The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-07-27
Permanent. C.Provost
Guard Seen as Sequel
To Recent Race Riots

Will Washington profit by expert
ence?
The city is again normal. Yet.-les
than a week ago the thoroughfares
of the Capital were scenes of riot and
bloodshed. There were lives lost and
scores are still in the hospitals. I'm
til last night soldiers patroled the
streets, and for weeks to come mill
tary guards will be maintained ready
to answer any call for aid from the
police. The spirit of the mob has
, been crushed. With the cooling in
fiuence of time it will be forgotten.
City's Defense in War.
But should other trouble. coming
like this one, from a comparatively
clear sky, threaten Washington, will
there be preparation for the erner-
gency? Can the city provide the
blow to crush it in its birth?
Just before war was declared, Ma jor
Raymond Pullman, superintendent Of
police, outlined for the Secretary Of
for the city. He was assisted by the
late Brig. Gen. r. E. L. Niche, then
Of the general staff, who was detailed
by the Secretary of War as provost
marshal. AS a result of their co-opera-
ton system of defense was outlined
for Washington, which provided a
provost guard for the city and a num-
Der of picked troops always held
near the Capital for an emergency.
During the war the system Of de-
Tense and guard was put into eXecu-
ton with such good effect that Wash
ington's police record was an example
to every city in the United states.
War Department officials and the
MatFnnnlifln rf
congratulated upon the order main
tanned in a city of international i'm
portance. With the declaration Of
peace the soldiers stationed in and
about Washington were withdrawn
under protest from officials of the
Police Department. The provost
guard maintained during the war
was disbanded, and Washington, just
beginning the REIMBURSEMENT incident
to reconstruction, was left to be
guarded by her too small Police De-
partment, suffering from lack of per-
sonnet and struggling along on old
equipment.
Unprepared For Riot.
When last weeks trouble came
about, so far as outside help was
concerned. Washington was unpre-
pared. And it was the outside help
which enabled the police eventually
to gain the upper hand and restore
order before consequences. already Sc
rious, grew worse. Soldiers, sailors.
and marines were rushed TO the city.
But the soldiers in many cases were
gathered together in unorganized
groups, the sailors were few, and the
marines were brought TO Washing
ton from Quantico. If there had
been more serious rioting than that
which did occur, Washngton's pre-
dicament would have been grave.
The spark which ignited an already
trouble, it has been
pointed out, would. perhaps have been |
averted had there been a provost
guard in Washington.
Legally, a policeman can arrest a |
soldier but in practice it is rarely /
done. First, the feeling against !
civilians" which is harbored in the /
breast Of the rawest recruit ,resenls |
it.
The little group Of soldiers, sailors |
and marines who went into south |
west Washington last Saturday night |
knew there was no provost guard. /
There was no one TO interfere. Led |
by a few who did not realize the con-
sequences acts were committed which |
later developed into the worst race
- uN'S " ShihS ton mas ever known.
The quickness with which this
irst group OF rioters was dispersed
Saturday night by soldiers exempli-
led the need of soldiers dealing with
oldiers, II has been pointed out. The
perfect cooperation with which the
soldiers and policemen worked in |
luelling the most serious trouble on
Monday night again showed the need
or the presence of military forces
rear the city.
Secretary Of War Baker said 1.-THE
for the policing of the
ity was, of course, in the hands Of
he civil authorities, who had the
ituAtion completely in control"
OF Police Pullman