The Mena weekly star., 1919-07-24
PRESIDENT WILSON
 INTO RACE RIOTS
With 5 Dead, II Possibly Dying and Scores Injured in Battles on Wash ington's Streets, Every Precau-
 tion Is Being Taken

Washington, July 22.-With five persons 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 tonight by police and military provost guards to pre- vent recurrence of rloting that came as an outgrowth of numerous assaults on white women and other recent acts of violence by negroes.
 There were no disorders during the day, but at nightfall police and troops, supplemented by additional de- tachments of regulars from Camp Meade and marines from Quantico, Va, took up their stations in prepara- tion for what the hours of darkness might bring.
 A statement issued by the govern ing authorities denied that the situa- tion had been out of hand at any time last night when riot calls were sound ing from half dozen places at a time. The authorities also decided not to ask that martial law be declar- ed, altho resolutions introduced dur ing the day urged that the president be requested to take that action. President Wilson took cognizance of the situation late today when he called Secretary Baker to the White House for conference on steps that might be taken by the military in co-opera- tion with the civil authorities to pre- vent recurrence of the outbreaks. The president was understood to be great ly concerned over the events of the last three nights in the capitol.
 After the conference, Secretary Baker announced that the troops or dered out constituted very large number, and that Major General Will liam G. Haan would be in command Secretary Daniels said force of ma rines had been ordered in for night patrol duty.
 Cavalry again played a part in the police work, holding lines about the congested negro sections to prevent mob acts by either whites or blacks. Police and soldiers again struggled to keep the downtown thorofares clear of crowds.
 The scattered nature of the attacks thru three nights of growing disorder made the situation difficult. During the rioting downtown panic stricken negroes fired indiscriminately from the windows of their homes. Others whirled thru the streets in automo- biies, firing wildly at any whites they saw.
 The resolutions introduced today ranged from that by Representative Clark, Democrat, of Florida, charging that the district government had tut terly failed" to put stop to the crime wave that has swept the city for a month and calling for an investiga- tion, to those of Representative Emer- son, Republican, of Ohio. and Vaile, of Colorado, demanding that martial law be declared.
 Representative Hill, Republican, of New York, introduced resolution to regulate the sale of fire arms in the district. At least 800 revolvers were said to have been sold in single day i during the disturbances. Steps to curb the terror-cars, thru demanding special tags for operating after dark, also were discussed.
 While the rioting was at its height early today, reports of another at tack upon a white woman came Frightened away once, her assailani hid and seized her as she left her house. She escaped only when all but striped of her clothing.
 1 The police supported by the pro. vost guard, army motor trucks, armed with machine guns and crews, cavalry and the attachments of marines, were in charge of the situation tonight.
 
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