Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-30
BLAME FOR
RIOT LAID ON
PA7ROLMEN
ROBERT HUNTER WOULD TEST
RIGHT OF FREE SPEECH
ASSERTS CONDITIONS ARE LIKE
THOSE IN RUSSIA
Widely Known Speaker and Writer
Tells of His Own Mistreatment
at Hands of Mounted
Patro linen
Bv Associated Press.

NEW YORK, March 29.-Robert
Hunter, the noted sociologist, tonight
declared that he not only was present
at yesterdays demonstration of the un-
employed in Union square that ended
in a bomb explosion, but that, had the
opportunity offered, he would have adj
dressed the crowd in defense of police
prohibition, anG SO brought about q
test in the courts of the right of free
speech.
1t had been advertised that Mr.. Hun
ter would address the meeting, but in
the excitement that followed the action
of the police in driving the crowds
from the square he was lost sight of,
and not until today was it generally
known that the settlement worker was
on hand prepared to carry out this
part of the program, even If it led to
his arrest.
Mr.. Hunters position in the whole
matter was set forth in a statement
over his signature. The writer de-
plored the outrage of the bomb, and
referred to it's author as fanatic who
has injured the cause of the unem-
ployed
Test Right of Free Speech
Mr.. Hunter said until he arrived at
the square he was ignorant of the
fact that speech-making had been for
hidden. He learned this of the police
and then determined to speak in order
that the right of peaceful assembly
and free speech might be tested in the
courts. He added that he had no
chance to be heard, for the police
Charged the crowd with incredible
brutality"
Mr.. Hunter described his own escape
from under horses hoofs; told how
he was dragged by officers from the
steps of a building from which he had
hoped to speak, and how what was in
tended as a peaceful assembly In fur
therance of aid for the unemployed
was broken up with a scene that he
thought could not be duplicated out
side of Russia"
This proved to be 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 were as act
i've in repudiating sympathy with the
outrage or knowledge of the perpetra-
tor.
Selig SiIverstein. the youth in whose
hands the bomb exploded as he was
about to hurl it at Capt. O'Reilly and
his squad of twenty men, was still
alive in Bellevue hospital tonight.
Though the explosion tore off his right
ndnu, temporarily Dliilutu anu
caused frightful bodily injuries, he
may survive. AS yet he cannot see, but
the sight of one eye may be restored
Seven men, arrested after the bomb
exploded, were arraigned in court to-
day. OF the number six called them
selves Russians One of them was an
American. The foreigners were held
in $1,000 bail each for further examina-
tion, while the American was held
without bail. They were charged with
taking part in a riot
The police today examined half
dozen persons, including H. YanofSky,
editor of Frei Arbeiter Stemme. All
declared they had advocated peace in
the adjustment of industrial disputes.
A 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,
all deploring the act of violence and all
taking the police to account.
Action Repudiated by Socialists
The Socialistic view of the matter is
best summed up by Robert Hunter,
who says:
"It is needless to say that every So
cialist deplores the outrage of yeSter-
day in Union square. The fanatic who
threw the bomb has not only injured
himself and threatened the lives of
others, but he has made it impossible
for the public to consider calmly the
two important questions that the
Socialists were attempting to bring to
the notice of the public.
1T is the opinion of well informed
persons that at least 100000 are now
unemployed in New York city. Most
of them have been without work for
three months at least This means
that many of them are facing starva-
tion. Various attempts have been
made to call the attention of the public
authorities TO this widespread misery.
"The Socialists feel the most effect
i've way of attracting public attention
to the subject was to have mass
meeting. This has been done ard is
being done in most cities of Europe.
There seemed no good reason why it
should not be done in New York city.
1t was my intention and that OF my
friends to discuss the problem of un-
employment, to state the facts as we
know them and to pass resolutions
urging the city and state authorities
to provide work.
"If the meeting had been allowed to
proceed peaceably. as they are allowed
in many other countries, there is no
reason why the gathering should not
have made profound impression and
materially aided the cause of the un-
employed"
The committee of the Socialist
party met before daylight today and
named a subcommittee of seven to
learn the motive. if possible. of Silver
stein None had ever heard OF the
bomb thrower and all regretted his act.
The Neighborhood Workers associa-
tion conposed Of all the charity and
sociological organizations in the city,
announced that a bill had been pre-
pared for Introduction in the legisla-