The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1921-10-14
.SACCO-V ANZETTI
TO MINE WORKERS

indianapolis, Ind, Sept. 25.-Dele-
gates to the national convention of
the United Mine Workers of America
now in session in this city were pro-
foundly stirred by a letter from Nj
cola Sacco and Bartholomew Van.
zetti, the Italian labor organizers
awaiting death in the electric chair
in a Massachusetts Jail. A voice from
the death house, it was none the
less resonant with courage and fl
deity to labor's ideals.
eve are not afraid to die" the
condemned Italians write, "but we
do not want to die uselessly. Lee:
our death--if we must die-usher III
4 world where there will be no mas
ter class to still the voices of those
who would be free"
Miners locals all over the country
have been generous in their support
Of the defense for the jailed men,
according to members of the Sacco-
Vanzetti Defense Committee. Even
he West Virginia locals, in the
hroes of their own life-and-death
grapple with subsidized thugs, have
sent money and expressions of loyal
" to the frame-up victims. Prob
ably it was this circumstance which
prompted the imperiled Italians to
address their first public statement
since the verdict to the miners con-
vention.
An appeal to the higher courts
will be heard on November and a
motion for a new trial, on the
yround that the result was not jus
flied by the evidence as we'll as
On the ground of newly discovered
evidence, will be ruled upon b.
Judge Webster Thayer. If this legal
recourse fails, Sacco and Vanzetti
will go to the electric chair-unless
organized labor forbids the atrocity
Impartial observers are agreed that
the verdict is not supported by the
testimony. The defense charges thai
only Jury drugged with prejudice
against aliens and "reds" could have
convicted on such inadequate, high
ly circumstantial evidence. Even tn,
Boston American, which has no sym
pathy for labor agitators, called thu
evidence most unconvincing."
The Committee, whose address i.
Box 81, Hanover Station, Boston
Mass, is appealing to labor group.
and individuals to finance the de
tense.
To the Delegates to the United Min
Workers Convention. in Convention
Assembled, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Dehdam, Jail,
September Goth, 1921
We have been wrongly convicted
of an atrocious murder committed b,
persons other than ourselves. TIL
crime was one entirely Independent
of the struggle of the workers t,
better their conditions.
We are not afraid to die. Ever
worker in the performance of hi
tasks as an industrial serf face
death thousand times. Death-w
do not fear. We do revolt agains
having our heart beats stopped for
crime that we did not commit, indeed
for crime that possesses no indus
trial or social significance.
From the earliest years of GU
young manhood up to the time O
our arrest. we gave unsparingly q
our time, our labor and the none,
we earned by hard labor to the edu
cation of the workers, preparation,
to the day when the workers Nigh
cmancipate themselves. We are nc
the type of men who steal and mur
Ger. No man who is in a norma
mental condition ever commits mur
der. Crimes of force prove conclu
sively that there is some diseased
social condition existing in society
1t is a symptom of Individual ant
social maladjustment.
There is no need here for us tt
re-tell the story upon which convic
ton was built. A fine network O.
lies was built and innocent acts O.
ours were contorted by the viciou.
minds of those who saw in tn,
champions of labor only enemies OF
the people" American capitalism
cannot understand that man car
be an unafraid fighter against ex
ploitation and at the same time have
mind and a heart that revolt
against crimes of violence. The
"frame-up" was finished off by
showing that we believed that to the
workers belonged the products Of
their toll. This was reason enough
for our conviction.
If we go to the electric chair, We
go not because we were "proven'
guilty of the crime charged against
us but because of our ideals. If VIZ
go, we shall go loyal and unswerv.
ing in our devotion to the princi
Piles that, unpopular and frowneC
upon today, shall dominate tomor
row. If we die, we die knowing
that members of the tdvance guarC
must always die. We ask only
| that our death shall not he nsnior,