The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-19
PrO-BOer Meeting Broken Up and Da-
vid LIoyd-George, M. T., Not
Permitted to Speak.
MANY PERSONS BADLY HURT
ATTEMPT TO MOB THE TRAITOR, 5,
WHO WAS FORCED TO FLEE.
Resolution of Confidence in Chamber
lain and the Government Adopted
at a Meeting of Jingoes.

LONDON, Dec. 1S-David Lloyd George,
NJ. p. in speaking in Birmingham Town
Hall tonight precipitated a scene unprec-
edented in that city since the Aston Park
riots. The majority of the audience was
hostile 70 the speaker and was enraged
by his pro-Boer and anti-Chamberlain ut
terances. The crowd rushed the police
Gordon guarding the platform. In the
meanwhile the building was besieged from
the outside by a mob of several thousand
people who smashed windows and tried
to force the doors. which had been bar
ricaded. They fusilladed the audience with
stones through the windows. The police
reserves were turned out and succeeded
in dispensing the , mob after repeated
charges. A number of persons were injured
and the Town Hall was completely
wrecked. Not single window was left
whole.
The Birmingham riot is considered a cur
ious illustration of the varied career Of
Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain, the colonial sec
retary. The Aston Park riots of 1884, it
is pointed out were demonstrations on
the part of the Chamberlainites against
the so-called Tory intruder, Lord Randolph
Churchill, while the riot to-day was one
against an extreme Radical. The feeling
against Mr.. Lloyd-George has been so
strong during the past week that even
tickets were forged to enable the ''jingoes''
to gain admission to the Town Hall. This
compelled the Liberal Association to print
different tickets. but its efforts TO exclude
their opponents were quite vain.
The students of Birmingham University,
which was founded by the efforts of Mr.
Chamberlain, held a meeting of protest yes
terday, and crowds were awaiting admis-
sion to the building long before the doors
of the Town Hall were opened. The build
ing filled quickly, and it was Immediately
seen that trouble was coming. While the
organist was playing the dissentients be-
gan TO sing 'Britons Never VIII be Slaves, -
and kept it up until the organist was COM
PEELED to desist. Then cheers were raised
for Joey" A white flag was unfurled
amid deafening shouts of traitor" as Mr.,
Lloyd-George and his friends appeared on
the platform. All attempts at speech MAX
ing were futile owing to the continuous
din of Kissing, hooting and singing. The
speakers pertorce had to content them
selves with debating a few sentences in
the ears of the reporters. These were
mainly OF protest against the agitation
caused by the lingo" press.
In the meantime the enormous crowd out
side the building had become more noisy
and menacing. Presently stone came
through a window. This caused a stam-
pede among the occupants of the gallery.
From this time forward pandemonium
reigned in the building and ugly rushes
were made for the platform. The police
were soon overpOwered Mr. Lloyd-George
and his friends were compelled to retreat
to an inner room for safety They were
unable to leave the building for fear of
mob violence and were thus kept prisoners
until a late hour, when Mr.. Lloyd George
disguised as a chief constable left the Town
Hall with a posse of policemen. Many con-
stables were seriously injured in their at
tempts TO clear the streets which they did
not succeed in doing until a heavy down
fall of rain and sleet came u their assist
ance. 1t is rumOred that one civilian has
died of injuries received Several arrests
for resisting the police have been made
At q meeting held outside the Town Hall
resolutions of confidence in the govern
ment were adopted. This meeting sent the
following telegram TO Mr. Chamberlain:
"Lloyd-George, the traitor, was not al
lowed to say a word. The citizens have
| passed "A resolution expressing confidence
| I'm the government and their admira tiou
of your unique and fearless services for
King and country
tors vary from 10000 TO $1,000 persons.