Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-07-28
T. R. CONDEMNS THE
RACE RIOTS IN EAST
SAINT LOUIS
LABOR LEADERS REMARK is
REBUKED BY THE COLONEL.
EAST ST. LOUIS CRIME DENOUNC.
ED BY ROOSEVELT; MURDER
NOT DEBATABLE, HE SAYSfTO
AMERICAN, FEDERATION OF
FJCIAL.

NEW YORK, July 19.-"Murder Is
no: debatable."
So Theodore Roosevelt concludes q
letter on 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.
II 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 OK.
cuse such crimes, or who fail to con-
denim them in clear-cut and unequivo.
cal fashion,"
Lawlessness, he holds, begets law
leosness, citing as an example the eX-
perience 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 rs an
ally Of Germany.
The colonel's letter follows:
Il 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 G.
When on that evening made my first
remarks on the riots, I supposed the
underlying cause to be racial, and
In my remarks I ra!e no allusion
whatever to organized labor, or in
deed, to labor at all, In connection
] concerned with the riots,
LIT was 40 aooes,, ,v,,,,ch
q Il, f.fs StSt.!t iauNiB l,.iiu
t$i 81 tune ainental cause was alieg-5
! ed to be economic, and that organized
lanor regarded itself as especially
with the riots.
Then my attention was called to
the newspapers of July 4, which car
ried an alleged statement by Michael
Whalen, 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 unioniZe and would not
strike"
Il hold with the utmost intensity
or conviction that 1t is absolutely i'm
possible FOR us to succeed along the
INES or an orderly democracy, a de.
mocacy which shall be industrial as
well as political, unless we treat tho
repression OF crime, including crimes
OF VIOLENCE, and the insistence on
justice obtained through the enforce
mcnt OF law, as prime necessities.
or course, refuse, under any
conditions, to accept the fact that GER
tain persons decline to unionize and
strike as warranting their murder, or
as warranting any kind of violence
against them. But so much further
than this. l will aid in every way in
my power to procure by governmental
as we'll as private action, the remedy
ing or all the wrongs Of labor, and
III SO acting l shall pay no heed to
any capltalistic opposition.
But l refuse to treat any indus
trlal conditions as warranting riot
and murder; and l condemn all per-
sons, whether representatives Of Or
canned labor or not, who attempt to
palllate or excuse such crimes, or who
lall 10 condemn them in clear-cut and
unequivocal fashion.
heartily believe in organized Ia
Dor, Just as, and even more than, be-
he'e In organized capital. I am very
proud OF being an honorary member
Oh one labor organization, but 1 will
no more "ondone crime or violence by
laoa. oisaniZation or by working
men than | VII condone crime or
wrongdoing by a corporation or Nv
capitalists. A SQUARE deal for every
man! That is u @ only safe motto for
the United States.
lh1s is democracy, a government
by the people, and the people have su-
preme power if they choose to exercise
IT, me people can get justice peace-
ANY, II they really desire it: and If
they 40 not desire it enough to show
inc wisdom, patience and cool-headed
determination necessary in order 10
get III peaceably, through the orderly
process OF law, then they haven't
the slightest excuse for trying to get
1T by riot and murder.
All the governmental authorities
concerned in the East st. Louis sit-
uation should have taken notice of
that SITUATION in advance, and shonld
Jake hotlce or 1t 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.
.ehths or wisdom is being wise in
time. 'o ~
=. III there has been improper solicita.
" ZION 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 ii anything else improper has
been done by the capitalists and en-.
ployers, so that injustice has been
done the working men then 1t was the
bounden duty, and is now the bound
en- duty, Of the government author
rules to remedy the wrong and see JUS