The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-29

system Of female policemen was G.
failure.
From the Chicago case and others
which | have observed have como
TO the conclusion that two psyche
logical rules are in operation. In the
first place tho woman is instinctlvelY
accustomed TO seeing man In the
place of public power and authority
and resents seeing n woman In such
q place. 1t is an instinct as old as
tho race, and arguments cannot re-
move 1t. | know that many enthusl-
astic suffragists even would never
tolerate the idea OF 4 woman Presl-
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 anu
that carries with It sentiments Oh
self.restraint and fair play that have
grown up through ages in the physi-
callv stronger and fighting sex.
Nevertheless, knowing that she is
appointed TO exercise physical force,
she does 1t hastily and irrationally.
In such acts her greater emotional
cxcitability 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 Il must be admitted that 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 in It's 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 a
good one. Certainly a woman is in
better position than man TO under
stand another woman, and in con
ficts 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 lie:
in the fact that the women lacked
The physical strength to back up thei
authority when the necessity arose
for their making show Of force
To remedy the defect they are plan
ming to give their police women a stiff
course in physical training, including
instruction in jiu-jitsu. Undoubtedl!
this is partial explanation. Where
fight is imminent there is no re
straining force quite so potent as til.
consciousness in both parties to thu
encounter that decided advantag,
lies with one side or the other.
To the stronger party this assur
ance OF superior strength brings viii
IL a certain degree Of poise and re
straint. Upon the weaker side 1t ha
SOLDERING influence that tends t
bring passion under the sway OF rea
son. This is the argument on whlc
the nations of the world justify tn
increase OF their ornaments in tn
interests of peace. and it has its al
plication TO the situation we are di:
cussing.
Physical strength is instinctivel
associated with the male sex, just a
physical weakness is naturally II
garded as an attribute of womel
When ptted against the bluecoat
; the striking girls have an intuitiv
, sense OF their inferiority in the ma
, Ter of physical force, and. notwitl
3 standing their resistance, they reall