Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1912-02-29
CHILDREN OF
STRIKE SUFFER
Police Stop Relief Of Little Ones at
Lawrence, Mass.
ACTION WITHOUT AuTHoRII,
Little ones Forced to Bear Unneces-
sary 5urden-Federai inquiry In
TO Methods o. MIL Owners to
Relieve Situation.


Lawrence. Mass, Feb. ga crisis
is due in the strike Of the $4,000 men,
women and children OF the textile
mills. Following the action of the
police and militia in selling children
who. to escape want, were to have
left the city, to be cared for by the
citizens of Philadelphia and Provi-
dence, the strikers feel that some
thing from the outside, probably the
federal government, must come to aid
them.
An effort, partly successful, was
made to keep the children in Law
renee. the police then contending that
the children's parents had not con-
sented to allow the strike committee
to send them away.
Later a score Of boys and girls,
each wearing a tag, were escorted TO
the depot. Tickets were bought for
Philadelphia or Providence. Fifty
mothers, sisters and brothers of the
children were on the station platform
or in the waiting room to see them
OF. The train backed into the depot
then a squad of policemen swooped
down on the party.
Police Interfered.
A truck in the street was COM
Wandered and backed up to the sta
ton platform. Into 1t eight struggling
women, ten trembling boys and girls
and FIVE men were bundled and carted
OF TO the police station.
The ten children who were arrested
we're sent to the city home for or
phans. Their ages ranged from three
to Is years.
Questions put by Justice Rowall
brought out the fact that not one OF
the parents had ever been in court be-
fore. One mother, who was fined. 80
for assaulting an officer, was Jennie
Lewis, who was stopped by q police
man when she tried to board the train
at North Station with her four-year-
old daughter in her arms.
Action 10 Unconstitutional.
Washington, Feb. Ex-senator VIII
liam e. Borah of Idaho. author Of the
children's bureau bill and recognized
as one of the greatest constitutional
authorities In congress, asserted mis-
belief that the action Of the authori-
ties at Lawrence in forcibly prevent
ing strikers from sending their chill
dren out of the Massachusetts, city
was an invasion of constitutional
privileges.
81 know OF no authorityAof law ne
said, "that would prevent parents
from sending their youngsters out OF
reach Of strike disturbances
Representative Sulzer Of New York
asserted that some measure should be
taken at once to relieve the Lawrence
situation.
again there comes tale OF OPP
preston and sorrow at Lawrence, ne
said. Men and women, endeavoring
to send their little ones away from
the squalid conditions that the strike
has brought about. we're held up and
arrested by policemen and militia
Massachusetts,, for the honor OF the
state, should do something at once ia
relieve the SITUATION.
Asks Congressional Inquiry.
Representative Berger, Socialist
member from Wisconsin said he would
press his resolution to have a con
gressional investigation of the Law
renee strike. His resolution, already
introduced provides for a special com
mittee Of seven members to investi
gate the industrial situation in the
American Wooden company's mills.
Gave Them Back.
Lawrence. Mass, Feb. 26.-The cit!
officials have given back to the strik
ing parents most of the children WHIT
were taken in charge as they were
about to be placed on a train fol
philadelphia. The children had passed
the night at the city poor farm.