The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-07
Colonel vigorously DenOunces
East st. Louis Race Carnage.
GOmpers Considered 1t Thrust
at Labor Organizations.
HOT RETORTS BEFORE CROWD
"ShOuId Be No Apologies for In
famous BrutaIities"-T. X.
UpshOt Came at Reception in
n. Y. for Russian Enjoys.

New York. Julv denial by Sam
uel Gompers, president of the AMER
can Federation of Labor, that traces
unions had had any share in the East
ct Louis riots was met by vehement
denunciaticn of the murder OF help-
less negroes, by Theodore Roosevelt
and precipitated a tumultuous demon
stration at a mass meeting held IN
Carnegie hall here last night, in honor
of the Russian mission to the United
States. , -,
Mr. Roosevelt was interrupted by
Mir. Gompers, who rose from ms seat
and approached the former preslue ~,
why don't you accuse after an m
vestigation?" the labor leader de-
manded. -.
With these words he returned to his
seat Roosevelt strobe over 10 MS
chair and exclaimed:
Roosevelt Answers Gompers.
aNfr c;ohipers. why don't I accuse
Afterwards? I'll answer now Wheh
murder is to be answered.
with that the colonel brought down
on Mr.. Gompers shoulder his open
1eft hand. which he had raised above
his head. At this juncture' many OF
the men on the platform leaped 10
their feet and there was storm OF
Kisses, cheers and "boos from az
parts of the house. When KooseVelI
could make himself heard ABOVE tile
din he went on.
ttstice to the laboring man, but When
there is murder l will put MN uoWn.
Whom the former president had mn
ished. Mr.. Gompers, evidently deeply
stirred started to rise to make RECON-
der hut was pushed back into MS seat
nv those who sat near him, Wnlle
Mavor Mitchell, who presided. pounded
vigorously with his gaVel, IN an Ell
fort to restore order several mn IN nu !'s
elaDsed before it was possible to IN
troduce Boris Bakhmetieff, the Rus-
sian ambassador, and continue the
As the excitement subsidized, Mr.:
Roosevelt and Mr.. Gompers tounu
themselves sitting side by side.
RIames Employers Not Laborcrs.
IT was at the close of an address by
AR Gompers that the colonel was rec
ognized by Mayor Mitchell. MT
Gompsrs had declared that many laI-
orfng men are in much the same posi-
tion as Russians under the old regime,
and read a telegram he said ne had
received from the president OF the
Federation of Labor of Illinois. rms
message purported to explain the ne
origin of the East St. Louis riots. II
asserted that instead of labor unions
being responsible for them, they re-
suited from employers entclng
negroes from the south to the city to
break the back of labor"
.There should be no apology Tor the
infamous DruldllLleS COAllllAil1SN
colored people of East st. Louis, de-
eIared Mr. Roosevelt, in beginning MS
I,ioorous denunciation of the riots.
Justice is not a mere phrase. 1t mas
~ be translated into action. How
can we praise Russia for doing JUS
rice to all people when we must
apologize for doing murder to the
helpless?
an the past we have listened to the
same excuse from those in authority
in old Russia for the fearful pogroms
on the Jews. 1 will do anything for
the laboring man except that which is
wrong and that 1 won't do for him OF
for anyone else. 1 care not snap OF
nv finger for a telegram from the
head of the labor unions of Illinois
Let there be the fullest Investigations
into these murders"
n. r. Departs From Set Speech.
II was at this point that the inter
ruption came from Mr.. Gompers. Mr.
Roosevelt already had departed
little earlier in the evening from the
text of his formal speech of welcome
to the Russians to refer to the riots
"Before 1 greet the ENJOYS of tbs
new republic" he had said. Il WISH
TO say q word to you in regard Il
something that has recently occurred
inside our own boundaries.
Before we speak of justice to 9th
ers. it behooves us to do justice with
in our own boundaries. refer to the
race riots in East st. Louis, race rio
for which. so far as we can see, there