The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-12-17
Porter Clubbed in Army Prison

The international Labor Defense
has received copies of several let
tiers which John Porter has just
written, from Fort Leavenworth
military prison. Porter, who was
sentenced by court martial to serve
two and one-half years for "deser-
tion," after he became leader of
the New Bedford textile workers
strike, reveals in these letters the
abuse and mistreatment to which he
is being subjected.
! Receives No Mail.
Porter declares: pardon my de-
lay in writing. 1 would have writ
ten sooner, but l am practically held
incommunicado, as / am permitted
to write only one letter per week.
Of course l have written to Theresa
Valente and have asked her to write
to several comrades for me, but l
have no answer as to whether she
has or not. I have not received any
mai 1IOLl H6r 1OE OFeL d Ihoil1i,
and her letters are the only ones
that are permitted, as she is my
fiancee and she is the only one
from whom I can obtain news from
the outside.
II wish that you would write to
her and find out the reason.
Rushed Away By Officers.
Con August 3, at 10, noon, ] was
notified that l was to be shipped
away. About 20 minutes later
was rushed away to Boston, at the
average rate of 55 miles an hour
in the commanding officers special
car. This, of course, was done
quickly so that I would not be able
to get in contact with comrades out
side, for their intentions undoubtedly
were not to let anyone know where
| was to serve my sentence. Three
times l tried to write letter while
enroute here, but was stopped by
my two guards, who denied NE this
and even denied me the privilege of
notifying my mother by telegram.
While enroute l was only allowed
to eat when they ate and to sleep
when they slept. Sometimes / would
go 10 hours without bit to eat.
"On Saturday morning ] was
brought before Colonel Morrow. He
seemed angry, because he had found
out that the working class was de-
manding my release. In front of
him, on the desk, lay about ten let
tiers which he had already opened
and read. He referred to one let
ter which was from my mother, say
ing that the International Labor De-
Tense and the Textile Mill Commit
tee were behind me. He asked me
what I thought Of people who pick
oted a mill, to which my reply was
that I didn't blame them for fight
ing for better living and working
conditions and secondly picketing is
constitutional right. To my sur
prise he brought forth this reply:
What do you mean, constitutional
right, there is no such thing. He
also stated that I should be shipped
to Russia.
Given Hardest Work.
GAS usual, I was given the hard
est work that they could find here,
and ever since then, although other
prisoners have been given better
jobs, still do the hardest work they
can find. Here each one has the
privilege of taking up vocational
training. This, too, has been denied
me. Also, the commandant stated
that he would not allow me any mail
that would encourage me in any
way. OF course, he has kept his
word, for since I have been here
received mail only from my mother
and my fiancee.
"At the time Of my arrival here
the kitchen was in the most unsan-
;tary condition have seen. We
were forced to eat out of plates
half washed and greasy. Our food
was also unsanitary and, although
had no intentions of doing so,
have eaten more, than one cockroach
in my food. We received just a
little food on our plate and we had
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