The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-05-13
Protest. 10 PRESIDENT
CHICAGO Strikers Stongly Object to
Calling Out Federal Troops.
NO REQUEST HAS BEEN MADE

ties Have His Hearty Support In
Every Effort to Suppress Mob VIC
lence-eanquetted BY Democrats.
Chicago. May IA strongly-wordcd
protest against the sending OF iederai
troops TO Chicago was submitted to
President Roosevelt The protest Is
signed by c. T. Shea. president OF the
International Brotherhood OF Team
sters: Charles Dold, president oil 'h'
Chicago Federation Of Labor, and 10y
other labor leaders Charging that the
EMPLOYERS have repeatedly spurned the
request of the labor leaders for aroi-
fration. the protest declares the em-
mowers openly boosted that federal
rroops would back mp the employers
side of the controversy. Peace said
the protcst of the labor leaders. rests
not upon the militia or the army. but
mon the patience and long suffering
of tho toiliug masses. Can few sol
diors scare the men who make armies
and who compose the flower OF Amerl-
IAN manhood
Doclaring that the workers Will abide
bv the decision of an arbitrator. even
.hould that decision fail to be all that
might be hoped for. the appeal 70 the
president closes with the request that
ne consider all the facts in HE case
before he permits any abuse of federal
nowcr i'm complying with request for
troops
The committee presenting the pro-
lest was received 10y the president in
person at the Auditorium Annex. The
members of the committee expressed
themselves as eratided at their recep-
ron by the president The president
Told them that no demand had been
made upon him for the use of troops
in Chicago.
Continuing. tho president said.
Il have read the petition you have
presented 10 me, the conclusion o.
which is a request for a hearing before
auv action he taken by the federal
president relating TO the Chicago strike
situation. As vet. no suggestion of any
kind has come 10 me from any source
that should take any action. On the
merits Of the case ! am wholly ignoI-
ant. ! have no knowledge OF what the
situation is or of what steps should
properly De taken TO end IL. feel,
however. that i'm view of one statement,
or series Of statements. in your letter.
[ ought 10 say this. / regret that you
should I'm your letter have spoken n
all Of the use of the federal army AS
Won have there spoken No request has
been made 20 me for action by the fed
eral government. but al the same time,
Mr.. Shea. as you have in this COM
munioaUun 10 me brought mp that fact
| want 10 say one thing with all the
emphasis - my power. In upholding
law and order. and in doing what he
is able 70 do 10 suppress mob violence
in any shape or way. the mayor Of
Chicago. Mayor Dunno, has my hearty
support. ! am glad TO be able 10 say
this 10 you. gentlemen, before I say it
to any other body.
Now. let me repeat that | know
nothing Of the facts of the situation. !
know nothing of the rights or wrongs
Of the points al issue. What | have TO
say is based chiefly upon what regard
DIS the unfortunate phrasng OF letter
presented 10 the president OF the United
States I have not been called upon 10
Interfere in any way. but YOU must not
misunderstood my attitude. In every
effort Of Mayor Dunno to prevent yio-
lence by m0bs 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. IT has been a
great pleasure 10 see you. and | am glad
to have had the chance 10 say this to
you"
It was generally understood by both
sides to the strike that there would De
no disturbances while President Roose-
Welt was in the city. Notwithstanding
this tacit agreement there were a num-
Der Of outbreaks. one of them taking
place in Michigan avenue a short time
after President Roosevelt had passed
The spot In this riot a number Of men
were cut and shot