The Washington herald., 1920-02-23
DEATH CLAIMS
MAJOR PULLMAN,
CHIEF OF POLICE
CONTINUED FROM PAGE oSN.

groups Such as the vice ana automo-
bile squads were soreIy needed.
These and many other perpIexing
conditions beset a man but y years
OF age and so lacking not only in
actual police experience but SEEM
ingly in temperamental Quslifica tions
that his failure was freely predicted
by the wiseacres.
The best answer TO these pessi-
mists is found in PhIman's record
and in the testimonial letters he re-
ceiyed after the srmistice from
Secretary OF War Baker and other
officials complimenting him upon his
administration of the department
through the trying days of war.
Urged Not 10 Take Commission.
What his direction meant at that
time can be CLEANED from the story
told as to his desire to take a COM
mission offered him in the army and
promising early service in France.
DO not accept" Baker told him.
Your work is here and il is enough
of a job for any man"
The major and superintendent
went at his big task with creditabIe
conservatism and thorouEhness. He
took no measures which might be
regarded as too sudden and drastic.
The vice squad organized by him
at frst was prone to function at
times in an awkward manner yet
this innovation has proved OF very
positive benefitJ The Woman's Bu-
reau of the police department was
in a sense an outgrowth OF this
idea. Capitalization, corporation
and individual initiative were Pull
mans watchwordS
His main conception of proper
police administration. however. was
the prevention of crime before its
detection became necessary. There
is far less OF the sensational in the
forestslling Of lawless acts than in
the apprehension OF those who COM
init them. but the records show that
this forehanded action brings re-
suits in diminution OF crime.
Traffic problems occupied a la~Ee
part OF Pullman's attention and this
close study was the cause OF many
jests by those who believed him more
interested in matters of minor infrsc--
tion than in major criminal activities
traffic squad and in instituting traffic
reGula tions which have earned Wash
ington the reputation OF being the
model city in vehicular handling. He
was the foremost proponent Of a traf-
fic court modelled after those OF other
large cities. and the institution of
which seems a certainty OF the near
future.
BootIegginE Crusade.
Much criticism was levelled at Pull
man for his crusades against boot
Logging and whisky running. inaugu-
rated. respectively. when the Sheppard
law. making the District dry. and the
Reed amendment. making 1t bone-dry.
became operative. IL was charged in
the latter case that he was withdraw
ing valua Bile men from the central de-
tective office and their precinct beats
to post them along the roads leading
into the District on the chance OF
apprehending persons iIlicitly convey
ing liquor
Pullman did as much for his men
as for the public. He worked un-
fiaggingly in behalf OF enactment OF
the police pension law. He was
friendly TO the Police Association
and TO the several relief organiZa-
lions maintained by the force. In
each of his annual reports he re-
Quested pay increases for bluecoats.
Considering the phenomenal
growth OF Washington since the on
set of the war, the department un-
der Pullman achieved notable
record in keeping down crime and
in bringing about apprehension ami
C Cnviction Of criminals. But a f"w
-'uTder cases of the past five ye"rs
remain unsolved. Shoplifting. pick
pocket activities and many minor
offenses decreased i'm his administra-
tion.
On April l. 1919. Pullman entered
his second term OF office. having
been renominated by Pres dent Will
son.
1t proved a year fertile in major
crime. The climax was thought to
have been reached on June . with
the bomb explosion before Attorney
General Palmer's home in which the
perpetrator was blown to pieces.
Pullman lent all possible assistance
to secret service men and Departi
ment of Justice operatives in the
succeeding investigation.
On July 81. however, Washing
ton was in the throes of a race
riot and Pullman faced the gravest
situation which yet had confronted
him.
Police E.operatS.
The cry arose after the battle
had died: Whats the matter with
the police department." In the
sequel il has been shown that GER
tain factors absolved Pullman and
his men from all blame in the SEN
sational affair. Every year Pull
man asked Congress for enactment
of a law against the indiscriminate
sale and carrying OF weapons as
drastic as the Sullivan act in New
York.
Pullman's conduct of his forces
during the war was eminently sat
isfactory and was not marked by
any untoward happenings. The
single outrage which might con-
ceiyably have taken lace. during
the months of Amer cas- psrtici-
patton, the wrecking as tie Ssuste
anteroom at the Capitol ~ hortb,
occurred before our e1,ry into the
struggle had counseleI the. f &
est of patrols.
The last six months q Puiiras Is
life and tenure OF oiiC, shsr ID
that his ooal nf narfsaga.H - aa