The San Francisco call., 1906-05-26
NO MORE NEED
FOR MILITARY
Schmitz Thinks Police
Can Handle the
Situation.
J. F. Byrne Tells Pres
ident Troops Are
Necessary.


the entire force of federal troops now
on duty in this city will be recalled
within the next few weeks. The Mayor
is OF the opinion that the police de-
partment of San Francisco is fully
capable of handling the situation, be-
ing in better condition than ever be-
fore in the history of the municipality.
The Mayor makes this statement in
answer to j. F. Byrne of this city, who
Is quoted In a press dispatch from
washington as representing to Presiz
dent Roosevelt that San Francisco is
still in need of military guard and
that the police department. is not equal
to the situation that confronts it. at
the present time. Schmitz is indig-
nant that Byrne should make any
such statement and is surprised that
the President entertained it at all.
The following is the dispatch from
WaShington:
WASHINGTON, May 25.-J. F.
Byrne, of San Francisco, was intro
duced to President Roosevelt by Sem
ator Flint of California today. 4
Mr. Byrne is here tovurge the Pres
ident and Secretary of War to permit
the United states soldiers to continue
to perform guard duty in San Fran
cisco. He told the President that the
presence of the soldiers, in the judg-
nent of the people of the city, was an
absolute necessity and expressed the
hope that they would not be removed
for the present. He told the Presi-
dent that. in the circumstance, it was
practically impossible for the regular
police to handle the situation and
properly guard the city. The Presi-
dent assured Mr.. Byrne that if the
people of San Francisco wanted the
soldiers to remain on duty there they
would be permitted to continue there
for at least month or more"
Il think that if Byrne made any
such statement to President Roosevelt
he is putting this city in wrong light" I"
said the Mayor yesterday. He GER
tainly acted without any authority
from me or any one else in this city.
No one gave him such commission,
for the simple reason that no such
representative to the President was
necessary.
II know as well as every one else
does that the San Francisco police
department can handle the situation
here without the aid of any troops
We. have succeeded in getting every
thing down to system now and there
fore things are very much easier.
Chief Dinan has done and is still do
ing noble work with his men. The
department is fully equipped now, bet
ter in fact than it ever was before.
that the troops did not do their share
of the work. They performed then
duties in a manner to bring out the
praise of the people. We needed them
badly few weeks ago, but that time
is now passed and we can get along
very nicely with our police depart
ment.
II have had an understanding with
General Greedy that the troops are
to be withdrawn when in nv opinion
such action is advisable.
II believe that we can Withdraw
them right now, though l do mot in
tend to do this for while yet. 1t is
understood between General Greely
and myself that the troops will be
taken away by the first of July at the
latest and 1 will probably have them
Withdrawn long before that time if the
present order of things continues.''s
Chief of Police Dinan was also in
dignant that Byrne should have made
such a statement to the President.
The police department has been COM
mended on all sides for its efficient
work." said the Chief, r"and I do mott
see how Byrne or any one else could
have done such a thing. We have
been able to handle the situation
without any trouble or inconvenience
l will admit the military gave us
grand support and we will not forget
it. But the strenuous times are passed
and we can look out for the welfare
of the city from now on without out
side aid
Secretary Taft has instructed Major
General Greely, in command of the Pacific
Division, to make arrangements to re-
tain the military forces in charge of the
relief work in San Francisco until July
II such action be necessary.