The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1919-10-03

What can you do?
Why, protest, protest, until this
young Christian shall be unshackled,
until this torture be ended.
Write to Congressman Carl W.
Riddick at Washington, D. G.
Write to Senator Myers at Wash
ington, D. c.
Write to Senator r. J. Walsh,
! Washington, D. G.
Write or wire Secretary of War,
Newton D. Baker, Washington, D. C.
Write to President Wilson, Wash
ington, D. C.
And if these men have human heart
heart beating in their brests, if they
are human beings, they will see to it
that the tortures of this young man
is ended before they sleep another
wink; if they will not do it for the
sake of the love Of humanity, they
will do it for the love and honor of
their country, for the love OF the old
flag.
And don't YOU, if you are human,
let this young man suffer another
moment for the want OF any activity
on your part.
Write a letter Of protest, clip and
enclose this article, to some one of
the above gentlemen, and the prison
doors will open for this boy, and this
disgrace to our country ended.
i Act now for this fellow man is suf-
feriAg!
! Also, ask your congressman to in
vestigate the torturts taking place in
American PRISONS.
Wa bo follou,;prr y :,
written for and published in a paper
in London, England, concerning the
torturing of prisoners in the prisons
> Of the United States. Read it through
and then do your part to change con-
dtions here:
DUNGEONS IN AMERICA, 1919
(Letter sent Workers. Dreadnought,
London, by regular correspond
ent, August, 1919
Publicity has caused certain desired
changes recently made in the treat
meht of conscientious objectors in
United States prisons, and the change
have benefited all prisoners, though
aimed directly for the relief Of one
class of prisoners only. 1t is my be-
lief that publicity in English papers
about atrocities in American prisons
is most helpful, and therefore l ad-
dress the readers of the Workers.
Dreadnought.
More than half the political prison
ers have been released. Manacling
to the doors of the cells have been
forbidden. Further publicity will Sc
cure additional consideration.
IT. he writer visited Alcatraz Military
Prison in August, 1919, and had long
talks with four of the conscientious
:! objectors, and on the next day had a
long talk with one who had been re-
leased and could speak more freely
and more bitterly than can those in
confinement.
There were at that time about six.
ty conscientious objectors in that
prison, which is on an island in the
Bay Of San Francisco. The notorious
dungeons were that week empty. As
cement floors We're being laid IN the
dungeons, it was correctly surmiseC
that an official investigation was
. about to be made. A few days after.
wards, the expected investigation took
place, being made by officers appoint.
ed by congress. For months congress;
has been informed by friends of pris.
oners, as to the treatment in all fed
eral prisons.
Those dungeons should be described
: again and again until people outside
prison wake up and demand a change
If dogs or cats or horses were con
fined in such places, the humane So
cieties would act at once to release
them and to punish their oppressors
But human beings are shut up in cold
damp, dark dungeons like those i,
SCOTS novels-and worse. The gov
elnment treats men worse than indi
viduals are permitted to treat dogs.
One of the political prisoners, al
absolutist who refuses all militar!
e service, and has done so from hi
S voluntary surrender to the authori
ties in June, 1917, said he shivere.
constantly days and nights until fou
n blankets were given to him and h
t was permitted to keep them days a.
e we'll as nights. The previous allow
ance had been two for night use only
He was sure the extra blankets re
S suited from publicity and that mel
ID in future would get four blankets.
S There was not even a plank to Ii
on at night, but a stone floor. TIL
5 air was that of a deep cellar withou
d ventilation. The diet was eightee
:, ounces Of bread day and an allow
a ance of water. There was nothing i
Il the dungeon but the prisoner and
n tin can, not even a stool. But tn
worst feature of all, he said, was tn
It complete darkess for fourteen day
d and nights. He could not see hi