The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-03-30
BLAME POLICE
FOR THE RIOT
IN NEW YORK
Socialists Say Their Meeting
Was Called for Benefi-
cent Purpose.
REPUDIATE SYMPATHY
WITH BOMB THR0WER
SILVERSTEIN STILL ALIVE
STATEMENT OF ROBERT
HUNTER.

New York. March 29-Robert Hunt
er. the noted sociologist, tonight de-
clared that he was not only present
at yesterdays demonstration of the
unemployed III Union square. that
ended in a bomb explosion. but that,
had opportunity offered. he would have
addressed the crowd in defiance of po-
lice prohibition and so brought about
a test in the courts Of the right Of free
speech. II had been advertised that
Mr. Hunter would address the meet
ing. but in the excitement that FOL
lowed the action Of the police in driV-
ing the crowds from the square he
was lost sight Of, and not until today
was it generally known that the set
Element worker was on hand prepared
to carry out this part of the program
even if it led to his arrest
Determined to Speak.
Mr.. Hunters position in the whole
matter was set forth in a statement
over his signature given to the AssO-
ciated Press. The writer deplores the
outrage" of the bomb. and refers to
its author as a fanatic who has in
jured the cause of the unemployed.
Mr.. Hunter says until he arrived at
the square he was ignorant of the fact
that .speeechmaking had been forbid
den. He learned this of the police.
and then determined to speak i'm or
der that the right of peaceful assem-
bly, and free speech might be tested in
the courts He adds that he had no
chance to be heard, for presently the
police charged the crowd with in
credible brutality" Mr. Hunter de-
scribes his own escape from under a
horses hooofs; tells how he was
dragged by officers from the steps of
building from which he had hoped
TO speak, and how what was intended
as peaceful assembly in furtherance
of aid for the unemployed was broken
up with a scene that he thought
could not be duplicated outside Of
Russia.
SiIVerstein May Survive.
This proved to busy Sunday for
the police and the Socialists who were
responsible for yesterdays demOnstra-
ton. There was no act of violence or
disturbance of any sort, but the po-
lice were busy looking up the record
of the bomb thrower and others under
arrest, while the Socialists We're as ac-
tive in repudiating sympathy with the
outrage and knowledge of the perpe-
traitor.
Selig Silverstein, the youth in whose
hands the bomb exploded as he was
about to hurl it at CAPTAIN Miles
O'Reiliy and his squad of twenty men.
was still alive in Bellevue hospital to-
night. Though the explosion tore off
his right hand temporarily blinded
him and caused frightful bodily fnju-
ries, he may survive. AS yet he can
not see, but the sight of one eye may
be restored
Arrested Men Arraigned.
Seven men arrested after the bomb
! explosion were arraigned in court to-
/ day. Of the number six called them
! selves Russians. One of them was an
! American. The foreigners were held
I in $4,000 bail each for further exam
| inatiOn, while the American was held
without bail. They were charged with
/ taking part in a riot.
The police today examined a half
/ dozen persons. including s. Yanofskv.
editor of Fret Arbiter SteinTne. All
| declared that they had advocated peace
/ i'm the adjustment of Industrial dis
putes.
| The general committee of the local
Socialist party met today and set forth
| their side Of the story. They claimed
/ that the meeting was made up of law
abiding persons, and accuse the police
/ of melting the people to riot Many
! statements were issued by individuals
! ali deplOring the act of violence and al
/ taking the police to account
/ The Socialist view of the matter is
Continued on Page 2.