Evening journal., 1913-05-02


ters scurring through the Board
street station today on their respective
way to the daily grind stopped
craned their necks and stood aghast
at the curious spectacle Of a large
woman dressed in a military cut blue
suit. with her hand firmly upon the
shoulder of well dressed young man,
sscorting him hurriedly out of the
waiting room The two passed quickly
to the street, the young man Offering
apparently no resistance
whats it all about?" inquired one
dumbfounded commuter. of the station
attendant. What right has that tow
sring woman to treat a defenseless
young man that way?" "Oh, that;
that's merely policewoman of the
Philadelphia force throwing out
masher." calmly explained the atten-
dant she's just been commissioned.
If you don't believe she has the au-
thority or the nerve to eject or ar
rest obnoxious or disorderly persons,
Just start something She throws 'em
out in punches every day-and she
doesn't always merely throw 'em out
Hardly a day passes that some smart
aleck doesn't object to being elected
by woman, policewoman or no po-
licewoman, and she carts him OFF to
the police station What's more, she
hasn't lost a case yet. If you want a
demolstration just take few slants
at any lone girl or woman in the de-
pot and see if she doesn't get you
quick However. the inquirer was
satisfied with what he had seen AS
he. walked away he was careful to look
straight ahead.
The lady copper" was Mrs. Mary
Diehl, a superbly formed 1913 ANA
zOnia style of woman. with pleasing
but stern f.atures and military bear
ing .e is on the Broad street sta
tion beat and her chief work is to pro-
tect young girls and women against
the simpering glances and advances
of roysterers and mashers. She had sat
unnOticed in rear seat in the waiting
room and had seen the young mar APP
proach a girl who had just arrived.
Convinced from the girls actions that
the man was forcing his attentions on
the girl, Policewoman Diehl stepped
In and after questioning tie two,
flashed her badge and said to the
young man, "Come with me-" The
offender was let go when the street
was reached on promise not to tiirt
any more.
Philadelphia has two such women
policewomen. They have been on the
force about four wesks. They are
Mrs Diehl and Miss l.. M. Gillespie.
Both are detailed at railroad stations,
but they have full authority to act as
guardians of the peace in all sections
of the city alike. They ale provided
with revolver, blackjack, nippers and
badge, all Identical with those of the
other members of the Philadelphia
police force. They work split shifts
on their beats and are supposed to
be ION reserve" at their homes dur
ing the night. In the early evening
if not actually on duty, they are "on
reserve" in the police station, where
already they have the men call W.T.
them strong" as their fellow members
put IT, The back room" of their re-
spective stations presents a unique
picture when they are "on reserve
and sit playing cribbage or pitch with
their brother officers. At first the al
mosphere was little tense when they
were in the back room," but now
"everything's fine" say the police
men. who admit sheepishly that the
whole air of the police stations have
changed for the better.
Director of Public Safety Porter had
been urged for some time by reform
atory societies, women's clubs and
suffrage leaders to commission women
for police duties in railroad stations
public dance halls and moving picture
theatres, not only to merely preserve
order. but to protect girls from the
pernicious activity of white slavers
and solicitation by well-dressed
women. Both women were we'll fitted
for the work by long apprenticeship
as agents of the Travellers Protective
Association. and It is believed that
their appointment is the first step to-
wards organization of a separate force
of policewomen for Philadelphia. Fol
some time special women DO ice Off
GERS have been on duty in department
stores of this city with a semi-police
jurisdiction over the employees of the
establishments, but this is the first
time women have been given such
wide scope of authority in staid old
Quaker Town.
Street Station, where the importani
work of the new lady cOppers" will
centre, have long been nightly rem
devious for young girls and mashers
and frequently women of the street
can be seen in that section of the city
Women prominent in correction anC
charity work have called the atten-
ton of the authorities to the danger
of the situation and it was largely
through their efforts that the police
women were appointed After theil
short term of service, this section TO-
day is frier than any other similar
place in Philadelphia from masherS
and Objectionable characters, and th'
authorities are considering transfer
ring the two policewomen to othel
sections of the city. OF course, how
ever. the big work of policewomen il
the protecting of young girls and
women who come to the city alone
These are directed to respectable
places to live or to relatives OF
friends, as the case may be. The
women have proven also that they dc
Co.. III L.