Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 105, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 May 1914 — WOMAN POLICE CHIEF [ARTICLE]

WOMAN POLICE CHIEF

Girl Editor of Michigan Paper Surprises People. ‘ Miss Blanche Ingalls Takes Post Offered Her in a Joke and Stirs _ . Up the Town by Her Reforms. Chesaning, Mich. —following scathing criticism of the police in the columns of her newpaper, Miss Blanche Ingalls was ,put in charge of the Chesaning police department by the village . council. The position was proffered in a spirit of sarcasm, but Miss Ingalls accepted before the offer could be withdrawn. For a long time Miss Ingalls had not been in sympathy with what she termed “lax law enforcement,” and she threw the light of publicity on every flaw in the village government she could uncover. She has put into effect a large number of reforms.

Some of the reforms are: Card games in saloons or poolrooms prohibited. Playing dominoes for money barred. Throwing dice tabooed. Eighteen-year age limit for poolroom frequenters established. Ten o’clock closing order promulgated. Blanketing horses on streets ordered. Miss Ingalls is fearless in the discharge of her duties, and in enforcing the last-mentioned order she tackled the so-called “bad man” of the section and subdued him. He Is Tom Ederley, who has whipped nearly every man in the county and whose open boast was that he respected neither sex. - Ederley drove into town on a dry when a sleety rain was Jailing. His horse, warmed by the brisk drive, was left standing unblanketed and steaming in the cold while the man entered a saloon. Miss Ingalls followed Ederiey into the barroom. “Here you,” she called to him, “go out and blanket that horse.”

Ederley enjoyed a brief moment of laughter. “Oh, I guess I’ll not blanket the horse,” he answered, roughly. “You hear me,” Miss Ingalls answered. "And I want you to blanket him right now.” “Aw, mind your own business,” Ederley grunted, as he poured out another drink of whisky. “Drop that drink and get out of here," Miss Ingalls ordered. “We want none of your ilk in Chesaning.” There was a sudden movement and a sound of breaking glass and liquor trickled over the bar. Miss Ingalls had knocked the glass from Ederley’s hand as he lifted it to his lips; Then she locked her fingers firmly in Ms hair and conducted Mm to the side of his buggy. "Now, go!" she said. Ederley got into his buggy and then looked at her. "Well, I’ll be d —d!" was his comment as he snapped the reins over Ms hqrse’s back. This is only one of the numerous experiences the militant editor has had since she became responsible for Chesaning’s behavior. In about six'Months Chesaning will be the model Village of the country, Miss Ingalls believes.