New-York tribune., 1919-01-19

Seamen of the L. S. S. Ranger sent
to The Tribune yesterday a copy of a
letter they addressed to William Ran
dolph Hearst, expressing their convic-
ton that the men who cheored for
Hearst and Hylan and THE New York
American" at the citizens meeting in
Madison Square Garden Friday night
were hired to break up the meeting.
Their opinion is founded upon re-
port brought to them by sailor from
the Ranger who attended the meeting.
The shouters, they declare on this au-
thority, were of the type of men who
parade under the red flag One Of
them is described as having a "Boche
accent" They serve notice on Mr.
Hearst that his petition for bonus
of six months pay for men discharged
from the service and his free chcvron
coupons are not wanted by them. The
letter follows:
"Mr. William Randolph Hearst, New
York American, New ORR City.
"Sir:-Permit the unders .gned all
enlisted men in the United States navy.
to express themselves and voice their
sentiments in The present agitation
over your presence on the Mayors
Committee Of Welcome.
i mem Der Of our crew attended the
meeting OF welcome held last night in
Madison Square Garden by an inde-
pendent committee and returned to
US !oud in his dcnunciation of the
tactics employed to break up the meet
ing, held by patriotic citizens OF our
community, VINO, by the Constitution.
are possessed of the privilege OF free
speech. to welcome returned soldiers
and sailors.
HAD the outbursts Of enthusiasm
been confined TO chcors and An9lau q
at the mention of the name Hearst
or 'Hylan' one might have been led TO
believe that the action was spontanc-
Gus on the part of citizens VINO were
Keen supporters of the gentlemen. But
the fact that these rowdy outbreaks
occurred in the middle Of speeches dc
llVered by prominent men eXtolling the
services rendered by the countrv's
overseas fightcrs, together with the
lact that individual speeches were at
tempted from the balconies. boxes and
moor, proves without q doubt that hire
l!ngs were employed in concerted ef
tort to utterly disrupt the meeting and
defeat its purpose.
Type of Distu~hcrs
"A glance at the type of men caus-
lng the Disturbances showed them to
be of the class generally seen about
the streets of the city selling newspa-
pcrs' OF the type which recently
narched through the streets wavinl,
the red flag Of disloyalty and dishonor'
ana or the Kind which, up to our entry
ihVo inc war, gathered about news
boards and loudly condoncd, as did
your papers, the sinking Of the Lusi-
tnnia and other examples of Hun
Eultur.
"OUr shipmatc sat two seats in front
o. man who, becoming cnthused at
Ihc cries cf 'llurrah for Hearst. stood
upon hIs seat and with hands upraiscd
screamed 'lurrah far Nillium Ram
dolph Hirrst His Bochc accent was
only too plain, and still it was ONLY
.lter near riot had been caused thai
ne was cJccted by one OF New Yor},s
hncst. This same German later re-
appeared and caused another disturb
ancc
"lf you think, Mr.. Hearst, that the
men wearing the honorable uniform Of
our country arc behind you, we ask that
you pay the matter to a straw vote and
allow the men to speak for Themselves.
instead Of taking so much for granted
! ne mon who recently sent two bundles
OF your newspapers descending into the
waters Of Now York, as your camera
man was grinding film Of their ascent
On to The deck OF the cruiser. the men
Of this ship who have sworn never TO
buy or read ono of your sheets, and
who shcepishly admit that they us ed to
read it because Of thc funny page, and
thousands Of other red bloodsd, lO0