The Washington times., 1925-05-19


Carpenters statements. saying they
reflected upon them for not en-
forcing the law and it was at the
suggestion of these officers that
the minister was hailed before che
grand jury, it is said.
was. Then the voice said: This
is the PRESIDENT l thought some
body was kidding me. so I said:
President OF what Then he said;
President Harding. Then / recog.
nized the voice. l was surprised,
because / didn't think the President
ever made calls in that manner.
Sunday Would Do
THE President said he wanted to
see me. / offered to come to the
White House immediately. He told
me the next day, Sunday would
be time enough.
Sunday morning / went to the
White House. When / was ushered
into his office, he was very cordial.
We were always great friends and
got along fine together. Then the
President said:
"Captain, / want you to do me
a favor" / assured him /. would
do everything within my power for
him. Then he said: Mrs. Harding
is very much interested in a man
by the name Of Henry G. Pratt,
who is a detective sergeant at
Police Headquarters. Sc wants him
named as chief of police. Will you
do it?''. / was dumfounded.
Left In His Hands.
Then 1 told him the situation
told him how Sullivan had made
good at the post and that he was
entitled to the job. The President
saidE Well, my wife wants him to
get the job and i am trying to
please her 1 again told him the
situation. Finally he said: Oyster,
III leave the matter in your hands.
THE President had told me on
previous visits that i undoubtedly
would get calls from persons VINO
said they represented him and wanted
such and such person appointed.
He said to pay no attention to them.
II was in a quandary as to what
to do. ] finally decided to appoint
Sullivan as superintendent and make
Pratt assistant superintendent.
II didn't know whether this ar
rangement would be satisfactory
Several weeks later I saw the Prcsi-
dent at church. He broke away
shook hands with me
His Judgment Good.
Then he whispered: That was a
pretty slick way Of handling tnal
police matter. You used good Judge
ment.' | knew he was pleased"
Pratt is still assistant superinten-
dent. He was promoted from de-
tective sergeant to lieutenant, to
captain, to inspector and to assistant
superintendent in one day
Dan Sullivan is entitled to the
appointment" Oyster said in an
nouncing the appointment. He has
served the department long and
we'll He is capable and courageous.
have every confidence in him, and
l am therefore giving him the post. :"
Friends BY Thousands.
Oyster had friends .by the thou
said" During his first year as Com.
missioner, more than 10000 persons
saw him in his office. This num-
Der increased from year to year.
The missions of his visitors were
widely different; some came for
jobs, some for advice, some. for
help. His door was open to every
body.
His subordinates in the Police
Department always marveled at his
knowledge of conditions here
1t was he who usually furnished
the tips which led to big police
raids, especially liquor raids.
Captain Oyster was always at the
District building at 8 o'clock, work
ing until 6. He came down Sun
days. Nearly every night. he took
a lot of his office work home. He
was on the job because he loved the
work.
Saw Death Approaching.
In recent interview, Captain
Oyster. aware that the end was not
far off, confided to a close friend,
a newspaperman:
Il know my time to go is near.
OF course, | regret to leave this
life, regret to leave my many
regret to give up the work
| have found pleasant. If | am TO
go soon, | hope it Is when l am
on the Job as Commissioner.
Il have tried hard to be good
Commissioner, TO earn the respect
of the people. / have never know
ingly violated my oath OF office, nor
did an injustice to any
one while in office If ! have sue
ceeded, ! am glad and willing to
die.
I'm my many years on this earth,
nothing has given me greater
pleasure than my work for and
with the people of Washington"
Recalls His BOYhOOd.
Captain Oyster then recalled his
boyhood.
when ! was just a kid, l re-
solved to do three things before l
died" he related. MY first. reso-
luton was never to do anything
that would bring disgrace on my
father or mother, never to do any
| would not be ashamed
to tell them about. My second rcso-
luton was to be District Commits
sioner and. serve my people,
resolved to-. do everything in my