The Washington times., 1916-04-11
|DENY INSULT TO
FLAG BY SPEAKER
Labor Orator Declares His
Sunday Speech Was Delhi
erateIy Misquoted.

NEW YORK. April 11.-Persons who
were at the meeting of the Labor
Forum In Washington Irving High
School on Sunday night do not agree
with some of the newspaper reporters
In their account of what James II.
Maurer said In his speech. Mr.. Maurer.
who is president of the Pennsylvania
State Federation OF Labor. Is alleged
to have said: ITO hell with the Stars
and Stripes"
Mayor Mitchell suggested that crini-
nal proceedings be brought against Mr..
Maurer II II was found that he had
really shouted ITO hell with the Stars
and Stripes" In his speech
The mayor angered by The thought
that public, schools were being used
liam @. Wilcox. president OF the board
OF education, TO make an investigation:
He requested Mr.. wilcox u he found
that Mr.. Maurer had been quoted cor
rectly to report the matter TO the DIS
trict attorney for prosecution.
Mr.. Maurer Is now filling his second
term as the only socialist State assem-
blyman In Pennsylvania.
Maurer said he was deliberately mis-
quoted.
The OFFICIALS OF the Labor Forum
issued this statement concerning the re-
Mr.. Maurer illustrated the patriot
ism OF the State constabulary OF Peon-
sylvania b. citing an instance which he
said he could prove! certain mining
man had performed heroic service as a
soldier for which he was rewarded by
gold medal from Congress. After the
war this worker went back to work In
the mines of Pennsylvania. He was a
member OF the Miners Union. He died
The Spanish War Veterans and the
Patriotic Sons of America took It upon
themselves to bury him with patriotic
ceremony. The mine workers obtained
q permit from the Judge to conduct a
ceremonial march. On the left OF the
Spa nish- American War Veterans, carry
ing an American Has, on the other side
OF the hearse marched the delegatlon
from the Patriotic Sons OF America
also carrying fiag and draped oyer
the coffin was an American flag. The
mine workers likewise carried the Stars
anj Stripes.
"The procession was approaching the
cemctory when a body Of mounted con-
FtaLulary cSmc down the road from an
opposite direction. The captain of the
constabulary called to this procession to
halt.
ers pulled out the permit from Jhe
Judge which gave them the right to
march. Mr. Maurer then said that the
captain Of the cNnRt1tularly recognized
he was unaDle TO carry ont MS purpose
and angrlv remarked that: Well, you
are able To dc II this time. but YOU will
never got nway with II again. Furl
those flags; down with them!' To the
protest on the rHrt or the two patriotic
todies that they were the Stars and
Stripes. the captain said: To hell with
the Stars and Stripes"
AT this point Mr.. Mau-er showed
some OF the indir nation of the spirit OF
I1IG and remarked: Here YOU have pa
trlOts for you on the part of tho con-
stabularly who represent tho employing
class OF tho State of Pennsylvania. II
Is thesf vnrv reoplO that talk 10 Won
about Patriotism and rub the American
nar IN against vo'Ir nose and demand
that YOU he pntriotic when. on the other
hand thnv allow tho const1b llary To
perform an act lust like 7 described and
me- protest II ever raised. Do YOU know
when those prcnarodncss FrcakS aRk me
whore my pntriotism stands. IN the face
cff the story that 7 inst told Won. feel
IKE telling them tC 70 10 hell""
This .ended Mr. MauUer's particular
reference 70 tho Stars and StrlneS ana
was eNRctlv rs n rumher OF us remem-
her. tho eHnct rclRtion Of one statement
tn nnothnr, which cnmnIeted the sense
~ hia remarks nnd thr noirt of the
truth he wished tr establish"