The Glenwood post., 1908-10-31
Il -

a quarter of century ago. but the 01wUG
presentday Chicago is perhaps the yN2M
most carefully guarded city in the NYW0b
country. kANl
The why and wherefore of this HWN
greatly improved condition is 5000 U&
policemenathletes. And the reason
for the athletic force is the civil SER SkNp
vice law with its physical require W.
ments which the who would be-
come cop must equal excel to
become full-fedged minion of the
law.
He must have perfect chest heart lungs his
muscles must be strong his bones well 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 tnsurmountable barriers to the man with a
craving for 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 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 man be soldier, athlete and min
ion of the law combined. During certain months
each year examinations conducted and dur
ing the fiscal twelvemonth 5000 men were ex-
amned. OF this number about one-half 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 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 NJ. 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. Westake is in
a measure responsible for bringing out the best
4 bodily qualifications in the men who turned
over to him for inspection
Says Examiner Westake:
stage fright during the physical examination
is one Of the worst setbacks which the tests meet
When 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 it is the duty
of the examiner to allay the fears of the applicant
much possible.
consequently have found that it helps men to
do their best by applying suggestions and occa
sionally allowing man to lay off for few mo-
ments until he can compose himself. When the
period of embarrassment passes. 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 weight-liftng requirements is that of lifting
a 3O-pound dumbbell s:cm lying posture. the
weight being held back Of the applicants head
This is to test stomach muscles. 1t does not