Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-07-07
Samuel Gompers Denies That
Unions Were Responsible for
Staying of Negroes and
Colonel Arises,
BRINGS HIS OPEN HAND
DOWN ON LABOR LEADER
Former President Says After
ward He Did It. to Empha-
size Point; Incident Occurs at
Meeting to Greet Russians.
tur MORNING JouaaAL SPECIAL LEASED w,axl

! hoNNiNu JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED WiHEl
New York, July 6.--Denial by Sam
uel Gompers, president of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, that trade
unions had any share in the East st.
Louis riots, which was met by a ve-
hement denuncation by Theodore
Roosevelt of the murder of helpless
negroes, precipitated tumultuous
demonstration at mass meeting held
in Carnegie hall here tonight in honor
of the Russian mission to the United
States.
Mr.. Roosevelt was interrupted by
Mr.. Gompers, who rose from his seat
and approached the former president,
why don't you accuse after an
investigation? the labor leader de-
manded.
Claps Gompers on Shoulder.
With these words he returned to his
seat Roosevelt strode over to his
chair and exclaimed:
| Mr.. Gompers, why don't / accuse
afterwards? I'll answer now, when
murder is to be answered."
With that the colonel brought down
on Mr.. Gompers' shoulder his open
left hand which he had raised above
his head. At this juncture many of
the men on the platform leaped to
their feet and there was a storm of
Kisses, cheers, and "boos'' from all
parts of the house. When Mr. Roose-
welt could make himself heard, above
the din. he went on:
/ II will go to any extreme to bring
justice to the laboring man, but when
there Is murder I will put him down."
When the former president had
finished, Mr.. Gompers, evidently deep
~ stirred, started to rise to make re-
1oinder, but was pushed back into his
seat by those who sat near him, while
Mayor Mitchell. who presided, pound
ed vigorously with his gavel in an eff
] fort to restore order.
! Gompers Reads Telegram.
Several minutes elapsed before It
was possible to introduce Mr.. Boris
Bakhmetieff, the Russian ambassador,
and continue the meeting. AS the ex-
| citement subsided. Mr.. Roosevelt and
Mr.. Gompers found themselves sitting
side by side.
1t was at the close of an address by
Mr.. Gompers that the colonel was
recognized by Mayor Mitchell. Mr..
Gompers had declared that many la
| boring men are in much the same po-
sition as Russians under the old regime
and read a telegram he said he had
received tonight from the president of
the Federation of Labor of Illinois.
This message purported to explain the
origin of the East st. Louis riots. 1t
| asserted that instead of labor unions
being responsible for them, they re-
suited from employers enticing ne
groes from the south to the city ito
| break the back of labor"
Roosevelt Denounces
| There should be no apology for
the infamous brutalities committed
on the colored people of East st.
| Louis,T' declaredj Mr.. Roosevelt, in
beginning his vigorous denunciation
of the riots. Justice is not q mere
phrase. 1t has been translated into
| action. How can we praise Russia
for doing justice to all people when
we must apologize for doing murder
to the helpless.
TN the past we have listened to the
same excuse from those in authority
| in old Russia for attack on the Jews
| | will do anything for the laborer ex-
| eept that which is wrong. and that T.
| won't do for him or anyone else. I
care not snap of my finger for a
telegram from the head of the labor
unions of Illinois. Let there be the
fullest investigation into these mur-
ders.''
| 1t was at this point that the inter-
| ruption came from Mr.. Gompers.
MIR. Roosevelt had already departed
a little earlier in the evening from
| the text of his formal speech of well
come to the Russians to refer to the
riots.
Refers to Riots.
Before I greet the envoys of the
new republic he said Il wish to say
a word to You in regard to something
that has recently occurred inside our
own boundaries.
Before We speak of justice to 9TH
ers 1t behooves us to do justice with
In our own boundaries. I refer to
the race riots>in East st. Louis, race
riot for which, so far as we can see.
there was no provocation and which
resulted in such appalling brutality
as to leave a stain on the American
name.
1T behooves us to express our con-
demnation of acts that give the lie
to our words within the limits Of our
own country. and to say that it is inn
possible that there should be justi-
fication for mob violence. 1t is our
duty to demand that the government
tai authorities shall use with ruthless
severity every power at their COM
nand to punish those guilty Of mur-
der whether committed by whites
against blacks or by blacks against
whites.
welcomes Russians.
ut is our duty to insist, first Of sall, |
on the restoration Of order and the
reign of law. Upon the foundation
Seesersrsar~csee~rses--es es--es>e~4es~s~-~~sese.eN
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