New-York tribune., 1882-03-03
UOnEN DISCUSSING POLICE M1TRONS

A mass meeting was held last night at Stcinway
Hall to urge the passage of a law appointing ma
irons at each police precinct in the city The hall
was about three-fourths full. On the platform
were Mrs Lille DevercuX Blake, who presided,
Dr Clcneuce : LcZier, Mrs Maria AFTER of Penn
svlvanla and Others more or less prominent in the
movement to change the present status of woman
Mrs Blake spoke Oh the subject before the meeting
She referred b the hclplesoness of woman through
her lack OF suffrage, and dWclt on the ncCes-
sity of having police women 10 attend
10 the women who are prisoners or lodGc!s III the
noIice stat ous. Women, she said, did not wish 10
be men; they were very much better. 1t was not
only the criminal and Yagrant women who were
liable to 90 TO the police stations, any respectable
woman, il an accident happened 70 her would be
taken there, and II would be the duty of masculine
policeman to examine her TO see If she was living
The thought was too horrible TO contemplate, Or
If n woman was charged with theft she was
searched by male policeman. The speaker herself
had seen a young drunken woman dragged through
the streets whose disOrdered dress would have to
arranged by a man. The police tied catgut around
the wrists of women TO subdue them aud not long
ago woman was dubbed by police
man. These things might not have happened
had there been matTOn at the station.
few weeks ago man was found in the streets straw
ing What he needed the sympathizing touch
of woman instead of the rough handling Of a
man, There 10000 more women than men
IN this city, and the women therefore paid more in
indirect taxation. They ought TO have voice III
every department of government.
Mrs. Maria Arter read a series of resolutions
which reced the need of matrOns III the stations 10
take care of women, and called upon Senator Fitz-
gerald TO introduce cl lause TO that effect his
Police bill now before the Legislature.
a letter was read from the Rev. Phcbe Hanaford
saying that her heart with them, though she
was in jersey City. Mrs. Emma Gates Conkling
spoke about her recent with the mcr-
chants but said little about the subject
before the meeting, remarking that she hadn't har-
messed Mrs. BlakGs hobby. She became SO excited
that she discarded her manuscript and 81 asses. and
occupied much time though Mrs. DR.. LOzier, who
was sitting behind her. pulled her dress and rcmOn-
strated with her. After paying her compliments to
the police, the press and the merchants she finally
sat down, and the business OF the evening
was resumed Mrs. Anderson of st. Louis made
a long speech on wOman's rights and wrongs, pOr-
traying the woman of the future, but did not ap-
proach the subject III hand Mrs. Clara Neymann
read an essay Oh the sweetness of q wOmans SYM
pathy, and Mrs. AItcr read paper on the treat
menI Of children by the police
While these various subjects were being
elucidated, number Of young women took up
a collection Long before the exercises ended
the people began 10 leave the hall. There few
men on the platform one OF them was asleep dur
ing the proceedings with the end of his cane his
mouth There was IA great deal OF running TO and
fro and whispering by the women on the stage,
many of whom seemed to be afraid that things
were not goingjust right" The chairwoman, after
thanking what renamed of the audience for It's
presence, declared the meeting adjourned.