The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-05-11
UNION MEN CALL
ON ROOSEVELT
President is Urged Not 10 Use
Federal Troops
HIS REPLY IS EMPHATIC
Says That Whatever Mayor Dunno
Does for the Suppression of Riot
Ing and Violence Has His
Unqualified Support.
HIS REPLY is EMPHATIC

OnqudliIeu support
Chicago. May 10.-The committee Of
labor men appointed to call upon Presi-
dent Roosevelt and lodge with him
protest against the employment of federal
troops during the present teamsters'
strike, was In audience late this evening.
The committee consisted of Cornelius p.
Brotherhood of Teamsters; Charles r.
Dold, president of the Chicago Fedora
tion of Labor; Charles O'Neal, vice presi
dem OF the Chicago Federation of Labor;
r. p. Quinn, a member of the Canvassers'
union, and T. X. Eckert, president of the
Garment Workers International union.
Outside of the members of the commit
tee President Roosevelt and Secretary
Loeb, no one was present during the con-
ference. The following account of what
passed in the room was given out by
Secretary Loeb
After presenting the protest to the
President, Mr.. Shea acting as spokesman,
said:
" We are here as a committee to pre-
sent to you a statement stating our po-
sition in this controversy between the
Employers association and the Team
sters' union. We have understood that
they had asked your aid for bringing
troops into Chicago. We want to present
our position TO your
Mr.. Quinn Sid:
!" IT will take about ten mintes to read,
perhaps we had better leave 1t with you
'Thti President said he wetad read 1t
at once, and after doing so, said
Deprecates Any Violence.
I have read the petition you have
presented TO me, the conclusion of which
Is request for a hearing before any ac-
tion be taken by the federal President
relating to the Chicago strike situation.
As yet no suggestion of any kind has
come to lae from any source that L
should take action. OF the merits of the
case, am wholly ignorant. / have no
knowledge of the situation, or of what
steps should properly be taken to end it,
feel. however, that in view of one
statement or series of st tements in your
letter, ! ought to say this-I regret that
you should in the letter have spoken at
al. 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 scme time. Mr..
Shea, as you have in this communica-
tion to me brought up that fact | want
TO say one thing with all th, emphasis
in my power
In upholding law and order, and do
Ing what he Is able to do to suppress
mob violence II any shape or way, the
Mayor of Chicago, Mr. Dunno. has my
hearty support | am glad to be able to
sa this to you gentlemen before | say 1t
to any other body. Nov let me repeat
that | know nothing of the facts OF the
situation / know nothing of the rights
or wrongs OF the points at issue What
l have to say l.. based purely upon what
regard as the unfortunate phrasng of
a letter presented to the President of
the United States. | have not been called
upon to Interfere In any way. but You
must not msunderstand my attitude In
every effort of Mayor Dunno to prevent
violence by mobs Or individuals. 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, 1t has teen a great
4
have had the chance TO say this to you
"Mr. Quinn. who knew the President in
his youth said:
:" Mr. President, what prompted us to
come to you with this statement Is that
for the past two or three weeks, there
has been continual howl for the federal
army 7 have known you long enough to
know that you would not respond to
one-sided demand that you will not re-
spond until you have thoroughly investi-
gated the case
"The President replied:
" Mr.. Quinn, as the Mayor of Chicago
has not made any appeal to the govern
or, and therefore. of course. the COVER
nor has made none to me- and as yet moth
ing in the situation has demanded action
by me-
president Shea of the teamsters' union.
then said:
Shea Asks to Explain.
" Let me explain that The governor
has been requested by the committee Of
the employers to demand federal troops;
the statement has been made in the pa
pers. Immediately telegra phed Governor
Deneen that we would allow him TO ap-
point n commission.
" Regardless of that 7 want to make
our position known to yon In regard to
mob violence. Every time crowd congre
gates; every tact OF violence performed
by either a union man or sympathizer. 1t
reacts to our detriment 7 believe that
we are skilled workmen enough In our
particular craft to demonstrate to our
business men of Chicago. that II Is to
their interests to employ IFS. There IL
nothing at stake but the unemployment
of citizens of Chicago. who have been
forced out Of their positions. Acts Of vio-
lence meet with the condemnation 70 the
officials both local and national Of our
IT does not meet with the
sympathies Of our organization. 7 simply
want to say that we want to be fair. to
preserve the business interests of Chica-
go, realizing that the prosperity Of our
employers is our prosperity
s,The President replied to this. saying:
Mr.. Shea. I can only repeat what 7
have said. am a believer In unions. 7
am an honorary member of one union. But
the union must obey the law just as the
corporation must obey the law, Just as
every man, rich or poor. must obey the
law AS yet no action has been called
for by me, and most certainly II action