The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1908-10-31

most carefully guarded city in the EVW|
country. ENMh
The why and wherefore of this BN
greatly improved condition is 5000 UAT
policemen-athletes. And the reason -
for the athletic force is the civil SER SN
vice law with it's physical require W.
ments, which the man who would be-
come a "cOp" must equal or excel to
become a fulfledged minion of the
law. .
He must have a perfect chest, heart Inns 90 hs
muscles must be strong, his bones we'll knitted.
he must be at least five feet eight inches in
height, and not more than six feet five inches.
Applicants in taking physical tests must tip the
scales between $50 and $50 pounds.
Obesity, muscular weakness and poor physique
are insurmountable barriers to the man with a
craving for a place among the finest" Every
muscle in the body undergoes a test. which is
made by the use of machines and weights. The
Chicago policeman must be able to carry himself
we'll, he must be shifty on his feet, quick to think
and act. His eyes and ears must be perfect and
his family tree must be absolutely devoid of
hereditary diseases.
In fact the Chicago force to-day is one which de-
mands that a man be a soldier, athlete and min
lon of the law combined. During certain months
each year examinations are conducted and dur
ing the fiscal twelvemonth 5000 men were ex-
amined. Of this number about one-half were sue
ceSSful. First the doctor looks over the appli-
cants, then the physical examiner takes the men
in hand and puts them through the most rigid
tests required anywhere in the world. After that
the written examination is given in which each
applicants education is brought to the fore.
Civil service tests are severe and absolutely
honest. 1t is up to the applicant himself to pass
the tests. You cannot be appointed upon the
Chicago police force by possessing acquaintance
with a man with a pull" So great has been the
success of the system installed by President Ell
ton Lower of the civil service commission and his
aides-H. D. Fargo and M. L. McKinley-that to-
day every city of any size in the United States
has its eyes focused upon the details and meth
DDS employed by. the Chicagoans.. -
Since President Lower became. the leading light
in the work Of giving Chicago an efficient police
force, great strides. have, been taken by the city
toward making its citizens absolutely safe from
criminals. -.
Physical Examiner Edward G.. Westlake is in
a measure responsible for bringing out the best
bodily qualifications in the men who are turned
over to him for inspection.
Says Examiner Westlake:
stage fright during the physical examination
is one of the worst setbacks which the tests meet.
When a man%becomes 'fustered,' knowing that
a good job depends upon his every movement, it
is quite natural that the best he knows will not
push itself to the surface. Hence 1t Is the duty
of the examiner to allay the fears of the applicant
as much as possible.
Consequently l have found that it helps men to
do their best by applying suggestions and occa-
sionally allowing a man to lay OF for a few mo-
ments until he can compose himself. When the
period of embarrassment passes, as it invariably
does, the best that is in the applicant is bound
to come out. The men take the tests purely upon
their own merits and perhaps the most severe of
the weightIifting requirements is that OF lifting
q 30-pound dumb-bell from a lying posture, the
weight being held back of the applicants head.
This is to test stomach muscles. It does not