NEW YORK'S TEN THOUSAND 473 



thing should be subordinated to the fitting of a youth to be a police 

 officer. The course of instruction ought to be at least three years, and 

 four would not be too long. 



The initial steps in the founding of the School of Police would be 

 by far the most difficult. The experiences at West Point are, however, 

 available. Happy would it be for the city's ten thousand if a man 

 could be found so well equipped as was General Sylvanus Thayer, who 

 served for seventeen years as superintendent of the military academy 

 and to whom its efficiency is almost wholly due. The conditions re- 

 specting the police school are in some respects even more onerous, espe- 

 cially that even now about 475 new men join the force annually, a num- 

 ber certain to increase rapidly with the growth of the city. One great 

 advantage enjoyed by cadets is the intimate contact and influence of 

 classes. This would be largely neutralized in the police school unless 

 by a division into battalions, or some similar device, this could be 

 obviated. In the beginning probably a better foundation could be laid 

 for future efficiency by limiting the number of candidates for admis- 

 sion; this number to be increased gradually with each succeeding year. 



A change so radical in the mode of admission to the ranks of the 

 force may be safely reckoned upon to encounter adverse and censorious 

 criticism. The very radicalism, subversive as it undoubtedly would 

 be, of all the traditions of the past, would incite to opposition. The 

 epithet " aristocratic," and that other phrase, a potent shibboleth to 

 fanatical conservatism — " not close to the people," will find its oppor- 

 tunity. Political opposition, too, may be counted upon, certainly from 

 the " machines," probably from even the free-lances. From the less 

 thoughtful of the force itself may be anticipated, not so much opposi- 

 tion as ridicule and a certain good humored contempt. It is not diffi- 

 cult to imagine that in precinct station houses, members off post, par- 

 ticularly the younger, more flippant and " smarter," will be found in- 

 dulging in considerable hilarity over the proposed innovation. But 

 (as Victor Hugo says) " He who drains a marsh must expect to hear 

 the frogs croak." Much, doubtless, could be done among the older and 

 wiser officers to offset this feeling. Certainly at the outset the en- 

 deavor should be made to acquire their interest and sympathy and cor- 

 dial assistance in establishing and promoting the new order. This may 

 be found not as difficult as it now appears; at heart the vast majority 

 of men greatly prefer clean ways to foul. Men grow trustworthy by 

 being trusted. 



Nevertheless, the first of the classes to be graduated, and the mem- 

 bers of the school's senior class who would be taught by actual practise 

 on post, must expect to encounter something not unlike " hazing." 

 But we may be sure that graduates will be quite able to hold their own ; 

 they will have been taught how to do that. And they can console them- 



