The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1921-02-02
Use OF GOOD JUDGMENT
PREVENTS A BAD RIOT
Brice L. Bennett, Son Of Mr.. And
Mrs. James Bennett, OF Vienna,
Feeds 300 Unemployed At Mon
treaI, Canada.

ing food, 800 men at Montreal, Can
ada. who had gathered at the quar-
tiers. Of the EX-Service Mems AssOcia-
ton invaded the City Hall Friday af-
teruoon. January p, demanding aid
from the Mayor and other officials
who were in the building. The men
were finally persuaded to leave the
CITY Hall and started out to parade,
when opposite Child'S restaurant
which is managed by Mr.. Brice l..
Bennett, son of Mr.. and Mrs. James
Bennett of Vienna, this county. the
crowd suddenly thronged in ana de
manded something to eat. stating
that. they We're hungry and mad no
money.
The following account Of the in
cident was published in The Mon
treal Herald on Saturday. Jan 22nd:
After leaving the City Hall the
parade formed again and marched
off with the intention of returning to
the starting point, proceeding by way
of N0tre Dame street. They march
ed without incident until McGill
street was reached and the head OF
the column was opposite Child's at
500. 20 clock. Here they halted
A leader entered the restaurant,
walked to the cashiers desk, saying:
We want to eat, where is the
manager"
He was followed in a more or less
orderly manner by men who seated
themselves in the rear portion of the
restaurant
Miss Josephine Flynn, the cashier
at once summoned the manager, Is.
L. Bennett and the leader of the in
vaders walked to the rear where he
met the manager and said that he
and his men were hungry and that
thew wanted to eat. Most of the
invaders wore returned soldiers but
tons. and Mr.. Bennett, making 4
quick survey of the situation, said:
"All right we'll feed you. l am a
returned man myself and l under
stand"
The manager then went to the
front door, locked it, and ordered the
staff to serve the men.
Il was dressing to go home as my
turn on duty was finished for the
day." said Mr.. Bennett later. The
night manager came into my office
and said that there was large num-
Der of men in the restaurant who
demanded something to eat without
paying for it. l had already heard
the noise of their entry, and | ran
upstairs. At the head of the stairs
| met a man who was apparently the
leader of the crowd and he told me
that he and his followers wanted
food.
Demanded Meat
"When | told them that l would
see that they got something to eat,
l said they could have all the toast
and coffee they wanted, but they
shouted I'VE want meat-we must
have meat
I'VE happened to have plenty OF
roast beef and sausage ready for
serving. told the men that they
could have a choice. This was serv-
ed with an order of bread and but
ter, and a cup of coffee. l locked
the front door as soon as possible to
prevent any more from entering, and
| sent a call for the police. The
men were very quiet and did not
do any damage. When the police
arrived the crowd at the door was
scattered.
when they got through eating,
they cheered the girls who had wait
ed on them cheered me and gave a
cheer for the Child's company. They
then left the place in an orderly way
Nothing was stolen and nothing
broken or damaged. They did not
even soil the place.
There was nothing else for me to
do when l saw them in the place, but
to give them something to eat. Some
of the men looked as if they had not
eaten for a long time, and seemed
really hungry There were some.
however, who appeared to be ring
res
Mr.. Bennett estimated that about
90 persons had been served. Each
meal would cost the usual customer
seventy cents. The whole thing had
cost the company approximately $6O.
There were a few patrons in the
restaurant when the unemployed
made their entry. They were not dis
turbed by the visitors. The wait
resses were surprised at first. but
most of them stuck to their posts
and sedved the men. One said that
she had been frightened by me sud
den entry of the crowd and had run
downstairs and hidden herself in a
ucpboard. Later she came out and
found everything quiet and set to
about her work again.
Toe cashier on duty at the time
said that she had Immediately lock-
ed up the cash register, and put the
key in her pocket. She added that
she was ready to run if anything
happened. She was not disturbed
by the men.
The head waitress, Mrs. Clyde,
was uptown off duty when she heard
of the affair. Thinking that she mad
been wrongly informed and that
there was a fire she had at once gone
to the establishment. When she ar
rived she found a large squad OF
police guarding the store, and a
crowd gathered in the street. She
was allowed to enter and soon set to
work directing her staff.
Call For Police
When the call for the police came
to Lieutenant Trudeau, Of the Mont
fort street station, there was squad
at the City Hall which had been
summoned earlier. Lieutenant 1rud
eau notified Captain Langevln, VINO
went to the scene at once, with as
many men as he could muster. These
were later reinforced by squad
from headquarters, under Deputy
Chief Leggett, Captain Ainey and
Captain Sauve. The fifty police soon
cleared the crowd away from the
restaurant door and windows. The
men offered no resistance to the po-
lice Inspector Ed. Egan of the
western division, heard the news
while at the Young Street station. 4Ae
. hurried to the scene of the raid anu
found that everything was then quot
most of the crowd having been dis