Hellraisers Journal – Thursday April 20, 1911 News from California – “Solidarity Wins in Fresno” by Press Committee
From the International Socialist Review of April 1911:
BECAUSE we tried to organize the workers in Fresno, the authorities denied us the streets for agitation meetings. After persecuting our members for their activity; after throwing them into jail and subjecting them to the greatest brutality and passing a city ordinance denying the rights of free speech, the authorities have turned around and granted us all these things for which we have been fighting. Hereafter we shall be permitted to speak on the streets unmolested and unrestricted.
Spokane Industrial Worker of March 9, 1911
How was this victory accomplished? The answer is simple. Two hundred workingmen, roused by acts of violence against the organization of which they were members, moved on to Fresno from various points on the Pacific Coast to fight the Capitalist enemies. They realized that if our organizers were not to be permitted to speak and agitate, they would be seriously hampered in the work of organization for the great approaching conflict. From first to last both sides of the struggle clearly recognized Class Lines and freely admitted them. One of the most intelligent members of the opposition stated in an early stage of the struggle that this was a skirmish in a great war.
Antiquated methods were generally abandoned. It was decided that no money should be wasted on lawyers to expound the meaning of the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States. However, the court was used effectively for propaganda. Trial after trial was held and each time our position was presented to a crowded court room, by some member of the group on trial. Incidentally about 500 residents of Fresno, chiefly business men, were summoned to serve on juries. Not one of these was so disloyal to his class as to “hang a jury.” Workingmen were promptly challenged by the prosecuting attorney. They might not have been so pliable.
The antagonism with the local press with its malicious misrepresentation, perfectly reflected the attitude of the employing class in Fresno. But our appeals for aid, made only to the working class, found a ready response. Perfect discipline was maintained inside the jail. Things were kept in a sanitary condition. Educational work was carried on systematically. The fight was directed throughout by the men in jail. The outside work was executed by an outside committee, also directed by the imprisoned men. Funds contributed were spent economically and to the best advantage.
Hellraisers Journal – Monday April 18, 1921 Olympia, Washington – State Supreme Court Rules Against Centralia Defendants
From Oregon’s La Grande Evening Observer of April 14, 1921:
I. W. W. MUST SERVE TERM ———-
OLYMPIA, Wash., Apr. 14.-The state supreme court today upheld the conviction of seven of the alleged I. W. W. members convicted of second degree murder in connection with the Centralia armistice day killings.The court refused to grant a new trial. the men will be transferred from the Montesano county jail to the state prison to begin serving their sentence of from twenty-five to forty years.
Hellraisers Journal – Monday April 17, 1911 Mother Jones News Round-Up for March 1911: –Found in Denver Fighting for Sixteen Miners Jailed by Judge Whitford
From the Black Hills Daily Register of March 6, 1911:
Accuses Judge of Bribery
———-
(By Pan-American Press.)
Sixteen miners freed from jail with assistance of Mother Jones. —–
Denver, March 6.-The impeachment investigation against Judge Greeley W. Whitford, which is being conducted by a committee of the Colorado house of representatives, took a most sensational turn when the committee was told by Mrs. Margaret Miller that prior to his sentencing sixteen union men to jail a few mouths ago, she had delivered a package to Whitford which, she alleged, contained $3,000.
Mrs. Miller said she had been on terms of close relationship with Whitford for eight years. She testified that during the Cripple Creek mining troubles she was in the employ of the Mine Owners’ Association. She alleges a man associated with her in those troubles, gave her the money to give to Judge Whitford.
The sixteen miner were released from jail recently by Judge Whitford after serving two months of their sentence.
Union labor organizations all over the state of Colorado united in petitioning for Judge Whitford’s removal from the bench, declaring that the court in sentencing the miners, had found them guilty of a criminal charge without giving them the right of trial by jury. “Mother Jones” played an important part in the freeing of the men by holding immense meetings in all the large cities of the state.
Hellraisers Journal – Monday April 15, 1901 Eugene Debs on the Philanthropy of Carnegie, The Bloody Benefactor
From the Missouri Socialist of April 13, 1901:
—–
Many thousands of misguided people are applauding the alleged philanthropy of Andrew Carnegie, and of these by far the larger number are workingmen. Manifestly they have forgotten, or they have never heard of the horrors of Homestead—or perhaps they are too ignorant to understand or too cowardly to profit by the bloody lesson.
The reckless prodigality of Carnegie with the plunder of his victims brings into boldest prominence the crimes he committed when they protested against his monstrous rapacity. Then what? An army of 300 Pinkerton mercenaries were hired by this bloody benefactor to kill the men whose labor had made him a millionaire. He did not have the courage to execute his own murderous designs so he commissioned another monster, Frick, by name, with bloodless veins and a heart of steel, to commit the crimes while he went to Europe and held high carnival with the titled snobs there until the ghastly work was done. It was one of the foulest conspiracies ever concocted against the working class and the very thought of its atrocities, after nearly 10 years, fires the blood and crimsons the cheek with righteous indignation. Not only were the Pinkerton murderers hired by Carnegie to kill his employees, but he had his steel works surrounded by wires charged with deadly electric currents and by pipes filled with boiling water, so that in the event of a strike or lockout he could shock the life out of their wretched bodies or scald the flesh from their miserable bones.
And this is the man who proposes to erect libraries for the benefit of the working class—and, incidentally for the glory of Carnegie.
Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday April 13, 1921 Washington, District of Columbia – U. S. Supreme Court Rules Against Haywood
From The Leavenworth Post of April 11, 1921:
DECISION IS AGAINST WILLIAM D. HAYWOOD ———- Supreme Court Refuses to Review Conviction of Industrial Leader. ———-
79 OTHERS TO COME BACK. ———-
(By the Associated Press.)
Washington Apr. 11.-The supreme court today refused to review the conviction of William D. Haywood and seventy-nine more members of the I. W. W. on charge of having conspired to obstruct war activities of the government.
Then refusal of the supreme court to interfere closed the long fight to save Haywood and his associates from prison only a presidential pardon can now prevent their sentences from being imposed.
Evidence Was Questioned
The petition for the review was based on the contention that the federal agents conducting the raids on houses and offices of the official of the I. W. W. on September 5, 1917 acted without search warrants and evidence obtained was illegal under the recent ruling of the supreme court.
The cases were tried before federal Judge Landis and the sentence ranging from one to twenty hears were imposed.
Most of the men were given their liberty on bail bonds aggregating $500,000 pending the outcome of the appeals.
Hellraisers Journal – Friday April 12, 1901 Mother Jones News Round-Up for March 1901, Part III Found Seeking Settlement of Pennsylvania Silk Mill Workers Strike
From the Scranton Tribune of March 12, 1901:
…..Nothing has been heard from any of the mill owners or superintendents regarding their attitude on the arbitration question. Mother Mary Jones and Committeeman Frederick Dilcher, of the mine workers, both leave the city this morning…
A mass meeting was held in Taylor Saturday night, which was scheduled as a meeting of the silk mill girls,. Very few of the latter were, however, in attendance, the greater part of the audience being made up of miners. An address by Mother Jones featured the meeting.
———-
[Photograph added.]
The Philadelphia Times of March 23, 1901:
DAWN BREAKING IN SILK STRIKE ———– Scranton Mill Girls, Aided by “Mother” Jones, Win Their Fight. ———-
FIRST BREAK IN THE RANKS —–
Special Telegram to THE TIMES.
SCRANTON, March 22.
Dawn is surely breaking in the silk strike and within a week’s time fully half of the mills which have been tied up will be working again. Thanks are due entirely to “Mother” Jones, who has labored long to bring about an amicable adjustment of the existing troubles.
This morning ‘Mother” Jones and Alfred Harvey, the owner of the Forest City mill, met and came to an agreement, and the strike at that mill was promptly called off and the girls will commence work to-morrow morning. The basis of the agreement is an increase of 25 cents a week to all employes and after a stated period an increase of 25 cents more, making 50 cents in all.
This will be a considerable gain. Mr. Harvey also owns the second largest mill in Scranton, and he and “Mother” Jones will meet again to-morrow and come to an agreement in regard to the mill here. This is the first break in the ranks of the mill owners’, and the proprietors of all the smaller mills are expected to fall in line with the movement. That will leave Superintendent Davis and the big Sauquoit mill out in the cold, thus forcing them to give in.
Hellraisers Journal – Thursday April 11, 1901 Mother Jones News Round-Up for March 1901, Part II Found Arriving in Hazleton, Pa., for Mine Worker’s Convention
From the Philadelphia Times of March 13, 1901:
National Organizer Chris Evans Makes an Impassioned Appeal to the Delegates at Hazleton. ———- LEGISLATION IS DISCUSSED ———- Bills Now Pending at Harrisburg Come Up for Debate in the Convention and Evoke Heated Discussion. ———- [Mother Jones Arrives]
From a Staff Correspondent.
Hazleton, March 12.
National Organizer Chris Evans, in a speech before the convention of the miners here this afternoon, struck the keynote of the situation when he made an impassioned appeal for uniformity…..
…It is sure that a resolution will be introduced in the convention, making a demand for uniformity in the day wage scale for each of the three districts.
The convention was called to order by President Mitchell in the Grand Opera House at 10 o’clock. The house was filled, and it is believed that 700 delegates are in attendance.
In his opening address President Mitchell referred to the great growth in this region since the strike of last fall, which, he said, had proven that there is a community of interest between the anthracite and bituminous miners which makes needless the argument that they should stand together in one union.
[…..]
[…..]
Mitchell Refuses a House.
President Mitchell created somewhat of a sensation this afternoon by positively refusing to accept the offer of a house which the anthracite miners have decided to give him. In a touching speech he thanked the men very kindly for their appreciation of his efforts, and strongly urged them to devote the money to erecting a monument to those members of the union who gave up their lives in the cause of unionism at Latimer in 1897……
“Mother” Jones arrived here to-night from Scranton and immediately went to MacAdoo, where she and District President Duffy and National Organizer Chris Evans addressed a big meeting. “Mother” Jones will remain here several days and will likely address the convention to-morrow.
—————-
—————
—————
———–
—————
—————
———-
———-
———-
———-
National Organizer Chris Evans 