New-York tribune., 1912-03-07
LAWRENCE HEADS DENY
SOLDIERS WERE BRUTAL
City Officials Resent Strikers
Claims That Troops Acted
Like Russian CoSSaCkS.
POLICE WERE MILD, TOO
Governors Secretary Admits
Force" Was Used - Mrs.
Taft Hears House Mem
bers Quiz Witnesses.
from Tho Tribune Bureau. ]

from The Tribune Bureau.l
Washington, March 6.-The 'other slde
of the Lawrence strike situstion-a defence
of the action of the local police and inc
state militia-was furnished TO the Rules
Committee of the House to-day. In every
instance the civil authorities testitying
denied the sworn statements Of the strikers
that 'the brutality Of the soldiers and the
police has been equalled only by the Cos
sacks of Russia
Mrs Taft, accompanied by her niece
Miss Anderson, was again listener at
both the morning and afternoon sessions.
She entered the room soon after the hear
ing began and remained standing no
ment behind the dais on which the men,
oers Of the committee sat, but she was
soon recognized ny Mrs. Rainey, wife Of
Representative Rainey, and scat was pro-
v:ded for her.
II vas learned to-day that Miss Anne
Morgan, Of New York. daughter Of ]. +.
Morgan. attended the hearing yesterday.
She stood in the crowd surrounding the
witness room for some time and left un-
announced
The conflicting stories OF the strike again
drew scores OF persons 70 the committee
room, and the rigid examination of wit
uesses indicated that it will be several days
before the committee terminates the hear
tngs and determines whether or not the fed
ersl government is authorized TO take cog
nizsnce Of the charge that the children
of the strikers" were denied the right TO
20 10 other cities where they might be
cared for while their parents fought the
industrial war with the mill owners.
Captain John 6. Sullivan. acting chief
marshal of Lawrence; Daniel Murphy, City
Attorney. and Dudley Holman, private sec
retary to Governor Foss of Massachusetts.
were among the witnesses who defended
the police and tho militia. Before MIR.
sullivan left the stand. Representative
Hardwick asked:
Asks Sullivan to Explain.
Captain. how Is 1t that your testimony
regarding the alleged brutality OF the police
is entirely at variance with the sworn testi-
mony OF all the strikers who have ap-
peared here and the newspaper accounts?"
you have heard me and you have heard
the strikers" said Captain Sullivan. ut is
for the committee to decide who is telling
the truth. I tell you there was no bru-
tslity."
Governor Fosss secretary admitted that
force had been used by the militia in quell-
ing riots, in some instances. These people
were ugly" he said. They were wrought
up, believing that they had a just griev-
ance. The mobs had to be dispersed. but
am certain no soldier OF the State of Mas
sachusetts was brutal 1t is true that a
boy was stabbed with a bayonet and that
he died. That was unfortunate and regret
table. but an investigation failed 10 reveal
Frl.-
ing: the mob was throwing coal and wood
at the soldiers; the mob had to De dis
persed, and. unfortunately, in the confused
melee the boy was killed"
REPRESENTATIVE Stanley was uncelenting
in his examination of Captain Sullivan.
who ordered a score Of women and children
sent Ia the police station when an attempt
was made TO send fifteen children TO Phla-
delphia. on the morning of February "a.
Captain Sullivan answered that he de-
ployed tho police so that the mothers and
children were forced into an auto truck.
instead of the waiting train. lie justified
his action by declaring that he believed the
children came under "the deserted child
Law. and Mr.. Stanley sarcastically OBJ
served:
"I never heard Of children being desert
W NHtU lUtlI ululiltiH NfiC WIN NhVbh
The situation was extraordinary. These
PEOPLE would not tell us who they were,
and for that reason they were detained"
WAS sullivsn's retort.
Declares He Did His Duty.
well. II some Of these women were
mothers of those children what right did
sou have to arrest them
THE right as ! have told YOU. that
thought il was my duty under the law
When Gid you discover that any OF
these women were mothers
Not until after they were taken 10 the
state institution where they we're cared for
later that day That night some of the
fathers came and acknowledged psrentage
Of the children. They promised 10 bring
them in court on Tuesday and were allowed
- take them home
Captain Sullivan said he had consulted
Tustiee Chandler, Colonel Sweetser and
others. who advised him in his action.
Did you have any written authority TO
take these women and children
II did not
Captain Sullivan said he had seen people
on the streets or Washington more poorly
dressed than he had ever seen on the
streets OF Lawrence.
"As 10 the testimony that they cat meat
onlv once a week" he said IT know there