Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-31
to wear helmets, and uniforms. and

TO wear helmets. and uniforms, and
carry clubs and rcvolvers
II would be the last one to advocate
such a thing. ! want a sort OF an auxil-
larry force OF women to act as peace
makers; women who will not use the
authority vested IN them untIl 1t is
absolutely necessary women whose most
powerful weapons Will be kind words
and good advice. When these fail they
may bring their authority to the front.
and II this doesn't bring about the de-
sired result, they will, as peace-ofhcers,
have the right to call on any male
citizen TO help them.
Now. l want to make my idea
clear. There are dozens Of women in
the city to-day who are spending their
lives In good work. These are the
women who work In the slums. the
mission-workers. and the women of the
Salvation Army. They spend their lives
in trying TO induce the unfortunate
to change their mode of living. They
80 right down into the worst parts OF
the city, and talk TO people who are
leading sinful lives. and II they run across
n drunken women in the streets they
do their best to lead her away from the
saloons, and take her somewhere
where proper attention will be given
10 her. II IL n grand, good work they
do. but think how much better 1t would
be II these women had little authority
Now they can simply plead with a wo-
man. and beg her 10 come with them.
More often they get harsh answers
and oaths than a simple yielding, but
they put up with IT all with remark
able patience. and simply keep at the
person they want to save until the last
vestige of hope has gone. Then. of
course, they have TO let them go.
Take the case OF woman under the
influence OF liquor. The eloquence and
sweet patience of one of these mission
workers might have deep impression on
her were she sober. But. with her mind
befuddled. she cannot understand, and.
even could she understand, she would
pay no heed. for women like that are
suspicious Of everybody. particularly
when they are drunk. Now. maintain
this; a woman In that condition should
be forced to leave the street, and re-
strained from drinking any more unlil
she is able to realize what she Is doing
Women should have the authority to re-
move forcibly such from the street 10
some place of shelter, where they may re-
cover their senses and have the care and
attention that even the most unfortunate
OF women need. When sober once more,
they could he talked 10 by other women,
who would poiHi out 10 them the glories
OF Christian life II they did not choose
10 listen then, well and good. Thoy can
not be forced 10 lead good lives. but
they would at least be able to have the
opportunity laid before them, when their
minds were in condition TO receive and
carefully weigh the matter.
Il can give an experience of my own,
several days ago, OF an example OF what
] mean. Walking through this very street
! came across a drunken woman. She
had been in a number Of saloons. and,
when l approached her and spoke to her
was about to enter another. / took her
by the arm. and asked her to come with
me. She dcmurred. but finally came we
walked together for two blocks. and 1t
was Il constant fight for me TO keep
her from entering every saloon we came
10. ] didn't know what TO DO with her,
hut thought Of taking her TO the Saliva
uOn Army barracks, a few blocks away
But she settled the question by stop
ping short In front Of saloon, refusing
TO 20 another step with me, and then
entering the place by side door. Now,
what could | DO? The woman had paid
some attention TO my words. Sober sne
might have profi,ed by them. / couldn't
order her to come on with me. / had no
authority to do 10. 1 couldn't follow her
'Ahv t"al Sdlvph anu DIlhg Ner QUE. 1 had
no right 10, and an attempt TO use force
would surely bring on a scene. and. may
De, trouble. But, were / a policeman. as
they might call members Of this auxiliary
force, | could order her to come along
with me. | could take her by the arm,
and make her come and, il trouble arose
i could call on any citizen to assist me.
such a force, / believe, would be a
great thing for the city. There are
plenty OF women, ] think, who would
gladly become members Of IT. a badge OF
authority would be all that's necessary,
and the badge need never be displayed
until the last moment The good work
OF the missions would be increased fifty
times, and ] think that II the thing Is
properly handled IL may be put through.
Another important work the women
might do would be the handling Of dis
orderly boys. Women can handle boys
as men cannot, and they have a tremen-
dous influence over them. Only yesterday
a display Of my S. T.. ). badge broke up
"A iignt between two boys. and a few
KIND words made them shake hands with
each other. l can tell you that the good
work women could do as members OF ne |
police force Is simply unlimited. and 1
nope some day 10 sec the idea carried
out Our members are enthusiastic over il.
and, pay or no pay. there are dozens
ready TO put on badges ana do this work
Tor the good Of the city we live in"