Review: In Scarlet and Plain Clothes: The History of the Mounted Police
| Published date | 01 October 1933 |
| Date | 01 October 1933 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/0032258X3300600419 |
| Subject Matter | Review |
REVIEWS
505
IN
SCARLET
AND
PLAIN
CLOTHES:
THE
HISTORY
OF
THE
MOUNTED
POLICE.
By
T.
MORRIS
LONGSTRETH
(Toronto:
The
Macmillan Company of Canada at St. Martin's House.) 1933.
Price
lOS.
6d.
CAST
in the form of a story this is an account of the policing of Western
Canada from its beginning in 1874 till the present day.
There
was no lack
of adventure and hardship awaiting the police recruit or sub-constable in
Canada.
As the force grew in numbers, so also did it develop in complexity of
organization, and multiplicity of duties, until these latter came to include,
the suppression of illegal fishing and traffic in drugs and liquors; the work
of postmaster, coroner, or magistrate; enforcement of quarantine jfirst-
aid (medical and surgical), and sometimes even home nursing.
The
recruit then had much to learn besides his '
fatigues';
but
above
all the art of '
mixing'
with his own people, and of winning the confidence
of men of alien races.
Admitting the courage and cleverness of some criminals this account
shows what a long
run
they sometimes had before justice overtook them.
It
contains many thrilling stories of persevering, courageous, and some-
times brilliant, detective
work;
instructive in themselves, and calculated
to make a man proud of his calling.
This
police system compares favourably with that on the south side of
the border where the westward movement of (im)migration too often outran
that of law and order.
Though
mistakes were made from time to time by the Canadian
Government, on the
whole'
administration kept in advance of settlement,' 1
and when the claims of settlers conflicted with the rights of the Indians, the
police by sheer tact and impartiality were often able to effect a compromise
acceptable to both parties.
They
found that nothing succeeds better than good
faith:
thus the
Blackfoot Chief Crowfoot said that (Commissioner) , Macleod had never
deceived him and he would never deceive Macleod.'
Accordingly, when the second Reil insurrection broke out in 1885
the
Blackfeet refused to move.
Unlike some Europeans they thought a
treaty-such
as that made with
Macleod in
18n-no
mere'
scrap of paper,' thus rendering a service not
merely to Canada
but
even to civilization itself.
The
story is told in a racy interesting way and the print is excellent,
but
the movements of the police could be more easily followed, and the im-
mensity of their scope better appreciated,
if
one or two maps wese
inserted.
JAN
VENTER,
S.A.P. A plain narrative of everyday life at a South
African Police Out-Station. By J. G. VAN
ALPHEN.
(Maskew Miller
Ltd.) Price not stated.
THE sub-title of this book prepares the reader for something he certainly
does not get. Whether he would have preferred what he expected or is
more satisfied with what he gets can only be answered by each individual
1Police Journal,
October
1928,
p. 644.
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