Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1912-03-05
CHILDREN VICTIMS
Of SHAMEFUL
TREATMENT
SHOCKING TESTIMONY :
IN STRIKE INQUIRY
Little Ones Tell of Working
Long Hours for Meagre Pay
Women and Men Beaten by
Lawrence Police and Militia,
Inv Morniur journal Special reased w,r. ,

| IBv Morning Journal Special Leased Wire.l
Washington, March Girls and
, boys, IA and Is years old, striking mill
workers from Lawrence Mass, testl-
! fled today before the house commit
tee on rules, which Is considering a
resolution to investigate conditions
that followed attempts to send chill
dren from the strike ridden city.
Children told of working long hours
for low wages, how they had 80,
the American Wooden Compf<
| cents week tor drinking
which they described as
water"
Some of them told of seeing f
beaten by police and children knocKcVr
down and hurled into wagons hike
bundles of rags" week ago Satur-
day.
Representative Victor Berger and
Samuel Gompers. president of the
American Federation of Labor, were
again before the committee Both
made statements about the rival union
conditions at Lawrence and both We're
cautioned against personalities,
After testimony of seven or eight
tin, salesman of Philadelphia. one
of the socialist committee who went
to Lawrence to accompany strikers
children to homes in Philadelphia, was
questioned regarding the charges of
disorder and brutality AT the Law
renee depot. He declared a soldier
tried to keep him in the station by
guarding the door with a bayonet.
Il saw the soldiers pick up chill
dren by the legs. like they We're rags.
he said, "and | saw one woman choked
by a soldier / was beaten by one of
the policemen and still have wounds
on my back where they beat me-
Miss Jane Book, also of the Phila-
delphia committee, corroborated much
of the statement,
II wae pushed against ear ana
held there SO that | could not move,
said she, in describing the scene at
the Lawrence depot. "rhe children
were screaming and many were
dragged to a military truck and liter
ally thrown there"
Samuel Goldman. 6 years old testi-
fled he received S1.64 for three days
work and never made more than
$50 in week. lie said children paid
five cents week for drinking water,
whether they drank or not. and were
docked an hours pay If they were
late. His father never made more than
50 Il week. he said.
Are you n striker asked Mr.. Pou.
Il am." returned the lad proudly.
did you see any woman clubbed? %
Il saw one policeman grab a woman
by the throat and strike her with q
club"
What kind OF Il club?"
30. a good club replied the boy.
Charles Vasiersly, Is years old, said
he went to school until he was II and
then went to work.
~ would have kept on In school but
we did not have enough to eat" said
he.
do you ever go hungry"
Some times; we never have any
butter"
August Wante French boy, ii
years old. said he paid ten cents al
week for drinking water
was it good water?" he was
asked.
1T was canal water we got" re-
piled Wante.
Wante said he got five cents a week
for spending money out of his wages.
John Boldcrer, IL. q lithuanian. said
he got $50 week and so did his
father.
Did you like things better In the
old country asked Representatives
Lenroot.
NAT t,,tch bettar | think | would
rather be there. but | wouldn't want
To go alone. My father spent lots at
money to come over here.
"would you like to go to school 2
Yes. but / have 10 work and its
hard We can't eat bread and water
all the time
How often do you have only wa
ter9"
some times for two days dt a
time
How often 10 you have meat?'
"Once week"
mot oftcner?"
NO, we have bread and molasses
and some times beans
Victoria Weimaryzk. II. was the
'irst girl witness. She said she was
me of eight children. She testified "a
he riot at the depot.
DO you get enough to eat?' VIC
oria was asked.
when we were all working | did.
Cammella Taoli told how her scalp 4
,ad been torn off by the machinery
n one OF the mills. The company
,ad paid q seven months hospital bill.
he said.
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