The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-07-07
COLONEL lkQ! GD|gIptRS
CLASH Over MOTRGs.
Question Arises at Carnegie
Hall Meeting in Honor Of
Russian Mission.
LOOKED LIKE BLOWS
Roosevelt Objects to Seeming
Apology for Race Riots at
East St. Louis.
LOOKED LIKE BLOWS
Continued From Page one)

NSOHtluueu FROM rage Onc)
the house. When Mr. Roosevelt could
make himself heard above the din. he
went on:
| Il will go to any extreme to bring
justice to the laboring man, but when
| there is murder l will put him down."
When the former president had
| finished, Mr.. Gompers. evidently deep
~ stirred, started to rise to make re-
joindcr. but was pushed back into his
seat by those who sat near him, while
| Mayor Mitchell, who presided, pounded
vigorously with his gavel in an effort
to restore order Several minutes
| elapsed before it was possible to in
troduce Boris Bakhmetieff, the Rus
| sian ambassador, and continue the
meeting. AS the excitement subsidized
Mr.. Roosevelt and MIR. Gompers found
themselves sitting side by side.
Riots Start Trouble.
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 Ia
boring men are in much the same po-
sition as Russians under the old
regime. He read a telegram he said he
had received tonight from the presi-
dent of the Federation of Labor of
Illinois. This message purported to en-
plain the origin Of the East st. Louis
riots. 1t asserted that instead Of labor
| unions being responsible for them
they resulted from employers enticing
| negroes from the south to the city ito
break the back of labor"
There should be no apology for the
| infamous brutalities committed on the
| colored people of East st. Louis" de-
clared Mr.. Roosevelt, in beginning his
vigorous denunciation of the riots.
Justice is not n mere phrase. 1t has to
| be translated into action. How can we
praise Russia for doing justice to all
people, when we must apologize for
LONG murder to the helpless?
Will Do Wrong for No One.
| In the past we have listened to the
same excuse from those in authority
in old Russia for the fearful outrages
on the Jews. will do anything for the
1abOrng man except that which is
wrong. and l won't do that for any
one else. Let there be the fullest in
vestigation into these murders"
| 1t was at this point that the inter-
ruption came from Mr.. Gompers. Mr.
Roosevelt. already had departed a little
earlier in the evening from his text of
his formal speech of welcome to the
| Russians to refer to the riots.
| Before greet the ENJOYS OF the
new republic" he had said. Il wish to.
say q word in regard to something
that has recently occurred inside our
own boundaries.
| Must Have Justice at Home.
Before we speak of justice to
others, it behooves us to do justice
within our own boundaries. 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 n stain on the American name.
1T behooves us to express our con-
domination OF acts that give the lie to
our words within the limits of our own
country and to say that it is i'm
possible that there should be justifica-
ton for mob violence. 1t is our duty
to demand that the governmental au-
thorities shall use with ruthless sever
ity every power at their command to
punish those guilty Of murder. whether
committed by whites against blacks or
whether by blacks against Whites
Mr. Roosevelt then welcomed the
Russian commission.
Meant Every Word.
Asked il he would make a statement
when he was leaving the hall. MIR.
Roosevelt said:
Il meant everything said. I stand
by it,"
How about the slap on Mr.. Com
pers' shoulder"
THAT wasn't a hard blow he re-
. piled. ut was only a gentle touch. !
did that to emphas size my point. ]
have no personal grievance against
Mr.. Gompers."
When Mr.. Gompers was asked to
give his side of the controversy he
I said:
Il was very much surprised ant
r panied that the colonel acted as nc
did. He misunderstood me. But
know the colonel. He was only bluff
9 ing"
l Ambassador Bakhmcticff received
t an enthusiastic greeting from tho
throng which packed the hall when III
: | rose to speak.