The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-07-11
ROOSEVELT STARTS ROW,
ACCUSES LABOR UNIONS OF IN.
CITING EAST ST. LOUIS
RIOTS.
Takes Advantage of Mass Meeting IN
Honor Of Russian Mission to At.
tack Samuel GOmpers an. De.
nOunce Labor Unions.

uel Gompers, president of the Ameri-
CO" Federation Of Labor, that trades
unions had had any share in the East
st. Louis riots, which was met by a
vehement denunciation by Theodore
Roosevelt of the murder Of helpless
negroes, precipitated tumurtuous
demonstration at a 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 in
vestigation?" the labor leader de-
manded
With these words he returned to his
seat. Col. Roosevelt strobe over to
his chair and exclaimed:
"Mr. Gompers. why don't 1 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.. Roosevelt 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 will put him down"
When the former president had
finished Mr.. GOmpers, evidently deep
ly stirred. started to rise to make
rejoinder. 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 introduce Boris Bakhmetieff, the
Russian ambassador, and continue
the meeting. AS the excitement sub
sided 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 lab
orlng men are in much the same posi-
tion as Russians under the old regime
and had read a telegram he had re-
ceived tonight from the president Of
the Federation of Labor of Illinois.
This message purportcd to explain the
origin OF the East st. Louis riots. IT
asserted that instead of labor unions
being responsible for them they re-
suited from employers enticing ne
groes from the South to the city "to
break the back of labor"
"There should be no apology for Tho
Infamous brutalities committed on the
colored people of East ST. Louis" de-
clared Col. Roosevelt in beginning his
vigorous denunciation of the riots.
Justice is not a mere phrase. It
has to be translated into action. How
can we praise Russia for doing jus-
tice to all people when we must
apologize for doing murder to tho
helpless?
Il will do anything for the laboring
man except that which is wrong and
that I won't do for him or for any one
else. I care not snap Of my finger
for telegram from the head Of the
labor unions Of Illinois. Let there be
the fullest investigation in these mur.
ders."
1t was at this point that the inter-
ruption came from Mr.. Gompers. Mr..
Roosevelt already had departed a lit
tie earlier in the evening from the
text Of his formal speech Of welcome
to the Russians to refer to the riots
Before greet the ENJOYS Of the new
republic, ne mad said, II wish to
say word to you in regard to some
thing that has recently occurred in
side our own boundaries.
Before we speak of justice to 9TH
ers 1t behoOvcs us to do justice within
our own boundaries l refer TO the
race riot in East st. Louis, a race riot
for which, SO far as we can see, there |
was no prOvOcatiOn and which result
ed I'm such appalling brutality as to
leave 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. 1t is our duty to de- l.
mon1 that tho