The evening world., 1913-06-23
Mrs. Joseph S. Wood of
Mount Vernon Says
More Of Her Sex on
Force Would Nip Much
Social Evil in the Bud.
Marauerite M0Oers Marshall.

The nrst poilcewoman in the vicinity
Of New York has already entered upon
her new duties. She Ii Mrs. Joseph s.
Wood. appointed two days ago in Mount
Vernon. To-day. as guardian OF the
peace. she has arranged to settle do
mestic difiicuity. both of the persons
concerned having appealed to her IN her
of'iciai capacity. know. because hap
pened to be talking to Mrs. Wood when
the d!sputants called her to the tele.
phone. She came back between smile
and q sigh. ITS my first case" she
said.
"Oh. won't you tell me about 1T" !
urged.
"Its a family trouble" she explained.
IAN aunt and niece have been talking
to me. First the former and then the
latter came to the telephone. The girl
10 to come and sec me tomorrow and
talk 1t over. oh. it's Just a dispute, one
Of those cases in which two persons
are not living together quite harmon
iously. We used to be told that birds
In their little nests agree, but We know
better now. We know that they push
each other and squa bible and disagree
most emphatically."
But what are you going to do In this
case?" I asked eagerly.
They've asked mo to settle their
troubles, and I shall try to do It by
helping them to work out their own
salvation. I shall try to show them that
In troubles OF this sort each must yield
a little. and that the situation can be
saved by q compromise. So much can
be done by talking to people In a frank
and friendly way. I have good hopes OF
clearing the air In this case by explana-
ton and tactful counsel"
ANTi.suFFRAoisT, she GETS
JOB MlLiTANTs CRAVE.
From this little incident you may
draw the conclusion that Mrs. Wood
doesn't favor the use OF militant meth
DDS even In her oficiai capacity. As a
matter Of fact. she Is one OF the promi-
nent anti-sufragists OF Westchester
County. And II is one of the ironies OF
fate that she should be the first local
woman to be given Job which DIR.
Anna Shaw and other New York suffra-
glsts have openly and publicly coveted
for long time. Mrs. Wood would tell
you that her appointment shows what
women can do without the vote.
I can't help but feel that she Is in
consistent IN accepting such an office,
for to want to be police officer is
surely much more aggressive and ''un-
feminine desire than to want TO drop a
| little piece Of paper into a ballot box.
However, Mrs. Wood Is such an up-to-
date, sympathetic, level-headed woman
that I shouldn't be bit surprised II her
practice ended In converting her theory
and she became logical and consistent
suffrag" policewoman.
even dared to prophesy as much to
her. She smiled and shook her head.
But I have always believed hat
women should interest themselves in
| civic AFFAIRS" she said. "And think
It would be a splendid thing II every
town had its poicewomen. They might
| devote themselves to seeing that the
laws against cruelty to children or to
animals were enforced. They would De
| invaluable In compelling obedience tc
the sanitary ordinances and the regula-
uons of the Roard Of Health. And In
Q city like New York. wise. sympathetic
WOMEN with Just that little extra bit ol
| authority given by the policeman's
badge might be Of inestimable help and
protection TO young girls.
III susA women could bs posted
N the iasgs sAilwsy stations sAA at
~ docks Of Tie incoming stsan.
ships, tAsis vssy pyessAes would
SslShAsa swsy many q Tie ~ msa
ga wsosa vac naslssA asssass.
lss0 Olsae' - nAsA q ~ seslal