Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-07-31
A LIVELY EVENING.
Booker Washington Meets
CoIored Friends at Boston.
Meeting Ends Under Police Protec-
ton, After a Big Row.
Hatpin and Razor Figure in Melee
Two Persons Injured.

Boston, July 30.-An attempt on the
part of half dozen colored persons op-
posed to Booker T. Washington, presi-
dent of Tuskegee (Alabama) Institute,
to ask questions at a meeting which he
was addressing, tonight, at the Zion
church, resulted almost in a riot and Is
policemen were called in to quell the
disturbance. Several arrests We're made
during which one policeman received an
ugly stab from hatpin and man. said
to be one of those opposed to Mr.. Wash
ingfiton, received several razor cuts,
and is now in the hospital. After the
arrests Mr.. Washington was allowed to
proceed and spoke for nearly two
hours.
Both factions at the close of the meet
ing issued statements. Mr.. Washing
ton said in his statement that the col
ored people of Boston should not be
held responsible for a few riotous indi-
viduals, while William Monroe Trotter,
one of those who was arrested, stated
that the cause of the riot was the alb
surd ruling of the chairman, VIM. H.
Lewis, in ordering the arrest and eject
ion of any person who Kissed or mani
tested any objection to the speaker of
the evening.
1t is said that the disturbance was
pre-arranged, and after the meeting
Mr.. Trotter and his friends admitted
that they went there with the idea of
asking Mr.. Washington a number of
questions, and to resent any attack that
might be made on the New England
representatives to the recent Afro
American council at Louisville.
The meeting was held under the aus
pieces of the Colored Business mems
Association of this city, and Hon. Wm
Fl. Lewis, one of the United States as
sistant district attorneys, presided.
The opposition was manifested almost
at the beginning of the meeting, sever
al of Mr.. Lewis remarks being Kissed
and attempts being made to interrupt
his remarks by questions.
No serious disturbance, however,
Cured until I. Thomas Fortune of I
York, was introduced. His staten,
that the opposition to Mr. Washingt
at Louisville was soundly Spanked,
caused half a dozen persons in the au
dience to jump to their feet. and in an
instant the entire assembly was in az
turmoil. One man was arrested and |
elected by direction of the presiding
officer and this served to quiet the
meeting.
No sooner had Mr.. Fortune finished
when Mr.. Washington was introduced,
and this was a signal for a resump-
ton of Kissing and an attempt on the
part of four or five persons to ask
questions.
Finally Mr.. Lewis sent for additional
policemen and 25 responded from
nearby station. He pointed out two
persons whom he conssered the lead
ers in the opposition, Granville Martin
and VIM. HI. Trotter, and they were ar
rested.
While the latter was being taken
from the hall a woman. said to be his
sister, stabbed one of the police officers
with a hatpin, intiicting deep, but not
necessarily dangerous wound. Fat
about the same time in another part of
the hall, Bernard Charles became in
volved in a heated argument with
supporter of Mr.. Washington, with the
result that he received deep cut with
a razor.
Order restored, Mr.. Washington de-
livered his address, the subject of
Which was "The Economic Condition
of the Colored People of Boston, and
their Relation to Those in the Rest of
the Country.
The statement ISSUED by Mr.. Washing
ton follows:
Just as few flies are able to spoil the
purity of a jar of cream, so three III
hammered young men were able Il disturb
the good order of large and otherwise
successful meeting of our people in the
city of Boston. I have rarely seen
greater triumph on the part of the mass
es Of our people in crushing out i'll man
ners and disturbance. 1t have no warm
er friends anywhere in the country than |
have among nne-tenths of the colored
people of Boston. This was made man
ifest by the overwhelming applause with
which my remarks were received. after
the police had removed three or four dis
turbers
THE colored people of Boston should
not be hela responsible for a few riotous
Signed Booker Y. Washington"
The following statement was made by
VIM. M. Trotter, one of the opposition to
Mr.. Washington:
.'rhe cause of the riot at the Colored
Methodist church on Columbus avenue
ICopfiuyIed On ma pa 2l