Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-09-13
ROOSEVELT SCORES
COLUMBUS STRIKERS
FOR LAWLESSNESS
Regular Troops Are Assigned
by President Taft to Guard
Col. Roosevelt During His
Stay in City


riots which kept Columbus in a state OF
disorder for weeks. ex-President Roose-
welt in a speech here denounced in
strongest terms. acts OF lawlessness and
men who committed them.
The state capital Is still being guard
ed ~ militia. and Colonel Roosevelt,
himself. wss guarded by United States
troops from the Columbus barracks. As
the strike is still on. chairman Of the
Roosevelt reception committee asked
President Taft TO assign the regular
troops 20 guard the ex-president today
and the president consented.
Colonel Roosevelt was met at the sta
tion by the regulars and state militia
and committees representing the cham
ber OF commerce and citizens Of the city.
He proceeded at the head OF a parade
TO the park. half a mile from the sta
ton where he delivered his speech.
DIDN'T WANT TO CONE.
Mayor George s. Marshall occupied a
seat on the platform from which Colonel
Roosevelt spoke.
II has been announcerd that after to-
day Governor Harmon would withdraw
his control Of the situation here, and
the municipal government, under Mayor
Marshall. will have full charge
Colonel Roosevelt's speech was as fol-
lows;
Before I came 10 Ohio 1. of course.
knew OF the lamentable condition OF
things which had continued for so many
weeks here at Columbus. the state capt.
tai. As soon as / entered Ohio. and ever
since. I have from time TO time been
addressed by letter and even personally
by both sides. asking me TO come to CO.
lumbus and speak. I will say frankly
that did not like to come here, but
=
come I notice I have been advertised
TO speak on the subject Of law and or
der and so / shall. But shall also speak
on justice
The hrst requisite to the establish
nent OF justice is the establishment Of
law and order, and woe TO the man
public oficisl or private citizen, who
fails 10 realize this fact. If we stop
content evith the mere establishment OF
law and order. we fail to do our further
duty. which is by thorough going inves-
tigation 10 md out whether justice has
been denied and injustice committed.
ment TO right any wrong that has been
done.
Il do not and cannot undertake 20
say what the exact facts in detail are,
for thoroughly reputable citizens, writ
ing to me on behalf Of the two sides.
natly contradict one another. But there
are certain broad principles directly ap-
pliable 10 your present situation. There
IS no question whatever that many acts
OF lawless violence have been commit
ted. including bomb throwing and the
use OF that weapon OF the worst the
mesncSt. the bexest and most cowardly
type OF assassins-dynamite-
Now the first duty Of the government
authorities. high and low. from top TO
bottom. is to put an end to the reign
OF violence and disorder. to check and
punish every crime OF brutality and
lawiessness- No excuse can be accepted
for any government oficiaI who fails TO
DO his duty In this regard, and no ex-
euse can be accepted for any private
citizen who fails rot merely passively
but actively 20 Join with the authorities
in helping 10 put an end TO such an in
toierzble condition II is especially to
the interest 81 the wage workers that
law and order should be established. and
they should be the first to join effective
~ in the movement.
Let the employees remember that IL
may well be to the interest OF some OF
their leaders for political or other rea-
sons. to have lawlessness and disorder
continue. but that IL is pre-eminently
against the interest Of the workingmen
themselves.
CAUSES OF STRIKE.
Then your duty has not ended. It has
only begun. Then you will have OBJ
tanned law and order, but you are dere-
lict IN your duty unless you treat this
merely as the first. although a necessary
and all-impOrtant step In obtaining jus
tioe. In any big strike not only the en-
ployes and employers are parties in in
terest. but the public is. too. Especial
L. L. - e. 81 H..
corporations.
1t is not merely your duty, but your
right. you people of Columbus. you peo-
pie OF Ohio. TO insist on knowing all
tie facts that led UP to and brought on
this strike. and pass judgment upon IL,
treating any refusal TO give the facts
as confession OF guilt II has been al
legged TO me that the trouble began be-
cause OF dismissal by the company Of
some OF its employees for asking higher
wages. II is also alleged that IT has
continued because of the open OF covert
acts on part OF the corporation to pre-
vent the formation OF a union among the
employees. Both allegations are denied.
You should. get authoritative informa-
tion as to whether they are true or false.
DISMISSAL AN INFAMY
of course. to dismiss men for asking
for an increase Of wages would be such
an infamy that / can hardly believe IL
occurred. but you should find out def
niteIy. To dismiss men for membership
IN. OF for proposing TO join a union,
would be almost as bad. The union is
Just as much a necessity of our modern
industrial system as the corporation it
self Both must obey the law. but each
Is a necessity.
Il am an honorary member of q union
myself II ! we're a wage worker, en-
gagged in manual labor ! should certain
" Join the union Union men have no
right TO force other wage workers into
the union
But is is equally an outrage for the
employer to discriminate against the IN
ions and 10 fail to work with them in
q spirit Of cordial good faith on both
sides. Moreover. IL your present arbitra-
ton law Is not sufficiently stringent,
and II e is unconstitutional. amend the
constitution But do not wait TO remedy
any present wrongs until the constitu-
ton is amended.
The state and the municipality have
power to force any public service cor
poration TO do what is right IL they
choose to exercise that power. and II is
the business Of the people to see that
they so choose
National Surgical Institute