Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-07-29
PRESIDENT ACTS IN
WASHINGTON RIOTS
Takes cognizance of Riot Stu
alton at the Capital.
HAS CONFERENCE WITH BAKER
Five Persons Are Dead as the Result
of Mob Violence-Troops Patrol
the Streets-CavaIry Plays
Important Part.

Washington, July 23-With five per-
sons dead, eleven possibly dying and
scores injured in race battles on the
streets here during the last, three
nights, every precaution short of mar
tial law was taken by police and mill
tary provost guards to prevent a re-
currence OF rioting that came as an
outgrowth of numerous assaults on
white women and other REGENTS acts of
violence by negroes.
There were no disorders during the
day, but at nightfall police and troops,
supplemented by additional detach-
ments of regulars from Camp Meade.
and marines from Quantico, Va, took
up their stations in grim preparation
for what the hours of darkness might
bring.
A statement issued by the govern
ment authorities denied that the Situa-
ton had been out of hand at any time
when riot calls were sounding from
half dozen places at a time. The
authorities also decided not to ask
that martial law be declared, although
resolutions introduced in the house
during the day urged that the presi-
dent be requested to take that action.
Wilson Calls Baker.
President Wilson took cognizance of
the situation when he called Secretary
Baker to the White House for con-
ference on steps that might be taken
NV fhn noilifarU in 0n-nnnr0finn with
the civil authorities to prevent recur-
renee of the outbreaks. The president
was understood to be greatly con-
cerned over the events of the last
three nights in the capital.
After the conference Secretary
Baker announced that the troops or
dered from Camp Meade constituted
"a very large number" and that Maj.
Gen. William G. Ham would be in
command. Secretary Daniels said a
substantial force of marines had been
ordered in from Quantico, Va, for
night patrol duty.
Cavalry again played a part in the
police work, holding lines about the
congested negro sections to prevent
mob attacks by either blacks or whites.
Police and soldiers again struggled to
keep the downtown thOrOughfares
clear of crowds.
The scattered nature of the attacks
through the three, nights of growing
disorder Washington has experienced
made the situation difficult. While
rioting was at its worst downtown
panicstricken negroes fired indiscrimi-
nately from the barricaded doors or
windows of their homes. Others
whirled through more outlying streets
in automobiles, firing wildly at any
whites they saw.
Congress Asks Martial Law.
The resolutions introduced ranged
from that by Representative Clark
Democrat, Florida, charging that the
District government had utterly
failed to put a stop to the crime
wave that has swept the city for a
month and calling for congressional
investigation, to those of Representa-
tives Emerson. Republican, Ohio, and
Vale, Republican, Colorado, demand
ing that martial law he declared.
Representative Emerson's resolu-
ton declared the situation was ma
tional scandal and called for protec-
ton of citizens irrespective of color"
while Representative Vale declared
the dignity and honor of the United
States required a martial law enforce
ment of order.