The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-09-06
CRANK CALLS LIAR
At ROOSEVELT.
Former President Grabs Arm Of Man
Who Yells People Are Paying
For Western Tour.

1
| Fighting his way through the crowd
the man reached the short flight OF
stairs leading to the speakers stand.
He mounted the steps and stopped
when he reached the top. Standing
about six feet from Col. Roosevelt,
he called out once more:
| II have a question to ask you.
Roosevelt"
The men and women on the stand
grew silent. Col. Roosevelt turned
man shouted:
Il want to know who Ia paying the
expenses OF this trip Of yours about
the country"
The question angered Col. Roosevelt
and his face showed 1t. He advanced
step toward his interrogation and
shot back his answer.
II consider that to be an imperti-
nent question" he said. However,
have no objection telling YOU" he ad-
ded, that the expenses OF the party
are being paid by the magazine Of
which am one of the editors"
You ne," the man shouted so loud
ly that hundreds OF persons in the
crowd could hear him.
AS he spoke the words Col. Roose-
welt stepped forward quickly and
seized his arm just above the elbow.
He explained later that he did not
know who the man was or what his
intentions were, and that he had TAX
en- hold of his arm as q measure OF
self-protection. He pushed the arm
forward, turning the man half around
so that he was powerless to use the
arm. II was an old trick Of self-de-
tense which he had learned years ago,
the colonel said.
His vigorous action did not deter
the man from finishing what he had
to say. He shouted out:
Your expenses are being paid by
the people Of the United States"
Although Col Roosevelt was the
first to act, others ran quickly to as
sist him, and even before the man had
finished his remarks two men seized
him. The colonel did not release his
grip until the stranger was moving
rapidly from tn stAud. He was eject
ed from the piat96rm and was swal-
lowed up In the excited crowd.
SO far as 1t known, there was no
cause Tor the alarm felt by those who
were standing close to Col. Roosevelt,
but the story Of the incident spread
quickly throumgh the crowd and caus-
ed considerable excitement.
Col Roosevelt managed to get to
his automobile and was driven rapidly
away.
In telling of the incident later the
colonel said that he had no idea who
the stranger was.
Members OF the labor organiza-
tons here came to me and told me
that they did not know him." he said.
They said that he had come from
out of town"
COL Roosevelt's speech here fol-
lows:
believe in the principle Of organ
ICED labor, and In the practice or col
lective bargaining. not merely as de.
as something which has been demon
strated to be essential in the long run
to their permanent progress.
This does not mean that l unequivo-
cally indorse any or all practices that
labor organizations may happen TO
adopt. or any or all principles that
they may choose to enunciate. Labor
organizations have the weaknesses and
defects common to all other forms OF
human organizations. Sometimes they
act very well, and sometimes they act
very badly; and am for them whom
they act well, and l am against them
when they act badly. l believe that
their existence is a necessity: believe
that their aims and purposes are gen.
orally good; and 1 believe that all OF
them have occasionally made mistakes,
and that some OF them have been
guilty OF wrong doing: Just insofar
as they are strong and enective they
tempt designing men who seek to con-
troll them for their own interests. and
stimulate the desires of ambitious
leaders who may be clever. crooked
- 49,. T. tut.
airy and foolish. In. other words. In
treating OF labor unions. as In treat
ing of corporations, or OF humanity
generally. we will do well to remem-
Der Abraham Lincoln's saying that
there Is a deal Of human nature In
mankind" Whether In a man or In
an organized body OF men. the power
to do good means that such power may
as the power grows, so IL becomes
steadily more important that II should
be handled Alright. Just In proportion
as In it's proper function power Is i'm
portant to social progress. so in its
Improper function IL becomes fraught
with social disaster
Where men and women are worked
under harsh and intolerable conditions,
and can secure no relief without a
strike or. indeed. where the strike Is
clearly undertaken for things which
as n last resort--the public sympathy
will favor the wage-workers; but IL
will not favor them unless such con-
ditions as these are fulfilled. and II will
condemn them II they resort TO law
less violence. Therefore II In becom-
ing more than ever Important that the
labor movement should combine steady,
far-seeing leadership with discipline
and control in It's ranks. Dishonest
leadership Is curse anywhere In
American life. and nowhere Is IL
greater curse than In the labor move
ment.
OF the other countries in matters af-
fecting working people. Practically all
civilized countries have. for more than
n decade, prohibited by the strictest
regulations the poisonous match In
dustrv yet we had not done ANYTHING
AT ali until very recently TO protect
the laborers against this horrible
an Investigation n year ago into TINS
industry, which showed condition or
things unspeakahiv shocking and re-
Voting Legislation 10 prevent these
abuses was introduced In congress.
which was not passed Since then tho
companies IN fault have ostenta Gou-lv
announced that they have done awav
wfth the objectionable conditions 7
hove so: hut whether thew have or not.
. law should he passed IN stringent
fo--u 20 prevent any possible back
Sliding
so n II In the matter OF iriuries 20
EMPLOYERS IN what IL called EN-
nlovers' UahiHtv" legislation other W.
dustr'si Countries have accented the
49, monetary burden OF its human sac-
rifces and that the ernlovs who vs.
injured shall have fixed and DEFINITE
sum