The Washington times., 1913-03-04
compelled To Use Care.

injury to life or limb.
Compelled To Use Care.
He declares that he employed 100 extra
specials and all mounted and foot Of
fieers on the day before the pageant IN
addition TO the several hundred specials
he had already hired together with
the regulars stripped from the precincts
A point is made that 716 men were
employed along the line of march. that
Congress a year ago cut down the force
by twenty and again this year by eight
members. This made fore of 724 men,
boF. Specials were undisciplined men,
drawn from many walks of life Extra
ordinary force could not be used, as
many Of the spectators were women and
babies.
In closing. the major remarks that he
considers himself in measure, at least,
fitted through thirty years experience
for the task of such an occasion, as the
two-days' fete imposing double duty on
the force.
He points, too. to the fact of making
repeated requests for an increased police
force Competent police officials of
other cities, he says, have told him
that the work of the department was as
good as could be done with the numbers
available. He calls attention to the
.'succinct statement of Commissioner
House District Committee on the SUBJ
ject of insufficient police force.
In view of the fact that he had already
made his report the major DEC declined to
ing il would be "discourteous to the
Commissioners and Congress" for him
T. say anything about it,
ut would be manifestly discourteous
to Congress and the Commissioners for
me to make any statement to the news
papers," said Superintendent Sylvester.
Il have made report to the Commits
sioners, and whatever is to be said to
xx-il1 ,.n nr,f lx-
IT can be said on good authority that
the majors report places the response
hility for the inability to clear the
avenue on what he terms the small
numerical strength of the Police De-
pertinent.
To Be Better Today.
Asked whether the police would DE
able to clear the Avenue for the in
sugural parade today, In view OF the
fact that probably $1,000 more people
viii be In Washington than were here
Yesterday, Major Sylvester said that
Pennsylvania avenue will be clear"
Major Sylvester was at his office
only a few minutes this morning. He
donned his official uniform and left
the building TO personally supervise
the police work for today. II was
said at Police Headquarters that ev-
cry possible precaution would be
taken TO prevent repetition Of yes
ttTQdy scenes
Pennsylvania avenue was cleared
this morning and the police on duty
along the route of the parade were
given special instructions to keep the
the lines except those with the au-
thorfzed police permits.
Hobson Angry.
Major sylvester was severely rebuked
on the floor of the House of Represen-
son. and what for moment seemed
like row among certain members was
narrowly averted.
Just as Congressman Hobson was
making his speech about the police and
their failure to handle the crowd,
Minority Leader Mann said:
They ought to have been at home"
Mr.. Hobson wanted 70 know II the
minority leader meant that these young
girls were not entitled to police protec-
tion, but before he had a chance to re-
ply Congressman Cooper of Wisconsin
rushed up and shaking his fist in the
direction of Mr.. Mann said, Don't let
tonight make a d. blackguard of you"
In the meantime the police were be-
ing denounced by the suffragists and
others who had gathered IN Continental
Memorial Hall.
Women Indignant.
The meeting in Continental Hall was
10 have been one of celebration. but il
WAS turned into an indignation meet
ing. The District officials were criti-
cised in general and the police in par
ucular. The sufragists demanded that
for their alleged indifference, care
1essness and inefficiency.'
The woman complained of having
been tnsulted in the presence of uni
formed policemen. Charges were made
that ruffians forced themselves up to
fhe line of march, made efforts to trip
The women, while some even took hold
and grabbed the marchers. The suffra-
gists said that the most insulting re-
marks were hurled at them and that
the police made no effort to interfere.
Editor Speaks.
Oswald G. Willard, owner and editor
of the New York Evening Post, pre-
scented resolutions, which We're passed,
pronouncing the unqualified censure of
the suffragists upon the police force
generally. In snort, the resolutions
stated that the women of the United
states had virtually been denied the
right to march unmolested down Penn
sylvania avenue, the principal thorough
fare of the National Capital, and that
the police had stood by With indifference
and refused 10 take any action to the
r1baldry and insults that had been
hurled at the marchers.
Mrs Carrie Chapman Gait, president
of the International Alliance of Su1ra-
Ssists, urged that every woman present
call upon their Senators and Represen.
tatives and demand of the officials of
the District government a report and
explanation of action of the police.
Others who scathingly arraigned the
police at the meeting were DIR. Anna
shaw, who presided; Miss Lucy Burns,
- n,ax,l,I.,, ~ W. Miss Gleppa Smith