The Lubbock avalanche. (Lubbock, Tex.) 1909-1922, 1922-04-28
EDITORIAL bACkFiRE
Said and Ressid With Com.
msnts Pro and Con.
I. w. w. PROPAGANDA


The "children's crusade" is a pa.
thetic spectacle. These wan-faced
little boys and girls. underfed and
poorly clothed, are gathering in the
middle west 20 go TO Washington and
ask President Harding TO pardon
their fathers from federal prisons.
Their fathers are Industrial Work
ers Of the World who were convict
ed Of obstructionist tactics during
the war. and received prison SEN
fences which they are now serving
Some are in for as long as 90 years.
These little ones need their fathers
to earn food. shelter and clothing
for them. The struggle TO keep life
in them has been almost too much
for their mothers.
One wonders why the j. w. w.
fathers did not hold back from acts
and utterances they knew were apt
to react in this way. causing suffer
ing 10 their wives and children. For
these latter are the real victims. The
men who are in prison dared to af-
front the law, tue government, and
public opinion. They knew the
chance, and took IT, They are now
taking the consequences which
amount 20 little more than depriva-
ton Of liberty and the separation
from their families. At least they
are warmly housed. well fed and
adequately eel2thed. Their wives and
OF course the "children's crusade"
Is propaganda. organized and paid
for by the |. W. W. TO arouse pub
lie sympathy and bring pressure 20
bear upon the president Two
thoughts occur here. One is that it
is unfair 20 subject President Hard
ing 10 such influence The other is
that the w. W, spending $4,000
10 send this delegation 20 Wash
ington, might well have used the
money and more besides 20 support
the women and children in decent
comfort at home. But the l. W. W.
b not doing that. and the prisoners
families are doubly victims Of l. W.
w. wrongmindedness; first. Of the
prisoners themselves second. Of the
organization.
Really though. there is no apparent
good reason for keeping these minor
offenders locked up when the gov
eminent has turned loose their big
chief, Eugene V. Debs. He has in
fluence. They have little or none
Why should they have TO pay the
penalty when he has been set free?
II any Of these enemies Of the gov
eminent and foes Of the social order
that aids and protects us should have
been made 20 serve out "a fun term.
il was Debs
II Debs were only back in Atlanta
prison. the inclination would be 20
say Let the /. W ". convicts swat
low their medicine And let the /.
W w. organization levy on las mem
beers 10 support the families Of the
prisoners
But since Debs is enjoying free
dom. brazen and unashamed, Il might
not be a bad idon 90 scan again the
records Of some Of the small-fry con-
victs. Probably the PRINCIPAL offense
Of some Of them was being IN bad
company az the wrong time and try
iug 20 bluff il through in court.
That is what is claimed for them.
at least. IL is is true, possibly some
Of them have served long enough (
It's un 90 President Harding 30 de. /
cide--El paso Herald
Appealing TO the sympathy Of F.
President Harding may not have the 4
desired effect. Il is hoped that il I
will not. especially in the face Of I
absolute guilt on the part Of those
Imprisoned Most Of them are be-
,ause Of their disloyalty TO their gov
srnment, and II there is any crime
hat we have greater contempt for
han another il is disloyalty, and we
believe that those guilty Of such
hould suffer the penalty. We would
,e in favor Of taking care Of their
dependents II they really need help.
,ut those fellows who are in prison,
hould stay there their allotted time,
lrrordiuo 20 our tuay ~ thin Linz