The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1917-07-19
THURSDAY, JULY 10, 1917.
Our Honored Guests.

power in any city than the chief Of
police. He has an excellent chance to
make a city good or bad. He is more
powerful than the mayor who appoints
him and his power is much greater than
the police and fire commission which
regulates his actions. The personality
of chief of police is always reflected
in the personnel of the men working
under him. His rule Of police force
is always reflected in the rule Of the
city. If he is a lax chief the enforce
ment Of laws will probably be lax in
his tow, If he is man who appre-
ciates his position and the power con-
ferred and inferred by that position
his town is pretty certain to be one
that the people will refer to with con-
siderable pride. The real chief of
police must be real fellow. He has
something to do beside wear a star. He
has no chance to belong to union
which insists on an eight hour day for
thieves and murderers, are never confin-
ing their operations to hours establish
ed by the union or regulated by the
laws. He must have an eagle eye and
he must have it open all the time. He
must work before daybreak in the
morning and work long after night-fall
in the evening. For the most part, chiefs
Of police are poorly paid for the service
which the public demands Of them and
they must just naturally take up the
"white man Is BURDEN and work
along night and day for poor pay with
the understanding that the best they
will get is little commentator from
people who happen to be pleased with
their work and lot of condemnation
from people wanting their job or dis
satisfied with what they do.
The chief of police can not please
every one. If he is respector of per-
sons there is certain to be lot of per-
sons who will believe him crook.
If he is honest and enforces the laws
as they are given him for enforcement,
he is ''restricter of personal liberty"
anu a. S6uOl oil MIL JOy'
Th chief of police in every town,
under his oath, is expected to enforce
the law and this very fact makes him
unpopular with a lot Of people. They
call him "nosey" and a nuisance.
They tell him that the people do not
want the law enforced and if he goes
right ahead and does his duty as it Is
written in the books, he is usually look
ing for job about the end of the
second month after his appointment.
If he arrests the friends of powerful
politicians he is in bad and if he
doesn u the is in worse.
With all of these things to contend
with the Office of police chief is not by
any means bed Of roses. On account
of these things the men who do uphold
the laws are held up as models by
some and castigated by others.
Taking all, of this into consideration,
Wisconsin has fine body of men at
the head of its gpoliced departments.
Few states in the Union can show such
control and such enforcement of most
laws as Wisconsin. Recent years have
brought new duties to police officers.
They have been forced to learn that
the enforcement of man-made laws
must be accompanied by touch of
human sympathy. They have learned
and are practicing reform rather than
punishment Of the first offender. They
are learning that boys can go wrong
once without being hardened criminals
and the successful police chief today
is the man who studies most the big
movement--not to punish-but to re-
form. In all movements for the bet
terment of mankind the police chief
must be the first aid to the injured
He has in his hand the enforcement
or the disregard for law.
The police chief and the police Of
fcers who work under them are entitled
to all the honor of men who fight the
battles of the nation. The chances they
take are greater than chances taken
by the average soldier They are on
the firing line every day and whenever
they start out on the beat they take
their lives in their hands. Every pos
sible protection should be thrown about
them. Every possible support of the
people should be given to them in their
work. Men and women should not OPP
pose and criticise them, but uphold and
praise them. Their work is the work
of the people and the work well done
is the highest protection of the people
against those enemiesAof society who
are particularly the burden of the men
who wear stars and carry clubs.
1t is a pleasure for Kenosha to well
come these men who are leaders In
the work of protecting the public.
Manyrof them sare ebattle SCARED vet
Grams for the protection of the public.
All of them are men who have exercis-
cd authority and whose exercise of
authority has been of greatest value in
advancing the common good. 4 a