Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-27
Militia Controls Situation.

SitudtiOu
The mob attacked the city Jail last
night In an attempt to release sympa-
thiZers with John Looney. publisher of a
weekly paper which had severely criti-
cised Mayor II. NJ. Schriver. The rioting
was the Outgrowth of the newspaper S
quarrel with the mayor.
During the last three days the people
have been stirred up over the controversy
between the editor and the mayor, and
last night the police arrested two speak
ers who were addressing a crowd. This
inf1amed the friends Of Editor Looney
and they began to hurl stones at the
police and break windows of the police
station.
Mayor Schriver. who was directing the
police, ordered the officers to fire on the
mob. Three men were instantly killed
and others were wounded. The mob dis
persed. but reformed after an hour and
attempted to procure arms from a hard
ware store. The police surrounded the
store and were able to drive back the
mob. .
The sheriff shortly before midnight
asked Gov. Deneen for state troops to
assist the police in preserving order.
Mayor Issues Statement.
Mayor Schriver issued the following
statement after a conference with the
other city commissioners:
1--WE are devoting our time to an at
tempt to restore order. l feared trouble
last night and during yesterday talked
with various citizens as to the best course
TO pursue. 1 did not want to interfere
with free speech, but was anxious to pre-
vent disturbances and violence.
II talked with K. f. Gardner. editor of
the Tri-city Labor Review, who. as !
thouoht, was to be the only speaker last
night l told him to go ahead with his
plans for the recall. If he saw fit. and to
say what he pleased about my admins
tration, but to keep within rational lines.
He informed me that he had no desire
to create disturbance and that he would
caution his hearers against violence
From what I am told now. he kept his
word. 1t was nothing that he said that
aroused the mob spirit as far as 1 know.
THE police were particularly careful to
do nothing that would start trouble They
stood bravely all kinds of tauntS and
ridicule on the street. submitted to as
saults with bricks and rocks and, finally,
when three of them were driven to the
river bank. they finally found refuge in
the police station.
Police in a Trap.
'When the mob came down to the 20.
lice station the police did not open fire
until they found they were trapped, anG
then they fired several volleys over the
heads of the crowd after Commissioner
Hart had gone out in front of the station
and urged the mob to disperse. He was
met with jeers and taunts and fusillade
of bricks.
1.-The shots were fired into the crowd
only after most of the windows In the
city hall and station had been broken
and a number of the policemen inside had
been hit with bricks and stones
The whole trouble from its inception
may be traced to the fact that 1 en-
forced the law against disorderly saloons
and chop suey joints. That is wha,
brought forth the attack on me by the
Looney paper. 1t is deplorable but we
are not going to quit now until we restore
order and rid the city of the elements OF
defiance
Further public assemblages where DO.
litical addresses may be made will not be
allowed until quiet is restored. The sa.
looms of the city will be closed for the
! present"
MILITIA tn KEEP 0RnEp