The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-02-28
U. S P2OB|NG HALT
Of MILL CHILDREN
District Attorney, Under Washing
ton Orders, Puts Investigators
to Work In Lawrence.

BosToN, Feb. 27.-Federal investiga-
tion Of the action q the Lawrence police
in preventing children from leaving that
city last Saturday morning has been
begun by United States District Attorney
French on orders reciv cd to-day from the
Department Of Justice in Washington.
Special agents Of the Department Of
Justice are to 20 to Law to work
on the matter. They will make their report
to Mr.. French.
LAWRENCE. Mass. Feb. 27.-That the
sending of the children Of strikers to other
cities will be allowed by the police, but
only under an arrangement whereby
the authorities may be enabled to ascer-
tain definitely that the circumstances
in each case are not contrary TO law. was
the statement in the local police court
to-day of Judge j. J. Mahoney. This state
ment by the Judge followed the taking
of testimony in the case Of two of the
dozen or more children who were detained
by the police when they prevented the
expectation to Philadelphia last Satur-
day OF more than one hundred young ones.
A point brought out by the defence
was that in every instance tickets had
been bought for these children when the
police stopped them from going on the
train. Only two Of the children, Pearl
and William Brown. were involved in the
test imony taken and Judge Mahoney
said that under ordinary circumstances
he would consider that neglect had been
shown in the case of the Brown children.
and they should be turned over to the
State Board of Charities.
He said that the court has right to
inquire into the consent OF the parents
and to require that some regard be given
TO the custody and care of the children
who are sent away. The State has an inter
est in the children that does not conflict
in the abstract with the constitutional
rights Of the parents. The Sourt inter-
preted the statute as giving the city the
right 10 insist upon the proper custody
of children who are sent away and sug
Rested that II more children are to go
a list Of them could be submitted to the
police in advance for an adequate investi-
gation as TO the circumstances OF the
home to which it is proposed to send them.
| The Judge suggested also that when his
| Interpretation OF the law Is Understood
the attorneys might Ire able TO get together
with the city missionary and agree upon
what, il any. Of the children now in GUS
tody should be sent to the State Board
of Charities.
Acting City Marshal Sullivan announced
this afternoon that he will not prevent
| the shipment Of children from this city
| to Washington Saturday as planned
| by the strike committee providing he
receives assurances from Congressman
, Berger that tho latter will safeguard the
children's 4 welfare. About one hundred
children will he sent. according 10 the
present plans Of the strikers. They will
be selected in groups from all the nation
alities represented among the strikers.
William ID. Haywood. the strike leader,
to-day challenged Capt. Proctor OF the
State police TO uncover the dynamite
throwing plot he IL alleged to have infor-
nation about. Haywood said to the
strikers:
Now in the time that we want to take
the reins and hold this thing steady.
We have got the sympathy Of the work.
ing class and the public is with us. So
let = put Mr. Proctor on record. II he has
uncover II now before any crime can be
committed The strikers will not be held
responsible for any frameup.
A proclamation which has been drawn
up setting forth the cause for which the
strikers are contending and rehearsing
the unfair treatment which they claim
has been heaped upon them. first by en-
ployers and now the authorities, was read
and indorsed. II was pointed out that the
strikers were surrounded by bayonets
Of the militi, and were driven up and
down the streets by arrogant police
These men and women cannot suffer
much longer, the statement read. "They
will be compelled to rise In armed revolt
against their oppressors II the present state
OF affairs il allow ed to continue"
The committee proposes to have the
proclamation translated into various
Ian qua ges and spread broadcast.