The Washington times., 1913-03-10

began to surge out against the march
ers, and from that time on there was
trouble.
II think il was between Tenth and
Eleventh" said Miss Richards. that
noticed four policemen together joking
with the crowd and not trying to keep
order. For the first time II daWned
on me that the Washington ponce were
not with us. j had ponce periiii' iioh'
Major Sylvester.
Retort of Policeman.
Il turned the four policemen as
soon as saw they were unsympa-
thetic and said: why aren't you try
ing to hold back the crowd| one OF
the policemen said. in a very mean way,
We're doing the best We can.
Miss Richards said his tone was rude
and discourteous. Thereupon sh2
threatened to report the whole crowd
to Major Sylvester and exhibited htr
permit The four Immediately became
active. She succeeded in getting the
numbers of two of them. They were lis
and 45i No. lis was the one VINO
answered rudely-
II felt helpless from then on said
Miss Richards. The police with lew
exceptions did not help and their morale
had broken down."
Told Her To Smile.
Miss Richards said she had no inso-
lent experience herself, with the ex-
ception Of the remark of the police
man. A number Of men shouted at her.
."See her sweet smile! Smile again.!
The colored policemen worked very
hard, according to Miss Richards. She
said there were four or five contribute
ing causes to the trouble. These were,
that the Capital Traction Company did
not stop their cars soon enough: that
the seventeen mounted police who start
ed at the head of the procession, quilt
their task: that the crowd seemed to
realize the police morale had broken
down.
Tells Of Insults.
Miss Richards, though not herself
yelling "oli hens at the women. She
thought this due to the example set
by a member of the House of Rep
rescntatives.
She also heard shouts like these:
"There amt. one of ou.pnder for
ty-five. Go en- home. We want to
see the chickens"
She urged the committee to deal
with the men lower down in the force
as we'll as the men higher up. She
especially wanted an investigation
into the course pursued by the ser
geant in charge of the sixteen men at
mounted police were supposed to open
a way for the parade and. Miss Rich
ards SAID. deserted their task. She
wanted to know who gave them or
ders to do this.
police automobiles forced the crowds
back and how. then, the crowds at
once surEed In back OF the automo-
biles against the marchers. The po-
lice on foot did not seem to keep back
War In Police Circles.
That war will break out in police
circles because of the attempt of
Major Sylvester, Chief of Police. to
throw the responsibility for the mis-
management of the suffrage parade
on the police captains, officials and
privates is considered a certainty.
Major Sylvester by his testimony
has sought to clear his own skirts and
throw the responsibility on the Com
missioners and on the police captains
in active charge of the protection OF
the parade, as well as on the men
themselves.
In the course of the hearing. some OF
the captains will go on the stand and
give their version. They will seek to
show that they obeyed the orders OF
Major Sylvester and that the whole
trouble originated in the fact thai
Major Sylvester failed completely tt
appreciate what a problem he had or
his hands to afford protection to the
suffrage marchers.
Took Police Away.
As an evidence of the fact that Major
Sylvester looked on the protection OF
the parade as of subordinate impor.
| tance, II will be shown that the chiei
took a detail of 10 men and went to thu
! station to meet the incoming President
elect He also placed a guard Of twent,
| men about the Shoreham. AS a mattel
I! of fact, the crowds that saw the Presi
dent come in and that went to th'
Shoreham were handled with ease.
1t will be called to the committees at
| tention that 1t was the business Of
Major Sylvester to be in personal charg'
of the main task OF the day, that oi
watching over the parade.
| The situation today points more clear
ly than ever to a big police shake-up
1t probably means not only that thu
head of Major Sylvester will fall, bu
| that the heads Of many subordinate OF
ficers will droN and numerous patrol
men will be relegated to civilian duties
With the head of the Police Depart
ment finding fault with the men below
and the men below finding fault Will