New-York tribune., 1919-03-10
Police Called
When SinOns
Attacks Wilson
Speaker Accuses President
Of Condoning Bolshevism
Refuses to Apologize
Protest Made by Sailors
Brooklyn Y. NJ. C.. A. Sccrc.
tary Disclaims RESPONSE
bility for the Sentiments

Fourtecn policemen, responding to a
riot call, stood on the platform or
mixed Ill the crowd at the BROOKLYN
Central Y. NJ. c. A. Yesterday after
noon, while DR.. George A. Simons, re-
cent antiBolshevik witness before the
Overman Committee, refused to apollo
g'ze for having accused the President
Of condoning Bolshevsm.
At an early point in DR.. Simons's ad
dress several persons left the room
after attempts to interrupt the speak
er. These men returned quietly with
about fifty others, including a number
of sailors. They remained seated until
most of the audience, which had
cheered heartily at the close Of the
address, went out
Then lively demonstration was
staged
Rooscvelt's Message Read
The first fare-up came lust after
Dr. Simons read the last message Of
Theodore Roosevelt, with its denounce
ment of the red flag, and exclaimed:
thus cndcth the Book of the Acts
of st. Theodore, the Colonel Courage
Gus, true apostle of Americanism.
How we need him at this time! /
wish Theodore Roosevelt we're alive
to-day | think if he went to Wash
ington there would be an explosion in
or near the White House.
81 believe in respecting the Presi-
dent of the United States so long as
he respects the principles of Ameri
canism, but when he is allied, or seems
to be allied. with Bolshcvist aims it
is time for Woodrow Wilson to come
to the mourners' bench for reconsc-
Grafton in Americanism."
Several persons IN the audience
shouted: "Sedition You're not an
American. You're a trouble maker,"
The disturbers were jeered. They
left the hall
Says Wilson Makes Mistake
"Do not misunderstood me, friends"
he said. II have great respect and ad-
miration for President Wilson as a
man of high vision. His picture hangs
on my wall. But when he makes the
horribly potential mistake of offering
to treat with the Bolsheviki 7, who
have lived under their rule and know
the un- Christian, un-American terror
ism and class hatred which is Bolshe-
vism's soul. cannot discuss this thing
calmly, like a professor of mathemat-
les calculating a problem.
81 believe that if you and | and our
neigh hbors let the President know we
cannot look without dismay on any re-
lations with the Bolshevik demons he
will see to it that the peace confer
ence takes some step to check the evil
which threatens the world.
81 hope the Jews in this audience
will bear me no i'll will. If 80 per cent
Of the Bolshevik officials had been
tee had asked me if that were true I
would have said Yes
Declines to Apologize
AT the conclusion of the address, the
audience on the main floor rose as a
tribute to DR.. Simons and to General
Dobrjansky, of the anti Bolshevik
army, who was on the platform.
Civilians and sailors, accompanied
by the men who earlier had left the
meeting, came down from the galleries
as the auditorium emptied They
crowded to the stage. A sailor ex-
claimed:
Il understand you insulted the Pres
ident here this afternoon. There are
a lot of us sailors here and we want
you to apologize"
III have always taken the same atti-
tude which took here,' Dr. Simons
replied, and read recent telegram
which he sent to President Wilson in
Paris, urging the President to have no
dealings with the Bolshevik govern
ment..
can apology from me would be
worthless" the doctor added. because
| spoke out of feelings which are deep
ly imbcded in my conscience and
heart
A captain in army uniform. who gave
his name as w. Z. Thomas, jumped to
the platform and said there was moth
ing un- American in DR.. Simons's ad-
dress.
"rhe statement you object to may
have been unwisc," he said, "but I
heard the whole speech and there was
nothing unpatriotic in it,"
There was a good deal of discussion,
which the sailor chairman of the pro
testers, who refused to give his name,
tried to quell. Then Secretary Diet
rich, Of the Y. NJ. c. A., said he re-
GREETED very much that any criticism
Of the President had been made on
that platform.
1--WE arc not responsible for the SEN
timents expressed here" he concluded
The protcStcrs cheered.