Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-21
POSSIBILITY OF ACTION APPEALS
TO NEW DISTRICT POLICE CHIEF
Gen. GIasSford Knows What
1t Means to Be Target.
Expects Tough Job.
Retired Army Officer Going
Into Position Aware of Pros
poets for Criticism.

The job as chief of Washington's po-
lice force appeals to Brig Gen. Pelham
D. Glassford for one reason above all
others-it promises plenty of action.
The 48-year-old retired Army officer
is going into his new post with his eyes
open. He knows the chief Of any police
force is the biggest target for all ad-
verse criticism. but Gen. GlaSsford has
been shot at before.
When Commissioner Crosby offered
me the job he told a Star reporter.
my first reaction was to turn 1t down.
/ had left the Army because was tired
of inaction and had decided to live on
my ranch in Arizona.
Looking for Action.
But 1 thought this police PROPOSE
ton over and finally decided to take
myself in for a tough job but think
there's going to be plenty of action
and that's what I'm looking for"
Standing feet 3, raw-boned and
muscular, Gen. GlaSSford looks admira-
bly, fitted for his hardest job-that of
handling other men. If his crisp in
csive speech and unwavering blue eyes
mean anything, he still has the eXecu-
tive qualities which won him the dis
IIlCJlOn Oh DellS IlehC W IIlc youngest
man to be commissioned a brigadler
general with the American troops over
seas during the World War.
He has never lived down his NICK
name as Happy" given him by his
classmates at West Point because OF
his ever smiling countenance and never
failing good nature. He will be re-
membered here. where he attended pub
lie school, as the tall young officer rid
ing on a motor cycle smoking a long
stemmed pipe.
Is Cartoonist and Artist.
Among his other accomplishments
Gen. Glassford IS an artist of no small
ability. He received honorable mention
from the commission assigned to select
a picture for the State capitol at Bos-
ton. His painting depicted the scene Of
the decorating by Gen. Passage, COM
mander of the 32d French Army Corps
of the American colors. The new chief
of police is a talented carroonist and a
lover of music.
His daughter, Miss Elizabeth Glass
ford, shares in her fathers love for art
and while in Washington attended an
Art School.
Gen Glassford knows nothing of po-
lice work by personal experience, but
he has an abiding conviction that both
lllG ulC
titled to and can have a square deal
He intends to see that they get it.
He has his hands full right now pre-
pairing for the ArmiStice day costume
ball and jubilee, to be given Novem-
Der IL at the Auditorium for the Vet
Grams of Foreign Wars.
He is determined to reproduce as
nearly as possible in the Auditorium the
Paris of ArmiStice night. Judging from
the posters and advertisements on his
office walls, he is planning a good show.
The program calls for dancing girls in
gay costumes, mock gambling denS and
the other essentials of rejoicing Paris.
Gen. Glassford made his debut in
local police circles in an amusing man
ner in connection with the jubilee.
In order to lend atmosphere to the
occasion, it had been planned to have
roulette wheel in action. The plan
was for customers to purchase worthless
francs with which to bet" and then
donate their winnings" to the veterans
organization.
When the police captain in charge
was approached, however he turned
thumbs down on the plan, deciding that
it ''smacked of gambling" His decision
was accepted without protest.
Learns About Taxicabs.
Gen. Glassford also has been in
troduced to the idiosyncracies Of
Washington cab drivers. He was leav-