Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-10
His Orders for Protecting
Suffrage Parade Dis
obeyed, He Says.
WILL CALL TO ACCOUNT
ALL OFFICERS AT FAULT
More Police on Duty for Women
Than on Inauguration Day.
NOT OPPOSED TO PROCESSION

Police Chief Asserts His Only
Thought Was to Protect March,
ers and to Shield Them From
Molestation. :
Maj. sylvester, superintendent of police,
on the witness stand today before the
Senate subcommittee investigating the in
reference OF crowds with the suffrage
procession last Monday. denied emphati-
cally any intention of failing properly To
protect the suffragists. and formally an
nounced his determination to have pun
ished all police officers and patrolmen
who failed to do their duty
The general effect of Mai Sylvester's
testimony today was to strengthen his
own position and prepare the way for the
prosecution Of other members OF the po-
lice force. He indicated several times
that there will be a shake-up on the force
unless some Of the officers and men can
explain actions which appear damaging
on the surface.
No Afternoon Session.
The investigating committee took a re-
cess shortly before 1 o'clock this after
noon. and will not resume the hearings
until 10 o'clock tomorrow morning. No
hearing was held this afternoon because
Of other engagements of the members OF
the committee.
Following the adjourl .ment Mai Syl-
vester said that all onarges against off,
GERS and members OF the force are now
being sifted, and that the men against
whom the charges have been made viii
be asked to file replies. In cases where
the explanations are not satisfactory, he
said. formal charges win be filed and the
cases taken before the police trial board.
L Will be unable to start the formal
proceedings until after this congress
Sional investigation Is concluded" the
major said.
Mai. Sylvester today admitted to the
committee that 1t would seem as
though some Of his officers had not
obeyed orders March 3, and as though
their reports on their conduct during
the parade do not represent true con-
ditions. These discrepancies are being
fully investigated. he said.
Meant to Protect Women.
The major was closely questioned
about his attitude toward the suffrage
procession, and when asked the direct
question whether he had in any way. di-
rect or indirect, sought to keep the
procession from being properly pro-
tected. he declared. with a show Of
feeling, thats the only thought in his
mind in connection with the procession
had always been to preserve order and
prevent the women from molestatfon.
IL. any one claims to the contrary, he
said, they are telling untruths.
yvo nm ho ,di.,.i
practically the entire session of the hear
ing, but finally concluded his testimony
just before adjournment was taken. He
resumed where he left off Saturday aft
ernoon. He was allowed to MAKE all
statements he desired and had placed i'm
tho record many facts favorable to his
own position.
Following the morning session, members
of the committee refused, until they hau
heard all the testimony, to forecast what
their report might be. 1t was the opinion
of people who had heard all the testi-
mony, however. that Maj. Sylvester has
cleared himself of blame, despite some
explanations which did not seem to please
the members OF the committee. That the
report will severely condemn the cond.-
tions during the parade was generally
expected.
Senators See Movies"
Moving pictures of the procession were
shown the members of the investigating
committee this morning at a private
hibition in the Office Of Elliott Woods,
Superintendent of the Capitol. Senators
Pomerene, Dillingham; and Jones saw the
pictures.
The crowd which assembled for the
nearing was smaller than on previous
days. Almost as many men as women
were present.
District Commissioner Johnston and
Maj Sylvester, with a large group or
police captains and sergeants, were on
hand. prepared to testify. Some OF the
individual policemen whose numbers have
been mentioned were also present.
Miss Janet Richards a lecturer the first
witness. gave the numbers of two police
men who she said were standing around
joking with the crowd. The numbers :
were 11S and 454. She said 454 was not as
bad as the other.
Marchers Called Hens
''The policemen along the route seemed
to lose their morale and discipline said
Miss Richards. Il saw one group of four
policemen who We're joking With people in
the crowd. The crowd seemed filled with
the mob spirit. They called US all kinds
of names but the word hen was most
often used.
I'VE want chickens. not hens was
called out once Miss Richards said.
81 think much of the blame for the
trouble rests on the men lower down.
she continued. "Some of the sergeants
and patrolmen did not do their duty
Mai. Sylvester then resumed his testi-
mony.
He read figures which showed that
more policemen were on duty along the
Avenue between the Peace Monument and
18th street on March than on March
for the inaugural parade.
There were 575 men on duty on that
stretch March 5 and S67 on March A.
the major said.
He said that thirteen men had been
arrested March , during the procession
on charges of disorderly conduct for in
terfering with the parade and that all
except one had been fined.
Maj. Sylvester said Capts. DuvaH.
Daley. Doyle Hollinberger and Snyder
were in command along the Avenue He
told of speaking to each of them q short
time before the procession came, directing
them to clear the Avenue.
Reports From the Captains.
He then read full reports from each
.aptain. There was no discussion over
,apt. Duvoirs precinct, which covered the
erritory between 1st and ~ streets.
The report Of Capt Daley, covering
rom ~ to 7th streets. sta1na there lad