The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-11
Chicago Strikers That tho Law
Must Be Obsysd.
RESEMTS THEIR PETITION.
They Talk Back at Him, but Make
Little HeadWay.

srII TrOOps-He Regards the Request
as slight on Mayor Dunno and says
He Approves All Efforts 20 suppress
VIOlenCe-They Attempt 10 Explain
Their Position and He BccOnes More
Vehement IN Declaring That All
Disorder Must he Put Down.
CHICAGO. May iO.-President Roosevelt
this afternoon received committee Of
labor men composed Of c. p. Shea, Char les
Dold J. +. oNeill T. p Quinn and 7. A.
Rickert. Secretary Loeb introduced the
labor men to the President and President
Shea Of the Teamsters' Union said:
we are here as a committee 70 present
TO you a statement Of our position In
this controversy between the Employer
Association and the Teamsters' Union.
We have understood that they have asked
you for troops and we want to present our
position to you
Mr.. Quinn handed the memorial TO the
President, who read II through carefully
before making any comment. During his
rerusal Of the document the President
elevated his eyebrows several times, and
IL was evident that he did not like some Of
the sentiments contained in the memorial
After he had concluded It's perlsal. Presi-
dent Roosevelt said to the waiting COM
mittee:
'MR. SHEA; Mn. QUINN AND GENTLEMEN;
have read the petition you have presented
to me, the conclusion Of which is a request
for a hearing before any action be taken
by the Federal President relating to the
Chicago strike situation. As yet no sug-
gestion Of any kind has come to me from
any source that should take any action.
'of the merits Of the case am wholly
ignorant. I-have-Ho' im0wisdge Of what
the situation Is or OF what steps should
properly be taken 10 end it. feel. how
ever, that in vieSs OF one statement. or
series Of statements, in your letter ! ought
~ to say this:
Il regret that you should have in the letter
spoken at all Of the use Of the Federal army
as you have there spoken. No request
has been made to me for action by the
Federal Government, but at the same time,
Mr.. Shea, as you have in this communica-
ton to me brought up that fact, l want
to say one thing with all the emphasis in
my power. In uphoding law and order,
in doing what he is able to do to suppress
mob violence in any shape or way, the
Mayor Of Chicago, Mayor Dunno, has my
hearty support.
i am glad to be able to say this to you
gentlemen before l say it to any other body.
Now, let me repeat that know nothing
ofthe facts Of the situation. know nothing
Of the rights or wrongs Of the points at issue
What I have to say Is based purely upon
what regard as the unfortunate phrasing
in a letter presented to the President OF the
United States.
u have not been called upon 10 interfere
In any way, but you must not misunder-
stand my attitude. In every effort Of Mayor
Dunno to prevent violence by mobs or in
dividusls, TO see that the laws are obeyed
and that order is preserved, he has the
hearty support Of the President Of the
United States and, in my judgment, he
should have that Of every good citizen OF
the United States. Now, gentlemen, il
hGS been a great pleasure TO see you and
lam glad to have had the chance 20 say this
TO you
Mr.. Quinn-Mr. President, what prompted
" TO come TO you with this statement Is
that for the past two or three weeks there
as been a continual howl for Federal
srmy. have Known you long enough 10
know that you would not respond 10 a one
sided demand, that you will not respond
until you / ave thoroughly investigated
the case.
The President,-Mr. Quinn, % yet the
Mayor has not made any appeal to the
Governor and therefore. Of course, the
Governor has made none 10 me; and as yet
nothing in the situation has demanded
action by me
Mr. Shea-Let me explain that. The
Governor has been requested by the COM
mittee Of the employers 10 demand Federal
troops. The statement has been made in
the papers. ! Immediately teleEraphed
Gov. Deneen that We would allow him 10
appoint q commission.
Regardless OF that / want 10 make our
position known to you in regard to mob
violence. Every time a mob congregates,
every act Of violence performed by either
union men OF a sympathizer, Il reacts to
our detriment. / believe that we are
skiIled workmen enough in our particular
craft TO demonstrate TO our business men
Of Chicago that II IL TO their Interest 10
employ ne.
There is nothing at stake but the re-
employment Of citizens Of Chicago who
have been forced out Of their positions
Acts Of violence meet with the condemna-
ton Of the of6cials. both local and national,
Of our organization. II does not meet with
the Gympathies Of our organization. j
simply want 20 say that We want 10 be fair,
10 preserve the business interests OF Chicago,
DFCORATION DAY EXCURSIONS.