and I dont care what the rest think.
-Joe Hill
Saturday November 20, 1915
Salt Lake City, Utah-
Mourners View Body of Joe Hill as War Declared on I. W. W.
Joe Hill’s body, this morning, lies in state at the mortuary of E. G. O’Donnell at 225 South West Temple Street. Hundreds of mourners filed past last evening, so many that the the undertaker found it necessary to move the body from the “slumber room” to the funeral chapel. The doors to the chapel were locked after a few thousand had filed by, and the mourners were advised that the chapel would reopen the next afternoon (today.)
Members of the local I. W. W. are planning a grand I. W. W. send-off for Fellow Worker Joe Hill, to be held tomorrow afternoon, after which the body will be shipped to Chicago. Plans are being made there at the headquarters of the Industrial Workers of the World for another mass funeral. Thousands are expected to attend that event, and it may prove to be the largest funeral ever held in the city of Chicago.
The body of our Rebel Songwriter had barely grown cold before William Spry, Governor of the state which murdered Joe Hill, declared war on those of his own citizens who are members of the Industrial Workers of the World. Just a few hours after the execution, yesterday’s Deseret Evening News reported:
GOVERNOR SPRY TO TAKE STEPS
TO RID UTAH OF LAWLESS
—–
War to the bitter end was declared this morning by Gov. William Spry against the I. W. W. and other alleged lawless elements in this city and state.
If possible the fight will be made, the governor said, with the support of and in co-operation with, the police department of this city, but if that support is not forthcoming, it will be made without it. The state militia might be called as a last resort.
The city is to be rid of the I. W. W., and other alleged lawless individuals or organizations. The governor asks the aid of all well meaning and law abiding people of the state.
“This fight has only begun,” declared Gov. Spry with vehemence on mention this morning of the Hillstrom case.
We did our duty with Joe Hillstrom, and we expect to do it with his lawless colleagues that have recently infested the city with their threats and with their presence.
Life and property, whether public or private is to be protected, and if our city police department does not rid us of the dangerous and lawless crowd now watching every chance to destroy either life or property here, I will put on a force that will do it. I shall call the state militia as a last resort only.
In this matter I call upon all earnest and honest friends of the state and of law and order for support and assistance. We are interested with a veritable horde of law breakers. This city is filled with them. We are going to clear them out and we are going to do it at once.
My first direct appeals for assistance in this campaign will be made to city, county and state officials I think they will respond. If not I shall resort to other means.
[Photograph added.]
In this same edition of the News, right next to the story trumpeting the threats made by Governor Spry against the I. W. W., we find a long article on the execution of Joe Hill in which the claim is made that our Fellow Worker had a “breakdown” before being taken to his death. The headlines proclaim:
HILLSTROM IS EXECUTED;
FIGHTS WITH OFFICERS
—–BREAKS UNDER STRAIN
—–
Condemned Man Marches to Chair After Being
Given Stimulants Before Leaving Cell
—–
MAINTAINS HIS INNOCENCE.
SHOUTS “FIRE” TO SQUAD
—–
[Photograph added.]
Hellraisers will attempt to research the truth of these claims and would point out that no one close to Joe Hill was allowed to be with him as he was led to his death. Tomorrow’s Hellraisers will document, to the best of our ability, Joe Hill’s last twenty-four hours of life.
From The Salt Lake Tribune of November 19, 1915:
Governor Spry in Vigorous Telegram to
President Wilson Declares Further
Interference With Justice
Is Unwarranted.
—–
PARDON BOARD APPROVES ACTION
—–
…Governor William Spry yesterday wired to President Wilson a vigorous telegram in which he declined to take any further action toward a reconsideration of the Hillstrom case. The action of the governor received the unanimous approval of the members of the board of pardons, which is composed of Attorney General A. R. Barnes and Supreme Court Justices D. N. Straup, W. M. McCarty and J. E. Frick.
The governor’s courage also, apparently, met with the practically unanimous approval of the citizens of the state. Several prominent Democrats met yesterday afternoon and instructed State Chairman Samuel R. Thurman to notify the governor that they were back of him in his action and considered his course the wise one.
In his telegram to the president Governor Spry characterizes the action of the chief executive of the nation as “interference” with the course of justice. He sets forth the facts in the case and calls attention to the fact that at the request of the president an upon that request alone the governor had granted Hillstrom a reprieve….
When the governor’s message reached the White House the information was given out that the president would take no further action in the Hillstrom case and that no statement or reply of any kind would be made…
[Photographs added.]
From The New York Times of November 19, 1915:
WILSON TO HELEN KELLER.
—–
President Tells Her He Wishes He
Could Aid Hillstrom.BOSTON, Nov. 18-Miss Helen Keller, who yesterday sent telegrams to President Wilson and Governor Spry of Utah, asking a stay of execution for Joseph Hillstrom, received the following telegram from the President tonight:
I was very much affected by your telegram and wish most sincerely it was in my power to do something, but unhappily there is nothing I can do. The matter lies entirely beyond my jurisdiction and power. I have been deeply interested in the case, but am balked of all opportunity.
[Photograph added.]
The Man Who Never Died:
The Life, Times, and Legacy of Joe Hill, American Labor Icon
-by William M. Adler
Bloomsbury Publishing USA, Aug 30, 2011
https://books.google.com/books?id=nCwHDiXYMRMC
Deseret Evening News
(Salt Lake City, Utah)
-Nov 19, 1915
http://newspaperarchive.com/us/utah/salt-lake-city/salt-lake-city-deseret-evening-news/1915/11-19
The Salt Lake Tribune
(Salt Lake City, Utah)
-Nov 19, 1915
http://newspaperarchive.com/us/utah/salt-lake-city/salt-lake-tribune/1915/11-19
The New York Times
(New York, New York)
-Nov 19, 1915
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=940CEFD81239E333A2575AC1A9679D946496D6CF
IMAGES
Joe Hill
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Joe_hill002.jpg
IWW Logo on Local 69 banner, Deseret Evening News, Aug 13, 1913
https://books.google.com/books?id=7W3gCwAAQBAJ&q=69+banner#v=snippet&q=69%20banner&f=false
Joe Hill execution , Diagram sketch of Utah state prison yard, Parsons (KS) Daily Sun, Nov 13, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/image/63174433/
Joe Hill, Governor Spry, Sunset Magazine, Nov 1915
https://books.google.com/books/reader?id=IUFEAQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&source=gbs_atb&pg=GBS.PA855
Helen Keller about 1910-1915
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/ggb2005012511/
Lawrence Jones
Some thoughts on the death of Labor Martyr, Lawrence Jones,
apply as well to our martyred Rebel Songwriter, Joe Hill:
A miners life is fragile
It can shatter just like ice
But those who bear the struggle
Have always paid the price
There’s blood upon the contract
Like vinegar in wine
There’s one man dead
On the Harlan county line.
-Si Kahn
Source for lyrics:
http://sikahn.com/songbook/page29.html
See also: Brookside Strike, 1973
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Mine_Workers#The_Brookside_Strike
Performance by Kathy Mattea