Every Precaution Taken

Ample Advance Preparations by Police at Exposition Grounds.

     The police arrangements for the protection of the President on the grounds of the exposition were in charge of Col. John Byrne, commandant of police, and Capt. James A. Vallaly, of the special detective bureau. On last Tuesday night several of the commissioners’ party were at police headquarters on the exposition grounds and Captain Vallaly explained to them the preparations that had been made to avoid accident or harm to the President during his visit. Captain Vallaly said that it was their intention to give the Executive and his party perfect protection at all times.
     Captain Vallaly stated that the police of Buffalo would escort the President to the grounds, and that at the gate the exposition police would take charge of the party. The captain said that the plan contemplated the detail of twenty detectives in citizens’ clothes to surround the President and to watch him constantly. In addition to this a large body of police in uniform was to be near and ready for service. The detectives detailed for this work, Captain Vallaly said, were from the large cities of the country and had been sent to Buffalo because of their wide acquaintance with crooks and criminals. He explained that this body of men would be so strong that it would be impossible for any known man of evil intent to approach the President, much less to do him harm.
     Captain Vallaly was in Washington at the time of the Centennial Celebration, having been detailed here for special duty in connection with that event. He stated that he then saw the President and that he became acquainted with Mr. Cortelyou. In view of this acquaintance Captain Vallaly anticipated with pleasure the coming of the Presidential party and expressed himself very decidedly that there would be no slip in the precautions taken for their safety. It was probably owing to this special precaution on the part of the police that the assassin was unable to escape, or that he was not more severely handled by the indignant crowd.
     It was stated last night by the Washington detectives who are acquainted with both Colonel Byrne and Captain Vallaly that they are capable men, and that the attack on the President was not due to any carelessness or lack of attention on their part. Sergeant Carter said that, of course, no man could foresee the approach of an unknown Anarchist in the line of American citizens who were shaking hands with the President. He was of the opinion that the police on the exposition grounds did all that could be done to protect Mr. McKinley.