Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-17
CHIEF TRIED HARD,
HIS CAPTAINS SAY
Defend Attitude of Maj. Syl-
vester Toward the Suf-
frage Parade. :;
CONGRESS GIVEN BLAME
FOR AVENUE CONGESTION
Witnesses Say It Was Impossible to
Clear Street in Time.
NOT REGARDED AS A JEST

Call of Chairman-Probably No
More Meetings Until
April.
Ihat MAJ Sylvester and the Police did
thelr 1uil duty by the woman suffrage
parade March was the burden OF the
testimony given at a hearing before the
Sehate investigating committee today.
Three caIaains of police took the stand
during the morning. Sullivan Holm
berger and Doyle. and they were unani-
nous in praise OF their chief and the
work done by the police.
They denied absolutely that any intima-
ton had been given by Maj Sylvester
that his orders for the procession of the
women were not to be taken seriously. or
that he would wink at any dereliction
of duty.
Not Spoken of Slightingly
They denied also that the women in the
parade had been spoken of lightly by
police officers or policemen.
1t was admitted by the police officers
that the crowd had been beyond control
of the police. But they declared that the
entire difficulty lay in the fact that they
were not given authority to stop all traffic
on Pennsylvania avenue three or four
hours before the parade began.
When the hearing adjourned II was
stated by Senator Jones that the next
meeting would be at the call Of the chair
man. 1t is understood that no further
hearings will be had until next month.
Orders Not Discounted.
.pt. Daniel Sullivan of precinct No. ),
In command south of the White House.
was the first witness today. Senator Jones
questioned him closely to learn if there
had been any understanding between Maj
Sylvester and his subordinates that the
orders issued by the superintendent OF
police should be .'winked at Capt. Sui
Ivan denied absolutely that this was the
case. He said that Maj. Sylvester had
spoken hopefully of protecting the woman
marchers.
Can't. Sullivan was questioned regarding
meeting of eleven police captains be-
fore the woman suffrage parade. He said
that Maj. Sylvester had urged that abso-
lutte protection be given, that he nad
never heard Maj Sylvester or any other
member of the force speak lightly or
Miss Alice Paul.
Capt. Sullivan admitted that AT
meeting of the captains Mai. Sylyester
had passed along an article from mag
azine about Miss Paul, but that no special
reference had been made regarding her
arrest as a suffragette in England. He
said no disrespect to Miss Paul had been
contained in the reference to the article
about her. He said that some one had
referred to Miss Pauls arrest in England.
but he could not remember whether 1T
was Sylvester or some one else.
did you ever hear this parade dis
cussed by police captains outside these
meetings. asked Senator Jones.
NO replied Capt. Sullivan.
Not Discussed by Privates.
Capt Sullivan was asked if he had
ever heard the suffrage parade discussed
by privates of the force.
He replied: "I can't say that didn't"
Did you hear any men say they looked
upon it lightly asked Senator Jones.
No" he answered.
Capt Sullivan said he believed that his
men had done their full duty and that
conditions south of the White House and
on the roadways around the eliipse hao
been good He said that he had beer
commended for his work by Mrs
Baker.
Capt. Thomas J. Hollinperger was the
rsNt witness. He said he had been on the
force twenty mine years. His station dur
ing the suffrage parade was on Penbsy
vania avenue between 10Th and f4tn
streets He said that he had forty reg
ular policemen. sixty special policemen
and four sergeants with which to care
for both sides of the street. Capt. Ho.-
linberger said that he and the police
men were out on the street about -
% oclock. He was asked about his instruc-
tions TO his men and replied that they
were to get the Avenue clear of all vehicle
traffic by 2:3o o'clock. and to protect the
woman marchers from all interference o.
insults.
J.pf
o'clock j found the Avenue filed with
people, said Capt. Hollinberger.
Were your men endeavoring to clear
the Avenue" asked Senator Jones.
YES but as fast We put one man
back two came in his place.
Capt Hollinherger was asked whether
he had been under the impression that
Mai. Sylvester had promised TO send him
some mounted police. He said that he
was not prepared to state this denniteil.
"I was against the proposition OF cleaf-
ing the Avenue said Capt. Hollinbereer.
The statement created little STIR, nut
he quickly explained that he was not op-
posed to clearing the Avenue. but merely
''up against hard proposition.
Plan to Use Automobiles.
Senator Jones then questioned him in
regard to the instructions given by Maj
Sylvester Capt. Hollinberger said that
at the meetings the week before the pa
rade Maj Sylvester had been under the
that the street cars were not
TO stop. and that he had considered using
Sightseeing automobiles with ropes
stretched between them for the purpose
of keeping the crowd back. Capt. Hol-
linberger said however, that Maj. Syl-
vester had spoken hopefully OF obtaining
legislation to stop the cars during the
parade
cant. Hollinberger was asked whether
the character of the parade or what it
was discussed at the meet
inF OF the police captains He replied
No To a question whether II had
haan suggested that il was more difficult
- ,,rotect the woman marchers than the
narade March A. he replied that no such
Suggestion had been made. He testified
.hat he had never heard MAJ. Sylvester
ridicule or speak lightly of the woman's
parade or had heard him say that his or
ders in regard to it were to be taken
lightly.
ders to be obeyed.'' said Capt. Holm
berger, land he holds his officers and men
There was no reason to
think that Maj Sylvester would wink at
any failure to carry out these orders.
Senator Jones questioned the witness
IN regard TO what he might have heard