The Washington times., 1913-03-10
TIMES READERS CONTINUE TO OVOICE NDlGNATION OVERPO

To the Editor Of THE TIMES:
Permit me space in your valuable pa
per to express my sentiments as re-
CARDS the alleged derelictions of duty
on the part of the police force during
the suffragette parade of last Monday.
] was standing at Tenth and the Ave
nue. and witnessed the efforts on the
psrt OF the captain of No. i precinct
and other officers TO keep the crowd
from passing under the wire to the
street. Seeing how utterly unable he
was to effect this ] remarked to him
that he was up against a hard propo-
sition He replied that the crowd was
composed of good people and asked the
people to move back. They paid no at
tention to his request, but as soon as ne
passed came back under the ropes Au-
tomobiles and horses went down the
liIe, some Of them actually over the
feet of the people. but they PAID no
attention.
So far as my observations went the
police did all they could and Major Syl-
vester Is entirely blameless of any dere-
fiction. Had the police used their blud-
geons and felled a few people, regard
less of sex, they might have effected
something, but as it was they could DO
nothing.
Put the blame where it rightly be-
longs or the men higher up. Had Con-
gress paid attention to Major Syives-
ter's many petitions for more men TINS
outrsee of decency Nigh, have Deen
619 X street northwest.
To the Editor OF THE TINES:
In looking through your valued paper
noticed that persons writing to the
Times, mention drunken soldiers In
several places, and write this letter to
try to correct that impression.
The facts Of the case are that there
was on the day of the suffrage pageant
a very small number of SOLDIERS on
the line of march, and very large
number of miIitiamen, and it is to the
latter that the phrase drunken SOL
dier" should. be applied, but. in reading
your paper, civilian would not know
the difference between a regular and
u1litiaman.
As an enlisted man in the regulars. I
win say that witnessed the pageant
and stood beside commissioned ofncer
Of the militia, and that his conduct was
q disgrace to the uniform. With me
were privates in the Engineer Corps
and their conduct was manly, respect
full, and we enjoyed the pageant not
withstanding the crowded streets.
The appearance on our streets OF so
many disorderly uniformed men has
placed q cloud of disapproval over the
soldiers which the regulars do not de-
serve but which they must stand, and
/ wish to call your attention to the diff
ference In the appearance OF the regu-
lara" In their trim uniforms and pol
fshed shoes and the slovenly looks OF
the men who have gone back to their
homes alter weeks dissipation in the
Capital
se asked for than the way in which a
regiment of militia left our city on the
4th at a. m, led by band Of officers
in songs and yells which were obscene
enough to make, even a hardened listen
er blush, and phrases which 1 have
failed to hear any member Of my bat
/ think that your paper (which is very
popular among troops stationed around
the, Capital City should make a little
EFFORT 10 right this wrong which every
regular soldier feels has been done
them.
The members of the suffragette party
should know that in many places mem
hers OF the Engineers Corps assisted in
holding back the crowds, though there
were very few at the pageant.
Hoping that this will find a place in
YOUR paper and help to show our re-
spectful conduct to the women, l am,
GEORGE B. THOMPSON.
First Battalion Of Engineers, Washing
ton Barracks.
To the Editor of THE TIMES:
i have Just mailed to Senator Jones
the following communication, which you
are at liberty to use in any way you
please -.
Hon. Wesley. L. Jones.
i"In SATURDAYS Washington Times
the removal of Major Richard Sylves-
ter as Superintendent Of Police. Tha'
editorial, doubtless, was accorded the
approval OF an overwhelming majority
of the residents of washington. Ii GER
tainly has mine.
With il: It failed to go far enough
Sylvester is rot the only guilty man
Back of him are Commissioners Ru-
delph and Johnston, both of whon
plainly evinced their. opposition to the
equal suffrage movement by their re.
fusal to grant the women the use OF
the avenue These men are leaving Syl-
vester to shoulder the burden of blame
for Mondays shameless outrage.
'The statements made by them to
Secretary Stimsoh concerning the neces-
slty for summoning soldiers from Fori
Myer 10 preserve order, amount to re.
hection upon the manhood of every law
abiding yitizen of the District. Either
their own ufterances as wholly incon-
petent to deal with a simple SITUATION
They have conferred upon Washington
the unique and decidedly unenviable S.
tinction of being unable, without the aid
Of Federal troops, 10 protect body oil
clean-lived women marching, by author
itys given them by Congress, through
the. streets of the National Capital.
when was such a thing heard of be-
fore7 There are cities in which the mob
insane with rage, has defied law and
dared to shed blood in defense of wo-
manhood. but Washington Is the only
city whose rulers have made the public
confession that Its principal thorough
fare Vas not safe for reputable women
in broxd daylight
There is not a doubt in my mind that
IL the suffrag agists had, when they ap-
piled for permission to march. announc-
ed that they were In favor of 500 bar
rooms In the District. and that they
would emblazon that sentiment on their
banners. Mess-s. Rudolph and Johnston
both of whom were opposed to the ex-
else law recently enacted by Congress
would not only have granted the re-
quest. but have seen to 1t that the
marchers were neither molested no:
made afraid.
"sir, to convict Sylvester and ALLOW
these two men TO go uncondemneo
would be an act of injustice. If, as
they have declared. they were incapable
of affordinR the protection asked for
president Wilson should be immedi-
ateIy advised of that fact On the other
hand. II their attitude toward the par