The Washington times., 1913-06-30
BAR MEN IN POOL
WHEN WOMEN SWIM
life-G Guards to Be Only Males
Permitted at Bathing Beach
on Ladies Days."

Men no longer will be permitted to
make use of the waters of the Munic-
ipal Bathing Beach the days the pools
are occupied by women
Beginning next Monday, the order,
the issuance of which was announced
by DR.. William b. Hudson, superin-
tendent, this afternoon, the male es-
crts of the women must be left at
home, or checked this side of the
bath houses.
No further permits for women and
girls to have masculine escorts will
oe granted by the superintendent
ana the outstanding ones will be
DR.. Hudson is going to lay the mat
ter before Commission Rudolph, with
the expectation that that official will
give definite ruling at once.
The order follows the presentation to-
mere women batAers who are regular
attendants at the Municipal Bathing
Beach on ladies' day, protesting against
the presence of men, other than life
swimming.
Old Question.
mis- has been brewing for some
time" said DIR. HUDSON to a Times rep
resentatiye today. Various, but al
ways single. complaints have been
coming to me for some time from
women who claimed that the apen inter-
fered with their swimming. but this is
the first time that there has been any
concerted action and the matter brought
TO me in the way CT petition by q
n1apority."
BY the former rule any man who could
claim a woman as responsible for his
appearance in the pool, he acting in the
capacity OF her escort, was allowed the
use of any of the pools during women's
hours. Tho object of having escorts
was that they gave confidence to the
fair sex and taught them how to swim.
This worked very well until the women
themselves, though almost as general
rule, the young girls. began to allow
two or three men whom they did not
know to claim them as responsible for
Thus many more men than was neces-
sary began to I'LL up the pool. Being
faster and better swimmers, and more
proficient In the art of diving, and not
having any intention of assisting any
woman, the men, it is claimed, took up
the room in the pools for their own
antics and literally crowded the women
out, often disturbing the water and
completely swamping them with their
feeble efforts at learning.
Voice Protest.
The women who appeared before DR..
Hudson this morning claimed that the
men were unnecessary and not wanted
In the pool on women's days, and that
the majority of women were perfectly
willing to dispense with masculine SER
vices other than those offered by the
life guards
DR.. Hudson said today, 1T is my earn
est effort to so arrange the affairs of
these baths 30 that the majority of those
who come to use them will be satisfied.
but II is always to be remembered that
there is. always, in public matters, an
undesirable element to be considered
and with which must contend, the very
nature Of this institution making pre-
cautions doubly necessary."s---z----
Rulings which seem unjust to GER
tain cases have a wider significance for
the majority, and there is always an ex-
cellent reason for every regulation.
Proper sanitation is the first thought,
and those who are well informed and
most careful, must remember that the
seeming needless rules are made, not
for them, but for others less careful
about their personal habits.
NIt has taken great care and no little
time to get the affairs of this beach in
such a condition that II is patronized by
the best people in Washington. As far
as II is possible for me to do so. l shall
continue to insist upon obedience of
regulations from anyone and everyone.
/ am glad to accede to any just plan or
suggestion which Is offered me by the
patrons of the pool and which is for
the betterment Of the majority"