The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-06-17
Reason Why City Cannot
70 Have Police Woman
BUDGET IS FAR DISTANT
Representatives of Fair Sex Put
This Proposition Up to the
Council

chamber walled 1Orth the strains Oh
Where Is My Wandering Boy To-
night" on an accordian, prominent
members of the Council OF women
were appealing to the city fathers for
officer. Music, ii is said, ''nath its
charms, but not so last night. The
discord of the accordian was some
thing fierce, and it was with difficulty
that the ladies were able 70 make
themselves heard. AS had been an
nounced previously, the matter OF the
appointment OF a police woman Tor
Mankato was made the special order
OF business. After listening TO the
and Councilman Steiner announced
that owing to the condition OF the
Frances of the city, they could not see
their way clear to appoint a police
woman at the present, but asked the
ladies to appear again and present
definite plan as to what they expect
OF an officer of that kind.
Mrs. j.. w. Andrews was the first
speaker of the evening. She said
that this subject had been brought to
the attention of the former council.
A police women had been employed
Tor a short time, but her power OF
arrest had been revoked and this had
made q failure of the proposition.
The speaker called attention TO the
success Of the undertaking by Mrs.
Alice Wells OF Sacramento. THIS lady
had been called upon to speak in sew
eral of the large cities OF the country
on the methods employed in that Cal
ifornia city Since the idea OF women
police has become very popular and
successful in nearly all of the cities OF
any size. Mrs. Andrews said that
RI eat many young people come mere
TO school They should be given the
cleanest city possible in which to &C
Quire their education. While a man
police can handle the male population
better, ii will have to be conceded
that a woman can deal better with
girls and women. New York city now
has fifty five women police with
headquarters of their own. 1t is the
aim of that force to keep the young
offenders away from the old timers,
who would certainly Contaminate the
minds of younger ones just starting
on the downward path. In the city OF
indianapolis it had been found that
many young girls came up missing.
The work of the woman police IN that
city has reduced this number to
large degree Mrs. Andrews said that
Mankato would be safer city with
the appointment of a woman police.
Need of Police Woman
Miss Phoebe Woloben stated that
during her work as matron OF the city
hall woman's rest room, many instan-
ces of the urgent need of a police wo-
man had come to her attention right
here in Mankato.
Miss Woloben read from an Indian
apolis paper showing that the venture
in that city had proven great sue
cess Captain Clara Burnside OF the
women police OF that city had done
come wonderful rescue work she
said that she would not like to see the
police woman in Mankato dressed In
uniform. She would have this officer
ocn the plain clothes of a woman cit
izen. Many Of the young people do
not like to be seen in conversation
with uniformed officer. Miss Wolobcn
STYLED the twin cities the Port OF
Missing Girls" The Indianapolis
method, is not so much the arrest OF
the young girls and women Offenders,
as kind counsel and advise. Every
method possible is made to bring the
wayward one back to the path OF
Righteousness before arrest is re-
sorted to. Many times it is the home
environment that causes the trouble
with the girls. Miss Woloben called
attention to one specific instance OF
this kind in Mankato. She called the
attention of a certain clergyman TO
the case. Investigation in the home
showed that the father and mother
of the girl were then in the midst OF
divorce proceedings. The clergyman
TO whom the case was referred sent
the girl to a school, and today she Is
thanking her stars that she took the
advice Of Mis- Woloben and the clergy
man.
: - Good Work Quietly Done
This is only one instance or the
work which a woman police could
haunting the offender before the
courts, which many times makes the
girl reckless owing to the publicity
of her shortcomings. For all these
reasons Miss Woloben would respect
fully request the council to appoint
q police woman.
Mrs. E. s. Selle brought the atten-
ton Of the council members 10 inc
presentation OF petition signed by
several hundred woman requesting
the appointments Of a police woman.
That petition had been placed on flle
with the former council. Mrs. Selle
said that she hoped the city council
would see its way clear to appoint
woman police. Mrs. Selle thought
that the right kind Of woman vested
with Police authority could work won
ders In this city.
Mrs. Willard Spoke ForeefuIIy.
Mrs. D. G. Willard in addressing
the council laid facts down in clear
cut English without beating about
the bush. She said that every one
would have to admit that up until
the present time we have been liv-
ing in a mans world. Women in
the past had been denied the right
of citizenship, in fact everything
but the. right of wifehood and mo
therhood. Women have made good in
every undertaking. There have been
but few failures among the women.
Mrs. willard made the statement
that 80, 900 girls in the United States
drop out of sight each year. They
They are certainly some mothers
girls, and should be looked after.
The men in the past have had the
control of these things.
do you men like the record?"
asked Mrs. willard. Mrs. Willard
said that the language used by some
girls who frequent the depots is
something "outrageous'-it wou,u
even make a man blush. In a recent
conversation with w. R. Spornitz,
Joint agent of the Omaha and North
western railways at this city, Mrs.
Willard said that Mr.. Spornitz stated
that there is certainly work for a