The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1922-08-11
LABOR SPEAKS
Militant Appeal for Sacco and Van
ETH Issued by IL Central Labor
Bodies and Leaders.


large and diverse group of labor
organizations and leaders has just
been launched in behalf of Nicalo
Sacco and Bartholomew Vanzetti, the
Italian workers awaiting death in
Massachusetts on what is believed to
be Framed" evidence.
The call is in the form of letter
to American labor signed by the
central labor bodies of Chicago, De-
troit. Evansville, Ind, Minneapolis,
st. Paul, Salem. Mass. Seattle, Sioux
Falls, S. D.; Tampa, Fla; Tacoma,
State of Utah, and New York, Pa;
also by Mother Jones, James II.
Maurer. and John II. Walker.
1t is published in a leaflet under
the caption Labor Speaks" and
contains an account of the action
taken by the American Federation
of Labor, at its Cincinnati conven-
ton in asking for new trial in the
Sacco-Vanzetti case. The A. f. of
L. acted upon resolutions introduced
by the Boston c. L. u. The leaflet
reproduces, in addition, a telegram
sent to the two labor prisoners by
Benjamin Schlesinger, president of
the International Ladies Garment
Workers, asserting in behalf of his
membership that "organized labor in
America will not rest until the sin
lister conspiracy which resulted in
your incarceration is exposed and
your freedom won"
The rousing appeal to labor by
its own representatives is especially
significant in view of recent revela-
tions that the State of Massachusetts
used deep-dyed criminals and per-
iurers in obtaining the verdict
against Sacco and Vanzetti.
The letter reads:
Dear Friends and Brothers:
Only one person identified Van
zetti at the scene of the crime and
only four persons identified Sacco.
To offset this twenty-five persons
who saw the faces of one or more
of the participants in the crime tes-
titled that neither SaccO nor Van
zetti were the men they saw.
The one witness who made an
identification of Nanzetti had
stated previously, according to the
testimony of four witnesses, that he
could not make an identification
and of the four witnesses who made
an 4OGIII1lSdtiOIl Oh OdCCO wv nav
stated previously, each of them &C
cording to testimony of four wit
nesseS, that they could not make an
identification" The other two who
had testified a few weeks after the
crime occurred that they were no;
positive of the identity of the &C.
cused. but became positive when they
took the witness stand year later
No attempt was made to impeact
any of the twenty-five witnesses who
were certain that neither Sacco mol
Nanzetti were the men they had seen
at the moment that the crime was
committed.
Nine persons testified on be-
half of Sacco that he was in
Boston thirteen miles from the
scene of the crime and Of these
three based their testimony on
documentary evidence. Eleven
persons testified on behalf of
Nanzetti that ne was in Ply
mouth twenty-five miles from
the scene of the crime. Not a
single effort was made to i'm
peach the testimony Of anyone
Of the twenty persons who testi-
fled to the ahbls Of Sacco and
Nanzetti.
Utterly innocent acts of the de
PENDANTS were contorted and twist
| ed into evidence of consciousness Of
| guilt" They were convicted because
they in their innocence believed thai
the Constitutional right of FREE
speech and free press and liberty o.
conscience were real valid rights.
The charge of murder agains
these militant sons of labor is bu
the cloak with which the power!
| of reaction would cover their ne
farious scheme to take from laboI
two of its most potent voices. Thi:
cloak of judicial chicanery-thi'
snug covering of respectfully mus
be torn away and the plan of judic
| ial murder revealed in all of it!
hideousness and the responsible!
| therefore be placed upon the propeI
| shoulders.
Again labor must assume the Her
culean task of cleaning the Augeal
stable of the foul remains of a judi
cial miscarriage. The pure air o
justice and a square deal to tn
humblest and lowest in the lant
must be let in. In this way onl.
can there be bred that respect ant
love Tor the orderly development O
! society which as we'll wishers of or
! ganized society desire. To pause an,
hesitate in the performance of thi
task is to give aid and comfort t.
| those who would aid in the destruc
ton of the things worth while il
American life.
1t requires courage and devotion
of the highest order. This courag
and devotion must express itself il
concrete terms. Words alone vii
not suffice.
/ Massachusetts must realize that j
is still an integral part of the Amer
lean Union. A hundred million voice
in this land of ours must be mad
to speak in unmistakable terms o
Massachusetts. Public opinion mus
be organized in order that it ma,
speak effectively.
! Concrete things, big things, power
! full things, awe inspiring things
things worthy of Labor must be don
to save these men. You can he'll
do it.
Put your local union-your cit
and state organizations on recor
with strong resolutions. But, re
member, that resolutions will no
open the steel doors. Extensive in
vestigations are now in progress
already there are indications that tn
frame-up in all its repulsive detail
will be exposed eventually. Thes
Investigations must not stop for lac
of funds.
The appeal, too, is pending. Cas-
more cash is required. Elect
committee from your local unio
two members are sufficiently a
once; other local unions will do tn
same. Let delegates from cit
committee arrange monster mas
meetings. Speakers will be provide