The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-03-09

boys. IL and 15 years old. striking
mill workers from Lawrence, Mass
testified today before the House COM
mittee on rules. which Is considering
resolution to investigate conditions
which follow attempts to send chill
dren from the strik8-ridden city.
Children told of working long
hours for low wages. how they had
TO pay the American woollen Com
pany five cents week for drinking
water. which they described as canal
water" Some of them told of seeing
women beaten by police and children
Knocked down and hurled into wa
gons like bundles OF rags" at Law
renee "a week ago Saturday.
Representative Victor Berger and
Samuel Gompers. president Of the
American Federation OF Labor. were
again before the committee. Both
made statements about the rival
union condition at Lawrence, and
both were cautioned against the use
OF personalities.
After the testimony OF seven or
eight children had been taken. Max
Bogatir. a salesman Of Philadelphia,
one OF the Socialist committee which
went to Lawrence to accompany
strikers children to homes In Phila-
delphia. was questioned regarding the
charges OF disorder and brutality at
the Lawrence depot. He declared a
soldier tried TO keep him in the
station by guarding the door with a
hayonet
4 saw tho soldiers pick the chill
dren up by the legs like they were
rags" he said. "and / saw one woman
ohoked by a soldier. was beaten
by one Of the policemen and still
have wounds on by back where they
beat me-
Miss Jane Book. also of the Phila-
delph'a committee, corroborated
much Of the testimony.
II was pushed by the police close
against a car and held so 1 could
not move" she said. In describing the
scene at the Lawrence depot. THE
children we're screaming and many
we've dragged 20 military truck and
literally thrown there"
samuel Golden. 16 years old. said
hA
work and never made more than $50
IN week. He said children paid five
cents a week for drinking water
whether they drank II or not, and
were docked an hours pay II they
were hate. His father never made
more than 80 a week. he said.
Are you striker?" asked Repre-
sentative Pou.
II am" returned the lad proudly.
"Did you see any women ciubbed ?"
II saw one policeman crap a wo-
man by the throat and hit her with a
club"
What kind of a club 1"
"oh..a good club" replied the boy.
Charles vasiersky. 15 years old.
said he went to school until he was
II and then went to work.
II would have kept on at school,
but we do not have enough to eat,
said he.
"Do you ever go hungry "
Sometimes; we never have any
butter"
August Wante. French boy Is
years old. said he paid 10 cents a
week for drinking water.
WAS II good water?" ne was
asked.
1T WAS canal water we got" re-
piled wante.
Wante said he got cents a week
for spending money out OF his wages.
John Bolderer. 15 years old. a
Lithunian. said he got $50 week
and so did his father.
did you like the things better In
the Old, country?" asked Represen-
tative Lenroot.
"Not much better; think I would
rather he there, but I would not want
20 be alone. My father spent lots OF
money TO come here"
Would you like To go To school ?'
Yes hut have to work. and It's
hard. We can't eat bread and water
all the time"
How often do you have only
water
Sometimes for two days at q
time"
How often do you have meat?"
"Once a week"