WE NEVER FORGET: Fellow Worker Roy J Horton, President IWW Local 69 of Salt Lake City, Utah

10th November 201529th March 2017 Janet RayeWe Never Forget

Don’t Mourn; Organize!
-Joe Hill

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Candle Flame for We Never Forget

WE NEVER FORGET

Fellow Worker Roy J Horton-29
President of IWW Local 69
Salt Lake City, Utah

Roy J Horton tombstone

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Fellow Worker Roy J Horton, 1886-1915
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In Salt Lake City, shortly after midnight on October 31, 1915, Fellow Worker Roy Joseph Horton, President of I. W. W. Local 69, was shot down by “Major” Howell P. Myton, gunthug and lawman.

Fellow Worker Horton, 29, was talking with friends in front of a downtown bar when he asserted, “Any man who would pack a star is a dirty—–.” This remark was overheard by Myton who then confronted Horton, “What do you mean by those insinuations?”

“That is meant for you or any other —– who will wear a star,” Horton replied. Whereupon Myton pulled out his gun, stated “I’ll kill you for that,” and fired three shots at Horton. Two of the shots hit Horton as he staggered away with his back to Myton.

Fellow Worker Roy Horton died there on the sidewalk. Myton was soon thereafter arrested and taken to jail.

On Sunday afternoon, November 7th, Local 69 of the Industrial Workers of the World bid good-bye to their friend and fellow worker, Roy Horton. Ed Rowan and Mrs. Virginia Snow Stephen were among those who gave eulogies for the slain union leader. Continue reading “WE NEVER FORGET: Fellow Worker Roy J Horton, President IWW Local 69 of Salt Lake City, Utah” →

Hellraisers Journal: I. W. W. Bids Good-Bye to Fellow Worker Horton, Murdered by Gunthug Myton

9th November 201528th February 2017 Janet RayeHellraisers Journal

There are no limits to which
powers of privilege will not go
to keep the workers in slavery.
-Mother Jones

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Hellraisers Journal, Tuesday November 9, 1915
Salt Lake City – Grand Send-Off to Local I. W. W. President

Virginia Snow Stephen

On Sunday, November 7th, Local 69 of the Industrial Workers of the World bid good-bye to their President, Roy Joseph Horton. Ed Rowan and Mrs. Virginia Snow Stephen were among those who gave eulogies for the slain union leader.

The murderer, “Major” H. P. Myton remains under charges of murder, but is being celebrated as a hero by the local Elks Lodge.

The local kept press was scandalized that there was no mention of religion nor of the heavenly rewards awaiting the martyred union leader. Instead, those present concentrated on continuing the organizing work of the I. W. W. in behalf of the working men and women of Salt Lake City. On that subject, Mrs. Stephen stated that only through “organization and making use of such tragedies as the Horton case” will the working class ever get justice.

Roy Horton’s funeral is the first of what will most likely be two grand I. W. W. send-offs in Salt Lake City, Utah, during the month of November 1915.

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Hellraisers Journal: Joe Ettor Speaks on the Boston Commons on Behalf of Fellow Worker Joe Hill

8th November 201528th February 2017 Janet RayeHellraisers Journal

There are no limits to which
powers of privilege will not go
to keep the workers in slavery.
-Mother Jones

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Hellraisers Journal, Monday November 8, 1915
From The Boston Globe: Protest on Boston Commons

If the people who gathered to hear Joe Ettor speak on Boston Common yesterday do as he asked them to do, there is a huge bunch of mail outbound from Boston this morning addressed to President Wilson, Gov Spry of Utah and Senator Reed Smoot. All the letters are to ask for further consideration of the case of Joe Hillstrom, the song writer of the I. W. W., under sentence of death by shooting and with his execution set for Nov 19.

Hillstrom Is the young Swede convicted of murder in Salt Lake City last year and whose execution was set for Oct 1. An appeal to the President through the Swedish Minister at Washington produced a stay, but the Utah Board of Pardons refused to act, and the death sentence was reaffirmed, the date being advanced to a week from next Friday.

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Joe Ettor Speaks on the Boston Commons on Behalf of Fellow Worker Joe Hill” →