The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1912-03-07
STRIKE CHILDREN
| TALK IN CONGRESS
Boys and Girls OF Lawrence Tell
Committee of Low Wages, Long
Hours and Hunger - Po-
lice Brutality Charged.

Washington, March 5.-Mrs. Taft,
the presidents wife, was listener
today TO the tales OF the alleged
cruelty in the Lawrence strike told
in the house rules committee
Miss Tema Camitta, a Philadel-
phia Sunday school teacher and
member Of the committee that
sought to get the children out Of
Lawrence, was the first witness.
While she was testifying Mrs. Taft
arrived. She remained several
hours.
Before Miss Camitta took the
stand there was read into the rec
ord telegram from VIM. d. Hay
wood, one Of the strike leaders, to
the effect that two women witness
es sought by Berger couldn't come
to Washington because of injuries
sustained at the hands Of the po-
lice in the recent rioting. One wo-
man, Haywood said, was in the hos
pital in a critical condition. Miss
Camitta related how she endeav-
.ored to lead the children from the
station to the train.
Miss Camitta's Testimony.
For some reason the children
got out ahead of me-" she said, "and
Instantly the women and children
were hurled into a struggling mass
by the police. I was squeezing
against wall of the waiting room
and terribly frightened.
"The crowd in front of me was
so dense that | could see little. |
called out to the police to be care
ful of the children, you're killing
them.
Later when | sought to accom-
pany them to the station | was told
that I'd better get away or I'd be
clubbed too"
Miss Camitta told of detectives
visiting the homes of parents of
Lawrence children and threatening
them if they sent their children
away. She said in all cases where
children were taken away the par
ents' consent was obtained, and that
there was nothing in the nature of
kidnapping.
Simon KnabeI on Stand.
Simon Knabel, another member
of the committee from Philadelphia,
who was arrested in Lawrence, was
the next witness. He said that in
the police station where he was
locked up all day, the children were
not given anything to eat, fifteen or
eighteen of them.
Some of them were children at
breasts he continued. Some of
the husbands whose wives were
locked up brought children to their
mothers to be nursed."
Max Bogantin, a salesman of
Philadelphia, one of the Socialist
committee which went to Lawrence
TO accompany strikers children to
homes in Philadelphia, was ques-
toned yesterday regarding the
charges of disorder and brutality at
the Lawrence depot. He declared
soldier tried to keep him in the
station by guarding the door with
a bayonet
II saw the soldiers pick the chill
dren up by the legs, like they were
rags" he said. "and saw one wo-
man choked by soldier. | was
beaten by one of the policemen and
still have the wounds on my bark
where he beat me-"
Samuel Goldman, f6 years old,
testified he receives Sf.64 for three
days work and never made more
than $40 in week. He said chill
dren paid five cents a week for
drinking water whether they drank
or not, and were docked an hours
pay if they were late.
Are you a striker?" asked Rep
Iresentatiye pou.
Il am returned the lad proudly.
Paid $50 Week.
John Boderer, Lithuanian, said
he got $40 a week, and so did his
father.
did you like things better in the
old country?" asked Representative
Denroot.
NOT much DETER. | tnlnk |
would rather be there, but | would
mot Want to go alone. My father
spent lots of money to come over
here"
Would you like to go to sch0ol2N
Yes, but | have to work, and it's
hard We can't eat bread and water
all the time"
How often do you have to eat
only bread and water."
Sometime for two days at
time"
How often do you have meat?"
''Once q week"
Not oftener.r
mo. We have bread and molas-
ses, and sometimes beans"
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