The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-31
Four More Women Police
Officers Could Be Used
to Advantage
CHEAP AND PROPER
LODGINGS SCARCE
Another Building Like the Y. w. C.
A. Would Be Great Benefit to
Birmingham, Says Police
Head-Not a Bad City
by RICHARD F. LussIER

by HlCHAHD II. IlSSIEH
That every encouragement, financial
and moral, should be given by the people
of Birmingham who have the welfare of
the community at heart to the great work
of the Young Women's Christian assoca-
ton and that of Mrs. Wilson Seawright
in caring for young girls, is the opinion
of Chief of Police George H. Bodeker.
Chief Bodeker AYERS that low wages.
evil associations, the lack of suitable
cheap rooming places are at the present
time the greatest aid to immortality in
Birmingham. He states, however, that
Birmingham is not any worse, but is bet
ter. than any other city of it's size in the
United States in its treatment and pro-
lection of wayward young girls. There
is evil in Birmingham, and the eyes of
the better element of the city should not
be closed to that fact said the chief.
Detention Room Wanted
A detention room for women with a
matron in charge is also badly needed at
police headquarters, in the opinion of Mr..
Bodeker. as he claims that the influence
on a first offender of being put In Jail IS
very hard to eradicate. He also states
that il Birmingham was financially able
His desire would be TO have at least four
more women police officers, as he has
need for at least that number He said:
I'm the last two weeks / have had
seven young girls all under 20, in my
office on charges from stealing to solicit
ing on the streets. l talked with these un-
fortunate young girls to ascertain If pos
sibe what made them go wrong. Their
answer, invariably the same, is the same
answer that I've received in the five years
that I've been chief of police hundreds
of times-poverty,! the low wages they
are getting and its insufficiency to pro-
vide.
These seven girls-I cite these cases
because they are so recent-none of them
received over IS week, and the majori-
ty of them received less The story of
two of them was that one of the girls
was just from the country and had not
yet found work, the other was working
for S. a week. OF this sum the girl paid
So a week for a room and therefore was
forced to eat and pay laundry bills on
the remaining 81, which, you know,
was well nigh impossible. The result is
obvious-the girls took the line of least
resistance.
1.-TWO other girls that / questioned for
stealing from the store where they were
woroking replied that they could not live
on $3.50 week and preferred to steal than
to do still worse. The one great live is
sue to young working girls is how to live
and to live honestly. ] am not that kind
OF man that believes all working girls or
even girls that are getting insufficient liv-
ing wages are dishonest, for they are
rot But do wish to state that working
girls are generally considered legitimate
prey and therefore have to combat with
more than others of their sex and the
better element of this city should open
their hearts and purses in trying TO alle-
viate these conditions.
Criticises No One
~ wish to state that criticize no one.
The greatest evil is the lack of sufficient
cheap lodgings where girls receiving low
wages could live and board within their
income in practical comfort and amid
healthy moral associations. Outside of
the Young Women's Christian associa-
ton which is not one-fourth large enough
to accommodate the young poor working
girls of this city, they have no place to
room board in at low rate. Rooms
in respectable houses in Birmingham
range from 50 a week and up and work
ing girls cannot afford to pay that sum
on the wages they receive.
"The people of Birmingham are always
being called upon to raise funds for ca
lamities here and there, all of which I
truly sympathize with. but IL it We're left
10 me all the funds should be raised to
build another such building as the
Young Womens Christian association.
There is no fund that / would more cheer
fully contribute to than to provide pro-
lection and relief for the budding young
wcmanhocd Of birmingham.
TOO much credit cannot be given to the
Young Womens Christian association OF
this city and to Mrs. Wilson Seawright
for their part in directing young girls,
and the men of wealth OF Birmingham
who have the welfare of the community
at heart should open their hearts aud
pockets and contribute freely to increas-
ing the efficiency for good of the Young
Women's Christian association in this dis
trict.
More Women Police Officers
''If the city was financially able ! would
favor putting on at least four women po-
lice. Women police officers have their
uses in our great city. For instance,
they would be able to get after the wom-
en- progresses who are continually drift
ing into places of amusement and meet
ing young. unsuspecting girls. and decoy-
ing them into meeting unscrupulous men.
| know of two such women in Birming
ham. but with my officers it Is impossi-
BILE to get the evidence on them. Women
detectives could do 1t, however. and l
should have them to drive these vampires
from our midst.
But all this talk of ruined young girls
does not mean that Birmingham is such
an awful place. In my opinion Birming-
ham is as good If not better than any
other city of its size in the United States.
But there is evil in Birmingham and we
should not close our eyes to 1t. Rather
let us all arouse ourselves and see what
can be done to eradicate as much of it as