The Washington herald., 1913-03-08
FRIEND OF SYLVESTER
COMES TO RESCUE
He Says Most Of Censure Is Un.
merited and Recites Reasons
for So BelieyinS,

Maj. Richard Sylvester, Washinston's s
police head, is coming in for a large
amount of unmerited and uncalled for
notoriety In connection with the parade
OF the suffrlgists in this cNy Monday"
said a friend Mai. Sylvester has
served in the capacity of chief OF police
in Washington since 1883. In the thirty
years OF his experience here he has
demonstrated over and over again his
capacity and fitness for the position,
and has handled not only seven inaugu-
ration crowds. but hundreds of other
functions OF this character to the salts
faction of the public and of his superior
officers
Now. for reasons which may or may
not be sufficient and which may not have
been in his power to control Mai. Syl-
vester is attacked in some quarters for
the management Of the parade of women
on the Avenue. though the testimony so
far adduCed against him is not as strong
lieye.
IN the first place committee of the
sufiragists called on Maj Sylvester
some weeks before the parade and told
him they desired to march down Pennsyl-
vania Avenue the day before Inauguration.
| The major received them courteously
and told them that, owing to the influx
cult TO manage a parade of that charac-
ter. and he would advice an earlier or
a later date. The ladies. however, were
inslstent that March was the only date
on the calendar which would meet their
purpose. The character of a portion of
Pennsylvania Avenue. he told them. was
not such as would insure a parade Of
that character freedom from comment on
the part Of certain ners0ns who would
certainly gather there
'Under these circumstances permis-
sion was given. Realizing what must
be done. Maj. Sylvester asked for addi-
tional policemen. but Congress, in its
wisdom. dii rot acccde to this request.
Then request was sent TO Congress
asking that all traffic on the Avenue be
suspended at . O'Clock on the morning :
was taken On this request until some
days later when resolution was
adopted suspending traffic at the hour
set for the parade. Up to that time the
police had no power TO order any per-
son off tha street or prevent the gather
ing OF aSsemblagCS in the cutters or
elsewhere. The assemblagcs did gather
in force. however. long before that hour.
in the sixteen blocks between the Peace
Monument. where the parade assembled.
to Sixteenth Street. where the tabieauN
themselves and to force the crowds
hack onto the sidewalks and free the
street in the time dffor led would have
required the service Cf several thousand
meu.
Meantime. President-elect Wilson ar
rived in the city at GO and The police
were looked TO to afford him protection
and handle the crowd at the Union Sta
ton. an expectation which vas fully
met by Ma sylvester. who had left 500
mer an the Avenue to look after the
parade. No amount % policemen could
have prevented comment pleasant or
otherwise. and for some time to come,
10 luattcr how perfectly they are
guarded. the women who participate In
such parades must expect to hear at
least some unfavorable and perhaps dis
respectful comment from the side lines.
In charges of this character. the abii-
;ty of the man. his record and all the
circumstances should be weighed"