Evening star., 1901-12-19
JlNGO RIOT IN BIRMINGHAM
RADICAL SPEAKERS CHASED FROM
THE PLATFORM
Chamberlain's Followers Send Him
Message of ConEratulatiOn After
Town Hall Was Wrecked.

A dispatch from London last night SAYS:
David Loyd-George, NJ P, in speaking in
the Birmingham town hall tonight, precipi-
tated scene unprecedented in that city
since the Aston Park riots.
The majority of the audience were hos
tile to the speaker and were enraged by
his pro-Boer and anti-Chamberlain utter
ances. They rushed the police Gordon
guarding the platform
In the meanwhile the building was be-
sieged from the outside by a mob Of sew
eral thousand people, who smashed win
doWs and tried to force the doors, which
had been baricaded. They fusilladed the
audience with stones through the windows.
The police reserves were turned out and
succeeded in dispensing the mob after re-
peated charges A number of persons were
injured and the town hall was completely
wrecked. Not a single window was left
whole
The Birmingham riot is considered a cur
lous illustration Of the varied career of Mr.
Joseph Chamberlain the colonial secre-
tary.
The Aston Park riots of 1884, 1t is pointed
out We're demonstrated on the part Of the
Chamberlainites against the so-called tory
intruder, Lord Randolph Churchill, while
the riot today was one against an extreme
radical. The feeling against Mr.. Lloyd
George has been so strong during the pas
week that even tickets were forged to en-
town hall. This compelled the liberal asso-
citation to print different tickets, but it's
efforts to exclude their opponents were
quite vain.
The students of Birmingham University,
which was founded by the efforts of Mr.
Chamberlain, held meeting of protest
yesterday, and crowds were awaiting ad-
mission to the building long before the
doors of the town hall were opened. The
building filled quickly, and it was iname-
diately seen that trouble was coming
While the organist was playing the dis
sentists began to sing: "Britons Never
VII Re Slaves" and kept it up until the
organist was compelled to desist. Then
cheers were raised for Joey" A white
flag was unfurled amid deafening shouts
of traitor" as Mr.. Loyd-George and his
friends appeared on the platform.
All attempts at speech-making were fu-
tile owing to the continuous din Of Kissing
heoting and singing. The speakers per-
force had to content themselves with die
tating few sentences in the ears of the
reporters. These were mainly of protest
against the agitation caused by the s'jingo''
press.
In the meantime the enormous crowd
outside the building had become more
noisy and menacing. Presently a stone
came through a window. This caused q
stampede among the occupants of the gal
lery. From this time forward panden1on-
Ium relgned 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 prfs-
oners until a late hour, when Mr. Lloyd
George, disguised as chief constable, left
the town hall with a posse of policemen.
Many constables were seriously injured
In their attempts to clear the streets
which they did not succeed In doing until
heavy downfall Of rain and sleet came
to their assistance.
1t Is rumored that one civilian has died
OK injuries received. Several arrests Tor
resisting the police have been made AZ
meeting held outside the town hall reso
iutions OF confidence in the sovernmert
were adopted. This meeting sent the fof-
lowing telegram to Mr.. Chamberiain:
Lloyd George, the traitor, was NOT al
lowed to say q word. The citizens havs
passed resolution expressing confadenos
In the government and their admiration, Of
your unique and fearless service for kfnr
and country"
Estimates Of the numbers Of the demon