The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-11

through a request from this department
instructed the teachers to instruct their
pupils in classroom to their duties at
such times and to impress upon them the
necessity of avoiding all crowds and dis
turbances, and of the probability of seri'
Gus injury resulting from disobedience
Prevention was the keynote of the pro-
cedure.
las stated before the worst trouble
came from the turbulent classes and
young boys who mixed in with a crowd
of so-called sympathizers would huri
brickbats at cars crowded with passen-
gers. That injury would result to some
one was Inevitable, so that it was appa-
rent early in the affair that 1t was nee
essary to place officers on the cars to
protect the lives of those who rode This
necessity reduced the number of men
available for emergency work.
From the men who had previously
shown an aptitude for special work a
number were selected to do duty In plain
clothes. These men mingled with the
crowds on the streets and pointed out to
a uniformed man those who were melting
the disorder, and thus their identity was
not disclosed: they were not rendered
useless, but continued to be Of valuable
service in that locality.
| 1.-THE city was portioned off and placed
under the command of the assistant su-
perintendent of police and five division
| CAPTAINS who were from that moment
responsible for everything in their divi-
| sions. Places where serious trouble
might break out were covered by extra
details of police and at various points
auxiliary stations were established with
direct connection to the central office, and
here details of policemen were held In re-
serve who on orders from the central Of
flee were dispatched to any point in their
respective divisions to prevent rioting or
to stop 1t.
These stations were under the direct
charge of lieutenant, who reported to
his captain any and all occurrences,
which reports were turned into the cen
trail office daily in writing or immedi-
ately by phone If of sufficient import
ance.
"At such stations were kept auto patrols
to aid the men in reaching the seat o.
trouble with all speed possible, and
mounted men who were freely used and
did excellent service. A man on a horse
has wonderful effect upon mobs of riot
ers; his appearance alone causes them TO
break and they are then easily dis
persed.
Here also were stationed police sur
geons who gave immediate medical atten-
ton to those who were injured in the
| riots.
These stations also reported hourly
by phone to the central office, and thus
kept it informed of everything happening
in their territory.
DAILY conferences were held by the su-
perintendent at the different stations
at which all the captains and lieutenants
met to receive orders and to discuss
plans and ways to deal with new prob
| lens as they arose, so that all should
work in harmony. These conferences
kept the commanding force in close touch
with the situation as 1t existed over the
entire city
Where Sympathy Was Strong
I'm certain sections. where sympathy
with the striking men and their cause
was strong trouble was anticipated al
all times, in such sections larger de-
tails of patrolmen were stationed. Nat
| uralIy every man in the department was
| in constant service day and night, and
proper provision was made for their well
| fare.
Folding beds, with blankets and rubber
pillows easily inflated. were provided
which when not in use could be folded
and stored in the emergency stations. OF
| of 1t was necessary to move portion OF
| the men from one auxiliary station TO an
other. these could easily be taken with
out disclosing what number had gone and
| what number still remained.
All movements were controlled from
| the central office where, on the plan
the points of the most trouble were
| appropriately marked so that at ey-
cry moment of the day and night. from
| the first day of the trouble to the
| last 1t was known with absolute ac-
curacy the location of the men and
| their exact number in each locality
when trouble occurred at any point
word was phoned into the central Of
fee which knew from what station men
could be drawn to send and this sta
| ton was at once notified and the men
| sent in auto patrols.
"A large auxiliary force was kept at
the central office composed of patrol
men and mounted men who could be
| moved in body to any part OF the
city or in case of serious trouble In
| the central sections small numbers
could be sent to such points before
| the trouble could yet beyond control
These divisions were divided and
in each subdivision two plain clothes
men were placed who Immediately To-
handy for their use, the location and
number of which was Immediately COM
municated to the central office and from
| these points the specials reported ev-
cry hour, or in case of serious trou-
| BILE in the particular subdivision the
special could at once notify the CEN
trail office which in turn notified the
proper auxiliary station and a detail
was sent
! ALSO in case trouble was reported
By private citizen those places were