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Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday November 8, 1910
Fresno, California – 500 Fellow Workers Needed for Free Speech Fight
From the Spokane Industrial Worker of November 2, 1910:
FREE SPEECH NEWS FROM THE FRONT
——-FRESNO THE BACKBONE OF CALIFORNIA.
The Sierras east of Fresno are covered with great forests of pine, sugar pine and Oregon pine. The Hume-Bennett Lumber company is at Hume, a mile from Kings river, employing over 700 men; Fresno Lumber company at Pine Ridge, working a thousand men; Sugar Pine farther, to the north, working about 700. This territory also abounds in minerals, especially gold and copper, and is as yet only scratched. Fresno county is the stronghold of King capital in California. He wears his crown with haughty mein and brooks no oppositions. Fresno is the back bone of California. To break this back bone will take at least 500 men. If we break it, all California falls to the crimson standard, for we will then systematically proceed to organize. We have men here who are the goods and will make it their special business to see that this is done. There are a vast number of Armenians, Greeks, Italians and Mexicans here, also colonies of Germans and Russians. In fact all nationalities are here represented. We omit the Japanese because they are already fairly well organized. All these different nationalities have their eyes now focused on the I. W. W. If we win they are bound to regard us with admiration, and it will be easy to organize them. If we lose-perish the thought-we can’t afford to lose. We are fighting for breath. Send men, gather recruits, and send funds. This is a battle royal and must be supported. Yours for Industrial Freedom.
JUNGLES PRESS COM.
Address W. [U.] L. Leister, P. O. Box 209, Fresno, Cal.
On arrival inquire at 1128 I St. Not J St.—————
NO COLLECTORS FOR FIGHT.
Jungles Camp, Fresno, Oct. 22.
Fellow Workers: It having come to our notice that at least one man is collecting money for the free speech fight of Fresno, we, jungle committee of the free speech fight, hereby notify all members that no credentials have been issued for collecting funds for the free speech fight of Fresno. Send all funds directly to W. [U.] L. Leister, P. O. Box 209, Fresno, Cal. Failing this, donate money in person to the secretary of nearest local, provided that he is empowered by the local to collect. Where uncertainty exists, first ascertain the properly credentialed parties. By this precaution all parties to the transaction are guaranteed a square deal. Great pains and precautions are being taken here at this end of the line to insure square dealing. Do thou on thine end likewise. Yours for Industrial Freedom.
JUNGLES FINANCIAL COM.
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MORE ON WAY TO FRESNO.
San Diego, Cal., Oct. 26.-Six more men left here tonight for Fresno “via the workin’ stiffs’ limited.” More going soon. All locals should send men.
PRESS COMMITTEE.
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THE FIGHT FOR FREE SPEECH.
Every day there comes to the office of the WORKER clippings from many papers on the coast which, with the subtle methods of the slimy cockroach press conveys the idea that the fellow workers in Fresno are “tired” of the struggle and are thinking of giving up. These methods of misleading the workers is as old as is the boss owned press, and the workers of the country at large should see through such a subterfuge at once.
The communications from Fresno all convey the information that the boys are all enthusiastic and certain of victory, and their only cry is MEN, MEN, MORE MEN. Men to show their revolutionary feeling, not by talking, but by going to Fresno and carrying the war into the enemies’ country.
There will soon come a time when we will not be compelled to go to jail to preserve our rights. When that time comes, we will simply tie up the industries of the nation, a la the C. G. T., and allow the boss to starve or go out of business. Until that time comes, however, and to help hasten that time, we MUST agitate and demonstrate with numbers and courage-even to going to the jails of the boss and demanding admission. It is not a desirable kind of tactics. It will be much better to force the boss by our economic POWER to desist from interfering with our right of free speech, but until we have sufficiently hammered that idea into the skulls of a larger minority of the workers, we will have to be content with the methods that we have at hand. And these methods are but the means of winning the power that will permit us to use different methods.
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FROM OUR EVENING’S PRESS.
“It is incumbent upon all classes of citizens to aid the police in the SUPRESSION of these Industrial Workers of the World if they attempt to disturb the peace of the city. * * * * * For men to come here with the express purpose of creating trouble A WHIPPING POST AND CAT O’ NINE TAILS WELL SEASONED BY BEING SOAKED IN SALT WATER IS NONE TOO HARSH A TREATMENT for peace-breakers. Indeed, such a treatment would prove more efficacious than a term in the dark cell.”-Fresno Herald.
“Let’s see. Didn’t we used to have a rock pile in Fresno County? Might be a good time to have another. If we don’t there isn’t going to be room in the BASTILE for all these Industrial Agitators. Get a rock pile and then if the I. W. W. delegates refuse to break rock, let them take turns in the dark cell.”-Fresno Tribune.
“That I. W. board bill at the county bastile is beginning to loom up.”-Tribune.
“Sheriff Chittenden announces that he has accommodations for 300 I. W. W. members, should that number wish to break into jail. This is satisfactory. Without a doubt accommodations could be found for 600, if worst comes to worst. The law must be upheld at any cost. The I. W. W. agitators have no sympathizers in Fresno County and the sooner they know it the better.”-Fresno Tribune.
Fellow Members of the I. W. W.: This a sample of the LAW AND ORDER that the worker has to stand for. THERE IS NO LAW FOR THE WORKER. When our capitalist courts attempt to take away a liberty guaranteed in the CONSTITUTION of the United States it is time for us to act.
A REBEL.
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[Emphasis added.]
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SOURCES & IMAGES
Quote Frank Little, Fresno Jails Dungeons, FMR p6, Sept 2, 1910
https://www.newspapers.com/image/606951967/
Industrial Worker
(Spokane, Washington)
-Nov 2, 1910
https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/industrialworker/iw/v2n33-w85-nov-02-1910-IW.pdf
See also:
Tag: Fresno Free Speech Fight of 1910-1911
https://weneverforget.org/tag/fresno-free-speech-fight-of-1910-1911/
From: Fresno Morning Republican
Oct 30, 1910
“‘Industrial’ Speakers Allude to Possible Dynamiting…
Seventy-five Recruits Are Expected Tomorrow;
One Jailed Before.”
https://www.newspapers.com/image/606954249/
Note: many articles from FMR can be found here:
http://mikerhodes.us/iww-archive-project/
Note: re W. L./U. L Leister: Nov 17, 1910, Industrial Workers has Leister as “U. L.” Search of Fresno Morning Republican with “leister” reveals a “U. L. Leister” living in Fresno who was a piano turner, got into legal difficulty in 1914 and did have some affiliation with IWW.
https://www.newspapers.com/search/#query=leister&s_place=fresno%2C+CA&dr_year=1905-1915&sort=score+desc
Note re C. G. T., see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Confederation_of_Labour_(France)
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