Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-02-15
READERS COLUMN
Editor Bismarck Tribune,

Dear Sir: If ever woman has prov
ed her right to an equal recognition OF
her worth. it has been In the dis
charge OF her duties as policeWoman.
Her instinct for protecting the
yonne finds here a limitless outlet and
thus the scope of police omcefs
work has been materially Dfoadened.
ANY place where the young people
congregate, is under the policeWo-
mans direct supervision The public
dance halls, the moving picture shows,
depots. postoftice, streets alleys and
railroad tracks require her vigilance.
After studying the needs OF her own
| city, Mrs. Alice Stebbins Wells OF Los
Angeles, Cal, voluntarily became a
policewoman. Her work was so help
ful that finally she was appointed by
the mayor. She is the one who has
blazed the way and today she is
known as 1.-The Pioneer PoliceWo-
man" She now has three assistants
and the mayor declares he would not,
if he could, dispense with such ser
vice.
The cities of Canada and Europe
call on Mrs Wells for advice. Only
four months after she had lectured in
Toronto, Can. d policewoman was put
Oh the force, there.
Mrs Pearl Blough of Grand Forks
began her work by accosting the chill
dren of the streets and notifying
their parents of their whereabouts
after nightfall. Her cooperation i'll
the care of the children won the graf
itude of many well-meaning parent.
The Travellers Aid work also was
given her attention. Women and girls
were safely guided to destinations.
The class of women who make depots
their headquarters were gradually
dispersed. .-.es- IN
The most pathetic feature OF her
work was that which brought her in
touch with unmarried mothers. Those
We're returned to their homes, direct
ed to the Crittenden Home, or sent to
the Reform school.
: Mrs. Blough has made a study Of
the causes OF the. various evils that
make the police system a necessity.
The following are the helps She ad.
vises for the better rearing OF the
young: A special teacher in the pup
lie school for the backward or sub
normal child, a social center for the
one whose home offers on y degrading
and dwarfing influences, farm for de-
linquent children, and separate re-
form institution for girls, modelled
after the wonderful Bedford Reform
atory in New York. She strongly ad-
vises sex instruction in the public
schools.
Recently, Miss Ora Mathews of
Phoenix, Ariz., was appointed deputy
sheriff. her previous work as police
woman had been unusually successful.
The need OF protective work for
women and girls aroused the people
of Portland, Ore, and Lola G. Bald
win, who had served as Travellers
Aid for a number of years. was ap-
pointed policewoman. The chief of
police of Portland declares that only
through the appointment of women
can the social evil problem be solved.
That men who 7ere strong in crimi-
nal cases failed utterly in dealing
with those involving sexual immoral
ity.
A feature that will interest all men
and every practical woman, is that
when comparison was made OF price
per capita of police protection in New
York, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Chica-
60 and Portland, the last named be-
ing the only city with women on the
police force. Portland ranked the
lowest in cost.
Mrs. Alice Stebbins Wells in re-
cent lecture said: "Arresting people
is not the sum and substance of
police officers duty-in a way an Off
Ger is the guardian of the community.
Ii wo do not wish to raise a genera
ton of delinquent children, We must
not raise a generation of delinquent
parents" She, too, advises the teach
ing Of sex hygiene in the schools.
Beginning with the new year hun
dreds Of policewomen went on duty in
Chicago OF the 10000 citizen police
that will be appointed, more than half
will bes women.
Fargo, n. D., had policewoman
who was directly responsible for the
arrest OF a dangerous criminal
There are Very few cities that do
not offer crying need fora police.
woman. Every place for pubic amuse.
ment should be given the Supervision
and cooperation Of a pONcewoman.
There are always young patrons who
really desire the chaperoMage and In.
terest Of an older person. but are not
able thus to provide themselves: con.
sequenuy, they are forced either to
deny themselves all pleasure or to
take it as they find It.
Consider the lot OF q young girl
brought into a police court. or one
who is held in Jail on charge. Also.
the boy Of tender age who ofttmes
commits serious offense---could
poiiceWoman's influence be other than
power for good at such a crisis IN a
boys or girls career?
Crowded schools, scant vpportunj
ues for coming into touch with any.
thing OF culture or refinement. lack OF
good reading matter, and no provis.
ION for the out door play that every
child Graves, all combine to aid in
tue growth and development Of the
abnormal and the criminal,
In neishboring county children to
The number of l,760 were round no,
attending school, A local authority
LOOK the matter IN hand and now
practically every child Ia at Dts aesk