The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-02-21

Like all those who have joined the ranks
over which the banner of new woman
hood haunts Constable Klotz is able to
speak for herself. When it is impossible
to speak she has no hesitation in writing,
for woman is never at loss for an expe-
dent. Read what she has written:
ITO the Editor: / have never been able
to see why woman should not help her.
self. Every body that studies the Bible
knows that it says the Lord helps those
who help themselves, and what better
authority can anybody ask than uhat2
am sure there is nothing said about sex in
the Bible, so far as that is concerned. In
the first place, l was on the road for nv
father as saleslady for his candy bust
ness l started in in that line when was
10 years old, and naturally acquired a
large quantity of experience in the line of
the mystery of human nature. l am nat
urally of an enterprising disposition and
not very slow to make up my mind, let
the circumstances be what they may.
zone thing l know that would benefit
the com munity at large, and that is that
it would be better to have women as con-
stables, who would attend to their duties
ana nothing else, than to have lot OF
men whose am bitIon would be ceutered
on the best whisky. The position of con-
stable is generally voted to some old poll
tician or the friend of such in this State.
Hence the result is pitiable one.
at is my impression that there is field
for women in the constable line as well as
for men, judging from my observations in
the neigh borhood. If the women cannot
do as we'll as the class of men CHOSEN con-
stall les here then they had better retire
and not try to do anything at all. l do
not mean to say that al the men who are
made constables are bad, but they are
sorely tempted 10 tread the path that
leads to that condition In the course of
their duties.
at seems to me that the time is ripe in
this country of ours for women to enfran-,
chise themselves. 1t is time for this to be
the case when husbands have to work for
81 day, and consequently are not able TO
support wite-much less family. 1t is
no concern of the public whether the con-
stable is a man or woman, just so long
as the work is done quickly and properly.
Women possess the necessary brains to be
constables just as much as the men do,
and what is more they use their brains to
the advantage of the public as well as
themselves.
"Of course they are not Samsons and if
actual force is required, which happens
very seldom, the constab BILE has legal right
to summon any one within hailing dis
lance to give aid. Now, then, don't you
see that woman can get along as con-
stable, for aren't the men always ready to
| fight for the women, and If they battied
for woman and for law and order too,
| what a splendid cause they would be
ampioning. Still, must confess that,
| as a general rule, a man is more amenable
to the influence of dear creature who
| cannot fight, and, besides, would not,
| than TO direct application OF muscular
| forca.
ASA matter of fact my father would
not let me undertake anything in which
there was the sill. htest possibility of
danger. He would rather, much rather,
hunt I'D q constable somewhere in the
royn 20 perform the service. / don't
know about the new woman part of it,
| What 1 think is just what said beforA.
1t don't seem 10 me there is any reason OIL
| earth why a woman should not help her
self. and why she isn't able to fill lots of
positions that are only given to men,
"FLoRENoE A. KLoTz."
| So far as Is known Miss Klotz is the
only woman in the United States or any
other place who has been appointed con.
stable.