The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-11-18
SCENES OF PATHos



ward I'm Cherry.
Cherry, ILL.,, Nov. 17.--Investigations
made today by Attorneys George w.
Gordon and Charles Cheney Hyde,
representing the Italian consul, dis
closed the almost gnouiish activities
of several lawyers seeking to repre-
sent death claims on contingent fees.
The consul, Guido Sabetta, and his
representatives, uncovered several
cases among Italian women, who, be-
reft of the bread winners of the FAM
lilies, had been approached by lawyers
who mad sought to impose on the ig-
norance and distracted condition of
the women.
zone italian woman who lost her
husband and three sons was asked by
some shark" to give him her case
on a basis of SO per cent" said Mr..
Hyde I'VE uncovered similar cases
with startling frequency and have
been kept busy all day warning the
women to seek advice of union officials,
their priest. or their consul. to avoid
being robbed by men who have not
hesitaated to descend into what is to-
day the most sorrowful and desolate
place In the world"
Charity IL Dispensed.
In the little knights Of Pythias Hall
where Z. p. .Bickell, the Red Cross
representative dispenses charity, the
sad faces of women petiuoning for aid
was In contrast TO the busting activ-
ity OF the relief agents.
During the morning the headquarters
were crowded to an extent which made
work impossible. Mr.. Bickell was
compelled to make a reprimand in the
simplest words he could find, telling
the women and Children to remain at
home until the official visitors" reach
ed them.
Il know how sorely you have been
tried. that you are in need, but please
understand that you shall have food
and fuel" said the Red Cross leader !.
I'VE cannot help you when you will
fill the room; you can see that. Tne
good women who call upon you will
take your orders and they will be filled.
Those who. understand English please
explain to the others.
For a few moments there was a low
hum of voices as the translations were
being made in italian, Russian. German
and other tongues. and the crowd
slowly dispersed.
with their heavy shawls about their
heads, the coarse, cumbersome SHOES
of the European peasant on their feet,
and their thin skirts dashed by the
lev winds, the women presented sad
picture as they passed into the street:
Even the converted lodge hall which
they left was a part of the picture, for
of its forty-five members. only twelve
remain.
Mr.. Bicknell remarked the fact that
requests for supplies almost invari-
ably included one for fuel despite the
fact that the town exists because of
its coal mine. The men who daily
brought home the needed supply of
coal in baskets, bags or even wheel
barrows, are dead in one great funeral
pyre.
Bride, a Patriotic Figure.
A typical order was filled for Julia
Dovan, sweet-faced bride of six
weeks, whose husband. father and
brother all were lost. she came to
ask relief for herself her mother, her
sister in-law and eleven children of
the two last named. This stricken
home was promptly furnished WITH
sausages, flour. potatoes, soup, tea,
coffee and other foodstuffs.
Consul Sabetta, returning from his
visit TO his country women, showed
in his eyes the great burden of woe
which mad been poured into his ears.
In a voice vibrating with passion. he
cried. out against the futility of human
endeavor which can feed and clothe but
is helpless in this chaos of sorrowing
women and children.
what can / do? What can / do2'
he cried and in the same breath an
swered himself, nothing"
"Such things as l have seen-sueh
awful, awful things; young women.
children, babies. with no one In the
world to- lean on. They were not old,
those men that are dead; they were
young, full of hope, ambitious.
'I have seen till my heart is wrung
And some-listen: one of them mas a
wife and nine children in Italy. How
can 1 tell them? Some of them were
men who had come here to build them
a new home. Every penny they sent
back for the fund that was to bring
their loved ones here.
TT has been said that Italians came
here to earn money only that they
may take 1t back to italy. Listen: My
Government mas offered to care fol
those who wish to return to the moth
er country. / have seen them today
mothers wives, children. and 1 have
told them they might go nome. MOI
one accepted These women have made
their start in the new country and al
any cost to themselves are determined
to educate their children to American
citizenship and its opportunities.
Unions VIII Help.
Springfield. Ill, Nov. .-l7-The I'LL
,,ats rTntkad Mine workers of America