Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-07
COLONEL IN WORDY
WAR WITH G0MPERS
Discussion Of East St. Louis Riots
Precipitates Tumultuous
Demonstration.
BOTH MEN DEEPLY STIRRED
Outbreak Occurs at Mass-Meet-
ing in Honor of Russian Mis-
sion in New York.
BOTH MEN DEEPLY STIRRED
my Associated Pres..I

NEW YORK. July 6.-Denial by
Samuel Gor,pers, president OF tho Amer
lean Federation Of Labor. that trades
unions had had any share in the East
st. Louis riots. which was met by a
vehement dcnunciation by Theodore
Roosevelt OF the murder OF helpless
negroes precipitatcd tumultuous
demonstration at a mass-meeting held
In Carnegie Hall. here. tonight 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
vestieation?" the labor leader de.
manded
With these words he returned to his
seat Colonel Roosevelt strobe over to
his chair and exclaimed:
MIR. Gompers. why don't I accuse
afterwards? I'll answer now, when
murder is to be answered"
With that the Colonel brought down
on Mr.. Gompers's shoulders his open
left hand which he had raised above
his head. At this juncture many of the
men on the platform leaped to their
feet. and there was a storm Of Kisses,
cheers and ''boos" from all parts Of tho
house. When Mr.. Roosevelt could make
himself heard above the din he went
on:
II will go to any extreme to bring
justice to the laborins man, but when
there is murder I will put him down"
GOMPERs PUSHED BACK
INTO SEAT BY MEN NEAR HIM
when the former President had nm
ished. Mr.. Gompers. evidently deeply
stirred started to rise to make re-
joihder. 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
~ restore order. Several minutes
elapsed before it was possible to in
troduce Boris Bakhmetien, tho Rus
sian ambassador, and continue the
meeting. AS the excitement subsidized,
Mr. Roosevelt and Mr.. Gompers found
themselves sitting side by side
1t was at the close of an address by
Mr. Gompers that the Colonel was rec
oentzed by Mayor Mitchell. Mr.. Gompers
had declared that many laboring men
are in much the same position as Rus
SLAMS under the old regime He read
telegram he said he had received to-
night from the president of the Fed
Grafton of Labor of Illinois. This mes
sage purported to explain the origin
OF the East st. Louis riots. 1t asserted
that instead Of labor unions being re-
sponsible for them. they resulted from
employers enticing negroes from the
South to the city ito break the back
of labor"
There should be no apology for the
infamous brutalities committed on the
colored people of East St. Louis" de-
clared Mr.. Roosevelt, In beginning his
vigorous denunciation OF the riots.
Justice is not 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 helpless7
COLONEL URGES FULLEST
INVESTIGATION INTO MURDERS
I'm the past wo have listened to tho
same excuse from those in authority
in old Russia for tho fearful poeroms
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
for any ono else I caro- not a snap
head OF the labor unions of Illinois,
Let there be the fullest Investigation
into these murders"
II vas at this point that tho inter
ruption came from Mr.. Gompers. Mr..
Roosevelt already had departed q lit
tie earlier In the evening from the
text of his formal speech of welcome
to tho Russians to refer to the riots.
Before I greet the ENJOYS of the
new republic" he had said. II wish to
say a word to you in regard to some
thing that has recently occurred in
side our own boundaries.
Before we speak of justice to others
1t behooves us to do justice within
our own boundaries. I refer to tho
race riots in East st. Louis, a raco
riot for which. so far as we can SEQ,
there was no provocation and which
resulted in such appalling brutality as
to leave !. stain on tho American name
1T behoovas us to express our con-
CONTINUED on Second PaEa)