The Washington times., 1913-03-09
JOHNSTON WILL
Be NEXT WITNESS
Major Sylvester Declares Blame
for Police Incompetency
Rests With Commission.
Continued from First Page)

Continued from First Page.)
might be subjected to insults. especially
II they marched through the bowery
section at the lower end of Pennsyl-
vania avenue.
II also advised them to parade along
Sixteenth street. in order 20 avoid this
crowd. but Miss Paul told me the women
wanted to have the common people see
them march. She insisted on getting
the permit for PENNSYLVANIA avenue
want to say. however. that j never re-
fused this permit contrary TO report.
Il always did everything for the wo-
men that ] possibly could" he contin-
ued. Il gave them permits for street
meetings whenever possible.
Did you consider IL necessary TO have
troops for the PARADE" asked Senator
Jones
Advised Stopping Cars.
Il thought it well to have as large
force as possible at my command. re-
piled the ma jor. II did not think it alb
so1utely necessary to have troops. how
ever. / thought the most serious ques-
ton was that of having the street cars
stopped on Pennsylvania avenue during
the procession. The officials of the Cap
ital Traction Company refused this.
When the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion refused to issue an order to stop
them / advised the women to have leg
isiation passed by Congress
Il never had formal notice of the pas
sage of the bill in Congress ordering
the cars stopped and the procession pro-
tected. had to find this out for myself
through private means. 1t will be
noticed. too, that the resolution pro-
vided only for the clearance of the
Avenue of traffic between O'Clock and
5o'clock."
do you mean,'' asked Senator Jones,
that you thought that YOU had no au-
thority to prepare the Avenue for the
procession before o'clock
Il believe / went just as far as l
could under the resolution, replied the
major.
Major Sylvester told of employing the
Boy Scouts and as manv extra police as
he could get He dwelt on the insuffi-
cheney of the police force in the Dis
trict. He read the orders he had given
10 show they were explicit
Ordered Avenue Cleared.
Before going to the Union Station to
provide for the protection of the Presi-
dent-elect on his arrival / went along
Pennsylvania avenue and spoke TO all
captains and others in charge and told
them to clear the Avenue to the side
walks the major said. This was
at about 2:3o o'clock.
'.As l went along Pennsylvania ave-
nue. west / found it crowded near the
Treasury. There were people scatter
e6 in the Avenue all the way along.
The captains were expected to have the
Avenue cleared by o'clock, however.
-..At this time 1 thought there would
be no trouble. |, do not think / had
sufficient force to keep the crowds all
the way back to the curb, but ] did
way for the parade
WHO do YOU think is to blame for
conditioEsT" asked Senator Jones.
II was surprised and shocked at the
conditions" replied the major. II
have already begun an inquiry to 10
cate the blame.
81 felt. it my duty to protect the
on his arrivai and IL must he remem-
bered that / had this work on my
hands at the same time that the suf-
frage procession was in progress.
That we have been successful in pro
House is shown by past performan noes.
Called For Cavalry.
when / saw that conditions were
bad 1 gave direction that the troop
OF cavalry which l knew was in
readiness at Fort Myer be called and
II responded quickly.
THE congested conditions were
partly due TO the breaking of a cable
in front of the New Willard Hotel.
IT have made inquiry regarding in
juries March 3, and find that only one
person was actually injured and sent
to a hospital although a number
were overcome by exhaustion
The major said he had in all l,2S3
regular and special police on duty
March 3. OF this number 7S4 were spe-
cials, and 72s were on duty on the Ave
nue.. The specials, he insisted, were
carefully selected.
las for the charge that 7 was opposed
TO the effort TO have the Avenue cleared
during the procession, ] want to say
that l did everything in my power to
assist in this effort. ] have plenty of
evidence 10 prove this, and even sent
word TO one Senator asking him to do