"PATRIOTS AT PLAY."

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7389, 15 February 1902, Page 3 (Supplement)

"PATRIOTS AT PLAY."

RUCTIONS AT BIRMINGHAM,

DEATH AND DESTRUCTION.

Birmingham has a reputation for rioting, and though one cannot but deplore the methods taken by the Birm-

inham mob to show its distaste for pro-Boerism last Tuesday evening, one certainly cannot sympathise in the least with Mr Lloyd-George, M.P., and his supporters; in fact, the verdict

must be, "Serve 'em right." At the same time no man with an ounce of sense in his head can help bewailing

the egregious folly of the larrikins

and feather-headed fools who show their "patriotism" by indulging in a brick and stone bombardment of their own Town Hall windows, and by in-

discriminate bashings of all and sundry whom they merely suspect of holding opinions contrary to their own. This sort of thing must be put down with a firm hand. Mr Lloyd George and his friends of the local Liberal Association, however, cannot be held entirely guiltless of the death of the unhappy youth whose head was smashed against a kerbstone during the fight of the mob before the police. They knew perfectly well what to expect, as thej r showed by the precautions they took to prevent any person of opposition views entering the hall, and by introducing some ten score "stewards" from outside the town. And the fact that they took good care to let the public know that these "stewards" would be on hand was nothing less than a djrect incitement to the pugilistic fraternity iV the city to "come and have a go." "Ihe invifation was accepted, with the result that the Town Hall stands to-day looking more like a ruined factory than a . respectable municipal building, one poor young fellow lies dead, dozens of policemen are on the hospital list, and scores of citizens are nursing wounds of varying severity.

What Mr Lloyd' George intended to say to the local Liberal Association Mr George and the "Daily News" alone know. He may have merely meant to give his adhesion to the Liberal programme, sketched out by Lord Rosebery at Chesterfield, but his public utterances since the commencement of the war have been so utterly anti-British and his vilification of our generals and soldiers so malignant that we have, come to look upon him as a man who cannot open his mouth except to bless our enemies and curse us. Birmingham, at any rate, made up its mind that Lloyd George was coming among- them for the purpose of abusing the Briton and beslavering the Boer, and deVtermined to give him a reception that ne wouldn't 'forget in a huriy. Mr Lloyd George's views at any rate should not go forth to the world as the views of Birmingham. On that point the citizens were determined. So long before the doors of the Town Hall were opened a crowd began to assemble in the adjacent throughfare and in Chamberlain Square, and made a noisy demonstration. When, the doors were opened the hall rapidly filled, and despite the means taken to exclude the hostile element it soon became apparent that the organisers of the meeting were outnumbered. "Rule Britannia" and the National Anthem were sung with enthusiasm and Union Jacks were displayed both in the area and on the balcony. Mr Osier took the chair in the absence of Alderman Cook, the president of the Liberal Association, who sent a message stating that he abstained from

presiding "in the interests of health. ' When Mr Lloyd George walked on to the platform he was met with hooting, hissing and oheers. From this time onward the noise of singing, hooting, cat-calls, blowiug of whistles and stamping of feet was continuous. The audience would not listen to the chairman, and after standing for about ten minutes he called upon Mr Lloyd George to address the meeting. When that worthy rose there was a demonstration which filled the hall with uproar. It was impossible to hear a word uttered by the speaker, the audience cheering and hooting, cat-calling and blowing whistles. The prevailing temper so far had been one of good humour. But by and by a stone came crashing through the window in the west gallery, and it was evident that trouble was brewing 1 . The "platform" made a final effort to cheer on their champion. They rose and waved their hats and shouted vociferously. Then came the crisis. A large number of young fellows suddenly made for the platform. The policemen in the gangwaj's made an effort to stop them, but their task was as hopeless as that of Mrs Partington when she tried to keep back the waves with a broom. The policemen were swept before the crowd, -who surged over the reporters' table ana" on to the platform. But their victory was short lived. Policemen poured in from all quarters, as if by magic, and pitched the intruders off without regard to how and where they fell. Meanwhile, Mr Lloyd George, by an adroit, strategic move escaped from the platform into the basement. Here he was safe, but the difficulty presented itself of how he was to get out of the Jiall. Here inventive genius came to his aid. The. Krugerite champion was dressed in the garb of a sergeant of police — how the little, spare figure looked in this I Cahtiotj imagine — and as P.C. Stonier, 81D, passed with a posse of genuine "bluecoats" out of the Town Hall, and having- marched some distance fell out of the ranks and cabbed it to his hotel. THE SCENE OUTSIDE.

It was at the front door in Para-dise-street that the police had their first fierce combat with the mob. Hundreds of bona fide ticket holders were unable to gain admission, and hundreds more with doubtful tickets, or with no tickets at all," attempted to rush the officers. A battle royal between police and public ensued. Attack after attack was repulsed, bui not before two of the thick glass panels of one of the doors had been smashed in and the door itself nearly torn off its hinges. But in the end the police prevailed. The greater and more desrjerate attack was reserved for the side of the hall flanking Victoria Square. This was the scene of almost sanguinary hostility. The crowd, intent on admission, was repelled time after time, but "came again." Then came the teariug awaj r of the large advertisement board and tne. breaking of it into splinters, and at first a playful hurling of them about. Ther, followed the most riotous scene of all, The storming- of the lower range of windows of the hall opened in desperate earnest. Stones were hurlerj against them as a beginning, then came a volley of brick bats. Window after window crashed in, and cheers rent the air as all this destruction went on. Very soon the windows below were riddled, the large stree'.' lamps smashed, and Victoria Square was left in partial darkness. The occasional report of a revolver over the heads of the people and the throwing of toy bombs added to the terrors of the time. Eggs, apparently charged with flour, were pelted on to the side of the hall, but these were the most innocent of missiles. The Chief Constable came out of the hall during thi> turmoil and made a personal appeal to the crowd, but the effect was only momentary. The crowd could not be dispersed, and eventually the police made a baton charge along the thoroughfares converging on the square in which the Town Hall stands. A good many heads were broken, but it was not until a late hour that the police were masters of the streets. While the proceedings were in progress inside the hall the crowds outside were addressed at several points by supporters of the Government, and Mr Chamberlain, at Highbury, received this message by telegraph: "Llyod George, the traitor, was not allowed to say a word. , Two hundred thousand citizens and others passed a unanimous vote of confidence in the Government and admiration for you* unique and fearless services for King and country."

So Birmingham vindicated its patriotism and upheld the glorious right of free speech!