Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-07-14

lean name. There was no justihca
tion for the riots, he said, they were
just plain murder.
Il demand" he said ''that the
Government representatives put down
violence with ruthless firmness,
whether 1t is OF white against black
or black against white. Before we
can help others in drawing the beam
from their eyes let us draw out the
beam that is in our own eyes. The
npcst dangerous form >of sentimental
debauch is to give expression to good
wishes In behalf of virtue somewhere
else when you do not dare to enforce
decency In your own province.
so much," chuckled the Colonel
for this brief eulogy of my fellow
citizens"
All this was cheered, every SEN
tence of 1t The Colonel then read
this typewriter speech.
GoMPER'S EXPLANATION.
The next speaker was Mr.. Gompers.
l should like to expain about
East st. Louis" he said, after prais-
ing everything else the Colonel had
said, Il wish l had with me a tele.
gram l received tonight from the sec.
rotary OF the Illinois Federation of
Labor. 1t explains the whole situa-
ton. Not only labor men, but the
Chamber OF Commerce warned those
who were Turing colored men from
the South to undermine the workers
OF East. st. Louis. Hundreds Of thou
sands were brought in and there
was no place for them to- lay their
heads. Luring them there was no
more than a. working of the same
brutal, tyrannical forces that existed
III old Russia. There is altogether
LOO much injustice prevailing in free
America. (Groans and hisses). but
there is larger percentage of free
dom and justice than in any other
country a-
Mr.. Gompers then told why the
American Federation of Labor had not
looked with favor on the calling Of
early peace conferences, saying the
agitation to that end was either the
result of German propaganda or OF
neutrals fearful of their own exist
encc. He said the imam power and
the wealth power Of America was
pledged to tho Allies to the end"
and that he himself had been con-
verified from pacifism to the realiza-
ton that We have got to fight; we
can't help ourselves"
Except for the kissing at the point
indicated, Mr.. Gompers's speech was
hailed with approval. The Mayor
stepped forward and was about 20
Introduce Prof. Bakhimetieff when
Col. Roosevelt, who had been fidget.
ing while Mr.. GomEers was lex
planning" the riots, darted from his
chair .
May say another word" he said,
waving programme In his right
hand and obviously boiling with sup
pressed feeling.
Il am not willing" he went on,
biting off each word as if 1t we're
soft nosed bullet, that a meeting
called TO commemorate the birth of
IA democracy in Russia Shall oven
seem to have given any approval or
accepted any apology for the brutal
infamy imposed on Negroes or col.
ored men, ,
Most of the audience sprang to Its
feet, yelling for the Colonel.
SHAKES FIST AT GOMpERs.
Justice" he continued, "is not
merely words. 1t Is to be translated
into living acts, and how can we
praise the people Of Russia II we by
explanation, silence or evasion apol-
ogtze for numbering the helpless
(Cheers.) In the past I have lis
tened to the same form of excuse
from the Russian autocracy for the
programs inflicted on the Jews.
Snail we by silence acquisce in this
amazing apology for the murder Of
men, women and children in our own
country?"
There was noise all over the hall,
but 1t was all in the Colonel's favor.
Hitting the speakers table with his
list after every word, he said:
TN do everything for the labor
ing man except that Which Is wrong,
and that 1 will not do for any man
or cause. l care not q snap of my
iinger"-here the Colonel walked
over to Mr.. Gompers and shook his
INST within foot Of the Gompers
nose-"for telegram from the head
OF the strongest labor union In I'LL.
nols. This thing took place in a
Northern State, where the whites
c"tnnmber the Negroes twenty to
one, and II in that city white men
cannot protect their rights by their
votes against an Insignificant minor
ity and have to murder women and
children, then the State that sent
Abraham Lincoln to the Presidency
must bow its head In shame"
Col. Roosevelt still stood over Mr..
Gompers pointing his forefnger, then
shaking his fist and talking right at
the labor president so everybody could
hear. 1t was at this point that the
cries Answer him, ;,..swer hint"
began, and Mr.. Gompers, half rising