Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-06
ADMITS THAT HE NEVER
READ STATUTE HIMSELF
Has No Explanation of Why
Women and Children Were JAILED
MRS. TAFT AGAIN A LISTENER
Wife of the President Taking Deem
Interest in Tales Told
From the American
Lancashire.

Mfs. Taft. wife OF the President Of ths
United States. seated behind Representa-
tive Henry of Texas. chairman OF the
rules committee of the House, and beside
Victor Berger, the socialist member OF
Congress. listened attentively for three
| hours today to testimony relating to the
strike OF mill workers at Lawrence, Mass.
This was thesecond day on which Mrs.
tart had appeared at the hearing.
Attired modestly in a dark blue street
dress and GROWN plumed hat, Mrs Taft
entered the crowded room accompanied
| BY her niece, Miss Anderson.
They walked around the crowd of spec
| tators surrounding the witness chair and
pushed themselves unassisted past the
| people lined against the wall. Reaching
| the long platform occupied by the COM
mfttee. Mrs. Taft accepted a chair directly
beside Representative Berger, who IN
pleading the cause Of the strikers. Seat.
cd on the other side was Lewis 8. Cox.
the postmaster Of Lawrence. who is at the
| head OF the citizens committee. Mrs
Taft several times conversed with Mr.
| Berger.
Doesn't Mind the Smoke.
AS the testimony progressed she ap-
peared very much interested and dened
the cigar and cigarette smoke that filled
| the room.
| Upon adjournment, Mrs. Taft was ask.
ed by Chairman Henry IL she cared to
return in the afternoon.
| I'VE will find better seats for you. II
you care to come back. Mrs. Taft" said
Mr.. Henry.
| Thank you," Mrs. Taft replied, but
I do not know now whether we will re-
| turn or not
1t was learned today that another visit
or at the hearing yesterday was Mics
Ann Morgan Of New York. daughter OF
j. p. Morgan. She stood in the crowd
| surrounding the witness room for some
time and left unannounced.
c. F. Lynch, commissioner OF public
safety OF Lawrence, resumed the stand.
He first told OF giving personal financial
assistance to some parents who were per-
suaded not to send their children from
Lawrence.
did the city authorities and citizens
make any effort to settle the striker
asked Representative Hardwick.
City 0ficials Did Try.
Yes. sir. the city government commits
| sioners met with the strike committee
and tried to arrange a meeting with the
mill owners" said Mr.. Lynch. "The mill
owners refused to deal with the organixa-
| ton. but would with their own men,"
The commissioner said that he per-
| sonally saw one riot about the mills
'I saw a crowd hurting rocks at the
mills"
was any effort made to stop itg'
asked Mr. Hardwick.
Eyes, by the police there. Only seven
or eight officers were there"
What did they do?"
Il didn't see them because I went to
the station and called up the mayor
| to order out the militia"
did anybody do anything to the
people who were throwing coal?"
You didn't go near enough yourself
to see any more
did the police have any instructions
| as to proper places outside OF Law
renee for children whom ministers
wished to have taken care of" asked
Representative Stanley.
"No, sir"
Mr.. Stanley Asks a Question.
What section Of the statute authoris-
ed you to order the police to prevent
children leaving Lawrence:"
'Tt was looked up at the time = the
statute, I think. was that preventing
children's departure without parents
consent"
did you instruct the police to get
written consent of their parents?"
Yes"
What if the parent was present at the
"Well. that would be different if we
knew they We're the parents"
did you read that law you say you
have on the statute books Of Massachu-
setts. upon which you acted in this mat
ter?'
Il think not" Mr.. Stanley responded
Did you. order the police to jail the
children?' he continued.
Il left that to the man who had police
experience"
Police Witness Called.
Capt. John ]. Sullivan. who is acting
chief marshal. was called as the next
witness He told details Of the police
operations during the strike.
Capt. Sullivan described several street
riots, ana QecAaI0o Ihat nlS men were III
structed to act carefully and not to take
initiative action except where forced to.
He was asked about the stabbing OF an
Italian boy.
Soldiers were going across a trestle
bridge" he said, when this boy rushed
at one Of tho soldiers. A second soldier
prodded him with q bayonet. No report
ever was made to the police on this case"
what was tho boy attempting to do?"
RAnroAentAtiye DaI2eU.
"No one knows what was In the boys
mind. but the s,zpposftion IL he intended
- rs,sh the soldier through the trestle."
"What happened to the boy?
..He was taken TO hospital and re-
covered"
Strikers "Endleas Chain"
He told Of one morning when the
strikers had planned 20 form IN sudlsss
chain parade locking arms to prsvsas