoihf 1Of'F II h"t u"
thank them f"r>lLc political work they had dome in
the last election
This qucr! night very rra>"n;bD, Ike pur u, honest
political henchmcn of Honolulu VIII" hHN" h'cn
schooed to think that The foundation Of American
liberty. the beginning and the end. is rank regular.
tv Of partizanshp.
This paper is prepared to believe thar The maNor
and the sheriff thought their "poicaI rhanks
speeches wer" quite proper They may. probably
will. present the comment Of this paper to their
friends an evidence Of the unfair criticism Of The
press.
Let il be admitted that the mayor and the sheriff
entirely honest and well meaning in their gnor
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 apprccia-
ton of the good work done by members of the force
in the service of the peopleno in the service of the
political fortunes of the mayor and the sheriff.
Second, the mayor and especially the sheriff oil
the city should have impressed upon his men that
the reputation of the force depends :pon the char
acter Of service-to the pubc-that each man
renders.
Third member Of the force should have been
allowed to leave the conference without having had
forcetuy brought to his attention that his reten
ton the force would be determined solely by his
record alert, intelligent and thoroughly efic
ent police officer.
Fourth these man should have been reminded that
in the final analysis they will be treated by the peO
pie of this city far salaries and equi pment are
concerned exactly in the proportion that they de-
monsrate their ability to handle the particular tasks
that fall to their lot. If they show ability. fair
knowledge of their duties, willingness to work, a
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 or the partizans what not
could not wipe out their reputation the lvest,
snappest 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-
fdence in their own ability to grasp the Importance
of their official job.
Then if the mayor and the, lie - 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 class or
clan publicly thanking them, helping them. support
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 a realization that this is
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 discredit the serving
under them.
Just as sure as day follows the night the march
of efficiency in public service will wipe out the man
and the men who lean partizan hip, ignore the
pressing demands Of progressive community and
defend incompetence by complaining that they are
being picked on all the time