The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-05-11
Roosevelt Stands For Law and Order. NOTIFIES LABOR LEADERS Is Unalterably Opposed to Mob
 Violence. President, in .straIght-from-the-sh der Speech, Says He VIII Uphold
 Any Steps for Peace of
 Chicago.
NOTIFIES LABOR LEADERS

 Chicago, May 1o-The committee of laboring men appointed to call upon President Roosevelt and lodge with him a protest against the employment of Federal troops during the present teamsters' strike was in audience late this afternoon. The committee consis- ted of Cornelius P. Shea, President of the International Brotherhood of Team sters; Charles R. Dodd. President of the Chicago Federation of Labor Charles O'Neal. Vice-President of the Chicago Federation of Labor; T F. Quinn, a member of the Canvassers Union and T. Rickert, President Of tha
 Garment Workers InternationstUnion
 Outside of the members of the Com
 mittee, President Roosevelt and Sec
 retary Loeb. no one was present du-
 ring the conference. The following
 account of what passed in the room
 was given out by Secretary Loeb:
 After presenting the protest to tha
 President, Mir. Shea, acting as spokes-
 man, said: "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 teamsters' association. We have
 understood that they had asked your
 aid for bringing troops Into Chicago.
 We want to present our position to
 you"
 Mir. Quinn said: "ft will take about
 ten minutes to read this; perhaps we
 had better leave it with you"
 The President said he would read it
 at once and after doing so said:
 Presfdemt's Reply.
 'T have read the petition you have
 presented to me, the conclusion of which is a request for hearing before any action be taken by the Federal
 
 strike situation. As yet no suggestion
 of any kind has come to me from any source that should take action. 9f the merits Of the case I am wholly iS- norant. have no knowledge of what the situation is or of what steps should properly be taken to end It.
 T feel, however, that in view of the one statement or series of state ments in your letter I ought to say this T regret that you should in the letter have spoken at all of the use of the federal army as you have there spoken. No request has been made tc me fo raction by the federal govern ment but at the same time. MT. Shea, as you have in this communication to me brought up that fact. I want to say one thing with all the emphasis in my power. In upholding law and order, and doing what he is able to do to suppress mob violence in any shape or way, the mayor of Chicago, Mayor Dunne. has my hearty support. l am glad to be able to say this to you gen. tlemen 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 at issue. What I have to say is based purely upon what re- gard as the unfortunate phrasing of letter presented to the President of the United States. I have not been called upon to interfere in any way but you must not misunderstand my attitude. In every effort of Mayor Dunne to pre- vent 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 tSates.
 Now gentlemen 1t has been a great pleasure to see you, and I am glad to have had the chance to say this to you"
 MT. Quinn, who knew the President in his youth, said:
 MT. 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. I have known you long enough to know that you would not respond to a one-sided demand, that you will not respond until yoa have thoroughly investigated tho case"
 No Action Demanded.
 The President replied: MT Quipns as yet the mayor of Chicago has not made any appeal to the governor, and therefore of course the governor has made none to me; and as yet nothing in the situation has demanded action by mo-"
 President Shea of the Teamsters' Union then said: Let me explain that The governor has been requested by the committee of the employers to de- mand federal troops, the statement has been made in the papers I immediate ly telegraphed Gov. Deneen that we would allow him to appoint commis- sion.
 ''Regardless of that want to make ,ur position known to you in regard O mob violence. Every time a mob every act of violence per ormed by either a union man or it reacts to our detrt- nent. I believe that we are skilled vorkmen enough In our particular raft to demonstrate to our business nen of Chciago that it is to their in- erests to employ us. There Is noth- ng at stake but the unemployment of itizens of Chicago. who have been breed out of their positions. Acts of -iolence meet with the condemnation of he officials, both local and national, Of ur organization. It does not meet with the sympathies of our organtza- ion. simply want to say that we yant to be fair, to preserve the busi- ess Interests of Chicago, realizing that he prosperity of our employers is our 
 The President replied to this. saving: MT. Shea, I can only repeat what l ave said. I am a believer in unions. am an honorary member of one union. Int the union must obey the law just 8 the corporation must obey the law nst as every man, rich or poor, mus bev the law As yet no action has cen called for by me and most cer- ainly if action Is called for by me. I hall try to do exact justice under tho avs to every man so far as l have over. But the first essential Is the of law and order, the sup ression of violence by mobs or in- ividuals,"
 This closed the interview and the ommittee withdrew.
 Tt vvas generally understood by both