The Washington herald., 1919-02-16

battle was on. After the police d
eral weeks, Maj. Dye hoisted the v
and the fight was won by the pee
How Fight Started.
A delegation Of citizens called upon
the managing editor of the National
Republican and requested that re-
porter be detailed to report the pro-
ceedings of the trial board to be held
in the venerable building on the north
west corner Of Fifth and d streets
northwest, then occupied as police
headquarters.
The particular case In which the
citizens were interested was that OF
policeman charged with clubbing a
merchant on Fourteenth street The
offense of the business man. accord
ing to the complainants, was that he
protested when the officer was hand
ling a prisoner with unnecessary Sc
verify.
On the day set for the trial a re-
porter was assigned to the story with
instructions to make a full report oi
the proceedings as the city was con-
siderably wrought up over the case
The newsman presented himself al
the door of the room in which the
trial board met. but was peremptorily
refused admittance. The policeman or
guard at the door seemed TO be greatly
surprised at the reporters request
to be admitted to the trial room.
This is q police NATTER he said
"and no person other than those inn
mediately interested can enter this
room"
Told Frank Hstton.
The newsman returned to the ed
itorial rooms and reported the result
of his visit to Managing Editor Clint
Snowden. who in turn presented the
matter to Hon. Frank Hatton, then
Postmaster General, and Secretary OF
the Navy William E. Chandler. own
ers of the National Republican. As q
result Of the conference Mr.. Jameson.
of the editorial staff. was directed to
call on Mai. Dye and demand that
reporters be given the same privilege
at the trial board sessions as mem
bers of the press were accorded by
the courts when citizens were on trial.
Jameson found the superintendent OF
police in his otfire OH the floor abov5
the trial chamber. and politely stated
the object OF his mission. Mai. Dye
consulted with his fellow officers and
then informed Jameson that the ad-
mission OF a reporter to the board
room during the trial OF an officer
was unthinkable and against all pre-
cedent.
Jameson, who was a fine specimen
of physical manhood as well as a
giant in intellect. drew himself up 10
his six foot two" OF stature and in
clear tones than rang like q bell
asked:
Called Private Business.
Why"
We'll, to begin with" Mai. Dye be-
gan, the trials are clearly and ex-
in the nature OF private po-
lice business. They are not affairs
for the public"
Il hope, Major. you are not in the
class with Jay Gould, who is re-
ported to have said in New York the
other day. the public be damned. "
said Jameson pleasantly.
At this point the superintendent,
evidently nervous. seized a pencil, red
at one end and blue at the other. that
was on his desk, and began drawing
ON a pad a series OF small blue mon
keys with red tails. While thus en-
gagged he enlarged upon his reasons
why the sessions Sf the police trial
board should be conducted secretly.
Our policemen must be protected
from idle gossip or their efficiency
will be deprecated. For instance
many of the trials are for small
debts-house rent. grocery bills and
the like. How would such matters
look on the front page of newspaper
under big. glaring headlines, and what
a demoralizing effect would such pub
licity have upon the morale of the
force. For example a heading like
this, and he wrote in large letters or
the pad:
JOHN SMITH. POLICEMAN,
Sued by Irate Grocer for so Food
Bill"
Jameson tried to suppress a broad
smile that played across his good
natured face, and said:
And pray. major. what news
paper would print such drivellint
rot, even though the President o
the United States was the defend
anti"
"Wee Blue Monkey"
Maj. Dye made a few more OBJ
servations on the secrecy that il
necessary for the proper conduct o.
police department. especially il
the matter of trials, and Jameson
made mental notes for the most re
markable interview ever published
in a Washington newspaper.
was two columns in length and a
intervals was punctuated with "a
this point Mai. Dye drew Hnothe
wee blue monkey with a red tail
In concluding the talk Jameson
wrote:
"As the reporter was about to de
part from the sacred precincts o
police headquarters, Maj. Dye de
parted from the Zoo of his imagina
ton and descended to a warmer anC
more spectacular place. for he ceas
ed drawing blue monkeys anC
sketched a big red devil with. bIut
wings"
The interview became the 1oca
sensation of the hour. and word wa:
conveyed to the superintendent o.
police that war had been declared
against police methods and would
be continued until both the tria
board and the record of robberie'
were opened to the press and public
Former Egyptian Pashn.
Another reporter was assigned th'
following day to attempt to inter
view Dye" He was admitted to thu
presence of the superintendent anc
fired at him a succession of Querie!
such as the following:
Major, we are aware that yol
were a pasha in the army of Egyp
and perhaps have become imbuec
with Far Eastern ideas. but do yoI
believe Egyptian and Russian secre
nolica n, nt hnds should he infrndunef