Evening star., 1921-11-12
Rough Ride for President.

''"e Rough Ride for President.
ros Not only was the presidential party.
which had an escort of motorcycle
police. car of secret service men and
two automobiles filled with local de-
tectives. brought to a standstill more
than fifty times during the trip. but
Tho hubs Of the Presidents machine
were more than once rubbed by other
cars. and on three occasions the Presi-
dents party was compelled to leave
tho roadway and progress over park
ways. Along a large portion Of the
ride. especially along the military road
leading from the Highway bridge to
Arlington, the Presidents car was
the roadway. The secret service, the
local detectives under command of
Inspector Grant, and the motorcycle
police were kept busy throughout
;, clearing passage way for the Presi-
dent.
n It was plainly evident that both the
president and Mrs. Harding were
greatly discomforted by the expe-
?rienoe and that they fully realized
1.-THE perils attending the ride. On
Commander Holmes. aides to the Pres
.,,ident. who were riding with him, left
the car to assist in opening up the
road.
uHueISlOUu Ludl IILc
more than once during the journey
depressed himself very forcibly re-
'ikarding the confusion, and that he
said he would like to know who was
responsible for the lack Of manage
i1ment.
"a Secret Service Agents Held Up.
''"- lieutenant at the south entrance
attempted to prevent three members
aef the White House secret service
staff, who had been assigned to sta
lions in the vicinity of the south end
sof the amphitheater, to enter. He
ALSO refused entrance to a number
'aof other invited persons. according
to persons who stood nearby. Among
those held up by the officer were a
number of foreign guests and the
four members of the national quartet,
who were to have taken part in the
music feature Of the ceremonies.
1t was with great difficulty that
party gained admission at this en-
trance. and instead of being per-
mitted to proceed directly to their
box, not a great distance away, they
were forced to walk all the way
around the amphitheater before
Stood. also, that the automobiles
which brought the Frencsh party
were ordered from the spot where
Ihey were to wait until the conclusion
of the ceremonies, which was respon-
: sible for the premier and his party
: losing track of the vehicles COM
: pletely and being forced to return to
! the capital in the best way they
. could.
MAI. GessfOrd's Statement.
Tho report made by Maj. Gessford
. to Commissioner Oyster today, giving
that officers official version Of the
ana ID ns apon ars inVesigatne aR lo1ws: t1St the
3rafnc situation at the Highway
y Bridge yesterday was handled by the
= police as efficiently as it was possible
& to handle a bottled-up jam Of thou
r case Of the dead stoppage of vehicles
= from the cemetery grounds clear to
= the District of Columbia, brought
9 about by congestion Of the roadways
D my Investigation Of the situation
9 shows that both the Columbia and
y Military roads leading to grounds
Q abreast. and then with an overflow
y in adjacent fields.
I z Blames Virginia Side.
Under these circumstances it can
! readily be seen that the originating
y pOlul Oh COHS cStiOu COulu NOT nave
been in the District Of Columbia 1t
Is the duty of the police to facilitate
the movement of traffic. and this most
: assuredly would have been done yes
;terday were it not for the fact that
the roads leading to Arlington were
blocked to such an extent as to posi-
lively prohibit the movement of We
hicles. The whole condition occurring
in the District of Columbia was the
result Of conditions in Virginia on the
other side Of the river.
AT 1925 o'clock yesterday morn
ing after police headquarters. was
advised Of the congested condition on
! this side Of the river an extra de-
tail Of police was Immediately rushed
TO the vicinity and at the same time
I my ONCE got b. touch with the off,
j CO. of the day Lieut.. Works, at Fort
I9er. and appraised him of the con-
aSion in this city and Of the great
on the Military road and
s,e aituation 4 Virginia could not be
.elieved to tea1 trAfac could move