United labor bulletin., 1912-02-29
CLUBBlks OF CHILDREN
AR0USES CONGRESS
Department Of Justice, Senate
! and House of Representa-
tives Take Up In
Nj vestigation.

The iaborcrushina capitalists, the city
government of Lawrence, Mass, and the
state troops of Massachusetts, have done
more to arouse public sentiment In few
short weeks than trade unions could 90
in years without the clubbing, shoottn9
and failing that is going on In Lawrence.
In Massachusetts law was passed
for the benefit of the workers; and in
order to offset the effect OF that law the
owners Of the textile mills In Lawrence
reduced the wages Of the employees sum
cientIy to make the law Ineffective me
workers struck. They were unorgantzed,
but they saw the great injustice that had
been done them and the mills were
emptied as the spirit Of revolt seized the
underpad and underfed workers. They
ncketed and fought for their rights until
Veir funds became exhausted then
clashes with the police occurred. state
troops were ordered out to supplement
the police. Men and women were ciuoneo'
bayoneted and shot, and many thrown In
iaiL with the hope that they could De
driven back to the mills
When the leaders of the strike were
Jailed. from their cells they planned for
the workers on the firing line. They
suggested that the women and chiidren
be sent out OF the city that they might
be cared for while the men fought for
their rights Many children were sent
ceived with open arms and public senti-
ment was aroused TO fever heat The
leaders planned for another exodus to
PHILADELPHIA, and when the children
were being taken TO the train the civil
authorities OF the city and the state
militia dubbed the women and children
away from the depot and would NOT a.
low them TO board the train for the
Quaker city Women and children were
t-,ten and trampled underfoot by
AL.d clubmen.
Il nay boast OF our touted constitu-
vS5.ghts and OF American heroism-
,.t even Russian Cossacks would blush
with shame at what transpired at Law
renee.
The strike leaders telegraphed 10 the
,ahor committee OF the national house
OF representatives. and that pody'
through Chairman Wilson OF the com
mit,ee on labor. and the senate. through
Senator Poindexter. have taken the mat
Ter uu. as has the department OF justice.
single representative-Repr eprssenta-
,,ve ciflett of ssnchusetts-prevented
,he house taking action Monday for the
renef OF he strike situation at Law
iAee. sss-
GS'ette objected 70 the efforts OF Rep
resentative Wilson tDcin-. Pal. chair-
man oi the labor committee, 70 ,s seeure
an unanimous consent for the conslusra-
ZION OF the Wilson measure authorizing
isbor committee 10 investigate the club
hing ~ women and children
In the house two representauNes-
Chairman Wilson OF the labor committee
himself union card man. ana berger
80 Wisconsin Sociallst-sought consid-
Grafton OF their respective resolutions
turning the scarchlight OF eongres-
sional Investigation upon the strike CITY
In tho senate the resolution. dramati-
called up by Senator PoindeNter OF i Masn'
iprton. was pending and the WASHINGTON
ian aroused by Impressions gained nrst
hand at the Massachusetts city, declared
his Intention to press the measure.
The poindcxter. Wilson and Berger
resolutions were introduced simultane-
ousIy Poindexter demanded that the
department OF commerce ana labor re
mort to the senate the wages ana cohoi.
tions OF living OF fhe mill workers anu
whether the municipal authorities nave
NO, aforcibly interfered" In the matter
poryer asks investigation by special
house committee. Wilson recommends
snocisc investigation by the committee
On labor OF the allegation that militia
and poIice at Lawrence have denied con
stitutlonai liberties TO the mill WORKERS
Victims OF the strike themselves VIII
come to Washington to plead their cause
A committee of men. women and emil
dren. who have lived through the indus
trial struggle. will be sent from the
strike ridden city TO appear before the
congressional investigating committee
In presenting his resolution in the sen
ate. poindexter bitterly arraigned the
Lawrence authorities for absolutely III
noring" the constitution.
81 consider that every citizen who has
.rv regard for American citizens and
American constitution. which we hear so
much about these days. Is deeply inter
ested here" Poindexter declared. IL is
simply a matter OF substituting the ire
sponslble rule OF temporary local auto
cgat for the law.
"a great many workers and residents
are in fail without having committed any
offense against the laws | am willing
To impeach the authorities In that part
Of Massachusetts. II is the substitution
Of military force for the civil law.
That the department OF justice inves-
tiration OF the Lawrence strike situation
will be in the line OF possible prosecution
under the Sherman antitrust law, Tor
alleged conspiracy In restraint OF inter
state trade" was the authoritative state
ment secured from the department at
Washington yesterday. II was said the
government regarded children of the
s,r,xers technically as passenger traf-
ac" and the action OF the Lawrence
authorities indicate clearly in the near
future that they intend to punish those
guilty in the recent stopping OF strikers
from sending their children away from
lawrence. The department acted IN
stantly when the news reached WASH.
inrton Saturday. It was learned tnat
there was an Immediate conference pe-
tween Assistant Attorney General Har-
rif, in charge of labor matters; Attorney
CA1feral Wickersham and Solicitor zen
oral Lehman and at Its close the uis-
trict attorney at Boston was ordered by
wire to investigate.
4 Tho conference of attorneys consid-
ered two federal statutes possibly vio-
Inted when Marshal Sullivan stopped the
children at the station. One was tne
izens OF their constitutional liberty. The