The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-02-27
Congress Takes up the Matter Of the
Autocratie Rule at Strike Rid
den City Of Law
renee.
EVERYBODY rs AROUSED
Four Separate Forces at Work on
President Taft, Various Depart
ments and Both
Houses.

UNITED Press Leased Wire Service
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2T---Four sep
arate forces of the government we're
concentrated today on the Lawrence
strike situation. The pathetic pleas
Of mothers, the dramatic appeals of
the striking textile workers them
selves, and the great constitutional
issue OF personal liberty" laid before
the president, the house and the SEN
ate, galvanized the federal forces In
to action.
The department Of Justice, through
the federal attorney at Lawrence, la
preparing for presentation to President
Taft an exact statement, which viii
detail just how far the municipal
authorities at Lawrence went in their
campaign OF repression against the
strikers. President Taft, himself.
believes it was stated on good author
iity, that the liberty guaranteed by the
federal constitution and safeguards
embodied in the federal statues have
been infringed.
| In the house two representatives
Chairman Wilson OF the labor COM
mittee. and Berger, the Wisconsin
socialist sought consideration of their
Irrespective resolutions turning the
searchlight Of a congressional investi.
cation on the strike city.
In the senate the resolution dramat-
lically called up yesterday by Poindex-
i ter Of Washington was pending and
the Washingtonian, aroused by impress
sions gained first hand at the Mass
achusetts city. declared his intention
to press the measure
The Poindexter, Wilson and Berger
4 resolutions were introduced stimuli
Itaneously. Poindexter demanded that
the department of commerce and la
Dor report to the senate the wages
and conditions of living of the mill
4 workers and whether the municipal
authorities have not "forcibly inter-
fered" in the matter,
Berger asks investigation by spec
ial house committee Wilson requests
specific investigation by the labor com
mittee.
Victims of the strike themselves
will come to Washington to plead
their cause. committee of men,
, women and children who have lived
through the struggle will be sent from
the strike-rldden city to appear before
the congressional investigating com
tmittee.
81 Unless the rules act today, Wilson
/ will ask unanimous consent in the
/ house for consideration of his resolu-
r ton. AT the conclusion OF the speech
. Berger had read and inserted in the
[ record the complete dispatches of the
/. United Press covering Saturdays de
] velopments at Lawrence.
. In presenting his resolution in the
senate. Poindexter bitterly arraigned
. the Lawrence authorities, for 'abso
+ lutely ignoring the constitution.
Il consider that every citizen who
d has any regard for American ideas. is
n deeply interested here Poindexter
r declared.
ut is simply a matter of substitute
& ing the irresponsible rule of tenn
S porary local autocrat for the law
"A great many workers and resi-
e dents are in Jail without having com
l. mitted any offense against the laws
l. ! am willing to impeach the authorities
in that part of Massachusetts. It il
t. the substitution of military force fol
T. the civil law.
o Berger and Wilson will appear be
q fore the rules committee at meet
8. ing to be called possibly today to la
S before that committee their informa
L. ton.
Giilett Objects
WASHINGTON, Feb. PA singi
J representative Representative CT
At lett, OF Massachusetts, prevented th
ir house taking action today for the re
Of lief of the strike situation at Lawrence
n Mass.
O. Gillett objected to the efforts G
I'd Representative Wilson (democra
Pennsylvania chairman of the labo
committee to secure immediat
consideration Of the Wilso
j resolution, authorizing the labor con
H. mittee to investigate the clubbing {
20 women and children.
fi- When the house convened. Wilso
Is. asked unanimous consent that his re
OF olution be considered. Only a score