Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-07

NEW YORK. July 7.-Denial by Sam
uel Gompers. president of the Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor. that trades
unions had had any share in the East
St. Louis riots which was met by We
hement denunciation by Theodore
Roosevelt of the murder of helpless ne
Sroes. precipitated a tumultuous dem
onstration at a mass meeting held in
Carnegie Hall here last night in honor
of the Russian mission to the United
States
Mr.. Roosevelt was interrupted by Mr..
Gompers, who rose from his seat and
approached the former President.
why don't you accuse after an in
vestiSation?' the labor leader de-
mandcd
With these words he returned to his
seat. Col. Roosevelt strobe over to his
chair and exclaimed:
Mr.. Gompers. why don't I accuse aft
erwards? I'll answer now when muir
der is to be answered.
with that the colonel brought down
on Mr.. Gompers shoulder his open left
hand. which he had raised above his
mead. At this juncture many of the
men on the platform leaped to their feet
ana there was storm of Kisses, cheers
ana 'boos' from all parts of the house
When Mr.. Roosevelt could make him
self heard above the din, he went on:
Any Extreme to Bring Justice.
Justice to the laboring man, but when
there Is murder I will put him down"
When the former President had fin
lsned Mr.. Gompers. evidently deeply
stirred. started to rise to make re-
joinder. but was pushed back into his
seat by those who sat near him. while
Mayor Mitchell, who presided, pounded
vigorously with his gavel in an effort
TO restore order. Several minutes
elapsed before it was possible to intro
III xfoHc
AMBASSADOR. and continue the meeting.
AS the excitement subsidized Mr.. Roose.
welt and Mr.. Gompers found themselves
sitting side by side.
1t was at the close Of an address by
Mr.. Gompers that the colonel was
recognized by Mayor Mitchell MI
Gompers had declared that many labor
ing men are in much the same position
as russians under the old regime. and
read telegram he said he had receive
ed from the president of the Fedora ton
of Labor of Illinois, This message mr.
ported to explain the origin OF the
East st. Louis riots. It asserted that
instead of labor unions being respon-
slble for them they resulted from en-
ployers enticing negroes from the
south to the city "to break the back of
labor"
No Apology for Brutalit1es.
mere should be no apology for the
Infamous brutalities committed on the
colored people of East st. Louis" de-
clared Col. Roosevelt. In beginning his
vigorous denunciation of the riots.
Justice is not a mare phrase. 1t has
to be translated into action. How car
we praise Russia for doing justice to
all people when we must apologize fol-
doing murder to the helpless?
I'm the past we have listened to the
same excuse from those in authority ir
old Russia for the fearful pogrom.
on the Jews. I will do anything fol
the laboring man except that which i.
wrong. and that I won't do FOR him o,
for any one else. ! care not a snap o.
my finger for a telegram from, thu
head of the labor unions OF Illinois. Lee
there be the fullest investigation int,
these murders"
1t was at this point that the Interrupt
ton came from Mr.. Gompers. Mr.
Roosevelt already had departed a lit
tie earlier in the evening from tn,
text Of his formal speech of WELDON,
to the Russians to refer to the riots.
Before l greet the ENJOYS Of thu
new republic" he said. 81 wish t.
say a word to you in regard to some
! thing that has recently occurred in.
| side our own boundaries.
Behooves Us to Begin at Home.
Before we speak of justice to other.
| 1t behooves us to do justice within oui
| own boundaries. I refer to the rae,
| riots IN East St. Louis, race riot TO
| which. so far as we can see. there wal
no provocation, and which resulted I,
such appalling brutality as to leave I
stain on the American name.
TT behooves US to express our con
! demnation of acts that give the lie t,
] our words within the limits Of our owl