The Washington times., 1913-03-07
To the Editor Of THE TIMES:

we have marched through many cities,
towns, and villages along the nearly
300-mile journey in the Atlantic states
and Maryland. At times there were
hundreds who Joined this little army for
a day, more or less, with several dozen
newspaper and magazine reporters and
photographers.
Newark, Philadelphia. Baltimore, and
Wilmington were the largest cities in
which we marched en- route to WASH
ington.
Yet we did not once experience any
real rowdyism and mob rule worth men
tioning till entering the Capital on Feb
ruary Is and again on larger scale on
March g. In fact. 1t would not be an
exaggeration to say that all the insult
and ruffianism combined in the three
weeks journey through cities. towns,
villages, and the country would not be-
gin to equal the insults received on
March g. Not once was the flag in
suited, and not once, to my knowledge,
were we attacked personally.
1t remained for the police; of. the ma
tion's Capital to exhibit their ineffi-
cheney and their lack of control and un-
faithfulness to their oath and duty. as
exhibited in particular on March 3. and
that. too, after realizing the lesson of
February Is. when 1900 people had full
sway of Pennsylvania avenue.
My position as one of the original
. thirteen all through New York to
Washington pilgrims was on the ex-
was my pleasure to act in the capacity
Sl,-
large United States flag
We marched as O solid front line OF
thirteen, with our hands clasping the
row of pilgrims stats Joined together,
General Jones marching few yards in
front. When we reached Seventh
menced. We were pressed more close
II than ever, the jeers and insults in
creased. We were pushed out of inc
repeatedly. The United States Aae; and
staff were pulled down, one ,ot the
small flag stats broken while in the
two of the pilgrims, and about this
time ! was trippad by a man close to
a policeman.
Our brave general kept cool head.
and after sending To our escorts for
protection ordered, our thirteen PHI
grims to march In fours and later IN
TWO. and lastly single file. In the mean
time our faithful-to-their charge wa-
correspondents and the Boy Scouts
came to the rescue, for there had been
. series of rushes from the surging
crowds, particularly from the right
hand side of. Pennsylvania avenue be-
tween Seventh and Eighth streets up to
TWELFTH, street.
/ appealed strongly to the police for
protection, but withoutsany results. The
cowardly remarks hurled >directly to
our women in particular, with no real
police to quell the disturbance, would
indeed be a disgrace to semi-civilized
country. whether encouraged by the
antis or semi-anti-suffragists or other
wise
Our four pilgrim men mixers helped
push back the solid mass OF bowling
humanity before and after our PHI
grims were forced to try and march
single file and till half or most of the
gallant regiment OF the Maryland Agri-
cultural College Cadets, who were our
escorts. broke ranks and came running
to our rescue
The combined efforts OF these men
the war correspondents and the Boy
Scouts and other friends, pushed bacl
the almost ,immovable wall OF people
including the policemen. in order t.
make q passage for US to march sin2l,
file and afterward in twoa.
Miss Bertrarn Edmonston, dressed IL
her native Indian dress, who rode par
Of the time close to our pilgrim divi
sion, informed me while at an evening
QlI1ner RECEPTION on MdfCn d, as az
Immediately after the parade. ei
flowing robe was pulled from ~
and limbs by a colored man. "
two United States calvarymr &C
policemen to do their duty.
In all the large cities, as well as In
The towns and villages. we have ex-
iperienced splendid police protection
and while the pilgrims were visiting
Cardinal Gibbons the city authorities
and superintendent of police saw to
II without solicitation on our part
that we were escorted all day by a
dffe body guard of q dozen or more
poIice.s all of whom were most faith
ful to their trust and credit indeed
10. the spirit of true hospitality. The
mounted and foot police who kept
back the crowds as we marched into
and out of this semi-Southern city,
kept perfect order.
In conclusion our pilgrims are
grateful indeed to the citizens OF
Fplendid hospitality and kind feel
ings in so MANY ways. during our
ene week sojourn in their midst,
demonstrated in 4 public way;
Pilgrim suffragist historian and
"all through hiker' from New York
10 Washington.
70 the Editor OF THE TIMES:
l was in the pageant parade fol
woman suffrage On Monday, March 8
and saw and heard and felt things
that the whole country should know,
] was in section that passed (wrig.
gIed) down the Avenue between and
5 O'Clock So can speak only as to con.
diIions about that time. OF course, oul
opinion as to what was disorder may
De shaded by our sympathy or an.
.ipathy, but j speak by comparison be.
sseween conditions on the Sd and 4th
Washington could and should have beer
as well on the first day as on the sec.
oIld.
As there is nov an investigation be.
Ing made by Congress, some Of the
things I might say j think proper Il
give first direct to the committee and
So will not anticipate here, but this
much ] wish 10 state:
This thing was not done in a cor.
uer. Washington is disgraced before the
civilized world. We must explain and
locate the blame, or by silence, submit,
notoriety The Times certainly is to be
eommended for its energetic efforts to
get at the facts.
II those directly responsible for order
upon that occasion really did all they
could no one more than the superin-
tendent of the police should desire a
more searching inquiry and all who
tender apology for the police force
should welcome the inquiry. for the con-
yfetion now certainly Is most general
that the blame Is TO be found not In
the inefficiency. but in the indifference,
OF the police.