Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-29

system Of female policemen was
failure.
From the Chicago case and Others
which I have observed have come
to the conclusion that two psyche
logical rules are in operation. In the
first place the woman is instinctively
accustomed to seeing q man in the
place Of public power and authority
and resents seeing a woman In SUCH
a place. It Is an instinct as old as
the race. and arguments cannot re-
move IT, / know that many enthusl'
astic suffragists even would never
tolerate the idea Of woman Presi-
dent.
In the second place, woman put
IN the place Of public power and au-
thority lacks the physical superiority
that belongs to a strong man and
that carries with 1t sentiments OF
self-restraint and fair play that nave
grown up through ages in the physl-
cally stronger and fighting sex.
Nevertheless, knowing that she is
appointed to exercise physical force,
she does IL hastily and irrationally.
In such acts her greater emotional
excitability also plays an important
part.
The most advanced supporters OF
the emancipation movement main
tain that there is no good reason
why women may not engage in every
line Of activity now open to men,
and 1t must be admitted thai in
many instances they have estab-
lished their claim. Perhaps the
most conspicuous OF their achieve
ments has been the excellent service
they have performed in connection
with Juvenile and female offenders.
Certainly the rigors of the criminal
law ia its application to these often
ders have been wisely and justly
tempered by the sympathetic inter-
est that only a motherly woman
knows how to give.
Theoretically the idea of police
women for women offenders seems
good one. Certainly a woman Is in
better position than man to under
stand another woman, and in Con-
flicts between disorderly groups and
the law mutual understanding and
sympathy are helpful. What was
the element OF the situation that
WAS overlooked, SO that the theory
broke down when an attempt was
made to put it into practical appli-
cation?
The police authorities are inclined
TO believe that the explanation lies
in the fact that the women lacked
the physical strength to back up their
authority when the necessity arose
for their making a show of force
TO remedy the defect they are plan.
ming to give their policewomen a stiff
course In physical training, including
instruction In jiu-jitsu. Undoubtedly
this is partial explanation. Where
a fight Is imminent there is no re.
straining force quite so potent as the,
consciousness in both parties to the
encounter that decided advantage
lies with one side or the other.
To the stronger party this assur
ance Of superior strength brings with
It a certain degree Of poise and re-
straint. Upon the weaker side it has
SOLDERING influence that tends to
bring passion under the sway of rea-
son. This is the argument on which
the nations of the world justify the
Increase of their ornaments in the
interests Of peace, and it has its ap-
plication to the situation we are dis
cussing.
Physical strength is instinctively
associated with the male sex, just as
physical weakness is naturally re-
garded as an attribute OF women.
When pitted against the bluecoats
the striking girls have an intuitive
sense Of their inferiority in the mat.
ter of physical force, and, notwith-
standing their resistance, they really