The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-03
FIGHT IS AvERTED
 IN THE HOUSE OVER
 LAWRENCE STRIKE
Mccartney Resents Insinua- tion of Representa-
 tive Berger
LIVELY HEARING
 Is INTERESTING
Lipson Testifies in Regard to Condi. tions in Textile Strike---Accuses Police of Beginning Riots.
 Mothers Not Clubbed


 Mothers Not Clubbed
 washington. March 3.--At the conclusion of the day of an unusual hearing before the House committee on rules, on bills proposing an investigation of conditions relating to the strike Of textile workers al Lawrence, Mass, Representative Nie- tor Berger of Wisconsin and Robert Mo Cartney of the citizens committee of Lawrence, almost came to blows and were separated by Representative Wilson of H. inois.
 The rules committee had adjourned ths hearing to be resumed on Monday. neces- sitatng the stay in Washington Of women and children from the Lawrence wooren mills who had been sent here to testify concerning strike conditions.
 "Who is going to pay the expenses of these people?" asked Representative Ber- ger. the socialist member of tho House as the committee was about 10 adjourn.
 Wilson Proposes Collection
 Representative Henry. chairman of ths committee, declared nothing could be done
 
 tigation on such a matter, whereupon Representative Wilson of Pennsylvania suggested that a collection be taken to de- fray the expenses. Samuel Gompers, pres ident of the American Federation of Ia- Dor, was the first to contribute, and Rep- resentative Berger held the hat. Several Lawrence young women collected the con- trlbutions, which came from men ana women in the committee room. When Lewis s. Cox, the postmaster of Law renee, contributed a dollar, Representative Berger protested Give him back his money said Bar- ger to Miss Josephine Liss who had eol- leeted 1t. We don't want any blood money
 Mccartney, ,swho was standing near hs. immediately protested against Bergers nsinuation. and for several minutes the committee room was in confusion.
 "Who are you?' demanded Mccartney of Berger.
 T represent the people of Wisconsin," Berger hotly replied, and l don't pro pose To have these people receive any blood noney2
 T probably have as much money as son have" Mccartney replied. and t is not blood money"
 Shook Fist in Face
 The Massachusetts man was shaking lis fist in Representative Berger's face ana the socialist congressman was emphatic in his language demanding that Miss Liss give back the dollar. As she gave back the money Representative Wilson Of llll- nois, a member of the rules committee, interyened between Berger and McCart- ney, who were almost on the verge of combat. His interference in the squab- ble ended the controversy and Mccartney and A'ox left the room,
 This was the climax to an exciting scene in the committee room in which the Law renee strike conditions were revealed
 Lipson Testifies
 In a crowded room Samuel Lipson. member of the Lawrence strike commit tee, was on the witness stand and Repre- sentative Pou of North Carolina sought to get him to describe the scene al The station when the police and the militia prevented children front being gent awaA from the strike city. Lipson told of fhs~ police grabbing the children and throwing them into patrol wagons and of shouting and clubbing the mothers of the children. Did you really see the mothers clubbed?" Pou asked.
 No" the witness replied, but 1 saT them showed around
 Lipson referred to the killing of John Ramey. who was bayohetted by the mill tia as he stood. inoffensiyely, the witness said. in front of his home. He said Ramey was not a striker and that il was known he was not even sympathizef.
 And the police started this trouble' he said. We were not striking agains, the police or the militia. They started tc make us move faster when we gathered in groups on the streets and they enforcf< their arguments with the hayonet"
 About Killing of Woman
 Referring to the killing of wonab striker Anna Lopizzo, Lipson was quss- toned:
 Who killed herg0 asked Chairman Henry.
 "our witnesses said Lipson, "swNf they saw Policeman Benoitt shoot ehi the woman fall. but the police tell diff ferent story" HH.
 "Weren't two strike leaders, Ettor andm Giovannitl, arrested in this connection?y asked Henry The witness admitted this was so.
 But. he added. we would have ta use in killing e woman. The police s9id the speeches made by Ettor and Gioyan- nifi infuriated the strikers. and that is the way they investigated the killing"
 IIpson defended Ettor, who is now in jan. by declaring he had always coun- selled the strikers 10 keep cool
 But. being desperate seeing iHe ldor piece of bread taken from them, seeing fheir women without clothing and their little children barefooted. the strikers may have resorted 10 mild acts of violence. such as throwing chunks of ice or snow" Why did the strikers want to send their children away from Lawrenee?" Representative Stanley of Kentucky in- quired
 Harris Protests
 Al this point Representative Harris of Massachusetts protested against the char acter of the examination of I.ipson. He asserted I.ipson was discussing matters with which the federal government could have no concern, and requested that he be limited 10 the incident of the preven- ton of the children from leaving Law renee. Chairman Henry declared the in- vestigation involved the facts leading up to the incident.
 I.ipson was cross examined with per- mission of the committee by Mr Cox.
 You had some trouble with the po-s uceea COX asked, "at the time of the outbreak of the strike9'
 Well. who started it?' cried the witt ness excitcdly
 And some people were arresteds' Cox continued.
 That's no news to us,' Lipson an swered
 Representative Foster of illinois asked Lipson if 1t were true that the