The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1912-03-09
STRIKERS THANKS
FOR LOCAL FUNDS
Lawrence Committee Sends
Expression of Gratitude
for Assistance

for Assistance
The textile strikers Of Lawrence
through their strike committee have
sent their thanks and deep apprecia-
fion of the help given them by SYM
pathizers in Bridgeport who have con-
tributed money and clothing through
The Bridgeport Socialist club and The
Lawrence Strike Aid Committee.
Benjamin J. Legere, Chairman of the
Lawrence Strike Aid Committee to-day
received q letter from the Secretary of
the strike committee at Lawrence ad-
dressed to all those who have helped
in sending funds and material support
to the strikers.
uses to which the relief fund is being
put that many will be interested in
the statement from the strikers in the
following letter:
Lawrence, Mass, Mar. 6, 1912.
Fellow Workers:
strike relief and fighting fund Of the
Lawrence mill strikers. Thousands
OF workers engaged in this great strug-
gle send you In return thanks and due
appreciation. We will never forget.
And we will never forgive. The
aroused the nation, and we know now
that millions are feeling, are fighting
with US. We will win.
In this connection we wish to con-
vey to all contributors the informa-
ton, which we also gave In previous
used to feed every day $4,000 strikers
but we are also sending children away
to other cities SO that well-mean1ng
friends and comrades will take care of
them while the strike lasts.
This we know has aroused the dis
pleasure and ire of the capitalists and
their plant tools in city halls and
courts and the beating up pregnant
women and innocent children was the
best manifestation Of this d1spleasure.
The outrages committed under the au-
thority Of the law will result in law
suits for indemnity, and we believe
that all contributors will agree with
us that this matter should be pushed
to the limit SO that the crimes of cap
italists be exposed in all their ghast-
ly features.
II Is self-evident that the other vic
Tins OF capitalist foul and outrageous
crimes. Ettor and Giovanitti, held in
Jail on charges Of a crime, which, ac-
cording to testimony submitted to the
court, was committed by one Of the
policemen to discredit the strikers,
should not be left unsupported and un-
OF the oppressors. Legal advice must
be obtained, and the capitalist conspi-
racy must be exposed in all its shock
ing details. We know 1t is the desire
OF all the contributors that both
should be given the best legal defense.
money was sent in for that purpose
and turned over by Ettor to the relief
fund.
Four-ffths of the contributions have
been received from revolutionary or
carnations and the other fifth is due
to the efforts of Socialists. We owe
no apology to- anyone when We say
that the money is used for the pur-
poses described. and although the cap
italists and some of their hirelings
find fault that revolutionary propa
eanda Is carried on, and while they
ed for the latter purpose exclusively,
we are safe in our assurance that we
are not misusing the funds to betray
the workers to capitalist politicians
nor will we preach harmony of inter-
ests between exploiters and exploited
and the bayonets of the soldiers,
which give object lessons of the fact
that this is a war for the results of
labor. The most indispensable ele-
ments in industrial life must have a
say in the selling process Of their Ia
Dor power.
We expect and court no aid from
any quarters that are inimical to
working class interests, and if some
of them have contributed, in the be-
lief OF gaining control over affairs
concerning the strikers alone, we
would prefer they asked for the return
OF their contributions. as we believe
that the workers are fully able to run
their affairs without the belated coun-
sci of eminent reformers and capital
list stool pigeons.
We are in this fight to win. In
principle the struggle Is won, for
thousands of textile workers in other
localities have benefited by the great
struggle we are carrying on. and il
our comrades, and fellow workers
everywhere will stand by us as in the
past We will be able to make a new
era in the la or movement of the New
England States and prepare hundreds
Of thousands for a greater battle yet,
a. battle which will decide whether in
dustrial czars shall rule the nation
or whether the nation shall rule the
wealth that it's workers have ere
ated.
Thanking you again for your con-
tributions and hoping you will con-
tinue your efforts in our behalf, we
remain.
Yours for the Strikers Committee,
SECRETARY JOSEPH BEDARD,
No. Mason ST., Lawrence. Mass.