The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-07-03

policy of hindering war moves in en-
Jenny nations by giving hostile govern
ments plenty to worry about at home
Searching for Bodies.
EAST ST, LOUIS, ILL.,, July 3.-The
death toll of the race war was still
estimated at 100 this noon, all but
three of whom are negroes.
| Officials, however, admitted their
figures are based on reports from diff
ferent districts, many Of which may
be conflicting. The exact number OF
dead may never be known, as many
bodies were thrown in streams and
others were burned.
Soldiers and volunteer citizens
were searching for bodies in the
ruins Of negro tenements and store
buildings covering over sixteen
blocks-the result of number of
incendiary fires.
The city has been practically under
martial law since the arrival of the
first militia man last night, but re-
sponsible citizens today asked that
the governor formally take charge of
the city.
Absurd Suspicious.
EAST ST. LOUIS, ILL.,, July s.-Sus-
picions that the East st. Louis riots
were caused by German agents are alb
'solutely absurd, Chief Of Police Ran
som Payne said this afternoon, when
ne was shown a Washington dispatch
saying that government agents had
started an investigation to ascertain
whether Teuton workers had a hand
In last nights rioting,
Riot This Afternoon.
/. EAST ST. LOUIS, ILL.,, July "a
small mob shot three negroes and set
several negro houses on fire shortly
after noon. Militiamen hurried to the
scene, but when they arrived the mob
had disappeared.
Punishment Demanded.
NEW YORK, July 3-"Swift and Sc
we're punishment" for the mobs which
wiped out the negro section Of East
st. Louis and burned their property,
was demanded by the socialist leader,
William English Walling In a tele-
gram to President Wilson today.
Such punishment is necessary, Wall
ing said, because "of the dangerous
effect of race riots in America on
revolutionary Russia, South America
and Japan"
Walling characterized the uprising
as partly the result of German agents
efforts to stir up race war to keep
American troops at home and partly
the result of an attempt by the
southern states to keep the negro I'M
der their thumb. Speaking as a mem
Der Of the executive committee of
the national movement for the adj
vancement for colored people, he said
"savages at East st. Louis deliberate
ly prepared this riot for whoNs
month. Without military excuse, 1t
was worse therefore than anything
the Germans did in Bslgium and to
be compared only to the Jewish mas
sacres under. the car.
THE pretext of labor invasion is In
valid. There is no over supply of
labor anywhere in the country today.
''The riot was caused by the efforts
of the anti-negro element OF the
south to check the exodus of colored
labor which promised to force the
south to suspend the reign of terror
which has prevailed for half century
and to give negroes better pay and
treat them like human beings.
1.-THE reign Of terror has passed
from the south to the north, doubt
less fostered by German spies. The
German plot to prevent CONSUMPTION
of negroes and keep large sections OF
American troops in America may sue |
coed.
1.-THE international and military
situation calls for immediate action |
There must be swift and severe pun
ishment for the mob. But this will
not suffice. There should be an i'm. |
mediate presidential proclamation in |
the pree.3t military exigency that |
full mili..4ry power of the nation will |
be used in the defense OF the lives and