Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1921-02-19
Uniformed Officers, Mounted
On Motorcycles, To Patrol
Rural Highways.
VIM. McC. MORRIS TO
BE STATIONED HERE

"A military force on motorcycles,
trained to the minute, fit for a riot
or pistol duel, became part of the
government of the State of Mary
land this week, with Governor Ritchie
telling its husky young members that
he is back of them to the limit of law
enforcement.
There is now effective in Maryland
a new system of policing with State
police headquarters in Baltimore
and fl We other State police substatNls
in five sections Of the State. From
these substations 36 men, uniformed.
mounted on motorcycles and armed,
will work on patrols day and night.
There is only one substation on the
Eastern Shore and that is located at
Cambridge and is known as Substa-
ton E. Officer William McC. Morris
has been stationed at Pocomoke City
and will have this as his headquar-
ters, taking care of this immediate
section. While he may be called to
other sections for special service his
work will be principally between this
city and the Virginia line and also
between here and Ocean City. Mr..
Morris is already on the job and many
of our people have had the pleasure
of meeting him. He is a gentleman of
plasing appearance and all who have
met him seem to think that he is the
right man in the right place. He
seems to know how to handle the sit
uation and we are sure we will see
a great improvement around about
town when he gets throughly ac-
quainted with the surroundings. He
is apparently a man of good judg-
ment and we are sure that he will
have the support of all of our people
in upholding the majesty of the law.
Governor Ritchie, in speaking to
the new State Police Force before
they were sent out on the job had the
following to say:
"It makes no difference to me what
one class or another thinks or fears
about the purpose for which you are
organized, so long as their thoughts
or fears are unlounded. You ara to
protect the men. women and property
of the State of Maryland and pre-
serve law and order Neither capital
or labor is to mean anything to you
where your duty under the law is con-
cerned..
"You will deal with two classes of
persons-thugs whom you may ham
die as severely as you like, and the
great masses of citizens you meet on
the roads who are ordinarily law
abiding citizens, but who may be
guilty of infractions of the law. With
them you are to be as patient and
courteous as possible.
"You go out from here wearing the
uniform of the State of Maryland ard
it lies in your hands whether credit or
discredit shall be brought on it. You
represent the State of Maryland as
we'll as l."
Automobile Commissioner E. Aus
tin Baughman is also greatly inter-
ested in the new policing system and
has taken great part in its estab-
lishment. In order that the various
police officers throughout the State
may become acquainted with the new
body of men he has arranged a lun-
cheon for the New State Police Forcc
at the Southern Hotel in Baltimore
for next Wednesday, the 23d instant,
to which police officers of the diff
ferent towns have been invited. OF
ficer w. A. Stroud, Of this city is in
the list.