The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-11-24
Vanzetti Is Calm in Prison Cell from
Which He May Never Be Freed; the Law
Hates Him Because of Innocence, He Says

outside sit uneasily; they feel
ashamed of the freshness of their
cheeks. of the smell of freedom on
their clothes; like visitors in hos
pital they wish they were out again
and feel ashamed of themselves for
wishing 1t. The prisoners have only
one wish; they keep glancing to the
right and left over their shoulders.
1t is for fear OF something that they
keep glancing over their shoulders as
they talk to the people from the out
side.
vanzettl Is Calm.
Vanzetti sits on the bench, thick
chested and calm. If you didn't know
him you could tell that he was diff.
ferent. He has look of broadbrowed
calm about him. His lips don't
tremble when he smiles under his
thick moustache. But it is the calm of
man with his back to the wall. He
too glances from time to time over
his shoulders as if to make sure that
there. is nobody creeping up behind
him.
well what do you think?" we ask
each other. The case is something
separate, far away, like a prizefght
heard over the radio. pretty bad"
says Vanzetti. 81 have to work hard,
very hard now. There are many things
| want to write and maybe have not
much time" He has about three hours
day to read the papers and write
letters and articles. The rest Of the
time he works in the shop making
automobile license plates. "But it is so
difficult to write in Jail. Before l could
work hard nine hours, eleven hours d
day, and then sit down and write. 1t
poured out, straight from the heart.
Often l would not have to make a
single correction in an article. But
now, word by word. 1t is so difficult
to write in CELL"
Clergy Hate Him.
Somehow we got talking about the
clergy. Both the catholic priest and
the protestant chaplain had written
articles and made public statements
against him. It was demoralizing to
the other prisoners to have convict
ed murderer escape the chair year
after year like this. "They hate me
because l am atheist" said vanzetti.
'If / went to them and made myself
humble and said Father am sorry,
please give me absolution,' they would
help me-" They feel as bitterly to-
wards him as doctors towards a sick
man who won't buy their medicine.
"At last ask to see Father Murphy.
He trembled like leaf. | ask to see
him to say to him, What have l done
to him that he plot against me that
way?' He trembled like a leaf and
said nothing, only smooth words. II
would be criminal he would want
to save my soul Maybe even the
cardinal would intercede for me. They
hate me because am not a criminal"
In jail, once you're caught in the trap
net of the law, the worst crime OF all
Is to be innocent.
Doesn't Want Pardon.
Time was getting short. The hour
would soon be up. And what about
compromise? What If as a result Of
the change Of front of many respec-
table people in Boston, Of the Boston
Herald's advocacy of an impartial in.
yestigation OF the case, he should be
offered a committed sentence or a par
don? Since the Mooney case, it's get
ting fashionable to imprison a man
for life IL you can't fasten any crime
on him except that of being radical.
Tell them" said Vanzetti quietly.
without a culver in his voice, that
shall refuse to apply for pardon or
Communication or anything. Why should
when I am innocent?"