The colored American., 1903-08-22

Boston. MASS. Special-LaSt night
at the A M. E. Zion Church, on Colum-
bus avenue, at a public meeting of the
Boston branch of the National Negro
Business League, one of the most dis
graceful and riotous scenes in the his
tory of Boston was precipitated by five
men, under the leadership Of William
Monroe Trotter, editor of the Boston
Guardian. who has become insane in
his opposition to DR.. Booker 7. Wash
ington and his methods of leadership.
The plan to break up the meeting was
deliberately premeditated, and was of
the cOarsest, most vulgar sort, such as
is employed everywhere by the hood
lum, rowdy elements to create riot
and confusion. TrOtter was backed
up in his rowdyism by a half dozen
women of the street, whose vulgar SER
vices were obviously purchased. Mar
tin, the man who began the Interrupt
ton, and was most persistent In row.
dyiSm, insisting that Mr.. Washington
is opposed to social equality, is a but
Ter in a white family. and appeared at
the meeting in his walters jacket.
Behind TrOtter and Forbes are sew
eral other men, who have more brains
who by the ir action have lost charac-
ter with the white and colored people
of Boston, not because they are demo-
Gratis at heart, but because they have
shown a rowdy and vulgar disposition
in their opposition to Mr.. Washington,
which places them among the hood
lums of the population.
There were some two thousand peo-
pie in and about the church, drawn
there by laudable desire to see and
hear DIR. Washington speak. They
were honest and intelligent people,
among them being many of the dis
tinguiShed and respected cOlOred peo-
pie of Boston-peOple proud of their
city, and Jealous for it's high reputa-
tion for intelligence sobriety, and for
law and order. Scattered among these
two thousand people were TrOtter and
his henchmen, who had contrived to
throw red pepper about the altar be-
fore the meeting was called to order,
for the purpose of confusing the
speakers. AS soon as the chairman,
Hon. w. H. Lewis, called the meeting
to order, hte disturbance was begun by
one Martin, with kissing by his asSoc1-
ateS. When T. Thos Fortune, of New
York, was announced as the first
speaker, the man Martin became so
boiSterous in his talk and action that
the audience was thrown into confu-
sion, and the police had to be called
in to eject him. Just before Mr.. For
tune concluded his remarks, the man
was allowed to return to his seat on
promise of good behavior; but the
interruption continued through the
address of Edward Everett Brown
When Mr.. Washington was intro
duced, the five men created so much
disorder ami confucion that the audi
enCe became panicky and riotouS in
temper. The managers of the meet
ing then decided to have Trotter and
all of ilS fellow conspiratOrs elected
from the church. A squad of police
men commanded by sergeant, was
called in, and in the confusion that
ensued, both inside and outside of the
churcl, arrested Trotter and his sis
ter, and two of his henchmen, and,
with handouts on their wrists,
marched them off to the station house.
One was badly cut with a razor, and
two policemen were injured, one of
them stabbed in the hands with a hat
pin, it is alleged, of Miss Mand Trot-
ter. When the rioters were removed,
after two hours of confusion the meet
ing proceeded in an orderly and recor-
ons manner At the close of the meet
ing, Mr.. Washington was given an
ovation, and was overwhelmed by the
crush of people who desired to shake
his hand. and assure him personally
of their hearty sood will and sympa-
thy.