Palestine daily herald. [volume] (Palestine, Tex.) 1902-1949, 1905-05-12
PROTEST PRESENTED.
President Informs Committee That
Law and Order Must Be Upheld.

Chicago. May 1.-THE committee OF
labor men appointed TO call upon
President Roosevelt and lodge with
him a pretest against the employment
of Federal troops during the present
Transfers strike was granted an au-
dience late Wednesday afternoon. The
committee consisted of Cornelius p.
Shea, president Of the international
Transfers: Charles Dold. president OF
| the Chicago Federation of Labor: JOS
eph O'Neil. vice president of the Chi
cago Federation of Labor; 7. p. Quinn
member of the Canvassers' union
and T. Rickert, president of the Gar
ment Workers International union
| Outside of the members of the com
mittee. President Roosevelt and Secre-
tary Loeb no one was present during
the conference. The following state
| ment of what passed In the room was
| given out by Secretary Loeb:
After presenting the protest TO the
president. Mr.. Shea, acting as spokes-
man, said: 1--WE are here as a COM
mittee to present TO you a statement
| stating our position in this controversy
between the Employers association
| and the Transfers association. We
have understood that they have asked
your aid for bringing troops into Chi
cago. We want TO present our position
| TO you"
The president at once read the petit
ton and said:
81 have read the petition you hav,
presented to me, the conclusion of
which, a request for a hearing before
any action being taken by the Fedora
president relating to the Chicago strike
7, situation. AS yet no suggestion OF
| any kind has come TO me from any
source that I should take action. OF
the merits OF the easel am wholly ig-
norant. I have no knowledge of what
the situation is or of what steps
should properly be taken to end it. ]
feel. however. that in view of one
statement or series OF statements in
you letter, l ought to say this: / re-
gret that you should in the letter have
spoken at all OF the use OF Federal
arms as you have there spoken. No
request has been made of me for ac
ton by the Federal government, but
the same time, Mr.. Shea, as you have
in this communication to me brought
up that fact, / want to say one thing
with all the emphasis in my power. In
unfolding law and order, and In doing
what he is able to do to suppress mot
violence in any way. the mayor of
Chicago. Mayor Dunno. has my heart,
support. am glad to say this to you
gentlemen, before say II to any othe
body. Now let me repeat that know
none of the facts OF the situation. j.
know none OF the rights or wrongs of
the points at issue. What have to
says is based purely on what / re-
gard as the unfortunate phraslng of
letter presented to the president OF
the United States. l have not been
called upon to interfere In any way,
but you must not misunderstood my
attitude. In every effort of Mayor
Dunno to prevent violence by mobs OF
individuals. to see that the laws are
obeyed and that order is preserved, he
has the hearty support of the pres
ident of the United States. and in my
Judgment he should have that of every
good citizen of the United States.
Now. gentlemen, 1t has been a great
pleasure to see you. and I am glad tc
have had the chance TO say this tc
you"
Mr.. Quinn. who knew the president
In his youth. said: "Mr. President
what prompted us to come to you with
this statement that for the past two
or three weeks there has been a con-
tinual howl for the Federal army. II
have known you long enough to know
that you would not respond TO a one
sided demand: that you will not re-
spond until you have thoroughly IN.
vestigated the case"
The president replied: "Mr. Quinn
as yet the mayor OF Chicago has not
made any appeal 60 the governor. ant
therefore. of course. the governor has
made none to me; and as yet nothing
In the situation has demanded actor
by me-"
The chief executive said ne believe
in unions and was an honorary mem.
Der OF one. but both unions and corpo.
rations must obey the law. "As yell
no action has been called for by me
and most certainly II action is called
for by me shall try 90 do exact justice
under the law to every man, so far AZ
/ have power. But the first essentia |
is the preservation Of law and order |
the suppression OF violence by mob
or individuals" This closed the inter |
view, and the committee withdrew.
1t was generally understood by boil
sides to the strike that there woulC |
be no disturbances while Presiden |
Roosevelt was In the city. Notwith.
standing this passive agreement. Their,
were several outbreaks. one OF then
taking place in Michigan avenue E
short time after the president passed |
along. in which 4 number OF men wert
cut and shot.