Norwich bulletin., 1917-07-07
COL. ROOSEVELT MAKES
 A DISPLAY OF TEMPER
When Interrupted by Samuel Gompers at Reception to Russian Museum in
 New York-The Colonel Was Kissed

New York. July 6.-Denia1 byt 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 hy a vehement denunciation by Theodore Roosevelt of the murder of helpless negroes, precipitated tumultous demonstrat ton at q mass meeting held in Carnegie Hall here in honor of the Russian mission to the United States.
 Mir Roosevelt was interrupted by MT. Gcmpers, who rose from his seat and approached the former president. Why don't you accuse after an in vestigation?" the labor leader de- manded.
 With these words he returned to his seat. Colonel Roosevelt strode over to his chair and exclaimed:
 "Mr. Gompers, why don't I accuse afterwards? I'll answer now when murder is to be answered."
 Storm of Kisses.
 With that the Colonel brought down on MT. Gompers' shoulder his open left hand which he had raised above his head. At this juncture many of the men on the platform leaped to misses. cheers s @ and Soos Boo from fsonn ali ii parts of the house. When Mir Roose- welt could make himself heard he went on
 "I will go to any extreme to bring justice to the laboring man, but when there IS murder l will put him down."
 Gompers Deeply Stirred.
 When the former president had fin- ished, Mir. Gompers, evidently deeply stirred, started to rise to make reiOin- der but was pushed back into his seat by those who sat near him while Mayor Mitchell who presided, pounded with his gavel in an effort to restore order. Several minutes elapsed before it was possible to introduce Boris Bak- hmetieff, the Russian am bassa dor and continue the meeting. As the excite ment subsided MT. Roosevelt and MT Gompers found themselves sitting side by side.
 Gompers Defended Labor Unions.
 It was at the close of an address by MT. Gompers that the colonel was recognized by Mayor Mitchell MT Gompers had declared that many la boring men are in much the same po- Sltion as Russians under the old re- gime, read a telegram he said he had received tonight from the president of the Federation of Labor of Illinois. This message purpOrted to explain the origin of the East St Louis riots <r being responsible for them they re- suited from employers enticing ne- groes from the south to the city "to break the back of labor"
 Roosevelt Replies.
 There should be no apology for the
 
 colored people of East St Louis." de- clared Colonel Roosevelt, in beginning his vigorous denGnciation of the riots. Justice is not a mere phrase. It has to be translated into action. How can we praise Russia for doing justice to all people when we must apologize for doing murder to the helpless?
 Tn the past we have listened to the same excuse from those in authority in old Russia for the fearful pogroms on the Jews. I will do anything for the laboring man except that which is wrong and that I won't do for him or anyone else I care not a snap of my finger for a telegram from the head of the labor unions of Illinois. Let there be the fullest investigation into these murders"
 Gompers Interrupted.
 It was at this point that the inter ruption came from MT Gompers. MT Roosevelt already had departed a lit tie earlier in the evening from the | text of his formal speech of welcome l to the Russians to refer to the riots. |
 Before I greet the envoys of the l new republic" he had said 'I wish | 10 say word to you in regard to | that has recently occurred | inside our own boundaries Before re speak of justice to others |
 hehooves us to do justice within our 1 --- b~aAndax1as- 1 refer tn thA -----~