Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-19
IN CASE OF STRIKE HERE.
How 1t Could BE Easily Handled by tn,
District Militia.

How 1t Could BE Easily Handled by the
District Militia.
Suppose the railroad strike should spread
and involve this city, what force is available to
uphold the law and protect property?''
The speaker was a well-to-do business man
who in case of anything like riot would have
more than little at stake. His inquiry was
proper and timely in view of the fact that a
railroad strike can cover more ground in less
time than any other kind of disturbance
COULD BE HANDLED EASILY.
''If there should be any difficulty here" said
an army officer to STAB reporter today. lit
could be handled quite easily; more easily than
would be possible in any other city in the
country. THIS territory is under the abso-
Lutte control Of the United States. SO a
combination of national and militia forces
could be effected immediately and harmoni-
ously. The police force, good as ii is. would
have plenty TO do in keeping order Throughout.
the city. 1t is not large enough TO pay especial
attention to the railroad property and the
government departments The public would.
Of course. have to place its main dependence
upon the District National Guard, and from
what know of that organization the public
would have no cause for fear. The training of
the brigade, conducted by Gen. Ordway. has
been OF the muot practical and soldierly nature
loca, force ard find that it would be possible
within two hours to have ], 500 men under arms
and ready for duty. There are two regiments of
white infantry and separate battalion Of colored
foot soldiers. Then there is one of the best
companies Of cavalry ever saw, and a first
class light battery, which has both heavy guns
and gatllngs. The engineer corps-practicallv
battalion-the cycle company and the ambu-
lance corps complete the most Thoroughly
equipped brigade organization in the country.
GOOD COMMANDING MATERIAL.
or more importance than anything else
when there is work to do is the commanding
material. and in this respect the District mill
tia is satisfactorily equipped. Every man of its
officers has seen active service, either during
or since the war. Some Of them were cadets at
the Military Academy, and in couple Of in
whose regulations for battlefield courage
are bright stars in our national history.
Good men in the ranks very often fail to &C.
compiish much when they are poorly Offered
while inferior enlisted material will frequently
astonish the world when properly led and COM
manded. As l understand it this force could
speedily be increased to 5000 or more men if
the occasion demanded the increase.
THE REGULAR ARMY AT HAND,
"Then the regular army can be called in il
necessary. In fact, they would probably be
ordered out at the same time as the militia. Of
the purely governmental force there is enough to
scare an ordinary mob. AtFort Myer there are
four troops Of fighting cavalry, and at the bar
racks and at Fortress, Monroe is the greater
portion of the third artillery. There would be
no difficulty in working the volunteers and reg
ulars together. The District militia-which,
by the way, is the only organization in the
country that Gun truly call itself national
guard-has been equipped and drilled on pre-
else army lines and in twenty-four hours you
couldn't tell t'other from which.
"Plans FOR the defense of the various depart
ments and the railroad property have, I am
informed, been pigeonholed in Gen. Ordwsy's
desk for the past two years. Every detail is
plain and every conceivable emergency has been
provided FOR.
There may not be any trouble here
but it is always a possibility. The number Of
railroad employees in this city il small, and even
surprising them to be riotously inclined they
could be cared for by the police, but the dam
age would not be done by them; 1t would como
from the loafers and desperate characters who
always seize an opportunity to disturb and
plunder and destroy. Such as these would
never want a second dose Of riot in Washing
ton"