The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-03
P~0LICEWOMEN FOR NEW
YORK.
The Reason for Them and the Work
for Them Clearly Defined.


for Them Clearly Defined.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: The
time Is rapidly approaching when New
Workers viii realize that policewomen
are a necessary adjunct to the police
force of a large city, where all sorts of
conditions must be met by special means
adapted for special cases.
AT present most of US entertain the
idea that the local force is the best in
the world, and probably 1t Is rs far a.
1t goes; but the fact remains that many
OF the large cities in the United states,
particularly the Western cities, are Just
a step ahead OF New York, due to the
TACT that their police forces have been
augmented by policewomen. Moreover,
from all accounts, the policewomen have
performed their work satisfactorily
and have added materially to the ell
cheney.
The question OF appointing police
women to the local force Is not a new
one by any means. for there has been
much agitation along that line for
some years past. particularly among
settlement workers. civic associations
and reform workers who are cognizsnt
OF conditions that exist in a large city
like New York.
We have only TO refer to the records
OF the last legislative session to learn
that a bill was introduced TO permit TIE
appointment to the police force OF New
YORK city OF as many policewomen as
the Board OF Estimate would provide
salaries for. The sponsor of this bill
was Senator Jones OF Chenango, who
fought vigorously for the cause he
c~harnpioned. In his fight he was ably
assisted by many women. but despite
their combined efforts the bin met an
untimely death. 1t passed the Senate,
but was killed In the House.
The defeat OF Senator Jones's bill
did not cause as much disappointment
among Its supporters as one would sup
pose. II simply meant a temporary set
back. to which the supporters OF the
policewomen movement have become ac-
customed, particularly AFTER the defeat
OF the Lewis bill and the bill introduced
by Assemblyman Elsner In January,
1914.
Although the Jones bill was defeated
It's supporters had the satisfaction Of
knowing hat the Senate thought we'll
enough OF II to pass IL and put the
issue squarely up to the House. This
was more encouragement than n
previous bill a received and led to
the belief that the Legislators are be-
ginning to take the matter seriously.
With this knowledge as an incentive
there Is every reason to believe that at
tie next session of the Legislature an
other fight will be made to nave a bill
passed authorizing the appointment Of
women TO the police force. And there
Is good reason to believe that in the
near future the lawmakers at Albany
Will sanction such a bill.
When one speaks OF policewomen to
the average New Yorker the latter draws
a mental picture of a woman attired
Ia "A uniform, with a helmet perched on
Ter head, patrolling "A regular beat with
"A nightstick in her hand. This idea
has been the greatest enemy OF those
who desire the appointment OF police
women. for II has served to make q
joke out " the movement.
Such an idea is erroneous. however,
for there is no intention to have women
Vie with men in the matter Of patrolling
streets. regulating traffic at street cross
iugs or dolng strike duty. The real in
tentlon Is to have policewomen do the
work for which our policemen are alb
solutely unified.
There is plenty OF such work to be
done In this large city. Take the matter
OF Maynard girls. for instance. In every
city where policewomen are at present
on duty II is a fact that policewomen
have obtained better results In handl' ng
wayward girls than policemen have.
T-ey have handled the girls more SYM
pathet!caily. they have appealed to
their common sense. they have reasoned
with them and through the efforts OF
the pollcewomen many such girls have
been set back on the right path. which
they probably would have refused to
take II their fate had been placed In
the hands OF policemen. II Is admitted
that a woman understands a woman
better than any man can ever hope to
do. and this fact has greatly assisted
the pOlicewOmen in their duty.
There are many duties that the po-
licewomen car perform In New York
without interfering with the routine
work Of policemen. All they have TO
do Is to follow the work performed by
~policewomen in other cities. Besides
attending TO wayward girls they can
Perform service at the moving picture
theatres. where there is much need OF
Policing, not only among girls and
women but among boys and youths.
they can do duty at the various railroad
terminals. at which many women who
are strangers in the city arrive daily.
They will be called Upon to direct these
strangers to their destinations and Ia
see that they do not fall into the clutches
'' ''N" VIZ ~ oAAAAous " ANau klltIl
astray.
Policewomen have been found TO be
very efficient in discouraginG the activI-
ties OF white %slavers, and this feature
alone has recommended them to the
g eads OF the police forces in other cities.
II they are successful in other places.
why shouldn't they be Just as success
ful In New York? There Is no inten-
ton OF besmirching the fair name OF
New York by linking white slavers TO
It. but 1t is evident that such a class
Of men and women does exist. probably
in every city, n while the evil pre-
walls the necessary means should be
taken to stamp It out. Policewomen
supply the necessary means.
So the fact remains that the local
police force is not complete without POI
liccwomcn. II Chicago. Philadelphia,
Los Angeles, San Francisco and many
ether important cities find policewomen
useful, isn't 1t reasonable to believe
that New York needs them? D..
NEW York. September 2.
Questions Not Yet Answered.