The Washington times., 1922-01-24

tNIRANIS.
Members of Force Reported to
Be NegIecting Work to Cam
paign for Favorites.
By DAN e. O'CONNELL.
Who Is going to be chief Of DO
Hce?
When are the Commissioners 20
ing TO appoint the new chief?
Those questions are being asked
svery day by members Of the Police
Department and by citizens gener-
ally. It is said the present condi-
ton Is not working for the best
interest of the Police Department,
inasmuch as many policemen are
devoting more time to working for
their favorite candidate than to
police work.
Oyster Noncommittal.
Commissioner James F. Oyster, who
has immediate jurisdiction over the
times each day who is to be the new
chief and to almost every query he
answers:
What 10 the matter with the one
We havsf"
He refers to Inspector Daniel sulli.
van. who II acting superintendent OF
police and who 10 being considered to
MI the vacancy.
Commissioned Cuno H. Rudolph.
president Of the Board Of Commits.
sioners, always answers that the selec.
ton of the new chief Is waiting upon
the decision of Commissioner Oyster.
Briefly, the situation in the Police
Department In this: There are about
eight candidates for chief, but 1t 10
considered that only two men are being
really considered at this stage. One Ia
Inspector Sullivan and the other Ii
Detective Sergeant Henry G. Pratt,
who has been q member Of the Police
Department for twenty-five years. De-
tective Pratt is the latest candidate Of
the list. but 1t is said he has the back
ing of the White House, which makes
him formidable contender.
Enemies Get Busy.
Every candidate has his enemies
and as soon as II is learned that
= he has a good chance Of landing the
place his enemies get in their work.
this IS Inspector Sullivan, who does
not seem to have an enemy IN the
department. Those who have per-
sonal interests in some other candi-
date try to dismiss Inspector Sulli-
van from the race with the state
ment that he Is too old. This Is the
only charge they have against him.
No one has yet said he was not cap
able for the place and that by right
of being ranking officer In the de-
partment, he was not entitled to II
on general principles.
Detective Pratt has an enviable
record and during the war was a
major in the intelligence service. 1t
was said in police circles that no one
was ever known to criticize Pratt
until he was mentioned as strong
possibility as head OF the Police De-
partment. Then the criticism against
him started and even went SO far
as to accuse him Of things which
IL was proved he is innocent Of.
When Pratt was first mentioned
as being the likely head of the po-
lice, several of his colleagues in
the department dropped important
cases upon which they were work
ing and set out to get influence to
kin his chances.
Pratt or Sullivan Likely.
II Is now q settled fact that II the
White House persists in pushing
Pratt's candidacy he will be appointed
chief. while II the Government permits
the District officials to make the
selection 1t will be Inspector Sullivan.
Most Of the other candidates have
only local backing which does not
figure when national backing is be-
hind other candidates. Col. J. Harry
Shanton, who was strongly Endorsed
a.
running by the Commissioners, who
insisted on having a local man at the
head Of the police department, II not q
member OF the police department.
Captain Peck, In command Of the
second precinct, and Captain Doyle.
IN command Of the Sixth precinct, have
strong local backing and Captain
Doyle, being In command Of the pre-
cfnct almost at the foot Of CAPITOL
hin, has the half hearted backing Of
many members Of Congress.
walter Ferguson, Secret Service
agent at the White House, was put
into the race about two months ago,
ard received the Endorsement Of Presi.
dent Harding, but the Endorsement
ala not go far enough to imply that
the President wanted him in the place
His candidacy was Endorsed also, by
the corps Of newspaper men stationed
Mt the White House.
Oyster Sees President.
Commissioner Oyster has made sew
srsl trips TO the White House In an
effort to get the sentiment Of the
President on the police situation, and
on Sunday two weeks ago he went to
the White House. at the invitation Of
the President, II IL said, and talked
with him for more than half an hour.
Il was said after the conference
that the President had told Commits
sioner Oyster he would let him know
within thirty-six hours whether the
white House would mix in the police
situation or leave II to the Commits
sioners TO straighten out. That the
president has not communicated with
the Commissioners In evident by the