The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-09-02
The Clock Strikes Tw Give!
BY WILLIAM CHOPPER.

u
like q dim memory, or a dream
within dream, l have heard of the
city Of Boston All America is proud
Of Boston. There in the years gone
by, I have been told, blossomed the
culture and liberty Of the new world.
Thoreau, Emerson, Wendell Phillips
the aboHtionists sprang from the soil
of New England. John Brown
walked forth with a handful Of men to
battle for the freedom Of the slaves,
and from Boston mainly came the
spiritual and financial aid that car
ried him through his days Of fighting
in Kansas and his last glorious battle
in Virginia Is this a dream?H
I am now in Boston. I nave just
alighted from the beat after a sleep
less night It is raining a little. The
streets are squaGd and narrow and
dirty Police. state militia, guns,
bayonets. People tread cement wallis
with unsteady gait as if they were
lost in a dark forest. With all this
military protection, great fear still re-
mains in their hearts. For months
the capitalist press planted this fear,
carefully, systematically, with cries
of foreigner, communist, revolution
Many people remain indoors. Nurses
hold the little children of the rich
bit tighter by the hand. Italian ban
ana peddlers are eyed suspiciously,
And the Italian quarter is nervous and
restless.
It is the morning Of the execution.
More than ever is the city of Bos-
ton, this Grade Of liberty, filled with
police, gunner, soldiers. Mounted
horses dance on the streets. The city
is in high fever. Newsboys cry their
extras. The state house is officially
closed for the day and q huge Gordon
Of police is thrown around it. l climb
the steps of defense headquarters.
Many men and women, tired men and
women, men and women who have
worked days and nights these many
months and years look sleepy and
wan, black circles under their eyes;
but this last day of days their work
is still the uppermost thought and
only thought in their minds. Stops a
limousine in front of defense head
quarters. Up come two hediamonded
women. Well fed, heavy jeweled
soft, thin, cool dresses. A couple of
flunkies follow them. This is Mrs.
Hartman and Mrs. Cram. ooh, how
tired we are, what a strenuous trip
this is from Newport. Is there any,
thing we really can do for Sacco and
Nanzetti? This has been dreadfully
strenuous trip from Newport. Yes,
we shall see the Governor"
The impartial governor sits in his
office and listens to pleas for Sacco
ard Vanzetti. Men and women come,
come and go. He listens. He is fair.
He is. ever so anxious to be convinced.
And he listens. Il am open to convic-
ton" He listens. Gentlemen, this
is a beautiful day" and the impartial
governor Of all the people drives
homeward.
A. F. of L. electricians were testing
the wires for the execution.
Massachusetts is fair to organized
labor. There goes the executioner,
Mr.. Elliot! I wonder when he gets
home tonight does his wife say,
daddy, did the world treat you fair
today?" yes, my only one, you can
have that fur coat your little heart
has ached for, for so long"
Workers are gathering into two
small halls for last minute demon
strations. The halls are small but
they are the only available ones. The
police have issued their orders to all
owners of buildings and halls. An
overflow crowd gathers in the street.
'Mother" Bloor addresses the crowd
from an upper story window. Her
gray head is framed like white win
dow box flower Out of her mouth
come fiery words of courage and hope
and daring. Suddenly more police ap-
pear and the crowd is dispersed.
Some are arrested and together with
many pickets are thrown into Jail.
The Jail is very crowded and the reb-
els are herded into cells, six or seven
into a narrow cell, like cattle in Chi
cago stock yards. Strains of the en-
ternational' come through the barred
windows and crowds gather around
the Jail. The Jail windows are shut
and the rebels almost suffocate, and
now as from a far distance a song
comes, comes breaking through the
Jail walls,
My Country tbs of thee
Sweet Land of liberty
Across from the Charlestown prison
there is bridge. Regiments of SOL