New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-02
ETTOR PLEDGES LIFE
AS THOUSANDS CHEER
Lawrence Labor Leader Says
Prison Experience Gave Him
New Enthusiasm.
SPEAKERS VOICE is WEAK
Save Your Lives from Dangers
Capitalism Imposes on You,
Is His Message to
Workingmen.

Joseph ]. Ettor, who was recently &C
quilted, with his companions, Of murder
In connection with the textile strike IN
Lawrence. Mass. and William ID. Hay
wood were enthusiastically greeted at
both the Harlem River and Manhattan
casinos yesterday. The audience, fully
six thousand strong, each paid nickel
for admittance.
The Manhattan Casino meeting, in East
ith street. was for the purpose of raising
sufficient money to create fund for the
legal defence of Alexander Aldemus. the
striking marine engineer, who is soon to
be tried on a charge Of shooting three po-
licemen In the waterfront strike last
spring. Ettor's appearance at the East
ith street casino was unlocked for, but
the Harlem meeting was organized in his
honor by Branch No Of the Socialist
party. Ettor appeared to be very ex-
hausted He was pale, and his voice
was hoarse and without any strength.
When he entered the hall In East 4th
street the great audience accorded him
an unusual demonstration. standing be-
fore their chairs until the last cheer died
away. The greater part Of the audience
seemed to be Italian, and quite frequently
an entire section would raise their hands
and shout the request that Ettor speak
In their language. Now and then the
speaker would interrupt his speech while
he leaned heavily against railing, and
with difficulty regained his breath.
Philip Russell, who presided at the
meeting, expressed disappointment with
the SlT Is collected among the audience
for tho aid OF the Little Falls strikers.
He later declared that It was probably
due to the failure to announce the pur-
pose OF the collection properly.
One OF the early speakers was a mature
appearing, phe boy OF thirteen. Philip
Berg. from the lower East Side, who an
nounced that he had received his inspira-
ton from Haywood, whom he had listened
TO In the Labor Lyceum In Brooklyn.
Ettor in beginning his speech said he
owed nothing 10 the courts. IF 1 owe
my life to anything. IT was to the reso-
luton OF the working classes he cried.
Continuing. he said:
Now you who saved my life and the
lives OF two others In Lawrence start
In TO save your own. Every year forty
thousand workers give their flesh and
blood TO grease the wheels or Mammon
I'm mine and factory. They choke IN the
soft coal mines OF Illinois. are blown
TO bits In the hard coal mines Of Penn
sylYania or are ground beneath wheel or
gear. Every year unprotected macnln-
ery kills forty thousand workers. Let
us stop IL. Don't say II is impossible.
said that Impossible" was an idiotic
word. ! would say TO you failure Is the
shibboleth OF the fool, Il can't Is the
cry only OF the knave and the coward.
Think OF all the energy and the enthu-
siasm the worker has wasted In the past.
Ii will make your heart sick, and you
viii agree with me that there is now 10
time for discussion. The capitaiistic
class has declared war upon us. Ii has
lorded II over US long enough. We must
shake II from our backs
They took ten months off my life in
Lawrence, but that time in Jail has
served purpose. Now | am stronger
in brain and limb and enthusiasm. You
have brought me out, and am ready 70
take up my work and do my part. | will
not be unworthy OF your confidence and
love, my fellow workers. Now, as l did
at the door OF the jail, / pledge all that
] am and have and hope TO be TO the
cause OF those whose dreams are mine.
When the prolonged cheers and
stamping OF feet and sticks had ceased
Haywood was introduced. Immediately
the hall burst forth into renewed enthu-
siasm.
lie said:
Ettor came here to-day TO thank you
for saving his life 1 came TO you years
ago thanking you for saving mine.
Others will come TO you. We did not
come to thank YOU for the privilege or
being in Jail, but when you saved me
pledged my life TO you, and | have been
carrying the message ever since.
Ettor, Giovannitti and Caruso never
Will forget-lke me they will carry the
message till they die. This is my mes
sage: i believe In direct action. 1t is
the shortest way home, especially for
women and children and black men and
foreigners and the disfranchised. In
furtherance of direct action / would
make use of any and all means necessary
TO accomplish the end. i do not appeal
for Individual action. understand me. but
for class action. and no class action can
to nv mind be too revolutionary TO
shake off this monster that Is clinging
about our necks. There is no identity Of
Interest between the exploiter and the
exploited, and there never can be.