The Van Buren press., 1893-06-24
WASHINGTON'S FINEST.
Why the Police Force of the Capi-
tai Has An Easy Time.
Criminals Have been Taught, in Years
Gone BY. That They Cannot Fool
the Blue-Coated Guardians
of the Law.
Especial Washington Letter.l


ital that 1t is customary for our visit
ors, and even our regular inhabitants,
TO look upon our policemen as useful
and necessary, but not picturesque
parts of a well-regulated city. There
has been very little disorder here, and
we have had no such thing as a riot of
any description or magnitude for q
long while. Consequently it has be-
come customary for our people to look
upon policemen us they look upon con-
ductors of street cars or gripmen; that
is, merely rs necessary adjuncts to cor
porate existence.
The impression that this inaction on
the part of the criminal classes here
renders our police force, to the unob-
servant, seemingly superfuous, recalls
the fact that this satisfactory condi-
tion of quiescence among the criminal
classes was brought about by the de-
termination, energy and superior or
ganization of our policemen some years
ago. 1t is within my own memory
when Washington was one of the most
disorderly cities in the country. Dur
ing and Immediately after the time
when we were possessed of the right
of suffrage, the ignorant and vicious
dominated affairs to a very great ex-
tent In fact, as late as 1850 and 1881,
the city went through sort of reign
of terror at the hands of various mobs
in different parts of the District of CO.
lumbia.
A certain socialist, named Cohen,
came to Washington and organized
the discontented, unemployed laborcrs
and malcontents of various classes,
most of them negroes, into a regular
mob which held the city almost at it's
mercy for many days. Upon the
heights north of the town, where the
village of Mount Pleasant is now locat-
ed, this man Cohen used to organize
his gangs, and with them march
through the streets of the city demand
ing that all business men should con-
tribute food and clothing for the sup
port of the lazy and worthless. This
man Cohen was something of general
In his way, and he knew just how far
he could go in his demonstrations
without violating the law to such an
extent as to warrant his arrest for riot
or disorderly conduct. He knew that
rs long as he kept his mob moving
about and not remaining in one place
they could not be arrested for riot.
Finally, however, when he threatened
to loot the treasury of the United
States and compel all the storekeepers
to pay tribute to himself and his fol-
lowers, it was deemed necessary to
have him arrested for disturbing the
peace and for threats. At the same
time, while all of the police were kept
upon reserve ready for duty in any
emergency, the regular army down at
the arsenal and all of the members of
the marine corps were on duty ready
to be called to the assistance of the
police at any time.
One fine afternoon when this man
Cohen, at the head of over two hun
dred discontented followers, marched
down Seventh street, uttering threats
and imprecations of all sorts, Capt.
Austin, with a squad of fourteen men,
marched out to meet him and his
crowd. The little squad of officers
stretched across Seventh street Just
above Pennsylvania avenue and inter-
cepted the mob, which was coming
down the hill for the purpose of parad-
ing on the avenue up to the treasury.
As they approached the bluecoats,
Capt Austin ordered the mob TO dis