The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-03-05
May PROBE
CAPITAL POLICE
Failure to Guard Suffrage Pa.
rade StirS Action
WHOLE CITY IS INDIGNANT
Congressman Hobson Will Ask For
Investigation During Extra Session.
Women Complain to Wilson.

Women Complain to Wilson.
Washington, March 5-Charges that
the police of Washington did not prop
erly protect Mondays suffragist pa
rade were made in the house by Rep
resentative Hobson, of Alabama, who
later declared that he purposed to
ask for an investigation of the police
department during the extra session
of congress.
Mr.. Hobson told the house that the
congressional section of the parade,
led by Representative Ruck, OF Colo
RADIO, comprised a score OF senators
and representatives, who, starting at
arms length and four abreast, T. lally
were crowded into single file by the
crowding of the spectators and that
the police '"scoffed with the ruffians."
81 have been called over the tele'
phone" said Mr.. Hobson, land told by
a lady that her daughter was on one
of the floats in the parade and that a
ruf1ian climbed on the float and insult
ed her daughter"
SSS>-
at home" interjected Representative
Mann, of Illinois, the Republican
leader. The remark aroused a num-
Der of members.
"She had as much right there as
any one," shouted Representative
Raker, of California; 'the gentleman
ought to be ashamed of himself"
A resolution for the investigation of
the Washington police was offered in
the senate by Senator Jones and re-
ferred at once to committee. Senator
Nelson declared the scene attending
the suffrage parade constituted
"most disreputable affair and dis
grace to the police force"
Suffragists as well were prepared
to press before the incoming congress
their demands for a thorough inves-
tigation of the lack of protection ex-
tended to them. The ordeal through
which the marchers passed, however,
gained them many sympathizers and
many supporters in places where they
had not looked for converts. Both Off
cial and civic Washington is ablaze
with Indignation at the treatment Of
the women, which virtually scandal
lied the national capital.
Even the anti-suffragis. s, who have
combatted the "Votes for Woman"
crusade, unremittingly expressed in
dignation at the Sights placed upon
their sex in the procession. They con-
demned the police preparations and
evidently were prepared to support
their sisters in the other camp in their
demand that some explanation be
made for the failure to provide the
necessary protection.
Before Woodrow Wilson has been
president many hours he will have
placed in his hands by the incensed
suffragists a copy Of the vigorous res.
olution of denunciation they adop ed
at their mass meeting following their
parade along Pennsylvania avenue.
The resolution reads:
Resolved, That this meeting un.
qualiiedly censures aud denounces the
shameful conduct of the police during
the suffrage pageant just ended, which
denied to the marchers for suffrage
their rights to parade freely and un.
molested in the main streets of the
capital, and subjected them to fire.
quent ribald insults from the crowds
which all but overwhelmed them. To
these insults the police in many cases
listened without effort to repress, as
they were but mildly interested when
the marchers were compelled to go in
single file. Such Encouragement
would have been a disgrace in any
city, but it is doubly and trebly dis
grace in the national capital, which
belongs to our citizens, men and wo.
men alike"
Major Sylvester, chief Of the Wash.
ington police, declared that the in
ability of his force to manage Mon
days spectators was not due to any
wilful neglect of duty by any of the
men. He said he did the best he could
with the small force at his command,
consisting of 631 disciplined privates.
In addition there were large number
of specials.