Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-09-14
At Treatment Of His
Sailors at Portland.
Sharply CfItIclzes Police Meth
DDS In Official Report.
Mayor Clifford Denies Charges al says
Reports Arc EraggsaiDd.

Washington, Sept. 13.-Rear Admiral
Evans has sent to the secretary OF the
navy report in which he vigorously
criticizes the treatment the sailors OF
his fleet received while at Portland,
Me. He claims that they were beaten
by the policemen and refused admit
lance to places of amusement because
they wore their uniforms. Comment
ing upon the report. Secretary Bona
parte said that he would make recon-
mendations to Congress for legislation
to meet such CONDITIONS and he also
remarked that it would not be the pol
icy of the department to 20 out OF
the way to send vesIas to places, where
seamen are ill-treata& The Inference
is that all ports of this kind will be
avoided unless 1t is necessary for YES
sells to go there in the course of bus
mess.
Secretary Bonaparte is not sure that
the civil rights act or such part of it
as has not been declared unconditional
would meet the conditions that now ex-
list and is also doubtful about applying
a law designed for q whole different
purpose to meet conditions which have
since arisen. The secretary believes
that n law can be passed which Will
protect the men of the navy and army
against such treatment as complained
Of. The report Of Admiral Evans is
dated on the flagship Maine, at Bar
Harhor, Sept. 5, and Is as follows:
During the recent visit OF the Iowa.
Indiana and second torpedo flotilla to-
Portland, Me-. which visit was made
at the suggestion of the residents of
Maine, many of the men Of the Indiana
were treated with great brutality by
the police and by civilian in the pres
ence of the police for which I may
infer that he was a policeman in plain
clothes.
THE seamen, who were without
doubt perfectly sober and going in tina
direction of the wharf at which the
ships boats landed were dubbed and
kicked and knocked down by these
police. The civilian, in the presence
of the police, drew revolver and
threatened them.
Nothing but commentator can be
said of these bluejackets for their
modera ton in submitting to these in
dignities without creating trouble. for
they outnumbered the police and with
out doubt could have taken them in
charge.
Another indignity to which these
liberty men were obliged to submit to
was at a skating rink Tickets were
sold to them to enter the skating rink
on Peaks Island and then skates were
refused them on the grounds that they
were dressed in seamen's uniform.
Others were refused admittance to 9TH
er entertainments that were places Of
common amusement and to which civil
ians. regardless of their characters or
of the condition of their clothes, were
admitted if they had the price of adj
mission.
Il presume the owners or managers
of places of amusement are not COM
PEELED to sell tickets, but it seems
sad comment OH the patriotism of the
citizens Of Portland that they object
to sitting beside sober, honest and i'll
dustrious men who are in profession
amongst the most honorable OF any in
the world.
Il enclose herewith the statement Of
the men concerned, the report OF the.
commanding officers and the CORE
spondence with the mayor of Portland
on the subject. and l have to ask il
legal proceedings cannot be undertake
en- by the United States attorney in
Maine. against the policemen who so
brutality treated the men and the civil
lar who drew a revolver on them.
II have to ask, also. IL not incorn-
patable with the views Of the depart
ment that such publicity be given to
this incident as may tend to bring
about a change in the sentiment Of the
people, in order that more considera-
ton may be shown to the men OF the
naval service when they are on shore.
II have to inform the department
that except when otherwise instructed
by the department. I shall not permit
the ships under my command to visit
Portland"
The enlisted men in their statement
to the commanding officers say that
while they were on the streets Of Port
land they were repeatedly ordered to
Continued on Page Four.)