The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-02-28
Especial from United Press1

Washington, Feb. 2S.-That the de- partment of justice investigation o1 the Lawrence strike situation will be in lire for possible prosecutions TOT violation of the Sherman anti-Trus' Law for alleged conspiracy in re- straiut of interstate trade" was the authoritative statement secured from the department, today.
 It was said that the government regarded children of the strikers technically as passenger traffic" and the action of the Lawrence authori- ties in forcibIy preventing their de- parture, may, it was believed, consti- ute violation of the Sherman law
 It was learned that the department is very much in earnest In It's lnVestl- gation of the Lawrence affair and proposes to follow it's investigation with criminal prosecutions unless the Massa achusettS state authorities 1nd1- cate plainly in the near future that they intend to punish those guilty Tn the recent stopping of strikers from sending their children away rom Lawrence.
 when the news from Lawrence reach ed Washington, Saturday morning.. It was learned that there was an inn mediate conference between Assistant labor matters, Attorney General Wick ershaIn and Solicitor General Leh- mann. and the district attorney at Boston was ordered to investigate.
 Special agents of the department were in Lawrence before Sunday
 The coference of attorneys consid- cred two Federal statutes possibly violated when Marshal Sullivan stop ped the children at the station. One was the sta tute against conspiracy to deprive citizens of their constitu- tional liberties. The other was ths would be difficult to secure convic- tions under the conspiracy law be- cause the safeguarding of cOnstitu- tional rights IS largely a matter or state control. Attorney General Vic kersham, however, is said to believe the officials have a case against the Lawrence authorities in the Sherman law.
 It is said that under law, it will make no difference whether the chill dren had bought their railroad tickets or not since they were actually on their way out of the state when they wer estopped. The maximum penalty for violating the Sherman Law is $5,> 900 fine and one years Imprisonment.
 At the department of justice, today, there was no essential difference be- tween the authorities at Lawrence stopping children at a railroad station and the famous nightriuers holding up tobacco shipments. In Kentucky, state authorities would not prosecute and the federal government did not hesitate about going in to uphold this law. In the same way it is said that the Massachusetts authorities will be given the first opportunity | to act.
 Appeals for Congress to investigate alleged recruiting white slaves from the children of Lawrence strikers | were received today, by Representa- tive Berger, the Wisconsin Socialist. He gave out letters from strikers ask ing Congress to ascertain if the mill owners knowingly retain bosses who use power of the payroll and their |, to take advantage of youth full innocence and poverty
 They charge that Lawrence is a re cruitfng point for the white slav traffic.
 Berger and Chairman Wilson, of the House labor committee. also receiv- ed a petition from Lawrence citizens criticising President Golden of the Textile Workers as mot in sympathy with the people of this city" They urged action "to end a reign of ter ror''
 Representative Wilson also received a sheaf of letters, today, pleading for the Congressional probe.