OCR Text |
Show IM MEETING' A SMALL RIOT Called to Demonstrate Loyalty of Irish Americans Heads Are Cracked. NEW YORK, May 4. When tho chairman o a mass meeting hold tonight to-night in Cooper Union, by thirty-two organizations composed of Americana of Irish birth or descent refused to receive re-ceive a resolution calling upon President Presi-dent Wilson and congress to intercede in behalf of Irish independence, a riot broko out which-resulted in the ejection ejec-tion of more than thirty persons from the hall and which was not quelled until 200 policemen made free use of , their clubs. Tho troublo began at tho closo of a speech by former United States Senator Sen-ator James F. O'Gorman when Richard Rich-ard F. Dalton, a young Long Island City lawyer, arose and addressed tho chair. "I have listened with attention to what has been said by tho previous speakers," Daltori cried, "but I have heard no word about homo rule." Then he drew a typewritten paper from his pocket. "You cannot read that," declared Chief Magistrate William McAdoo, tho chairman, but the young man was persistent, per-sistent, and had started to read his resolution when he was seized bodily by two detectives and carried to the nearest exit. Instantly cries of "free speech," "gag rule," "wo want home rule," and "down with England," came from all parts of the hall. These shouts were drowned out with "clan calls" and the entire audience arose. Flags of tho Irish republic were waved by hundreds in the audience. Women stood up on chairs and cried at the top of tholr voices, "we will fight for America, but down with England." The disturbers were charged charg-ed by seventy policemen who had been stationed at tho hall in preparation for possible trouble Men and women wom-en were ejected, but tho disorder increased. in-creased. Chairman McAdoo was unable un-able to make himself heard, although he shattered tho desk in front of him with blows from a hickory cane. T"lrt nnlipomnn nn rintv Tin snnnpr checked the rioting in one part of the building, than it broke out afresh In some other section of the hall. Not until tho reserves ai rived did they restore re-store a semblance of order. The meeting was called to demonstrate demon-strate the loyalty of Irish Americans to the United States, and rioting did not begin until after resolutions had been adopted pledging support to the government in prosecuting the war to a successful termination and commending com-mending universal military service. Coroner Timothy F. Healy, one of those who arranged the meeting, declared de-clared the disturbance was the result of an organized effort on the part of German sympathizers to break up the meeting. |