The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1919-12-20
EYE WITNESS To- CENTRAL|A
MURDERS TELL OF THE CRIME

"One of the best speeches ever
heard in my life" is the way an ex-
service man, who fought with the
American army in France; described
the talk of H. w. Thompson, ex-mayol
of Centralia, who delivered the chief
address Friday night at the mass
meeting in Eggan's hall. The hal
was packed with men, women and
children, who came to hear from those
who saw the crime committed, of the
attack on the American flag and the
American government and the Ameri-
can people by an organized band Of
outlaws, sworn to overthrow the gov
ernment established by Washington
and the revolutionary fathers; sus-
tanned by Lincoln and Grant and Sher-
man and Sheridan, and again sustain
ed by Pershing and four million young
men who enlisted to fight for the
principles that have made the United
States the greatest nation on earth.
The meeting was held under the
auspices of the American Legion. The
ex-soldiers were there in force. Many
wore their uniforms. They listened
intently to the graphic descriptions
of the assault on America by an oz4
ganized band of outlaws, supported
by the Bolsheviki of Russia. Their
eyes glistened and their teeth set
firmly, as they heard how four of
their "buddies" were shot down in
cold blood in what was planned to, be
the opening attack of the battle to
destroy the American form of gov
ernment
H. E. Veness of Centralia was the
first speaker. He was introduced by
E. c. Boom, state commander of the
American Legion, who, in introducing
him, said:
"Mr. Veness was born in England
but is a thorough bred one hundred
per cent American citizen. He is a
labor man and for some years past
has devoted his best efforts to an en-
deavor to bring about amicably and
without violence spirit of equity
and fair play between labor and cap
ital, particularly in the logging woods
and in kindred industries. His eff
forts along these lines so commended
him and so far secured for him the
respect of all good patriotic citizens
generally, that he was invited by the
Chamber of Commerce Of Centralia,
Washington, and by Grant Hodge
Post No. II of the American Legion
to make the principal Armistice Day
address at Centralia. Heshad just be-
gun his address when the murderous
attack upon the marching overseas
soldiers was made and which resulted
in the snuffing out of the lives of four
of our gallant heroes who were
in formation in celebration
of the day that brought cessation
of the bloody conflict in Europe in
which the whole world had been en-
gagged.
"Mr. Veness is here today to tell
US from his observations and ex-
periences something of the great
problem that confronts the country
at this time and of the terrible re-
suits of inactivity and lack of unity,
and conserted action in regard to
such problems"
Mr.. Veness was given an ovation as
he arose to speak. He told of the
tragedy at Centralia as he had seen
it and told of the evidence secured
ater. He did not try to excite his
audience to desire for vengeance, but
1e made it plain that the shooting
vas no sudden uprising of an angry
mob, but that the deed had been plan
led and arranged for. by the l. w. w.
weeks in advance. Mr.. Veness is a
pleasing speaker, full Of earnestness
md desire to tell the facts as they
ire. He told how the American. Leg
on boys were armed after the muir
iers and placed on guard at the Jail
where they protected the murderers
# their comrads from the outraged
:itizens who would have lynched them,
moving that the ex-soldi4s believe in
aw and order and the government for
which the fought, thus giving
plendid example of true American
SIN. He told in detail of the work of
he committees of citizens in ferreting
'ut the facts in the case, of the evid-
nee obtained that the murders had
'een planned by the I. W. w. and
low the men who had planned and ,
xecuted the murders were hunted |
md captured and placed in Jail and
Il II