Omaha daily bee., 1912-03-06
mrs. TAFT AT STRIKE PROBE
Philadelphia Woman Says Children
Were Roughly Handled.
DID NOT SEE ANY CLUBBED
simon knebel, Organizer of Indus
trial Workers, Says He Saw
Policeman strike a
Woman.

Of alleged oppression and cruelty in the
Lawrence textile strike told TO the house
rules committee when 1t resumed its con-
sIderation of the Industrial struggle in
the mill city.
Miss Tema Camitts, A Philadelphia
vocal student and sunday school teacher
and member Of one Of the committees
that sought TO get the children out OF
Lawrence. admitted that she saw no
clubbing Of women or children in the
station nor any injured after the affraf.
II did see the police clubbing women In
the patrol wagon" she said. The
wagon was crowded and the police were
thrustlng the women about with their
clubs.
At no time. she said had she observed
.-Iy outrages committed by the militia
men.
II was while Miss Camilla was testify
ing that Mrs Taft arrived al the COM
mlttee room. She appeared to take great
Interest In the proceedings and remained
several hours.
Representative Victor Berger OF Wis
consin today had read into the record
a telegram from William ID. Haywood to
the effect that two women witnesses
sought BY Mr. Berger could not come TO
Washington because of Injuries sustained
at the hands OF the police in the recent
rioting. One Of the women, Haywood said
was in a critical condition.
Children Roughly Handled.
Miss Camilla related how she had en-
deavored TO lead the children from the
station TO the train!
For some reason the children got out
ahead OF me" she said. 'and instantly
the women and children were hurled into
struggling mass by the police. was
squeezed against the wall OF the wsitihs
room and was terribly frightened.
THE crowd In front Of me was -
dense that could see little. | called
out to the police: BE careful Of th'
children, you're killing them. Later whei
/ sought to accompany them to the police
station | was told that Id better sta.
away or I'd DO dubbed too"
"why did you desire to have the child
rem come to Philadelphia asked Repre-
sentative Garrett.
Il think" she said. that the press re-
ports were assurance enough to ever,
decent man or woman to get children o.
tender age out OF Lawrence. That's thu
only reason 30 far as am concerned
simon Knebel. who Was in Lswrenc'
on Saturday. February a. another mem
Der OF the committee from Philadelphia
and organizer OF the Industrial Worker
Of the World. was the next witness.
This system Of taking children from
strike towns Ia a system that's going 1
prevail in this country in the future 4
labor wars" said Knebei.
Its imported from Europe, Isn't II:
asked Representative Hardwick.
well. its been used in Europe" sal
Kneb~l. but that's pot the only reaso
Il should be cried fhere. " lts@a goo
tystem.'
rNang OF what happened at the Law
.hs<ASe depot. Knobel said
II ne groupcd the children in a file I
fwo and started to send them out OF III
depot door. Just as We left the door n
police started their bloody work.
THE police tore the children from the
mothers. They were screaming and thei
we're most unearthly yells. I saw OF
| policeman strike woman In the abd'
men.
when ! came out l was STOPPING ov'
. four or five children, Immediately thrt
! or four policemen got hold OF me. This
dragged me until my knee bled ar
/ twisted my foot"
> How many women did you see beate
/ that day." asked Mr.. Henry.
y saw q whole wagonload Of injure
E dubbed by a policeman. Finally tn,
!. arrested me. and ! was kept in the 81
a ton house hours with women and chi
: dren In cells" In the. police statlC
o where he was locked up Knebel said tn
; all day children were not given anythlr
: TO eat-fifteen or eighteen Of them.
: Some of them were children at u
r breast" he continued. Some OF Il
n husbands whose wives were locked ,
n brought children to their mothers to
7. nursed.
When the case came up some Of Il
children were forcibiy taken from the
mothers. TO be taken TO poor farm
: be cared for"
Children Locked In Cells.
Were the children actually locked
|, In the same kind Of cells where thiev
!, and criminals were locked upr' ask
! Representative Pou.
I, Yes" said KnebeL
Were others fined besides your
Yes every one Of the mothers "
fined"
Miss Margaret Sanger of New York.
!, trained nurse. who was instrumental
!, taking children from Lawrence to NJ
York, also was witness.
I. Miss Sanger said the condition Of ma
Of the children was horrible.
!, out OF lis children only four Of thu
- had any underwear on. said Miss Sang
II And those people were working In
:. wooden nallf'' asked Representative Sta
= ley.
~ Yea"
was their outer clothing woolr' ash
Representative Foster.
Ia mo; most Of the clothing was rags
e. Miss Sanger said the doctors examir
~ the children in New York. and most