Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-07-28

No1 bEDA blLE, NE SA - ~
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF
FICIAL.
NEW YORK, July 19.-"Murder is
not debatable."
So Theodore Roosevelt concludes Il
letter OH the East ST. Louis riots in
reply to a communication from Victor
A. Olander, secretary of the Illinois
branch OF the American Federation
Of Labor.
So far as organized labor is con-
cerned Colonel Roosevelt declares his
unqualified belief in it, but he refuses
to subscribe to the doctrine that the
refusal of "the Negroes to organize or
strike is justification for their being
killed.
81 refuse" he says, Ito treat any in
dustrial conditions as warranting riot
and murder, and | condemn all per-
sons, whether representatives OF labor
or not, who attempt to palliate or eX-
cuse such crimes, or who fail to con-
denim them in clcar-cut and unequivo-
cal fashion"
Lawlcssncss, he holds, begets law
lcssness, citing as an example the eX-
pericnce of the Industrial Workers of
the World in Arizona, and it is the duty
OF the government to repress all such.
even when directed against such or
CARNATIONS as the l. W. W., which, he
says, has in effect been acting as an
ally Of Germany.
The colonel's letter follows:
II was not informed, in any way as
to these economic conditions which, 1t
Is alleged, led up to the riot, until
after Mr.Gompers' speech on July 6.
When on that evening l made my first
remarks on the riots, l supposed the
underlying cause to be racial, and
In my remarks [ made no allusion
whatever to organized labor, or in
deed, to labor at all, in connection
concerned wiz the riots,
Ut was 'St.s~s..-' anoooh ,,.hic,,
'..1t The ionuamental cause was alleg-
ed to be economic, and that organized
labor regarded itself as especially
with the riots.
Then my attention was called to
the newspapers Of July 4, which car
ricd an alleged statement by Michael
Whalcn, president OF the Central
Trades and Labor Council, of East st.
Louis. II this statement is correctly
reported, Mr.. Whalcn said: "rhe chief
objection to the Negroes Is that they
would not unioniZc and would not
strike"
Il hold with the utmost intensity
OF conviction that ii is absolutely i'm
possible Tor us to succeed along the
ines OF an orderly democracy, a de-
mocracy which shall be industrial "a
we'll as political, unless we treat the
repression OF crime, including crimes
81 violence, ana the inSiStence on
nlt ,S,
mcnt or law, as prime necessities.
l, CT courac, refuse, under any
conditions, to accept the fact that Ger
tam persons decline to uniOniZc and
strike as warranting their murder. or
as warranting any kind of violence
against them. But I go much further
than this. | will aid in every way in
my power to procure by governmental
as we'll as private action, the remedy
ing OF all the wrongs OF labor, and
III so acting l shall pay no heed to
any capltalistic opposition.
But | refuse to treat any indus
trlal conditions as warrantng riot
ana murder; and | condemn all pcr-
sons, whether representatives of or
canned labor or not, who attcmDt to
palllatc or excuse such crimes, or who
lall TO condemn them in clcar-cut and
uncQuivocal fashion.
heartily believe in organized Ia
oor' just as, and even more than, I be-
hcFc In organized capital | am very
proud OF being an honorary member
Oh one labor organization, but I will
10 more condonc crime or violence Nv
Il TABOR organization or by working
men than | will condonc crime or
"fongdolng by corporation or by
capitalists. A square deal for every
man! That is the only safe motto for
the United States.
This is a democracy, q government
by the people, and the people have su.
prcme power if they choose to exercise
II. ire people can get Justice peace.
abiy, If they really desire it; and if
they 40 not desire it enough to show
,hc wisdom, patience and cool-headed
determination necessary in order To
get 1t peaceably, through the ORDERLY
process of law, then they haven't
Tue slghtest excuse for trying to get
IL by riot and murder
All inc governmental authorities
concerned in the East st. Louis Sit.
uatlon should have taken notice of
tnat situation in advance, and should
take notice of it now. The national
government, and all local government
al authorities in places where such q
situation is likely to arise, should
take notice now, and act now. Nine.
tcnths Of wisdom is being wise in
time. "' !"
IF there has been improper solicita.
t'on OF Negroes to come to Dast ST.
LOUIS or improper housing and work
ing conditions among them after thew
nave come, or an improperly low wage
scale or if anything else improper has
been done by the capitalists and EN-.
ployers, so that injustice has been
done the working men then it was the
bounden duty, and is now the bound
en- duty. OF the government author
11les to remedy the wrong and see jus.