The Colorado statesman., 1921-06-11
TULSAN REMORSE
TO REBUILD HOMES;
DEAD PUT AT 80
Citizens in Mass Meeting
Voice Shame Over Riots
That Razed Negro
Quarter.
BLAME POLICE AND
SHERIFF.

~ULSA, Okla, June 2.-This oil
metropolis of the Southwest was
Il emerging tonight from one of the
most spectacular outbreaks of lawless-
ness that has been known in Oklaho-
ma since the early pioneer days. The
combined agencies of law and order OF
the city, county and state, directed in
person by Governor Robertson and 9th
er state officials, had gained the upper
hand and comparative quiet prevailed
as fuller details of the tale of MUIR
der, arson and vandalism were un-
folded The city remained under mar
tial law, although slight notifications
were ordered by the military author
ties.
Before returning to Oklahoma City
this afternoon the governor ordered
the immediate impaneling of a grand
Jury with plenary powers TO inVestl-
gate the uprising. He stated that the
attorney general and every agency OF
the state government would cooperate
to impose the fullest penalties of the
law on those guilty of insugating the
riots. He especially asked an inquiry
into the conduct of the police depart
ment and the sheriff's office, which he
condemned.
direction, Judge Vatican Biddison or
dered the grand jury investigation to
begin June s. 1t is planned TO call
large numbers of witnesses, white and
black. in an effort to fix responsible
ity for the outbreak.
A host of bankers, business men ana
civic leaders assembled in mass meet
ing to organize city-wide relief for the
thousands of Negroes, rendered home
less and destitute by the destruction
of the Negro quarter.
A committee of seven was appointed
to assume charge of the work of re-
lief and restoration, in cooperation
with the Red Cross, which has worked
increasingly for thirty-siX hours TO al
leviate the sufferingS of the dispos-
Sessed blacks.
Judge Loyal J. Martin. eN-mavnr,
who was later chosen chairman of the
committee, said ut the mass meeting:
Tulsa can only redeem herself from
the countrywide shame and humflia-
tion into which she is today plunged
by complete restitution and rehabilita-
ton of the destroyed black belt. The
rest of the United States must know
that the real citizenship of Tulsa
Loud applause greeted his declara-
ton that most of the damage done to
was done by criminals who
should have been shot on the spot.
He urged that commission determine
whether city and county authorities
would be able to cope with the Situa-
ton after the troops leave. Then he
went on:
IF the police authorities cannot
take charge of the city we'd better get
the American Legion on the job ana
have Il hundred men in readiness Tor
outbreaks"
Judge II. L. Standeven said the en-
tire city would have to take part in
the burden of reconstruction.
C. b. Rogers supported Judge Mar
tins stand that every lawbreaker who |
took part in the rioting and plumber |
ing should have been shot He de- |
cIared that the business men of Tulsa |
had fallen down on their job and that
now they must make restitution.
weeps at this unspeakable crime ana |
will make good the damage, so far as
it can be done, to the last penny"
Saws Citizens Must Rebuild.
"We have neglected our duties and /
our city government has fallen down.
We have had failing police protec-
ton here. and now we have to pay the |
costs of it, The city and county is le- |
gally liable for every dollar of the |
damage which has been done. Other |
cities have had TO pay the bill of race
riots and we shall have TO do so prob |
ably. because we have neglected our
duty as citizens"