Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-11

day. i'm my opinion, because OF the
large crowds and for other reasons.
Cen. Johnston said he had the appli-
cation for a permit to marcn feierred
to the inaugural committee.
The answer of William Corcoran Esusus'
chairman of the inaugural comnree'
was to the effect that he had no antnor-
ity in the premises. but that ne had no
objection to the procession as long as II
did not interfere with the inaugural prep
ar sTb. permit WITS 9ssd three days
later" Gen. Johnston continued Ihis
was done Immediately after the COM
nissioners decided 1t was proper 10 issue
When the request for a military escort
came from the suffragists February ID,
Gen. Johnston said he Immediately TOOK
ii up. , 10
asked me about getting cavalry Tor the
procession 1 appeared resentful, tne
commissioner continued. Il was not re-
sentful at all, but may have been over
Gen. Johnston said he had suggested
that the War Department be notlned
that 81, would be desirable" to designate
some cavalry.
troops?'f asked Senator Jones.
.sNot exactly" reYlied Gen. Johnston.
II did not think at aAhe time OF the ne
limitations placed Dy ih~ vi USE
United States troops.
Stimson Quoted the Law.
He then read letter from former
Secretary of War Stimson, denying the
us of troops. because of the law
I'm the meantime some of the women
came to see me-" he continued. Il told
them that I thought the police WOULD
heb able to safeguard them.
Il told them it was very unfortunate
that some of the papers were lnchneu
to treat the parade in a light vein. ana
that q Joke had been made OF 1t on the
floor of Congress.
Did you not think the situation sum.
GENTLY serious to really ask for troops:
asked Senator Jones.
NO / did not" replied the Commits
sioner. Il thought it would be good
thing to have troops but believed the
police could handle the situation:
II had enough confidence In American
manhood and in the police TO mink tnere
would be no trouble.
Taking I'D the question of stopping
street cars on the Avenue during the pro-
cession, Gen. Johnston told of attempting
to get the Capital Traction Company 70
.top traffic during the procession along
the Avenue.
He read a letter from President George
+. Hamilton Of the company, In when
Mr. Hamilton said the cars would not
be stopped and quoting laws on the sub
After reading letters to show that Maj.
Sylvester had made efforts to nave the
cars stopped Gen. Johnston read letter
from Secretary Lane, then chairman Oh
the interstate commerce commission,
showing that the commission did not have
.The District Commissioners were adj
vised by the corporation counsel that they
had no such authority" he continued
Sen. Johnston said ne knew nothing
Of he ma
viding for the stopping OF street cars
until Representative Burke told him while
dining at his house March 2. He inn
mediately asked Representative Burke to
notify Maj. Sylvester Of the passage Of
the resolution. he said.
Lacking in Authority.
Continuing Gen. Johnston read COM
plete police regulations for March L.
which were made to apply to March g.
He called attention to the fact that
all policemen were directed to face the
crowds during the procession.
We did not want the members of the
police to face the procession because
we did not want them to neglect their
work.. he explained.
Gen. Johnston explained the complete
authority conferred by Congress to the
police Fto~control the situation March
4. There wsfSM3ot such broad authority
for March 3. he said.
There was laughter as Gen. Johnston
read list of .'dcn.ts" issued by the
police department for inaugural
"Whs. connection did you have with
the proeession?.ss asked Senator Jones'
II want to say that there is NOT a bet
ter police chief in the. coEattry than Maj.
Sylvester" he replied HIS arrange
ments for March and were absolutely
complete. 4 do5not think it-could have
been better done.
'If the instructions were not carried
out he was not to blame. On such a
thing there can be many opinions. do
not believe the hero Of Gettysburg has
Yet been determined.
II consider Mai. Sylvester the most eff
ficient man for this kind OF work In the
country
Did Not Expect Trouble.
Then you think that if the men had
done their duty everything would have
been all right" asked Senator Jones.
1T is impossible for me to give the rea-
son for this thing" he replied.
Gen. Johnston discussed his own ac-
tons March 3. He told of talking with
the Secretary of War about the use OF
troops.
Il told a.s stimson that. l did not ex-
pect any trouble, h,lt asked him to keep
troop OF cavalry in readiness he con-
tinued. HE did so.-
TALKED with large group of police
men near the Garfield monument shortly
before the procession. and told them to
face the crowd and do everything DOS
sible to maintain order.
Il had been some distressed from the
first about the possible temper Of the
crowd was anxious that the AFFAIR be
conducted as credit to the District.
Il got my own automobile out and
started to see how things were going
went directly TO the Peace monument"
Says Police Worked Hard.
Gen. Johnston told of his own efforts te
clear the Avenue for the procession. He
was in an automobile with others, head
ing the procession.
There was no interruption until we
reached 18th or 18th street." he contin.
ued. The column did not move rapidly
Beyond this point there was conges
ton. There seemed to be an influx OF
great crowds from the west.
"All along the way the police were
doing an enormous amount of work
We slowly made our way forward
opening a path through the crowd
There was no great difficulty all along
the way.
Il stood up most of the time anc