The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-05-14

(Cort1nned from Page y
wait until the White House receives
them. They left at the White House
today this plea:
This day has been set aside as
Mothers Day. Therefore. we come
to you as mothers, suffering the
greatest pain, because our innocent
sons are made to endure the most
terrible fortunes. Though guilty of
no crime, they are held in dark
cells, with the electric chair staring
them in the face.
at is now three years that our
sons have been so forcibly sepa-
rated from us. Our boys were
framed on a terrible charge of
which they are innocent. What
can be the reasons for such crime
against our boys, when they have
been proven innocent? 1t is the
prejudice and oppression under
which the Negro people suffer,
Ask Roosevelt to Act
Mr.. President, We ask you to act
in behalf Of our sons. We ask that
you, as the chief executive of this
country. as one who is supposed to
take an interest in the welfare of
the people of this country. to see
that justice is done to all alike.
Speak out against the murderous
persecution of our children!
Your word would have great
weight throughout the land. Mil
lions Of people in America and
other countries have already raised
their voices to protest against this
terrible wrong. Men in high places
throughout the world have spoken
for the freedom Of our boys because
they believe in their innocence. a..
VIII you not, as President Of the
United States, speak and 90 every
thing in your power to free our
wronged and tortured sons?"
Vets accompany Mothers
With the mothers marched seven
Negroes ir soldiers uniforms-vet-
Grams uniting in the Scottsboro
cause. Also Madame Lillian Evanti,
famous coloratura soprano who re-
Gently sang for the same President
Roosevelt by special invitation. who
said today. I'm interested in life
and Justice as we'll as music" Also
Ruby Bates, the white Southern
girl the Negroes were accused of at
lacking. was with the delegation
also, as was Mrs. Mary Craik Speed;
scion of a first family Of Birning-
ham who has devoted her efforts
to freeing the boys since she saw
the trials; Mrs. Sara F. Stabler, Of
the Friends Meeting House in
Washington; Mrs. Mary Church
TeriIl, first president Of the National
Association of Colored Women's
Clubs; Mrs. Julia West Hamilton
president of colored Y,W.C.A. club
here, John P. Davis, head Of the
Joint Committee on National Re
covery; Lieutenant +. R. Castor and
Lieutenant James H. Mclean of At
lanta, Ga, the first representing
Negro Veterans of the American
World War Veterans, an organiza-
ton of Negroes denied admission to
the American Legion; the second
representing the Workers Ex-Ser-
vicemen's League. Stephen Black
and L. Williams, Negro leaders of
the international Labor Defense in
Washington, were there, and so were
Mrs. Sophie Ross of the Women's
League. The committee was led by
Richard Moore and Bernard AIDES
If the LID.
After the Naval attache of the
White House barred the group,
Moore addressed them briefly on
the sidewalk, and they went to the
Y.W.C.A. headquarters and held
meeting. Then the. mothers went
downstairs to a room to rest. They
had travelled all night from New
York. They said they were tired
and had She hiues-but soon they
we're singing spirituals and declaring
they would remain as long as neces-
sary to see the President,
There was a piano in the room
and several beds.
Mrs. Viola Montgomery. mother
Of Olsn, now 20, went over and
started to play. All the mothers
sang:
Il shall not be moyed-just like
a tree planted by the waters, I shall
not be moved
Mrs. Mamie Williams, mother of
Eugene, now Is, sang new line to
The tune: I'VE shall see the Presi-
ient-we shall not be moved. Just
ike tree, standing by the water,
We shall not be moved"
Mrs. Ida Norris, mother of Cla-
'nce, 20, Joined in the refrain and