The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-09
Tell of Failure of Police Con-
troll to Properly Pro-
tect Paraders
SYLVESTER THOUGHT
FORCE SUFFICIENT
Police Superintendent Tells His Side
of Case to Communicable Start
Investigation of Officers
in Charge

Washington, March SIN stuffy. over
crowded committee room. the leaders OF
the suffrage parade that was halted by
disorder in the streets here Monday told
the Senate subcommittee investigating
the affair today of their efforts to secure
proper protectionl Mai. Richard Sylvester,
superintendent of police. related his side
of the story. declaring he believed he
had placed force on Pennsylvania ave-
nue. that was ample to handle the crowd
and protect the parade
Miss Alice Paul, chairman of the conf
mittee which arranged for the parade,
told the committee that for over month
she and her associates had 'bombarded'
Major Sylvester and the war department
i'm their efforts to insure the proper pro-
lection for the parade.
THE district authorities would refer US
to the war department and the war de-
partment would tell us that IL there was
any trouble the fault would be with the
district authorities she said
Endeavored to Dissuade Them
When the suffragists were urging Ma
jor Sylvester to grant them a permit TO
parade in Pennsylvania avenue. Miss Paul
declared. the superintendent of police en-
deavored to dissuade them by telling them
that the huge Inauguration crowds would
be disorderly and that he had too few
men at his disposal to afford them proper
protection. After the permit finally was
granted, Miss Paul said, she reminded
Major Sylvester of these statements and
urged him to request aid from the war
department. This he did not do.
"He told me that the riff-raff of the
south would be here for Inauguration on
account of the democratic victory. when
he opposed our marching on March g.
but after we had secured the permit and
were working to insure proper protec-
ton, he just said: oh, that will be
all right = said Miss Paul
Mrs. $. G. Moller. Miss Elsie Hill of
Norwalk, Conn.,. and Mrs. Anna Jenness-
Miller OF Washington also told OF their
efforts to secure the policing of the line
of march by federal troops. Former Sec
retary of War Stimson had explained
earlier I'm the day that he had declined
to order cavalry out because the law
did not give him the authority to do so
except IN emergencies. He had. he said
placed a troop of cavalry at the disposi-
tlon of the local authorities Joseph S.
Carroll who was In charge of the work.
of halting the trolley cars along the line
OF march, and II. c. Hallam. newspaper
correspondent, told of incidents in the
streets.
In reply to questions. Major Sylvester
told the committee that prior to the time
of the parade he did not think that the
aid of the troops was necessary.
Thought Force Sufficient
Il believed the force ! had placed on
the avenue sufficient he said.
Then If the avenue was not properly
cleared by o'clock on the day of the pa
rade, in your Judgment the men and Of
flcers on duty there did not do their
duty?' asked Chairman Jones.
Yes sir, that Is it." answered Major
Sylvester II was surprised and shocked
when reached Pennsylvania avenue after
escorting President-elect Wilson to his
hotel to find that the crowd had over
flowed into the street all along the line
instead OF only at the point where the
ropes had broken
Major Sylvester said he was at the
Union station to meet President-elect Will
son when he received word as to condi-
tions. He ordered the cavalry brought
from Fort Myer.
The huge crowds. Major Sylvester said,
could hardly nave been kept on the side
walks. but they could have been held
back enough to allow the parade space to
pass In an orderly manner. He outlined
at length the disposition of men and the
orders to them, and declared that there
were more men on duty along the line of
march for the suffrage parade than for
the inaugural parade on March g. He
also presented reports from the officers in
charge along the line of march Steps
had already been taken for a thorough
investigation OF the matter by the police
department, he said,. and any breach of
duty would be punished
Major Sylvester said that the hospital
reports showed only one person injured
and II cases Of exhaustion during the pa
radc.
Recognize Boy Scouts
The committee will continue its hearing
next week.
] Women prominent in suffragist circles
have started movement to recognize the
services Of the boy scouts during the
suffragist parade by presenting each of
the scouts with a bronze medal II is
proposed to raise a fund throurhout the
country. The scouts did splendid work
In attempting to keep the crowds back.
meeting of protest against the treat
ment accorded the suffragists Is 10 he
held tomorrow In local theatre.
Corporal Tanner is to preside and
Senators shafroth Clapp and LaFollette
are expccted to speak.
Hundreds of women fought for adp,,s-
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