The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-09-15
ASK FOR POLICE
MATRON FOR FARGO
WoMEN's CLUBS i AND CHART
TABLE ORGANIZATIONS UNITE
IN MOVEMENT TO PETITION
CITY COUNCIL FOR CREATION
OF NEW CITY FEMALE OFFICER

Five women representing the wom-
ems clubs, Y. w. C. A. and other
charitable organizations of the city,
appeared before the city council last
night to petition that body to create
the Office of police matron for the city
of Fargo to be under the jurisdiction
of the chief of police. Talks were
made by Mrs. Darrell, Miss Lillian
Topping of the Florence Crittenton
home and by the president of the
Young Womens Christian association.
After full presentation of the matter
1t was referred to the police commit
tee to act in conjunction with the mayor
with instructions to report at the next
regular meeting Of the council.
The duties of such an officer, as
stipulated by Miss Topping, would be
to meet all the trains in the city
arriving at the two principal stations
in an endeavor to look after all young
girls and women who arrive in Far
go daily, and to see that they are not
led astray by the procurers of voice
Miss Topping cited the case OF little
Laura Bleisch, who figured prominent-
ly in the Jap case, as an instance
there been female officer at the
station to meet the little Swiss girl
upon her arrival in the city. She
said many more just such cases could
be given where female police protec-
ton was needed.
Added to this the proposed police
matron would assist at the police sta
ton in the searching of female
prisoners and receiving them when
they were arrested She would wear
a star and be empowered to make
such arrests as were necessary and
receive instructions from the chief of
police as other policemen.
The first step taken by the women
was to petition the Northern Pacific
officials to maintain such an officer at
the local station. The railroad replied
that if it began with Fargo in such a
movement, every town on the whole
line would have to be supplied with a
woman for that purpose. In declining
however, the N. P. officials promised
to give such a woman maintained in
Fargo her board and contribute that
far in an effort to rescue girls and
women and steer them from the re-
SOLLS Oh vice WIeA LISy arrive III the
city.
The women's clubs, Y. w. c. A, and
Florence Crittenton home association
have pledged to supply portion of
the proposed new officers salary,
promising $25 per month and ask the
city council to appropriate $50 a
month for the balance of the salary.
The Y. w. c. A. will give the police
matron lodging, assisting the city in
that respect.
While the question was thought to
be an important one, it was not the
opinion of all the members of the
council that the city could afford to
maintain such an officer as a police
matron just at this time, and it was
suggested that the matter be allowed
! to rest for brief period for con-
sideration. In case an ordinance
creating such anS officer was enacted
at this time, the salary for the new
police matron would have to be in
cluded in the appropriations bill which
| comes before the council at it's special
session tonight.
| Through it's chairman, DR.. Fren-
nette, the police committee reported
l
| by the police department to search
and receive female prisoners at the
detention house, which cost the city
only 81 each time any services were
rendered. The average cost to the
city for such woman amounted to
$50 year, which would be consider
ably less than the cost of maintain
ance of a police matron as proposed
by Miss Topping and the women.
1t was further felt by some that
such an office should be created, but
that the post should be filled by q
woman selected by the mayor and thai
she should be strictly under the super.
vision of the chief of police and no
answerable in any way to the chart.
table organizations of the city Mis-,
Topping stated that 1t was the in.
tention of the women's clubs and 9th
ers interested in the movement tx
bring in woman from the outside
who had been specially fitted for sucl
work by a course of training which
had covered a period of Ave years.
The committee to consider the pro.
position will meet this afternoon al
the mayors office and Miss Topping
will again appear to explain fully tbs
necessity of such an officer in Fargo
and cite cases where a police matror
could have prevented girls from being
led astray.