Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-01-01
The Children Cry For Bread
lBr ]. A. Rogers. Jr.l


In q great Industrial struggle which
taxes the strength and courage of all,
husband and wife my undergo hard
ships which human beings can barely
endure and yet grit their teeth with a
determination to fight the battle to-
the bitter end, but they are unable.
to bear the sight of their children suf-
feTing and starving. The misery of
the children has probably broken more
strikes than any other factor.
Parents may be willing to undergo
the severe cold Of winter themselves,
but to witness their little babes shiv-
ering before the winters blasts be-
cause they have not enough clothing
to cover their bodies Is more than
they can stand.
They may feel the pangs Of hunger
gnAw1ng at their own stomaehs but
to watch their tiny ones undergo SINH
lar torturs breaks their will and deter
mination; their power OF resistance.
The. capitalist realizes what a pow
er the children are on his side during
time Of strike. He knows that if he
can prolong the struggle until the
strikers funds are exhausted-until
the children cry for bread which can
not be given-the victory will be his.
Fhenever any attempt has been
made to care for the strikers children,
lit has met with the greatest opposi-
ton on the part Of the capitalist class
In Lawrence men and women were
beaten, dubbed and bayoneted in the
streets by the police and militia for
trying to send their children away to
R,.31 H.. ALL N1,o
reason for the strikers taking this
action was brought out at the con-
gressional investigation of the Law
renee strike.
Socialist Conressman Victor L. Ber-
ger introduced a resolution for an in
vestigation Of the strike
One of the7 witnesses called to
Washington to. testify was Samuel
Lipson, striker. The following con-
versation took place between him and
Congressman Berger: ~
Mr.. Berger: "How many children
did you send away from town."
Mr.. LIpson: About 200 altogether.
Mr.. Berger: " About 200 altogether?
Was it not the underlying motive to
make It easier for the strikers to 1--we
by having 200 mouths less to feed?"
Mr.. Lpson: "Why, certainly; we
know wei that when the child is be-
tween the parents and the mill owner
we will be compelled to go to the
mill when we hear the cry from the
child, give me something to eat! We
do not care for ourselves; we can
stand it to win piece more of bread.
But that innacent child does not I'M
derstand that
Mr.. Berger: so it is simply that the
mill owners gain by keeping the child
rem in Lawrence; they break the strike
this way?"
Mr.. Lipson: Certainly"
Mr.. Berger: 80 it is the case OF a
reconcentrado camp, as they used to
call them in Cuba and South Africa,
the children of the Cubans or the
Beers into reconcentrado camps and
starve them there, and thus the Span
ish would force the Cubans, or the
English would force the Beers, into
submission. Was that the idea in
LaWrence?'
Mr.. Lipson: Yes"
Mr.. Berger: Did you have friends
in New York who were willing to take
your child?"
Mr. Lipson: Eyes, they are glad to
take the child until the strike is over,
you know
Mr.. Berger: TT Is, then, sort Of
vacation for the child?"
Mr.. Lipson 1T is avacation for the
child, because we receive letters
have got some with me-we received
letters and postal cards from the child
saying he is enjoying the best day Of
his life. ****He is we'll taken care of;
theyAsent him at once to school UP
there. did not want to send him. as
he is in the second grade, and l
thought he would he promoted if he
stays out of school few weeks. But
in New York they sent him to school
up there just as he did in Lawrence,
and he will be promoted. ****I receiv-
ed letters daily from my children say
ing that they are happy; they have
new clothes, and they are eating there
every day as they used to eat at home
on Sunday; and they have SO much
to eat that if the parents have not
enough they want them to come over
to New York and they will give it
to them. MANY women were frigh-
tened by the police to call their child
rem back and also sent the landlord UP
and the landlord said to these women:
If you are not going to call your child
rem back We will put you out OF the
house And one woman said, I re-
ceived letters from my children saying
UNDERTAKES
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