New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-14
POLICES SEVERELY CRITICISED
COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE WAY THEY
HANDLED THE CROWD
CHIEF CoNIIN's PASSES sCoRNED IN MANY CASES
WHAT THE CHIEF HAS TO SAY
ABOUT THE MATTER.

WHAT THE CHIEF HAS TO SAY
Aporr THE NATTER
Prevailing ideas as to the manner In "h'eh tne
police performed their work on the occasion VI 'he
Bryan meeting ut Madison Square "arue" vi
Wednesday evening are that IL was k'''
ing exhibition of police mismanagcmeh'' W "''e
there are many people who are prepared 10
give I, ne ,h,r onirion that the police did their
work well and rarfuy met every exigenoy pre-
scented 10 them on the other hand innumeraole
/ complaints have been heard as TO the aroi'r"ry
treatment TO which mann persons with ADMISSION
tickets subjected.
The deficiencies in this respect. however. APP
rarently rested with tho superior officers ana nor
with the rank and file The greatest cause Tor
grumbIing arose from the circumstance that the
latter were prone to carry out their instructions
too faithfully. After o'clock the ponce were
ordered to admit nobody within the lines or "ith"
tho building no matter whether tickets were pre-
scented or not. The result was that many peoP'e
who arrived after that hour possessing tickets OF
admission ard entrance. being refused. naturally
grew indignant and demonstrated 10 such an "a
tent that several disorderly scenes occurred lhch
again much Inconvenience and confusion arose
from the rerudiation OF the special passes issued
by Chief OF Police Conlin. These passes. when
were signed by Mr. Conlin. were given to mem
hcrs Of the press and other privileged persons ana
should presumably have provided for the holders
an uninterrupted rassag" through the GORDON
drawn round the hall. As IT happened however
chic. Conlins signature was ignored by the ma
iorty of the men forming the lines. and those 20
whom they veIc issued for some time found them
selves in no better position than the rest OF the
multitude which was swarniing outside OF the
cleared spaces. This refusal TO recognize the po
lice passes was ultimately brought to the attention
of the inspectors in charge and somewhat tardlly
the privileges attaching to the passes were duly
recognized Later inquiries. however. ELECTED the
~ hof informed
the existence OF the passes.
In the course of conversation with a Tribune re-
porter yesterday Chief Conn expressed the opinion
that his men did their work well and that. with
the exception of one rush that made at Madison
Square ana Twenty -fifth-st. order WAS strictly
maintained The blame for any misma ma cement
he thought. was attaching TO the committee in
charge OF the han for not providing that more en-,
frances should be opened. and that admission should
be given 20 ticket-holde earlier on the question
of the non-recocnition OF the passes which he had
distributed the Chief would make no comment. be
yond saying that he was sorry that any misapprc-
tension should have occurred. and regretted that
the holders should HI We suffered any discourtesy.
Chief Conlin added that he had received com
plants Of rough treatment either collectively or in
divdually against the police
chief Coniin yesterday received the following let
ter from Mr. ST John. which was also Inscribed
with the autographs Of Mr. and Mrs Bryan and Mr..
Sewar:
" desire officially to thank YOU, your inspectors
cellent order preserved last night by the New-iork
police | congratulate you heartily upon the
achievement iy spite OF the torrid evening, without
injury TO any one OF the people. Mr. Bryan and
Mr. Sewall both express their sincere qualification
thereon.
1t was said that of the roundsmen who were
duty the Madison Square Garden had SAID
when police passes were shown him, that ne did
not care for a dozen signatures of Chief COnlin.
This officer called before the Police Commits
sioncrs Yesterday and he stronuOuSly denied that
he had made of the remark alleged against
him. To Tribute reporter President Roosevelt
gave it as his personal experience that no fault
could be found with the way in which ,he police
men had performed their duties. and he took the
opportunity deny that Commissioner had been
ilnpoitely treated by certain men on duty, as was
reported