The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1908-10-30

to-day Perhaps'i was EEIRhIA
a quarter of a century ago but the "1WNA
presentday Chicago is perhaps the IWM
most carefully guarded city in the UvMLH
country. ENkMN
The why and wherefore of this ENNV
greatly improved condition is 5000 I6
pollcemen-athletes. And the reason
for the athletic force is the civil SER S4Ap
vice law with its physical require W.
ments, which the man who would be-
come cop must equal or excel to
become a fufedged minion of the
law.
He must have perfect chest, heart, lungs his
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 tin the
scales between $50 and $50 pounds
Obesity muscular weakness and moor phvsioue
are insurmountabe barriers to the man with
craving for place among the finest" Every
muscle in the body undergoes test, which is
made by the use of machines and weights The
Chicago policeman must be able to carry himself
well, he must be shifty on his feet quick to think
and act. His eyes and ears must be perfect and
MS family tree must be absolutely devoid of
hereditary diseases
In fact the Chicago force 10 day is one which de-
mands that man be a soldier athlete and min
ION OF the law combined. During certain months
each year examinations are conducted and dur.
ing the fiscal twelvemonh 5000 men were eX-
amined. Of this number about one-haf 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 man with pull" So great has been the
success of the system installed by President FL
ton Lower of the civil service commission and his
aides-H. d. Fargo and NJ l.. McKney-that to-
day every city of any size in the United States
has it's eyes focused upon the details and meth
DDS employed by the Chcagoans
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
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 duri lg the physical examination
is one of the worst st tbacks which the tests meet
When man becomes 'fdstered' knowing that
good job depends upon his every movement it
is quite natural that the best he knows will not
push itself to the surface. Hence it is the duty
OF the examiner to allay the fears of the applicant
as much as possible,
Consequently have found that il HELMS men tn
do their best by applying suggestions and occa-
sonaliy allowing man 10 lay off for 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
| 10 come out. The men take the tests purely upon
! their own merits and perhaps the most severe of
the weight-lifting requirements is that of lifting
a SO-pound dumb.bel from lying posture. the
weight being held back of the applicants heat.
This is to test stomach muscles 1t does not