Evening star., 1923-05-06
MARINE BOYCOTT
| BECOMES TIGHTER
Fredericksburg Sorry About
Quarrel, But Thinks Both
Sides Are in Wrong.
Bys Stan Correspondent.

frederick sburg still nestles tonlght
amid the historic, hills Of old Virginia;
the Rappahannock river slipped past
its willow-fringed banks silently. as
1t has since the dawn of time; men
smoked and women laushed-whiie
the United States Marine Corps en-
forced its disciplinary quarantine
without mercy.
Although frankly sorry Toy the
quarrel it has had with the QuantIco
marines as a result of 4 town police
man who boxed the ears or an en-
listed man whom he had arre Sted for
alleged drunkenness. FREDERICKSBURG
continued to conduct its SATURDAY
night business just as il always had
despite the Marine Corps boycott
Tho most responsible elements OF
Frederick sburg tonight openly de-
nounced Deputy Serst. Reuben Nc
Ghee ard declared he should be
strictly disciplined for his "ineN-
cusable conduct" toward private &.
q Seagroves. hut just as emphatically
they asserted that Brig. Gen. Srned!ey
y. Butler. comnaIdant of the Guam
tico marines has orerstepped the
limits of req son in his threat TO es-
tablish a commercial blockade OF this
city as a retaliatory measure
Citizens Adamant.
The citizens OF Frederick burg de
Cared their readiness tonight TO do
everything within reason to prevent
a repetition of the assault on Private
would take no dictation from the ma
rines or anybody else.
Meanwhile the Marine Corps block
ede had become virtually alright to-
night. Saturday night heretofore had
heen a big one for Fredericksburg
The blue and gold or marines had
added plentiful color 10 the weekend
crowds on the street, but tonight not
a marine was 10 be seen. Business. OF
course. felt the absence OF. the devil
dogs. but the town as a whole Went
It's tranquil way. \ spirit OF civic
patriotism, strongly reminiscent OF
the stirring days of 't1. has sprung
up. and. strangely enough. the most
ardent of the patriots are the mem
bers of the fair sex.
Marine sentries silently paced the
road just outside the corporation
.mits, but SO far as Fredericksburg $
girls are concerned they could re-
move the pickets and bring down the
whole Quantico camp. No marine is
going to win a smile from his lady
fair here until he has given adequate
proof that tho nasty things Guam
tico has been saying about Virginia
hospitality did not come from his lips.
Deputy Sergt. McGhee paced his
heat with accustomed regularity, his
badge of office shining brighter than
ever, the only man who ever stirred
up war with the United states Marine
Corps and got away with if.
Denounces Policeman.
W. J. Ford, cashier Of the Planters
National Bank. seemed to speak the
mind Of the entire city when he de-
clared that whether McGhee slapped
or actually smashed Private Sea-
groves in the nose made little differ
ence. The man was under arrest"
said Ford. land the policeman had no
right to strike him in any manner.
blame Mayor ]. G. King and Sergt.
j. G.. Chichester for the entire mixup
The minute they learned McGhee had
laid violent hand on a prisoner they
should have suspended him from the
police force. Then. if they wished, he
could have been given a trial, But,
personally, think he is not qualified
TO represent the law in this city.
think a whole lot has been made out
of a case that should have been very
trivial. Gen. Butler was absolutely
right in demanding the investigation
and punishment of McGhee, il facts
warranted it. He may have gone
little too far in the matter. but on the
whole l attach no blame to him.
"However, because few marines
have come over to Fredericksburg
from time to time and misbehaved
we do not class the entire Marine
Corps as an organization OF rowdies.
And it was unfair for Gen. Butler
to blame this whole city for the act
of one man
State Senator G. O'Conor Gooirick
declared that while the decision Of
The corporation court in the proceed
ings looking to the removal Of Dep
uty Sergt. McGhee was generally ac-
cepted here as correct 1t was not
seriously disputed that the officer
was guilty of grave indiscretion
due to loss of self control"
On the other hand, Senator Cool
rick expressed disapproval Of the at
titude of Gen. Butler toward Fred
aricksburS and said that the Marines
commandant was largely responsible
sor a situation which had been greatly
rnagnified. He resented the boycott
threat from Quantico.
Would Fire McGhee.
NJ. B. Rowe, president of the Plant
ers' National Bank. agreed with Mr..
Ford. 1t was his opinion a man who
would lose his temper long enough 10
strike a defenseless prisoner, who had
already reached the police station,
was unfit to be a member Of the
law enforcement body Of this city"
He asserted his belief that McGhee
should have been promptly dismissed d
from the force, and declared the Ma
rines and fredericksburg would still
be friends had such action been taken.
In this opinion Joseph NJ. Gold
smith, a prominent merchant readily
agreed.
Tonight, however. the breach be-
tween Fredericksburg and Quantico
was complete: DIPLOMATIC discussions
were at an end. The marines felt that
one of their number had been i'll
treated. simply because he was a
narine-'not good enough to as