The age-herald., 1900-06-10
A Police Matron,

With the stockade assured, the next hu- mane movement should be the securing of a police matron, an office that is regarded as most important in the government of other cities. The present condition of the jail would make the position of police mat ron difficult one, but the dire need of a person in that capacity is recognized by all men and women who have given any thought to the subject. That a woman, criminal though she be, should be thrown into the same den of vice with hardened criminals. and be deprived of even the com mon decency that the duties of a police matron would insure are conditions that seem difficult to realize, and yet investiga- tion of the subject reveals not only the degradation and humiliation of such a con- dition, but where police matrons are em- ployed their good influence Is known to ex- tend even beyond the confines of the jails. It therefore seems an increased responsi- bllity on the part of the authorities to place a woman in the capacity now filled by men, since her influence has been so forcibly in evidence In reformation work among women criminals. The suggestion for police mat ron on the part of the reform department has already been recognized as most i'm Dortant one and worthy of serious consider atlon, and the earnest women of the city feel assured that favorable action will be taken by the board of aldermen, a number of whom have publicly expressed their views regarding the great need of the posi- ton.
 Mrs. Adams has been in correspondence with several police matrons in other cities, and the following extracts from a letter recently received from the matron in Knoxville, Tenn, will be interesting:
 Mrs. Ida Adams
 Dear Madam:-Mrs. l.. c. French. form erly of Knoxville, but recently returned rom your city, was the bearer of a re- quest that 1 should be present at your monthly gathering of ladies to present the work of police matrons. l thank you most sincerely for the honor conferred by the invitation, and would most gladly avail myself of the opportunity 1t would afford me to visit your city and make the ac- quaintance of the noble women there as well as to present the work. After con- sidering the matter and comforting with Chief of Police J. J. Atkins it was thought to be detrimental to my work here that I should be absent as there are new cases coming up any hour of the day, and it is important that I should be here to attend to them. At Mrs. French's suggestion I write you and enclose a copy of one of my annual reports. This is my tenth year in the work in this city, and it has succeeded by the blessing of God beyond my most sanguine expectations. 1 am receiving letters from time to time from girls and women who have been helped up into lives of purity and responsibility, having been sent to friends in not only Tennessee but several other states. Some are earning an honest living, others are married and have happy homes and many others have re- turned to broken-hearted parents, little nameless waifs have been placed in child ren's homes, and numbers of girls seeking employment are protected and homes found for them.
 "l close by saying that if I can be of further service to you in any way, I shall be most happy to aid you; and trusting