CHICAGO'S POLICEWOMEN.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1886, 21 October 1913, Page 4

CHICAGO'S POLICEWOMEN.

—: 9 Although tho newspapers havo boen disposed to seo only tho humorous possibilities of the appointment of , ten women to tho poiico force in Chicago, the women have apparently gohe at their work in u spirit caleulatcd to bring credit to themselves and discomfort to those whose attitude towards this social experiment has been expressed in gibes about "copesses armed with hatpins," and in such peurility as letting rats and mice looso among the female police. Sis married women wefe among those selected. A' committee of three women is in charge of the movements of tho amazons, composed of Mrs. Gcrtrudo Howe Britton, of tho Juvenile Protective League; Mrs.' T. J. Mcder, of tho Catholic "Women's League; and Miss Minnio Loewe, of the Associated Jewish Charities. Tho uniform adopted temporarily is a bluo suit with the silver poiico star, and a hat with a blue band. Each "blueskirt" is equipped with a poiico whistle and a patrol-box key, but, for a wliilo at least, no billies or revolvers will be carried by the fair enforcors of the law. Tho women will devote themselves rather to getting information and to assisting tho forlorn than to making arrests, although tho performance of that function is not discouraged. Miss Mary "Wilson had the honour of making tho first arrest when, on the evening of her second day on duty, sho "pinched" one of her sex for soliciting. At first it was planned to sond tho valiant ten into the "red light" district, to combat the social evil, but tho Advisory Board decided, wisely, wo think, to assign tho recruits to parks, bathing beaches, excursion steamers, and railway stations, where they arc a sourco of protection to children i\nd to women and girls unacquainted with the city. Other cities may be cxpectcd to follow Chicago's oxamplo. Wo already havo women social workers and women probation officers, why not policewomen P — New York "Outlook."