Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-07-21
RESPONSIBILITY FOR MURDER.


colored people of the Southland
would sooner or later find their
rights to life, liberty and property
safe.guarded and defended by south.
ern white people who had always
been classed to be their bitterest
enemies. We see or think we see q
ray Of light, so to speak intimating
that a realization Of this prediction
is at hand. The Jacksonville, Fla,
Times-Union, in its issue Of the 9th
inst, says:
or course, the presence Of bull in
china shop would be advertised
when the same bull in pasture could
crop the succulent grasses unmolest-
ed; bull that desired advertisement
would, therefore, rush out Of the pas
ture into the shop. Probably 1t was
the same reason that when Col. Roose.
welt was asked to speak at meeting
called to welcome the representative
or the latest republic, he should find it
necessary to accuse organized labor
of Wholesale murder to put his au-
dience in good humor with the world
No proof was shown and no reason
given for pitching such O bombshell
into gathering Of friends; Roosevelt
did 1t, and the act needs no eXplana-
ton.
A proverb easily appreciated In
Florida declares: "If you give a calf
rope he will hang himself" Roose-
welt offered the rope, and Gompers
made a calf Of himself without delay!
For, rising to deny All imputation
which had nothing for support but the
word Of Roosevelt, the president Of
the American Federation Of Labor
provided the proof needed by his adj.
versary when he read telegram from
the president Of the Federation Of
Labor Of Illinois asserting that
employers who enticed Negroes
from the South to break the back Of
labor in the North and Wost wero
really responsible for wholesale muir.
ders, IN East st Louis in tho state
OF Illinois
No need for more words Roose-
welt drew his bow at venture, and
the flying arrow pierced the armor
of organized labor, because Gompers
opened the joints of his harness; II
organized labor did not massacre and
burn in East st. Louis, the world has
heard the confession Of moral respon.
sibility, and this evidence Is more
vital than would be the legal proof
that number Of laborers in
moment Of excitement had become a
murderous mob. The president OF
the national federation and the presi-
dent Of state organization have now
made themselves responsible for the
Int fl,ok 1T T.
borers In the South to do work in
Illinois, then that employer Is respon-
sible when organized labor shoots,
burns and hangs such laborers, kills
their women and children aud burn
their houses. If this does not consti-
tute serious charge against federat-
ed labor and call for It's outlawry
under the laws, then the prosecutions
Of trusts are mere acts of tyranny.
The situation could not be more
admirably stated by this master mind
In tho editorial Office Of the Times
Union.He went further and he said
much more. Here it Is:
But the published facts in the case
Justify other charges. For some days
agitation and threats predicted the
coming Of disorder but no steps were
taken to protect order 'and, decency;
the lives and property Of American
citizens were loudly threatened, and
nothing was done by way OF rebuke
to the aSitators nor toward the pro-
lection Of city threatened with
murder and arson
When Cleveland was president of
the United States and Altgeld was
governor Of Illinois, another city of
the same state underlay like threats.
Then as now, the governor of the
state took no steps to protect the
interests Of the public, and the presi-
dent Of the United States sent troops
to Chicago against the excited pro
tests Of the governor of the state.
1t has been said that it was merely a
preteEt to assert that federal prop
erty was endangered; 1t may be that
president Cleveland was wrong and
PRESIDENT Wilson is right, but can we
say a risk may not be taken when
life is at stake at home by presi.
dent who risks so much to defend
Belgium and France across the seas?
Are German sympathizers to be pun
lshed, even II proclamation Of mar
tlal law be necessary, while torganiz-
Ell labor may slay at will?
This question will ring and re-
Vertebrate from one section of this
country to the other. Colored peo-
pie have always been averse to strik-
ing and to causing trouble by labor
disputes. They have stood by their
white employing friends In this section
Of the country, risklng life and limb
In an effort to carry out their promis.
es to the white mon, who pledged to