New Britain herald., 1917-07-07
Former President Shakes Fist at Labor Head in Im- promptu Debate Over East St. Louis Riots.

dent sincerity, the greeting of New York city to the Russian War Mis- sion yesterday ended In hostilities between Col. Theodore Roosevelt and Samuel Gompers. president of the American Federation of Labor.
 Before an audience that filled Car neEie Hall to overf1owing, at the mass meeting which marked the end of the days program, these two men for a few minutes went at each other in A way that caused the eyes of the visitors to open in astonishment the crowd to gasp. then takes sides and finally become thoroughly disorderly. and the members of the mayors re- ception committee to look very much embarrassed.
 The end of what would otherwise have been perfect day was saved by Mayor Mitchell who succeeded in getting order out of chaos after a little while and by reminding the audience that the purpose of the gathering was the welcoming of the Russians, enabling the new Russian am baseAdor to make the speech he had prepared, while MT. Roosevelt and MT. Gompers sitting just behind him, glared at each other
 When the meeting was over friends had to keep the two men apart. The colonel seemed the more eager for meeting. Said he, as Police In- spectors Myers and Dillon escorted him to his automobile.
 T wish ] could get my hands on him." And then again: II can scarcely keep my hands off him!"
 He seemed anxious to go back from the Fifty-sixth street entrance look ing for MT. Gompers. Theodore Rousseau and others. however, pre- vented this, and the colonel drove away. Then Mir. Gompers. much more cool, came out with Hugh Frayne and Timothy Healy.
 Teddy" Off His Manuscript.
 The mayor had introduced Mir. Roosevelt as the chief speaker with glowing phrases and the crowd had yelled for Teddy" as usual. With his manuscript in his hand the Colonel had at once departed from his pre- pared text and brought in the recent race riots in East St. Louis. He said that before this country began to talk of liberty and justice to others it should see that everything was i'll
 
 much he said at Forest Hills on July 4. He touched on the appalling brutality" of the East St. Louis affair and said that to let such things go unpunished would leave stain on the name of America.
 "It behooves us to express our deep condemnation of those acts that give the lie to our own words," he said. and he called on the government to put a stop to murder first"
 Before we congratulate others on having drawn the mote from their eye" he said. i've should see that the beam has been withdrawn from our own eye. So much for this brief eulogy of my fellow citizens, now for the business of the evening""
 When Mir. Roosevelt had concluded his prepared speech the mayor intro duced Mr Gompers. and the latter told little story to the effect that had he his own way he would say "Them's my sentiments and sit down. Then he turned at once to the East St. Louis matter and said he would yield to i,one in expressing de- testatiop of acts of violence.
 Gumpers Explains Labors Side.
 T wish I had brought with me-" he went on, "a telegram l received just this evening from the Secretary of the Federation of Labor in H. linois explaining the whole matter. It was not only the labor men in East St. Louis, but q member of the Cham Der of Commerce there as we'll. who warned those who were bringing the colored men from the South, that they were to be brought there to undermine the white workers. Yet thousands were brought in and had not a place in which to lay their heads. The whole thing was an ex- ercise of tyrannic power like that which existed in old Russia
 There was prolonged applause at this and Colonel Roosevelt looked thoughtful MT. Gompers went back to the Declaration of Independence said that all the ideals of America had not been realized by any means and that there is too much injustice here" and then slowly worked to the war and his congratulations to the warmly applauded and up to the mo- ment he sat down the peace had not been disturbed.
 But when Mayor Mitchell rose tc present Am hassador Bakhm etieff Colonel Roosevelt jumped up and de ternainedly stalked toward the front of the platform.
 "Mr Mayor, may I say one word ?' ne asked.
 "Colonel Roosevelt wants to say . word more" said the mayor and the crowd cheered. Waiting for silence he colonel speaking through his teeth az usual when desiring to be emphatic, said
 T am not willing that a meeting called to commemorate the birth O. democracy in Russia shall even seen to have expressed or to have accept Ed apologies for the brutal infamie! Imposed on colored people.
 Shakes His Fist at Gompers.
 At once a great shout greeted tn, Colonel. The crowd roared its ap