Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-08
Senators Tracing to Source
Police Failure to Protect
Suffrage Parade.
STIMSON TAKES STAND
TO DEFEND HIS COURSE
Powerless to Send Troops, He Says,
Without Formal Request.
POLICE FIND ONE CHAMPION

0scAy GAoII 20 suppress
Disorders and Keep
Route Clear.
The Senate subcommittee Investigate
ing the disorder during the suffragist
procession last Monday, and the &C.
tions of the police supposed to be on
duty. this morning attempted to dis
cover "the men higher up" responsible
for the failure of the police to keen
the crowds away from the marching
suffragists.
Former Secretary of War Stimson and
Gen. Leonard Wood, chief of staff of the
army, explained their part in the mat
ter, and Gen. John A. Johnston and Mai.
Sylvester. superintendent of police WI
large number of police inspectors cap
tains and sergeants, We're present to tell
their SIDE
Stimson Hampered by Law.
Former Secretary Stimson effectively
wiped his hands of the entire affair by
showing that under the law he had no
authority to order out troops except in
an emergency, and that only few hours
previous to the begenning OF the pro-
cession he had communicated with Com
missioners Johnston and Rudolph to find
out whether there was danger Of dis
order. He said he was told there was
not.
The entire history OF the efforts on the
part of the suffragists to get proper pro.
lection for their suffragists was told by
Mr. Stimson, Gen Wood, Gen. AnsoR
Mills, U. s. A., retired. who acted foc
the suffragfsts; Mrs. Mills and others. Ic
was made plain that the suifragists fear.
tl<r< txa AZ
earnes. efforts to get troops. In addition
to the police.
Further faps at the police for their al
legged failure to prevent disorder were
made by Gen.. Mills, Mrs. Mills and sew.
eral men from out Of the city.
One Defender Of Police.
Rev. j. H. NeIms Of the Church OF the
Ascension Yas de esoaly man to appear at
the morning session in favor of the po-
ice. He said that In all his long experi-
ence abroad and in the United States he
had never seen police make better efforts
to prevent disorder
No formal charges have been preferred
against policemen accused OF dereliction
of duty. Ishe only action thus far tanen
by the department has been to call for
explanations from those whose numbers
were given. In order to get the men be-
fore the trial board, II Is stated, chargeS
under oath have to be filed against them.
Hearing Room Crowded.
The committee room was packed with
people, mostly women, when the hearing
was started, and several score people
were forced to remain in the corridor
because of lack of room.
Gen Johnston and Maj Sylvester were
on hand early and took seats at the COM
mittee table. Both had With them large
patches of papers. A large group of
police captains and sergeants who were
on duty along Pennsylvania avenue dur
ing the parade attended the hearing.
The plan of procedure adopted was to
have witnesses for the suffragists COM
plete their testimony and then to have
Gen. Johnston and Maj. Sylvester and the
police inspectors, captains and sergeants
20 on the stand.
Senators Jones and Dillingham; of the
subcommittee conducted the examina ton
of witnesses. Senator POmerene Oh
Ohio. the other member, did not attend
the hearing.
Police Enjoying Fun"
George s. Garfield OF Spokane. Wash.
who said he witnessed the procession at
Pennsylvania avenue and 18th street, de-
clared that one policeman told him that
the parade had been broken up and
did nothing to clear the Avenue until the
head of the procession approached. He
said the policemen were chewing tobacco
and enjoying the fun"
Commodore w. 8. Moore, u. s. n, re-
tired, told Of his efforts to get police pro-
lection for q rehearsal of the tableauN
March l. He said he called on Maj. Syl-
yester at the request of Miss Hazel Mac
Kaye. and that the major said he could
not give any protection.
e-f<
were not under hts jurisdiction. and that
he could not give any protection" said
Commodore Moore. He said he was In
favor OF the suffrag.sts' principles, buu
d d not Ike their methods"
Commodore Moore also tod OF a visit to
Mai. Sylvester March 3, when he wenc
to inquire about the police protection for
the procession. A captain in Maj. Syi-
yester's Office had told HIM he could not
see the major, and the witness said that
the captain acted very discourteously.
Henry D. Pierce of Indianapolis. Ind.
said his son and himself saw the process
son from 11th street and Pennsyivania
avenue. and told of the behavior OF one
policeman.
my son asked a policeman, just before
the procession came. how he was going to
be able to clear the Avenue said Mr
Pierce. THE policeman said ON, we ~iii
Mr.. Pierce also declared that he had
heard a coiored man insult women In the
procession, while policemen We're stand
ing near doing nothing.
Speaks for Maj. Sylvester.
Mr.. Pierce said he saw Mai. Sylvester
working hard to clear the Avenue. He
seemed to be doing his best to maintain
order, he said
nolicemen." said Mr.. Pierce. 'They not
only did not do their duty. but seemed to,
he having lots of fun"
Rev 7. Henning Nelms rector Of the
Church OF the Ascension. was the next
He told how Commissioner Johnston
tried TO clear Pennsylvania avenue near
the peace Monument. He said Gen.
Johnston made him get his automobile
on the Avenue.
aEen. Johnston was as busy as he could
,,e said Mr.. Nelms. He was on foot
oSten doing actual work.
Il saw absolutely no disorder said
Mr.. Neims. 'sThe people Of the crowd
were in a very good hum0r. never saw
the police work harder or act with more
severity 1 know nothing of what hap
pened to the rear part OF the process
sion.