The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1912-03-07
MRS. TAFT HEARS
STRIKE STORIES
WIFE OF PRESIDENT LISTENS TO
LAWRENCE TEXTILE WORKERS
DETAIL CONDITIONS.
Members of Committee Ask Many
Questions to Learn State of Affairs
of Which Mill Workers Make Com
pAaint.

Washington, March Mrs. Taft
was an interested listener again to-
day at the house rules committee
hearing into the strike conditions at
Lawrence. Wives of many of the
congressman heard dramatic stories
of events in the labor war.
Y. f. Lynch, commissioner of pub
lie safety of Lawrence, resumed the
stand. He told of lending personal
financial assistance to some parents
who were unable to conduct their
children from Lawrence.
Did the city authorities and citi-
zens make any effort to settle the
striker" Representative Hardwick
asked.
Yes, sir, the city government com
mls<foI-ers met VIZ. cne STRIFE com
mittee and tried to arrange a mee,-
ing with the mill owners. The mill
owners refused to deal with the or
ganization, but would with their own
men"
AuthoFlty for Actions.
What section of the statute auth
orized you to order tine police to pre-
vent children leaving Lawrence?"
asked Representative Stanley.
1t was looked up at the time-the
statute l think, was that preventing
children's departure without parents
consent
What if the parent was present at
the oepot?"
We'll, thae would b different if we
knew they ws1e the .arents."
did you read that law you say you
have on the statale books Of Massa-
chuse- 5 uptn which sou acted in this
matts:?'
Il cid not"
Did you order the police TO Jail the
ehildren?"
Il left that to the man who haaI
police experience
Capt. John J. Sullivan, acting chief
marshal of Lawrence, was called az
the next witness and told of details
of the police operations during the
strike.
Street Riots Described.
Captain Sullivan described several
street riots, and declared that his men
were instructed to act carefully ana
only when forced to. He was asked
about the stabbing of an italian boy
Soldiers were going across a tres
tie bridge, he said, when this boy
rushed at one of them. second SOL
dier prodded him with a bayonet. No
report ever was made to the police on
this case"
What was the boy attempting to
do?" asked Representative DalzelI.
No one knew what was in the boys
mind, but the supposition is he in :
tend I'd to push the soldier through the
tres tle?"
What happened to the boy?'
"Hc was taken to a hospital and
reco 'ered.
He told OF Cne morning when the
strik ers had planned to form an end
less chain parade, locking arms to
prevent persons who wished to go to
work from rearhirg tie, mills.
25,ooo Were in Mob.
Although they did not do this" he
continued, they did fill several Of the
streets leading 20 the mills. am sure
there were $4,000 people in those
mobs. No attempt at parade was
made but numerous persons were pre-
vented from going to work. Late in
the day Tie s-rikers began to pull the
trolle s of the cars all along the line.
The cars were stoned and motormen
and corG@t ors frightened off. / saw
and hurl them. / put him under ar
rest and was pelted with ice. one
officer came to my assistance. | held
up ny club and threatened any man
who came near. An Armenian who
struck me in the head was the only
man ! hit"
lie described other demonstrations
Gould you locate the leaders, men
or women, who led assaults?" asked
Representative. Wilson Of Illinois.
There were no leaders in the
streets" said the captain. "The in
structions of leaders were made in
meetings"
Women and Children in Front.
THE crowds were usually led by
woman and children They were al
ways in the front rank, and some
times women had children in their
arms. Other women carried flags. On
the first morning, Ettor, the strike
leader, was about the mills giving or
ders, but when the demonstrations
took place he always disappeared"