The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-05
From Their Lips Com
mittee Hears of Hun
ger and Privation.
MADE TO PAY FOR
WATER TO DRINK
Driven From School by Poverty,
They Live in Homes Where
Meat Is Once-a-Week Lux
ury and Butter Almost I'm
known-Cruelly Treated
by Officers.

Washington. March i.--Girls ami
boys. fourteen and hftten years old,
striking mill workers from Lawrence,
Mass, testined To-Day before the t1ousel
Committee on RuIes, winch is coneiu-
cring resolution to investigate condi-
iions which followed attempts 10 send
children from the strife ridden city.
Children told OF workInG long hours
for low wages. and how they had TO
pay the American Woolcn Company }
cents week for drinking water. which
they described as canal water" some
toi1 OF seeing women beaten by police
and children knocked down and hurled
into wagons like bundles Of rags" at
Lawrence week ago saturday.
Representative Victor Berger and
Samuel Gompcrs. president OF the
American Federation of Labor, were
again before the committee. Both made
statements about the rival union conui-
ton at Lawrence, and both were eau
toned against the use oi personalities.
After testimony OF seven or eight
children had been taken, Max Bogatin,
a salesman oil philadelphia. one OF the
Socialist committee which went TO
Lawrence to accompany the strikers
children To homes in Philade lphia. was
questioned regarding the charges Of
disorder and brutality at the Law
renee depot, lie declared a soldier tried
TO keep him in the station by guarding
the door with bayonet.
Picked Up Like Rags.
Il saw the soldiers pick the children
up by the legs. like they were rags"
he said, and | saw one woman choked
by soldier.
Il was beaten by one OF tho police
where they beat me-"
Mics Jane Boeck. also of the Phil
adelphiu committee. corroborated much
OF Bogatin's testimony.
II was pushed by the police against
car and held there so that 1 couldn't
move said she in describing the scene
at the Lawrence depot. The children
were screaming and many were drag
ged to military truck and literally
thrown there"
Samuel Golden. eighteen years old,
testified II, received sl.6i FOR three
days work, and never made more than
$50 III week. lie said children paid
3 cents week for drinking water,
whether they drank or not. and were
dock I'd an hours pay If they were late.
His father never made more thun 50 "a
week. ne said
Are you a striker" asked Repre-
sentative Pou.
Il am returned the lad proudly.
DID you Sc. any women clubbed?"
Il saw one policeman grab q woman
by the throa; ana hit her with a club.
Charles Nasiersky, fifteen years old
said he Went 10 school until ne War
fourteen and Chen went to wo:k.
NOT Enough TO Eat.
i would have KEPT on at school.
but W. did not have enough TO eat"
said he.
do you ever go hungry:
| Sometimes; We never have any but
ter"
August wante, French boy. nf,ccn
! years old, said lie paid 10 cents a weclp
FOR drinking water
Was it good watcr?" ne was askc,i.,
1T was canal water VIC GOT replied
| Wante.
Nvantc said he got cents week
| John Bolderer. fifteen, a Lithuanian.
Said he got $50 a week, and SO did
| his father.
pad you like things better in tho
old country" asked Representative
Lenroot.
Not much better. think would
rath sr he there. but wouldn't want to
go aion:. My father spent lots OF
money to come over here
| Would YOU like to go to SCHOOL,"
! Yes, but have to work. and ITS
! i'"' - "'''i Co NdleE
all the time.
! low often do YOU have only water"
Sometimes for Two days at time"
| How often do YOU have neat
| once II week
| Not ofteper?"
| NO: We have bread and moiasscs
| and sometimes beans
! Victoria Wsimarisk fourteen. was
tho first girl witness. She said she was
i one Of eight children. She TESTIFIED to
! the riot at the depot.
'Do YOU get enough to cat"' Veto
ria was asked.
When we were all working 1 dld.''
! Her Scalp Torn Off.
! Commclln Taol told now her scalp
lad been torn of By the machinery in
one of the mills. Tic company had
! paid seven months hospital bill she
! said. several other children t.stihoi
! There has been some question:
said President Gompers In his argu-
I mcnt before the committee. as to Tin ;
/ authority Of this committee 10 make
| this inquiry into conditions q, Law
! CONTINUED on sixth PageJ