The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-12-13
WAGE WAR ON THE WASHER.

The young women of Denver, says
the Chicago Chronicle, have resolved
to make the life of the masher one of
unmixed woe, and with that end in
view have formed an organization for
his repression. These women have
suffered long and patiently from the
annoyances put upon them by rude
men who persist in ogling them and
following them on the streets. Arapa-
hoe street, one of the principal thor
oughfares of the city, has become a
terror to the pretty girl when out shop
ping, and even the fashionable district
on Capitol hill has not been free from
the presence of male flirts. The police
were appealed to, but even this failed
as it was next to impossible to obtain
evidence. The victims were ready
enough to complain while burning I'M
der the immediate effects of the insult
but in nine cases out of ten no police
man was in sight and the man es-
capped. Even when arrests were made
the fair compainants failed to appear
in court the next morning to press the
charge.
So a dozen intrepid young women
decided to take up the matter them
selves and make an organized effort
to stamp out the nuisance. Miss Louise
Lee Hardin, president of the Business
Womens Club of Denver, was the
leader in the movement. She came for
ward with plan that presents some
UNIQUE and parctical features. The men
were to be left out of it entirely-all
except the policemen.
She proposed that the streets of Den
yer be patrolled by public-spirited
young women who would be fearless
enough to appear in court and give
evidence against the "mashers." The
girls were to be pretty enough to
tempt the eye of any rude man, and
they were to act as decoys to lead on
their tormentors. Whenever possible
they were to work in pairs, in order
to have a preponderance of evidence
and thus overcome the "masher's" eX-
pected denial in court. 1t was not con-
sidered necessary that the two young
women should be walking together, but
they should keep near enough to per-
nit one to see all that the other saw,
and in this way have corroborative tes-
timony
OF course, there was the difficulty of
getting a policeman when he was
wanted. but Miss Hardin's fertile brain
also had a solution for that problem.
The young women acting as patrols
were to have badges Indicating their
mission, and while they were out on
their strolls hunting for "mashers"
they were to enlist the aid of police
men and have them within easy call,
but far enough away to throw the
"masher" off his guard.
The proposal met with instant appro-
baton, and no end of recruits came
forward. Colorado is a state where
women vote, and even the prettiest girl
looks upon it as her province to uphold
what are considered the rights of her
sex. When it was seen that FEAST
bic plan had been brought forward
some OF the handsomest girls in the
city offered their services to Miss Har-
din. They were not all business wom-
en-: some OF them were society bellies,
but they were enthusiastic in perform
ing a task that mere man admittedly
had failed In accomplishing.
Miss Hardin selected Miss Sheridan
and Miss Atchison az her chief aids.
and with the other fair volunteers the
patrol system was put into execution.
Several arrests were made. and so
overw helming was the evidence against
the prisoners that convictions were
obtained In every case. As n result
there II dlsmay IN the ranks Of the
"Inashera." Il Is said there is not