From the International Socialist Review of August 1915:

AMONG THE HARVESTERS

By NILS H. HANSON
[Part 1.]

THIS is a great year for the men who gather in the crops. Never before has there been made so much effort in trying to organize the harvesters who are one group of the most important toilers in the world.

Few realize the immense amount of power possessed by the ragged “low-down harvest bums.” They don’t all know it themselves, but this may be said about the workers in any industry. Still we all agree that bread is one of the most important necessities of life. Sometimes we are forced to get along without almost everything else that is supposed to be essential to human life but if bread is also deprived us, we may as well say, goodnight, for good. Whether it be in the palace or in the hovel men must have bread, though it be in different quantity and quality. This reminds me that we used to be taught in the schools of Sweden of a terrible period when that country was so devastated by war that the people were compelled to exist for a time on bark bread and water.

Along the roads and in the slums, bread is actually the staff of life to millions of human beings. In the jails and penitentiaries the authorities sustain life in their victims by bread, and often by bread alone. Spirits are broken on the bread diet, but prisoners are required to suffer and not to disappear altogether, and, as bread is the cornerstone of life, it is given them in small quantities.

FALSE ADVERTISING.Most bread is made from wheat flour. And it is the harvesters of this immense wheat crop, estimated this year to be 930 million bushels, and which will probably sell at over a billion dollars, it is these harvesters, who are this year trying to get a trifle more of what rightly belongs to them.

Of course they are up against a hard proposition. In the past wages have been so low that nine-tenths of the men have gone to the harvest fields in a half starved and miserable condition. For months they have depended upon the kindness of “good hearted” people who hold them in bread lines and feed them in soup kitchens in the winter. And these soft-handed charity bunglers can never seem to understand that the smaller the wage the sooner will the harvesters be forced back to ask for charity.

The U. S. Department of Labor has undertaken to supply “hands” to the farmers, whereby they have made things far worse than ever before. This department states that “workers are expected to pay their own expenses to and from the places of employment,” and expects that its kindly auspices will mean “larger profits to the farmers.”

When we read the following advertisement which was sent to innumerable newspapers and local agencies for posting in the large centers of population, it almost looks as though the Department of Labor was trying to make business for the railroads as well as to aid the farm employer:

Wanted—Eighteen thousand men, willing to work at wages ranging from $2 to $3 a day and board; English-speaking white men preferred; persons other than English- speaking apply to W. G. Ashton, Commissioner of Labor, Oklahoma City, Okla.

Members of the department state further:

We are to do our best to confine the labor army to men of industry and steady habits. Usually there gets into a crowd of this size a number of men of vagrant habits, who do much to demoralize the men who are disposed to be industrious. We want to weed out as many of that type this year as possible.

C. L. Green, general inspector in charge of distribution work, department of labor, stationed in New York, will go to Kansas City, from which place he will co-operate with state authorities in Oklahoma and Kansas. Men who are sent to the harvest fields from other sections of the country must pass inspection before Mr. Green and the state authorities referred to. Later Mr. Green will take up this kind of work with state authorities farther north.

The following statement signed by J. Manzon, John Stewart and A. V. Azuana in Kansas City, Mo., on June 23rd, shows how this government system works to clean out the harvesters and to the securing of low paid workers for the farmers:

STATEMENT.We, the undersigned, vouch that Antonio Hermoso, Jose Ruiz, and E. Saurez were in Enid, Okla., before the 20th of June and were run out of town with about 2,300 other men on that date, and came north with us. They landed here yesterday and shipped out for the Santa Fe Railroad to work on a section for $1.50 a day (they to board themselves).

They gave us the following story: In New York they went to the federal employment office; shipped to Kansas City, Mo., to there apply at the federal office. On June 6th, they were given a ticket for Enid and then paid the fare from New York to Enid, the amount being $27.75.

Arrived at Enid on June 7th, and remained till June 20th, paying all their own expenses during that time. They told us they were sent to a farmer twenty-five miles from Enid on the 14th and paid their fare going to his place. They were compelled to walk ten miles more to the farm house and when they arrived the farmer advised them that he already had all the men needed. They returned to Enid, where they remained till the 20th, when we were all driven out of town.

On the 19th these three men went to the mayor of Enid and told their story. He said he could do nothing for them.

Signed this 23rd day of June, 1915, Kansas City, Mo.

~~~~~~~~~~SOURCE
The International Socialist Review, Volume 16
-ed by Algie Martin Simons, Charles H. Kerr
Charles H. Kerr & Company, 1915
https://books.google.com/…
ISR Aug 1915
https://books.google.com/…
“Among the Harvesters” by Nils H. Hanson
https://books.google.com/…

IMAGES
Harvest Worker,
International Socialist Review, Aug 1915
https://books.google.com/…

See also:History of the “400” A. W. O.
-by E. Workman [Walter T Nef], February 1939
One Big Union Club of New York, N. Y.
(Source also for image of cover.)
https://archive.org/…
Note: E. Workman was actually
Walter T Nef per several sources
including this one:
http://www.abebooks.de/…

For more on Walter T Nef and
the founding of the AWO:
https://books.google.com/…

Shall Freedom Die?
166 Union Men In Jail for Labor
IWW, about 1917
(Walter T Nef was one of the 166.)
https://en.wikisource.org/…

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Wayfaring Stranger-Emmy Lou Harris

I am a poor wayfaring stranger
While traveling through this world of woe
Yet there’s no sickness, toil or danger
In that bright world to which I go

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Monday August 2, 1915
From the International Socialist Review: “Among the Harvesters,” Part 2

From the International Socialist Review of August 1915:

AMONG THE HARVESTERS

By NILS H. HANSON
[Part 2.]

There is always a summer rush of thousands of men who come from east, and west, from north and south to earn some money in the grain belt. For a while the railroads are almost friendly and “riding” is rather easy during April and May while we flock toward the golden middle states. Hundreds may often be seen riding on one train. I was one of a bunch of one hundred and twenty-five men—all going east for the Kansas harvest.[Continued below.]

[Continued from above.]

FEEDING THE MEN.At first John Farmer sees the big flocks come with a rather pleasant look upon his face, because he knows that the more men that come the less he can hire men to work for. He knows that it is supply and demand that regulates wages when men are unorganized. But when they continue to arrive his face begins to change. He realizes that the wholesale advertisements about a “bumper” crop have caused altogether too many men to move in his direction. The hell-of-it is that most of them are broke and have to eat. Then comes the problem of feeding the men who harvested the crops last season and who have gone hungry most of the time since then.

Then the town marshals and railroad bulls get busy to prevent any more men from landing. The railroads send out iron rules to their crews advising them that brakemen will be fired for transporting any more “hoboes.” All easy riding is stopped and in order to get a ride the harvesters have to travel in numbers so that they can force the train crews to take them along.

With some of the railroad men any kind of a union card entitles a man to a free ride; others refuse to recognize anything but a trainman’s card. If our brother railroad men realized that the man he puts off in the snow-covered mountains or sun baked desert is an unemployed human being, a victim of the present social system, perhaps fewer of them would greet us with, “You can’t ride on my train.” You would think they were Jim Hill or Morgan coming along with a brake club in hand, condemning the poor, hungry devil who is trying to move to another place where he may get work and a chance to live.

“His train,” murmurs the “bum,” as he walks down the track, the track which he and his comrades have laid sometime before. And he hopes that the man who threw him off may too some day face the same fate along the “big, open road.”

The vigilantes soon got busy in the different towns and drove out the men for whom there was no work. At Caldwell, Okla., these armed brutes, led by a preacher, beat up several members of the I. W. W. and gave fellow worker Wilson and another would-be farm hand thirty days for vagrancy, the law that can always be used against the workers.

I happened to be in Salt Lake City at the time of the Joe Hill hearing, May 28th, and I heard the pleas put up by both sides. In company with thirty others I left the court room thoroughly convinced that Joe was innocent of the charges and that if he is convicted it will be because he is a member of a revolutionary organization, and the author of the I. W. W. song book.

~~~~~~~~~~

SOURCE
The International Socialist Review, Volume 16
-ed by Algie Martin Simons, Charles H. Kerr
Charles H. Kerr & Company, 1915
https://books.google.com/…
ISR Aug 1915
https://books.google.com/…
“Among the Harvesters” by Nils H. Hanson
https://books.google.com/…

IMAGES
Harvest Workers, Riding the Rails,
International Socialist Review, Aug 1915
https://books.google.com/…
History of 400 A. W. O. by E. Workman, 1939, Cover
https://archive.org/…
Don’t Buy a Job, IWW sticker, Silent Agitator,
Employment Sharks
http://www.folkarchive.de/…

See also:History of the “400” A. W. O.
-by E. Workman [Walter T Nef], February 1939
One Big Union Club of New York, N. Y.
(Source also for image of cover.)
https://archive.org/…
Note: E. Workman was actually
Walter T Nef per several sources
including this one:
http://www.abebooks.de/…

For more on Walter T Nef and
the founding of the AWO:
https://books.google.com/…

Shall Freedom Die?
166 Union Men In Jail for Labor
IWW, about 1917
(Walter T Nef was one of the 166.)
https://en.wikisource.org/…

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Nearer My Job to Thee by Joe Hill (Tune)

Nearer My Job to Thee
by Joe HillNearer my job to thee,
Nearer with glee,
Three plunks for the office fee.
But my fare is free.
My train is running fast.
I’ve got a job at last.
Nearer my job to thee.
Nearer to thee.

Arrived where my job should be,
Nothing in sight I see,
Nothing but sand, by gee,
Job went up a tree,
No place to eat or sleep,
Snakes in the sage brush creep,
Nero a saint would be,
Shark, compared to thee.

Nearer to town! each day
(Hiked all the way.)
Nearer that agency,
Where I paid my fee,
And when that shark I see,
You’ll bet your boots that he
Nearer his god will be,
Leave that to me

(First appeared in the Seattle edition of
the Little Red Songbook, about 1913/1914.)

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From the International Socialist Review of August 1915:

AMONG THE HARVESTERS

By NILS H. HANSON
[Part 3.]

WAR WAGES DURING WAR PRICES.Strenuous efforts are, being made to prevent the migratory workers from organizing this summer. The farmers would rather see them living on handouts in Chicago, New York or Kansas City than pay them living wages. But the workers are saying to the farmers:

“You are expecting war prices for your wheat and you will have to pay war wages, too, or do the work yourself. Three dollars for a ten-hour day is the lowest wage we are going to accept this year, with fifty cents extra for every hour overtime.”

We have not only the slugging, hold-ups, and possible jail sentences to contend with while we ride the rod for thousands of miles in order to earn a “stake” for the winter. Some of us go up against the employment sharks. You have probably heard of the type of buzzard that will send workingmen off for several hundreds of miles where some accomplice will employ them for a day or two and then discharge them. This enables the employment shark to bleed every applicant with a few dollars in his pocket, of several dollars apiece. I know of cases where government employes have sent men several hundreds of miles (the men paying their own fares) to work for farmers who have been dead for several years.

[Continued below.]

[Continued from above.]

SOLIDARITY OF LABOR.But it is not only the employer and his servants, the public authorities, with whom we have to contend. The workers, themselves, are their own greatest enemy. It is the lack of solidarity, the lack of sticking together that causes all our unemployment and our wretchedness. Most of the “organized” railroad men are ready to obey the rules of their masters and pitch in to us in order to hold their jobs. They stick to the boss instead of sticking to the workers of their own class. And next month when this same railroad man is in the fix we are in today, he will find other “organized” workingmen who will throw him off a train, or scab on him, or spy on him, at the commands of the boss.

But as the migratory workers learn to unite, to stick together, they will be able to ride, and to eat and to get more of the value of the crops they harvest.

ONE BIG UNION.What the workers need is CLASS solidarity—ONE BIG UNION OF ALL the workers. When they learn that by uniting together and sticking up for, instead of fighting, each other, they can win ANYTHING, can even abolish the present system wherein they are robbed of nearly all they produce, the workers will be the real Masters of the Bread. Railroad men will learn that the man who rides the freight is a workingman, a comrade in the struggle, and will lend him a hand. The mechanic will learn that the unskilled worker is as important as the skilled laborer, and that the skilled laborer must co-operate with him in a common struggle against the exploiting bosses. The driver of the engine who hauls the grain from the fields will learn that he would have no job if there were no “low-down bums” to reap and thresh the grain and he will unite with the dollar and a half a day man against the master class.

The harvest workers are being organized into the Agricultural Workers Organization of the I. W. W. And in spite of the brutal methods used to prevent this organization, they are waking up to the fact that they have a weapon in their own hands before which the farmers will prove powerless. They are learning that when they unite with their fellow workers they will have the whole country at their mercy—for bread is the staff of life.

Organize with your comrades, you harvest workers, you railroad men, you mill and factory and mine workers—organize to take control of the plants, the lands and the roads and mines you operate. Organize to make this the world of the workers!

———-

~~~~~~~~~~

SOURCE
The International Socialist Review, Volume 16
-ed by Algie Martin Simons, Charles H. Kerr
Charles H. Kerr & Company, 1915
https://books.google.com/…
ISR Aug 1915
https://books.google.com/…
“Among the Harvesters” by Nils H. Hanson
https://books.google.com/…

IMAGES
Harvest Workers, Oklahoma,
International Socialist Review, Aug 1915
https://books.google.com/…
History of 400 A. W. O. by E. Workman, 1939, Cover
https://archive.org/…

See also:History of the “400” A. W. O.
-by E. Workman [Walter T Nef], February 1939
One Big Union Club of New York, N. Y.
(Source also for image of cover.)
https://archive.org/…
Note: E. Workman was actually
Walter T Nef per several sources
including this one:
http://www.abebooks.de/…

For more on Walter T Nef and
the founding of the AWO:
https://books.google.com/…

Shall Freedom Die?
166 Union Men In Jail for Labor
IWW, about 1917
(Walter T Nef was one of the 166.)
https://en.wikisource.org/…

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Tune for One Big Industrial Union

One Big Industrial Union
by George G Allen

Bring the good old red book, boys, we’ll sing another song.
Sing it to the wage slave who has not yet joined the throng;
Of the revolution that will sweep the world along,
To One Big Industrial Union.

Chorus
Hooray! Hooray! The truth will make you free.
Hooray! Hooray! When will you workers see?
The only way you’ll gain your economic liberty,
Is One Big Industrial Union.

You migratory workers of the common labor clan,
We sing to you to join and be a fighting Union Man;
You must emancipate yourself, you proletarian,
With One Big Industrial Union.

First published in the Little Red Songbook,
7th edition, June 1914.

More verses here.

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July 14-15Ed Rowan & FW’s

What does the organization think proper action to take now. My life is a drop in the bucket, but there is a principle involved back of this case! And to be honest, I don’t want to lie down, as long as we have the least fighting chance. I don’t know any thing about the future, but am prepared for anything.

As Ever
Joe
[Photograph added.]

Our readers will remember that Joe Hill was denied a new trial

on July 3rd and was immediately moved from the Salt Lake County Jail to the state prison to await re-sentencing.

~~~~~~~~~~SOURCE
The Letters of Joe Hill
-ed by Philip S Foner
Oak Publications, 1965
https://books.google.com/…

IMAGE
Joe Hill
http://en.wikipedia.org/…

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Letter from Joe Hill to Orrin N. Hilton

                                                                                         Salt Lake City,
July 14, 1915
O.N. Hilton, Denver, Colo.:
Dear Judge:

Yours received O.K. Was removed to the state prison immediately after the decision was handed down, where I am now. I realize full well that there is only one problem to consider at present and that is the financial one. If I’d had the money to begin with I would not have had to depend on “charity attorneys” and consequently would not be where I am now.I am not very well posted on matters concerning the U.S. Supreme Court, but I have been told that it would not be necessary to have an attorney in Washington, D.C., for the purpose of delivering an oral argument, and if that is a fact it seems to me the cost of the appeal would be reduced to some extent by cutting out R.R. fares, etc.

If the case cannot be appealed without having an attorney in Washington, D.C., then I am afraid we’ll have to let it go as it is–because I cannot expect my friends to starve themselves in order to save my life.

I would of course like to have the case appealed, if the cost is not prohibitive; and if the case is appealed I would not have anybody but you preparing the appeal, because I’ve had my fill of “tin horn shysters.” If you could give us the approximate cost of an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, and also tell us if you could handle the case yourself, from your Denver office, we would know better what to do. Wm. D. Haywood and Ed Rowan would of course be parties to inform about all financial matters concerning the case.

Of course I am not in a position to know if anything is being done or not, but from previous experience, I draw the conclusion that if you don’t do anything for me, it won’t be done.

But I also realize that you are not in the business for your health, and I also know that you, unlike many others in your profession, have only one way to get money, and that’s from your clients; and if the client cannot produce it, you’ll of course have to drop his case.

Well, Mr. Hilton, if circumstances are such that nothing can be done, I want to thank you for what you have already done for me. And you can just bet your bottom dollar that I will show this gang of highbinders, that are operating here in the name of Justice, how a MAN should die.

Respectfully yours,

J. Hillstrom
[Photograph added.]

SOURCE

Letters of Joe Hill, see aboveIMAGE
Orrin N Hilton
http://darrow.law.umn.edu/…

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Dear Readers of Hellraisers,

This year for my vacation, Hellraisers will not be as scaled back as it was for the past two vacations. This happy change is due to my new & much faster computer.

The big change that my readers will see, starting July 16th, will be the shorter length of the postings along with fewer links.

When my readers find unfamiliar names, places, or events, please use the tags along with JayRaye (in diarist section of search feature). Or just leave a question for me in the comments and I will get back to you.

When I actually leave for Minnesota, I’ll let everyone know.

Solidarity,
JayRaye

Note: Vacation has started! Until Aug 7th, I’ll be able to check in about twice a day. From Aug 8-30th, I’ll be checking in only 2 or 3 times per week. Hope everyone keeps on Raising Hell (with the corporate powers, not with each other) until my return from Minnesota.

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There is Power In The Union-Utah Phillips

Would you have freedom from wage slavery,
Then join in the grand Industrial band;
Would you from mis’ry and hunger be free,
Then come! Do your share, like a man.

CHORUS:
There is pow’r, there is pow’r
In a band of workingmen.
When they stand hand in hand,
That’s a pow’r, that’s a pow’r
That must rule in every land —
One Industrial Union Grand.

Would you have mansions of gold in the sky,
And live in a shack, way in the back?
Would you have wings up in heaven to fly,
And starve here with rags on your back?

If you’ve had “nuff” of “the blood of the lamb,”
Then join in the grand Industrial band;
If, for a change, you would have eggs and ham.
Then come! Do your share, like a man.

If you like sluggers to beat off your head,
Then don’t organize, all unions despise,
If you want nothing before you are dead,
Shake hands with your boss and look wise.

Come, all ye workers, from every land,
Come join in the grand Industrial band.
Then we our share of this earth shall demand.
Come on! Do your share, like a man.
-Joe Hill

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“““““““““““““““““““““““““““`The Day Book of August 3rd reports the strange appearance of a puzzling sign on the South Side of Chicago:

“As Long as Ford and Suhr are in prison, beware California canned goods.” This notice on a South Side fence puzzles. Socialists, union labor leaders and I. W. W.’s know nothing of it. May be attempt to discredit I. W. W.’s.

The August 3rd edition of the Chicago Daily Tribune set out to solve the great mystery of the little sign on a South Side fence:

VEILED POISON THREAT IN I. W. W. CANNING POSTER
—–

A reporter is sent out to search the city for answers:

Who stuck the posters up?””I don’t know,” said John Fitzpatrick, president of the Chicago Federation of Labor.

“I don’t know,” replied Walter Lanfersick, national secretary of the Socialist party, in answer to the question.

William D. Haywood, national leader of the Industrial Workers of the World, was found in the organization’s office.

“What has canned goods to do with hop fields?” he was asked.

Haywood speculated that whoever put the poster up might be calling for a boycott against California canned goods:

“All the business men and manufacturers of California are allied against the working men and against the release from unjust imprisonment of Ford and Suhr,” he said. “Canned goods are the most important California export. Therefore declare a boycott against California canned goods.”

~~~~~~~~~~

SOURCES
The Day Book
(Chicago, Illinois)
-Aug 3, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/…

Chicago Daily Tribune
(Chicago, Illinois)
-Aug 3, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/…

IMAGES
Richard Ford, 1913/14
http://en.wikipedia.org/…
Herman Suhr, 1913/14
http://en.wikipedia.org/…

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Letter from Joe Hill to Elizabeth Gurley Flynn

                                                                                                        Salt Lake Cy
July 15-15
Gurley Flynn Chicago Ill.
Dear Friend & F.W.

Yours of July 8th at hand and I am always glad to get a line from you. Hope you will be able to get your well-deserved vacation, as you told me you had planned, and take your little boy out “to see a cow”–to use your own words. Yes Gurley, the motion for a new trial was denied and although I must admit that it jolted me a little when I first heard it, I am taking it more philosophically now. All you’ve got to do is to look around you a little and you can plainly see that there is a movement on foot to systematically drain the resources of Organized Labor all over the country. Look at the Ford & Suhr case in Calif. the Lawson case in Colorado, etc. You’ve got to hand it to “Kaiser Bill.” He knew what he was talking about when he said that laws and treaties are nothing but “scraps of paper.” He said a whole mouth full that time old Bill did. I see in the papers that Harry Thaw was declared “sane” and will be free pretty soon. Isn’t that nice? If I could afford to have one of them “brain storms” maybe they’d let me go too, but them brainstorms are luxuries that us wobblies have to do without.I dont know what the future got in store for me but I do know that I am ready to meet anything no matter what it is. There has been some talk about taking the case to the U.S. Sup. Court but I dont know what to think about. There has been enough of money expended on my case already. I certainly approve of publicity and “other methods” that you mentioned in your letter, however I asked Hilton to make a little write up just for that purpose copy of which you can have by asking Big Bill. Well Gurley dear, I am proud to have a Rebel Girl like you for a friend and in case you should not see me again I wish you all the luck in the world and hoping that you will live to see the day when Labor’s Cause, for which you fought so splendidly, shall triumph, I remain,

Fraternally Yours,

Joe Hill
[Photograph added.]

~~~~~~~~~~

SOURCE
The Letters of Joe Hill
-ed by Philip S Foner
Oak Publications, 1965
https://books.google.com/…

IMAGE
Joe Hill, IWW
http://www.freedomarchives.org/…

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Dear Readers of Hellraisers,

This year for my vacation, Hellraisers will not be as scaled back as it was for the past two vacations. This happy change is due to my new & much faster computer and to the library of photos, songs, resources, etc, that I have built up over the past 2 and 1/2 years.

The big change that my readers will see, starting July 16th, will be the shorter length of the postings along with fewer links. I’m writing three Hellraisers per day right now and don’t have the one or two hours extra that I usually take to find and put in the links.

When my readers find unfamiliar names, places, or events, please use the tags along with JayRaye (in diarist section of search feature). Or just leave a question for me in the comments and I will get back to you.

When I actually leave for Minnesota, I’ll let everyone know. My access to computer will be limited while I’m away, probably about twice a week. But I will definitely be checking in.

Solidarity,
JayRaye

Note: Vacation has started! Until Aug 7th, I’ll be able to check in about twice a day. From Aug 8-30th, I’ll be checking in only 2 or 3 times per week. Hope everyone keeps on Raising Hell (with the corporate powers, not with each other) until my return from Minnesota.

““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““`
Tune for Overalls and Snuff

Overalls and Snuff
(From the December 1914 edition of the
Little Red Songbook.)

1. One day as I was walking
Along the railroad track,
I met a man in Wheatland
With his blankets on his back,
He was an old-time hop picker,
I’d seen his face before,
I knew he was a wobbly,
By the button that he wore.
I knew he was a wobbly,
By the button that he wore.

2. He took his blankets off his back
And sat down on the rail
And told us some sad stories
‘Bout the workers down in jail.
He said the way they treat them there,
He never saw the like,
For they’re putting men in prison
Just for going out on strike,
They’re putting men in prison,
Just for going out on strike.

3. They have sentenced Ford and Suhr,
And they’ve got them in the pen,
If they catch a wobbly in their burg,
They vag him there and then.
There is one thing I can tell you,
And it makes the bosses sore,
As fast as they can pinch us,
We can always get some more.
As fast as they can pinch us,
We can always get some more.

4. Oh, Horst and Durst are mad as hell,
They don’t know what to do.
And the rest of those hop barons
Are all feeling mighty blue.
Oh, we’ve tied up all their hop fields,
And the scabs refuse to come,
And we’re going to keep on strikin
Till we put them on the bum.
We’re going to keep on striking
Till we put them on the bum.

5. Now we’ve got to stick together, boys,
And strive with all our might,
We must free Ford and Suhr, boys,
We’ve got to win this fight.
From these scissor bill hop barons
We are taking no more bluff,
We’ll pick no more damned hops for them,
For overalls and snuff,
We’ll pick no more damned hops for them,
For overalls and snuff.

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SENTENCED TO BE SHOT—ACT QUICK!

Fellow Workers:The exploiting class of Utah are determined that Joe Hill shall be executed. Our fellow-worker has made himself obnoxious to them. His message of solidarity resounds in their ears.

The Supreme Court of Utah has affirmed the action of the district court and Joe Hill will soon again be sentenced to death.

The decision says in part:

Thus, on review of the record we are satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to support the verdict; that the record is free from error, and that the defendant had a fair and impartial trial, in which he was granted every right and privilege vouchsafed by the law. Hence does it follow that the judgment of the court below must be affirmed. Such is the-order.

This was rendered after Judge Hilton’s appeal to the court wherein he shows that the state failed to establish a case against Joe Hill; the prosecution failed to show a motive for the crime; the defendant was not identified by any witnesses; he was convicted on the flimsiest kind of circumstantial evidence.During the course of the trial Joe Hill discharged the attorneys that had been appointed for him, but the judge retained them, thus refusing the man counsel and denying him the privilege of conducting his own defense.

As a result of these methods of the court he was convicted and sentenced to death. The state of Utah is the one state in the Union that gives a condemned man the choice of either being shot or hanged. Fellow-Worker Hill chose to be shot. His case was then appealed. The decision of the higher court has now been rendered. The case will be taken to the United States Supreme Court. But in the interim action is necessary. The fellow-workers of Joe Hill, his friends and sympathizers, should direct their demands to the board of pardons of Utah. Letters, telegrams, petitions and protests should be sent to that board.

Do not neglect to write to Governor Spry of the board of pardons as each appeal for clemency will have its weight.

Your letters should be forceful and convincing, couched in earnest language, but not threatening, as that may do more harm than good. Economic pressure will be used wherever possible. Get up a petition.

Do something to save the life of Joe Hill. Send funds to George Child, treasurer Joe Hill Defense Fund, 215 East First South street, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Wm. D. Haywood,
General Secretary-Treasurer,
Industrial Workers of the World.

~~~~~~~~~~

SOURCE
The International Socialist Review, Volume 16
-ed by Algie Martin Simons, Charles H. Kerr
Charles H. Kerr & Company, 1915
https://books.google.com/…
ISR Aug 1915
https://books.google.com/…
“SENTENCED TO BE SHOT—ACT QUICK!” by Wm. D. Haywood
(Also source for photo of Joe Hill.)
https://books.google.com/…

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Letter from Joe Hill to Big Bill Haywood

                                                                                                  Utah State Prison
July 28, 1915Wm. D. Haywood
Chicago, Ill.
Fellow Worker:

Am in receipt of a letter from Judge Hilton and after reading it I came to the conclusion that we can not afford to carry the case to the U.S. Supreme court and have decided to drop it. I instructed the local Sec. and Defense comm. to not pay another cent to anybody and that will of course, close the case automatically. I am reading the daily papers here and I can see where the money can be used to great advantage at present by the Organization and there is no use to be sentimental about it Bill; we can not afford to let the whole organization go bankrupt just on account of one individual.Well-old War-Hoss-I want to thank you for what you have done for me, and hoping that you will live to see the final “cave-in” when the rotten props of capitalism will go from under and the working class will rule the World, I remain

Yours for Industrial Freedom.

Joe Hill

[Photograph added.]

~~~~~~~~~~

SOURCE
The Letters of Joe Hill
-ed by Philip S Foner
Oak Publications, 1965
https://books.google.com/…

IMAGE
Big Bill Haywood, 1915
https://books.google.com/…

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Dear Readers of Hellraisers,

This year for my vacation, Hellraisers will not be as scaled back as it was for the past two vacations. This happy change is due to my new & much faster computer.

The big change that my readers will see, starting July 16th, will be the shorter length of the postings along with fewer links.

When my readers find unfamiliar names, places, or events, please use the tags along with JayRaye (in diarist section of search feature). Or just leave a question for me in the comments and I will get back to you.

When I actually leave for Minnesota, I’ll let everyone know.

Solidarity,
JayRaye

Note: Vacation has started! Until Aug 7th, I’ll be able to check in about twice a day. From Aug 8-30th, I’ll be checking in only 2 or 3 times per week. Hope everyone keeps on Raising Hell (with the corporate powers, not with each other) until my return from Minnesota.

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Workers of the World Awaken

Workers of the world, awaken!
Rise in all your splendid might;
Take the wealth that you are making,
It belongs to you by right.
No one will for bread be crying,
We’ll have freedom, love and health.
When the grand red flag is flying
In the Workers’ Commonwealth.
-Joe Hill (words and music)
https://www.youtube.com/…
http://www.folkarchive.de/…

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Elizabeth Gurley Flynn is now a member of the Joe Hill Defense Committee and has issued a leaflet urging action to save the life of Joe Hill. The leaflet reads in part:

[Hill’s] exceptional courage makes his plight yet more pathetic and doubles our determination to save him. A few days ago he notified the Committee in charge of his case to drop all further efforts, as he believed the funds could be better used in labor’s struggles. Of course, we refused to accept his noble sacrifice, but if we are to save his life, we must appeal to you for immediate financial assistance. Will you and your friends sign and mail the enclosed appeal to the Governor?…P. S. Word just received from Utah advises that Joe Hill is to be shot Oct 1st, unless we can secure quick action. Will you help us?

The leaflet will be distributed by the I. W. W. and other trade unions and by locals of the Socialist Party.

~~~~~~~~~~

SOURCE

The Case of Joe Hill
-by Philip S Foner
International Publishers, 1965
https://books.google.com/…

IMAGE
Joe Hill, Shall This Take Place
https://libcom.org/…

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Letter from Joe Hill to Elizabeth Gurley Flynn

                                                                                                       Salt Lake City
Aug. 6th 15Elizabeth Gurley Flynn N Y City
Dear Friend & F.W.

Yours of July 25th at hand and I note that you are taking a very optimistic view of the financial situation. Very well Gurley–I have absolutely no desire to be one of them what ye-call-em-martyrs and if there is any way of carrying the case to the U.S. Sup. Court, it is of course O.K. with me. I’ll tell you honestly though, that you made me feel ashamed of myself when you donated the $5 that somebody gave you for “a treat” and although I know that you gave it with the best of spirit I almost believe that you were robbing yourself by doing so.Well I guess I must admit that I am absolutely helpless and unable to do anything for myself.

I was taken up to the court the other day and resentenced to be shot on the 1st. day of Oct. this year. I am getting along fairly well here– being the air is purer & not so hot as it down in the Co. jail. Well I don’t know anything new, and will close for this time. Take good care of your throat and what ever you do– don’t try to overthrow the “System” all alone.

With best wishes I am

Fraternally yours

Joe Hill

~~~~~~~~~~

SOURCE
The Letters of Joe Hill
-ed by Philip S Foner
Oak Publications, 1965
https://books.google.com/…

IMAGE
Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, 1915
http://dp.la/…

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Dear Readers of Hellraisers,

This year for my vacation, Hellraisers will not be as scaled back as it was for the past two vacations. This happy change is due to my new & much faster computer.

The big change that my readers will see, starting July 16th, will be the shorter length of the postings along with fewer links.

When my readers find unfamiliar names, places, or events, please use the tags along with JayRaye (in diarist section of search feature). Or just leave a question for me in the comments and I will get back to you.

When I actually leave for Minnesota, I’ll let everyone know.

Solidarity,
JayRaye

Note: Vacation has started! Until Aug 7th, I’ll be able to check in about twice a day. From Aug 8-30th, I’ll be checking in only 2 or 3 times per week. Hope everyone keeps on Raising Hell (with the corporate powers, not with each other) until my return from Minnesota.

““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““`
The Rebel Girl-Hazel Dickens

She’s a Rebel Girl, a Rebel Girl!
She’s the working class, the strength of this world.
From Maine to Georgia you’ll see
Her fighting for you and for me.
Yes, she’s there by your side with her courage and pride.
She’s unequaled anywhere.
And, I’m proud to fight for freedom
With a Rebel Girl.
-Joe Hill/Hazel Dickens

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On Saturday, August 7th, Mother Jones spoke at a public meeting held in the Labor Temple of Pittsburg, Kansas, the home of the District 14 of the United Mine Workers.Mother spoke on various topics of interest to working men and women: guns and gunmen; the “great brains” who rule the nation; railroad men who agree to haul John D. Jr.’s machine guns across the country with which their fellow workers are murdered; and a lecture on economics given by a preacher to the mother of several hungry children. She invited the “pencil slaves” to take down her words and print them in the morning papers. She also addressed the issue of the safety of the young Mr. Rockefeller should he ever make his promised trip to Colorado.

At the end of the meeting, with a unanimous vote of those attending the meeting, two telegrams were sent to President Wilson to protest the trial of Mathew Schmidt, and David Caplan.

Below the fold our readers can find excerpts from the speech given by Mother Jones.

August 7, 1915
Pittsburg, Kansas
Mother Jones Speaks

“The other fellow has got the gun and gunman, and you have nothing”

When we were discussing the iron workers fight, it is the same everywhere. It don’t make any difference whether you are an iron worker or a longshoreman or a railroad man. It don’t make a bit of difference. The other fellow has got the gun and the gunman, and you have nothing, and you don’t want anything because you don’t know how to use it. Over in West Virginia they murdered the children before they were born; they hired gunmen and they kicked the babies to death before they were born-the gunmen did.In Colorado they burned them to death in the holes into which they ran to save themselves. They threw oil on them to be sure that they were murdered; babies were murdered; women, when their sides were burned off, and their arms, they were carried to the morgue, and gave birth to the coming generation when they were dead two days. They are a civilized nation, aren’t they? Highly civilized: No doubt about it!

[Photograph added.]

Great Brains

A newspaper man sat on a platform with me in New York not long ago, and says, “You have got to realize you are dealing with great brains.” I had to follow him. I want to take issue with the former speaker. You are not dealing with great brains; you are dealing with wolf brains; with snake brains; with rat brains. Great brains never stoop to those things. Great brains are interested in a nobler manhood, and a grander womanhood, and a higher, nobler work, Great brains never sell themselves for a smile to the pirates of nations. We are cowards and because we are cowards they make us build jails and penitentiaries, and pay wardens and guards, and they put us in them. We build palaces and put them into them, and we are awful wise! We put rags on our women, and we decorate their women with all the finery of the nation, and we are wise. There is no question about it, we are [not?] very wise at all.

Railroad men haul John D. Jr.’s machine guns.

The machine gun [that was used at Ludlow] was transported from West Virginia across the state and landed in Colorado. Let me ask this of you. Is there a railroad company in America which would haul that machine gun to the miners for them to defend their wives and children? Well, then, don’t you see you have got a government of 26 Broadway? Don’t you see you have got no rights under this government? Don’t you see the railroad men haul these murderous machine guns to murder their brothers in Colorado, and they haul the gunmen, and when the working class wake up there will be no railroad men haul any machine guns to murder my class. We know our duty; we needn’t blame those fellows. They don’t do anything but what we let them do, not a single thing. Every move they make they know we will stand for.

Working for Jesus

I want to show you where they [the preachers] get their money from when they are working for Jesus.-If a man wants a good room to live in, the laboring man, he has to pay the pittance price, from 25 to 50 cents a day, for getting even the privilege to work. Anyone who refuses to pay the boss, or refuses to buy him drinks, has to give his room to someone else; he can’t work there. Everyone who goes to work in any mine which belongs to Rockefeller, has to pay from ten to fifteen dollars to the boss, and he has to buy him drinks on pay day for getting the privilege to work under the earth to bring out the minerals that Nature placed there. Then they have the saloons. The ground probably cost $50.00, and the saloon keeper’s charge $1,500.00 for the privilege of running the saloon. Every man is taxed from forty to fifty cents; every miner must pay. If there are three thousand miners who work in and around that mining camp, you see the money that goes. Then you see how it goes on Sunday morning.Then on Sunday morning John the Baptist goes up to church and he gives so much to Jesus, and he tells the minister, “Now, send him to Hell, so he don’t get on to the job”; and the ministers stand for it, and one minister from Chicago went to Cleveland the other day, last Sunday, a week ago today, and he preached a sermon, and John was sitting there-“Oily John” was sitting there in front of him-and he said that “Oily John” was the greatest man the nation had ever produced; that he did more good than any other man in the nation; there is no doubt but what he is the greatest murderer the nation had ever produced; no question about it, the greatest thief; there is no question on earth about that. But when it comes to the good, he can’t be equaled in crime; he has murdered, shot, starved, sent to an untimely grave men, women and children by the thousands that I know, and if that is your modern version of Christianity, may God Almighty, save me from getting any of it in my system.

Such a philosophy is outrageous to preach in this age of modern machinery. To let ten men in this nation dictate what we will eat and drink and wear, and where we will live; they own the nation; they dictate the policy to the President and no one dare go beyond the dictates of that pretense, and I want to make a statement here. You are rapidly marching into benevolent absolutism. That is what the American nation is coming to.

I agree with Mr. Darrow that the ballot will not bring us anything. I have watched the reform movement for the last fifty years. I have come to the final conclusion that there is only one thing will bring us relief, and that is for us to stand on both feet. When they murder our children, tie up every industry and for every working man they kill, you kill one of them. Put that down as anarchy if you wish. Put it down for every working man. After this for every man they send to the penitentiary, let us send one of them over the road, and it will soon stop. You bet your life!

Ah, but some fellow will say when he goes home: “Oh, hell, that was too radical.” Christ said ten thousand things more radical than I only preaching Christianity, and that is modern Christianity. I want to tell you men and you women, too, you have no blood in you. You run around preaching foreign missions and temperance. You don’t know any more about it than the blankest pagan. Get out in the fight! Organize; stop talking!

A Texas Sky Pilot Preaches Economics

I want to make a statement here that no minister can dictate to me my economics; he can tell me about Heaven, that is a long way off, but I am dealing with things here; I am dealing with things that confront me now; I am dealing with the bread and butter question. I don’t know whether they have bread and butter on the other side or not, and I don’t care if I can get it get it here.A Sky Pilot once when I was down in Texas came to a poor little woman who had a lot of little children, and he said, “Sister, I want Brother John to donate to me a bale of cotton when it is ready when it is picked for the Lord,” and she says, “Oh brother, I have been sick all summer and we owe the doctor and the druggist and my little one have no shoes or clothes.” “Well, the Lord will send it to you, and you give the bale of cotton,” he says. “I don’t think we can, brother,” she says. And he turned to me and he says, “Won’t you donate to the Lord, sister:” “What Lord?” says I. “The Lord Jesus.” I says, “Why he was a carpenter, he knows how to build his own house.” So he says, “Well, the Lord will take care of you.” “He has enough to do to take care of himself,” says I. It just show you the rotten superstitious stuff that they pour down our throats and we swallow, and we don’t protest, and we go in rags.

“I will borrow money or steal it to buy guns for my boys.”

Over there in West Virginia one day, they were walking up and down there with their thumbs in their mouths. “Did you ever shoot any rabbits?” says I. “Yes,” says they. “What did you shoot them with?” “We have a gun, Mother,” says they. “Have you got the gun yet?” “Yes, Mother.” I wonder if the reporters are here. You can have this for the morning if you want it, and then you can tell about it, and I heard those fellows say, “Those fellows are threatening to come down here and clean our wives and children up.” “I will tell you what to do,” says I. “You go get that gun and either go up that mountain and clean them fellows up, or go and throw your rotten carcass into the river and the fish will chase you out. The fish won’t leave you in. Now, you do one thing or the other; go up that mountain or jump in the river,” and they did, and that was the last fight we had. You bet your life.Buy guns, yes, and I will borrow money or steal it to buy guns for my boys, and I will not only do that, but I will make them use them, and I will tell you why. Now you can tell the editor to clean me up tomorrow if you want to, I will tell you why. These fellows robbed my class; he hires murderers’ he a pays them with the money I ought to feed my children with; he buys guns for them; he pays their transportation; he pays them wages, then if he can do that I can pay for the guns for my own class and use them.

Now, boys, the fight is on.

Pencil Slaves & Pick Slaves

I am glad the editors are here. Sure the editor is a slave. What the matter with the editor is, if he don’t do the work he will have to go; they will get another editor. That is what is the matter with him. Don’t you say a word to the editor. These are pencil slaves and we are pick slaves. That is the only difference. I always take the newspaper boys’ part; whenever I can help them I do it all over the country. I give them all the information I can so they can do the best they can. Some of them don’t get any more than $10 a week.

The Safety of Young Mr. Rockefeller in Colorado

Young John D. Rockefeller came to me and he said, “Would it be safe for Mr. Rockefeller to go to Colorado?” “Well,” I says, “Mr. Rockefeller had a lot of murderers out in Colorado; he has hundreds of them there, and I am an old woman with my head gray, and if I am not afraid to face his murderers, why should he be afraid to face his own murderers?”

~~~~~~~~~~

SOURCE
The Speeches and Writings of Mother Jones
-ed by Edward M Steel
University of Pittsburgh Press, 1988
https://books.google.com/…

IMAGES
Mathew Schmidt, David Caplan,
International Socialist Review, Aug 1915
https://books.google.com/…
Mother Jones on Cover of United Mine Workers Journal
of Jan 21, 1915, Repaired by JtC, thank you, Johnny!
http://books.google.com/…

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Dear Readers of Hellraisers,

This year for my vacation, Hellraisers will not be as scaled back as it was for the past two vacations. This happy change is due to my new & much faster computer.

The big change that my readers will see, starting July 16th, will be the shorter length of the postings along with fewer links.

When my readers find unfamiliar names, places, or events, please use the tags along with JayRaye (in diarist section of search feature). Or just leave a question for me in the comments and I will get back to you.

When I actually leave for Minnesota, I’ll let everyone know.

Solidarity,
JayRaye

Note: Vacation has started! Until Aug 7th, I’ll be able to check in about twice a day. From Aug 8-30th, I’ll be checking in only 2 or 3 times per week. Hope everyone keeps on Raising Hell (with the corporate powers, not with each other) until my return from Minnesota.

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The Spirit of Mother Jones – Andy Irvine

Mother Jones, the Miners’ Angel must be treated with respect
She’s an old fashioned lady, and you never would suspect
That this gown and this bonnet would fill a rich man full of dread
“She’s the most dangerous woman in America,” they said.
-Andy Irvine

See Also:
Spirit of Mother Jones Festival July 2014

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Will the soon-to-be released Manley Report by the Commission on Industrial Relations lead to the abolition of the murderous private armies of company gunthugs? That is the question asked by an August 12th article in the Day Book. Yesterday’s Hellraisers featured part one of the article; today with conclude with part two in which Frank P. Walsh, Chairman of the Commission, offers some insight on the subject.

Take the statement of Frank P. Walsh, impartial friend of labor. As chairman of the commission he sat for two years and listened to testimony which, in his own words, “was
appalling.” He has this to say regarding the menace of the private army:

The information which this organization and maintenance of armed force or ‘private armies’ by owners or managers of industries was appalling.They have not only established little communities, which may well be likened to foreign principalities, but they have organized armies to maintain them.

Many of the great industrial plants built during the last few years are obviously constructed that they may be used as fortifications and points of vantage in a war on labor!

So-called industrial protective corporations and detective agencies have reserves like European countries, which they can mobilize and arm on incredibly short notice, showing a perfect inside organization.

Many corporations such as the Pennsylvania Railway Co. have arsenals which they maintain permanently, at which their “soldiers” may be quickly provided with death-dealing agencies.

One Pennsylvania official testified before this commission that they had a small quantity of firearms stored in Philadelphia, but investigation revealed 5,000 revolvers, rifles and riot clubs stored in Philadelphia the city of brotherly love.

I do not wish to terrify the timid, but I feel prepared to say that the “trustified” industries, of the country, upon 24 hours’ notice, could mobilize an army great enough in numbers and well enough equipped in arms to overthrow the military forces of any state in the union.

If farmers, independent business men and manufacturers of this country could be brought to realize that the concentrated controllers of basic industries of this country could use their “armies” against them to maintain their economic advantage and thus pile up greater fortunes without proper return to society, they would join the workers in a mighty protest against private standing armies which would stir the law-making authorities to abolish them instanter.

[Continued below.]

[Continued from above.]

The Roosevelt Massacre
“““““

The horror of the private army has been fully felt at the massacre at Ludlow, in the Colorado mine war; the battle of Paint Creek in the West Virginia war; of Calumet, in the Michigan copper mine war; in the battle at Roosevelt, N. J., and still more recently in the war on strikers in Bayonne, N. J.The story of the operations of a “private army” in the West Virginia mine war is a tale of a peaceful community of happy, contented people transformed into a theater of war of murderous attacks without warning of men shot in the dark and in the back.

An attack on Holly Grove, a strikers’ camp, from an armored train, carrying machine guns, is typical Here is what an ex-mine guard told the senate investigating committee:

When the armored train got above Paint Creek Junction all the men grabbed rifles. The lights were turned down. We were told to shoot right through the windows. As we came up to Holly Grove I saw a stream of fire start out of the baggage car just ahead, where the machine guns were mounted. I am positive the shooting began from the baggage car.

In that night attack, as in others during the same war, innocent women, miners’ wives, were victims.No one forgets the battles in Colorado the massacre of Ludlow, where a private army attacked unarmed strikers, where machine guns rained lead on the strikers’ tent colony,
where, after “gunmen” had fired the miners’ tents, 14 bodies, mostly women and children, were taken from the “Black Hole of Ludlow.”

There are the “Seeberville murders” to the credit of the private army used in the Calumet war, when a squad of gunmen fired their guns into the home of a miner while the inmates were eating supper. One man killed outright, one who died soon after from his wounds, two others wounded, and a babe in its mother’s arms powder burned-that was one bit of work of a private army.

There is the red record of the use of a private army at Roosevelt, N. J., when a score of unarmed strikers were shot down, one of them killed, by armed guards of the employers.

The Roosevelt Massacre
““`

There is the recent street battle in Bayonne, N. J., where unarmed Standard Oil strikers were charged by armed guards, several killed and scores wounded.It is a raw, red record of terror and death-that of the private army.

ABOLISH IT!

Mother Jones with strikers’ wives and children after the Roosevelt Massacre.
“““““

—–[Photographs added.]

SOURCE
The Day Book
(Chicago, Illinois)
-Aug 12, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/…IMAGES
Frank P Walsh,
Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Feb 14, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/…
Roosevelt Massacre of Jan 19, 1915
from The Star-Independent. (Harrisburg, Pa.) of Jan 20
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/…
Roosevelt of Jan 19, 1915,
from The Sun. (New York N.Y.) of Jan 20
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/…
Mother Jones at Roosevelt, NJ, Jan 1915,
from New York Tribune of Jan 22
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/…

For more on the Manley Report, see also:

Pearson’s Magazine, Volume 35
Pearson Publishing Company, 1916
https://books.google.com/…
-from the March 1916 edition:
“What the Industrial Commission Discovered” by George Creel”
https://books.google.com/…

Industrial relations: final report and testimony
United States. Commission on Industrial Relations
-ed by Francis Patrick Walsh, Basil Maxwell Manly
D.C. Gov. Print. Office, 1916
Volume 1: 1-1024
https://books.google.com/…
“The Manley Report”
https://books.google.com/…

For more on the make-up of the CIR, see also:
“Hellraisers Journal: Frank P Walsh States His Commission Has Completed Its Work, Is Fixing Up Report” by JayRaye (scroll down)
http://www.dailykos.com/…

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Dear Readers of Hellraisers,

This year for my vacation, Hellraisers will not be as scaled back as it was for the past two vacations. This happy change is due to my new & much faster computer.

The big change that my readers will see, starting July 16th, will be the shorter length of the postings along with fewer links.

When my readers find unfamiliar names, places, or events, please use the tags along with JayRaye (in diarist section of search feature). Or just leave a question for me in the comments and I will get back to you.

When I actually leave for Minnesota, I’ll let everyone know.

Solidarity,
JayRaye

Note: Vacation has started! Until Aug 7th, I’ll be able to check in about twice a day. From Aug 8-30th, I’ll be checking in only 2 or 3 times per week. Hope everyone keeps on Raising Hell (with the corporate powers, not with each other) until my return from Minnesota.

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They’ll Never Keep Us Down-Hazel Dickens

Well we’ve been shot and we’ve been jailed, Lord, it’s a sin
Women and little children stood right by the men
But we got that union contract that keeps the worker free
And they’ll never shoot that union out of me

They’ll never shoot that union out of me, oh no
They’ll never shoot that union out of me
Got a contract in our hand signed by the blood of honest men
And they’ll never shoot that union out of me
-Hazel Dickens

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REPORT POINTS AT JOHN D. AND SON AS MURDERERS

John D. Rockefeller Sr with John D Jr, 1915
“““““

George P. West went before the U. S. commission on industrial relations and read a report yesterday. West is a newspaper man who has been two years with the commission as an investigator. He was assigned by Chairman Frank P. Walsh to dig into the whole mass of facts collected by the commission about the Rockefellers and Colorado.”Write it straight and put the whole thing in a nutshell so we can have it in a government record for anybody who wants the truth to read,” said Walsh to West.

So West came in yesterday with some report. The exact wording of it could not be learned. In effect, however, it points at Old Man Rockefeller and young John D. as whole sale murderers. It pictures young John D. sitting cool in his office at 26 Broadway, New York, directing Sheriff Jeff Farr and 400 thugs, gunmen and yeggs, armed with rifles and explosives. The Lippitt and Lee assassinations, a child shot nine times through the legs, another child shot between the eyes, a man killed in the firing line of the Ludlow tent colony, were described by West. Letters signed by young John D. show he knew of the hiring of armed thugs and was in close touch every day with a campaign of violence, arson and murder.

So West suggested that the official report of the commission should officially brand the Rockefellers with some sort of name as murderers or man slaughterers.

It is the theory of both Walsh and West that the two Rockefellers are red-handed murderers in a more real sense than the gunmen who saw the crimson spatter from their victims.

The question is now before the commission of deciding whether a fierce finger of accusation shall be pointed at the Rockefellers. Violence and its responsibility-what about it? Which commissioners will crawflsh? And which stand boldly and vote a verdict that will explain the bloody record of Colorado?

[Photograph added.]

~~~~~~~~~~

SOURCE
The Day Book
(Chicago, Illinois)
-Aug 12, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/…IMAGES
John D. Rockefeller Sr with son, John D Jr, 1915
http://www.loc.gov/…
Report on the Colorado Strike
by George P West, 1915
https://archive.org/…

See also:

The Ludlow massacre, revealing the horrors of rule by hired assassins of industry and telling as well of the thirty years war waged by Colorado coal miners against corporation-owned state & county officials to secure an enforcement of the laws.
-by Walter H. Fink
District 15 UMW, 1914
https://archive.org/…

Report on the Colorado Strike
-by George P West
United States. Commission on Industrial Relations, 1915
https://archive.org/…

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Dear Readers of Hellraisers,

This year for my vacation, Hellraisers will not be as scaled back as it was for the past two vacations. This happy change is due to my new & much faster computer.

The big change that my readers will see, starting July 16th, will be the shorter length of the postings along with fewer links.

When my readers find unfamiliar names, places, or events, please use the tags along with JayRaye (in diarist section of search feature). Or just leave a question for me in the comments and I will get back to you.

When I actually leave for Minnesota, I’ll let everyone know.

Solidarity,
JayRaye

Note: Vacation has started! Until Aug 7th, I’ll be able to check in about twice a day. From Aug 8-30th, I’ll be checking in only 2 or 3 times per week. Hope everyone keeps on Raising Hell (with the corporate powers, not with each other) until my return from Minnesota.

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SORROW & RESISTANCE
“Hazel Dickens: It’s Hard to Tell the Singer From the Song” clip

How can God forgive you,
You do know what you’ve done.
You’ve killed my husband
Now now you want my son.
-Hazel Dickens

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From the Chicago Day Book of August 17th comes this good news for the nations’ miners, and, indeed for the entire labor movement:

LAWSON MAY GET NEW TRIALDenver, Aug. 17. – The Colorado supreme court today issued a writ of prohibition against Judge Granby Hillyer acting in three coal strikers’ cases.

A writ of supersedes was issued staying the execution of life sentence on John R. Lawson, strike leader convicted of murder in connection with a private guard’s death. Both sides were ordered to file briefs by September on the question of a new trial for Lawson, who will remain in Trinidad jail temporarily.

Protest continue across the nation against the injustices done in the name of “justice” to the former strikers of Colorado.

From the Duluth Labor World of August 21, 1915:

CHURCHES JOIN IN WITH TRADE UNIONS IN
JOHN R. LAWSON PROTEST MEETING.
—–

Samuel Gompers and Frank Morrison,
President and Secretary of the
American Federation of Labor
“““““

Whereas, The government and courts of southern Colorado have for years been so dominated by the coal companies as to create a suspicion of their impartiality in administration and their fairness to coal miners; andWhereas, The whole course and conduct of the trial of John R. Lawson have been such as to discredit the verdict; and

Whereas, Mine guards in the employ of the coal companies and members of the state militia have committed many acts of lawlessness and violence; therefore, be it

Resolved, That we denounce the coal companies for their flagrant domination of the government and courts in various parts of Colorado and demand that the government itself seek to regain public confidence by a fair and impartial administration of the laws;

Resolved, That we demand the removal from the bench of Judge Granby Hillyer and ask for John R. Lawson and all accused miners a fair trial before an impartial court in whom the people may have confidence;

Resolved, That we demand a thorough investigation of all cases of lawlessness and violence in southern Colorado and ask that mine guards and militiamen, equally, with miners and their sympathizers who have been guilty of crime, shall be called to account.

Foregoing are the resolutions adopted by the federal council of the Churches of Christ.

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 20.—The Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America joined with organized labor in a Lawson protest meeting in this city, August 7, and passed the resolutions stated above.

The meeting was most significant because of the churchmen’s uncompromising opposition to methods employed at the Lawson trial and other Colorado, outrages. They stood squarely with the trade union movement on these questions, and further agreed with the organized workers that coal company domination of government and courts in various sections of Colorado, and the operators’ lawlessness, must cease.

The speakers included Rev. Samuel Z. Batten and Gilford Pinchot, members of the committee on direction of the Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America; President Gompers and Secretary Frank Morrison, of the A. F. of L., and General Secretary William Green of the United Mine Workers of America. President Keenan, of the Central Labor Union, acted as chairman, and Rev. Batten presented the resolutions.

The position of the churches affiliated to the federal council was indicated by Rev. Batten, who declared:

We will fight this case through the courts of Colorado and to the supreme court of the United States if necessary. Hundreds of miners have been killed in the mines of Colorado during the past twenty-five years, but not one of their widows has ever collected damages. We of the church don’t want a pardon for Lawson, we don’t want charity, but we do want justice.

President Gompers said:

The great crime for which John R. Lawson was convicted was that he was not a sneak and a taker of bribes, but because he is as true to his fellow workingmen as the north star to the magnet. This crime against Lawson is a blow struck against our movement. We demand not a pardon for the man, but his acquittal. In the shadow of this city hall, and almost within hearing of the clock in Independence Hall, we pledge ourselves to leave no honorable efforts untried until the great trade union movement shall have obtained justice for the smallest of our people, and the liberation of Lawson from the dungeon which threatens his life’s freedom.

President Gompers denounced Judge Hillyer as a partial jurist and a former attorney and employe of the Rockefeller corporation in Colorado.Secretary Morrison quoted a letter from L. M. Bowers, chairman executive board of the Colorado Fuel and Iron company, to John D, Rockefeller, jr., in which the former explained how editors and business men were “rounded up” to aid the operators.

[Said Secretary Morrison:]This rounding-up process…may explain opposition to Pennsylvania child labor legislation and the full crew train law, and it may explain the statewide demand for more Cossacks.

The speaker referred to conditions among Westmoreland miners and in the Pennsylvania steel industry and insisted that the white light of publicity was as necessary there as is was in West Virginia and Michigan, and which is now turned on Colorado, for the “rounding-up” process of those who oppose the workers is continually striving to stifle the voice of protest, whether heard in Colorado or elsewhere.Secretary Green of the mine workers charged that “the very integrity of the American courts is jeopardized by the unscrupulous action of big corporations in Colorado.” He outlined the fight at Ludlow, for which Lawson was convicted, and pointed, out that, though militiamen and Rockefeller gunmen shot down women and children, not one has been convicted.

This meeting is the first of similar meetings that will be held in various sections of the country, by the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America and organized labor.

[Photograph added.]

~~~~~~~~~~

SOURCES

The Day Book
(Chicago, Illinois)
-Aug 17, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/…

The Labor World
(Duluth, Minnesota)
-Aug 21, 1915
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/…

OUT OF THE DEPTHS
– by Barron B Beshoar
Denver, 1942
(Source for “protest continue..”)
https://books.google.com/…

IMAGES
John Lawson with Olive and Fern
from Day Book of April 23, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/…
Samuel Gompers and Frank Morrison,
President and Secretary of AFL
http://explorepahistory.com/…

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Dear Readers of Hellraisers,

This year for my vacation, Hellraisers will not be as scaled back as it was for the past two vacations. This happy change is due to my new & much faster computer.

The big change that my readers will see, starting July 16th, will be the shorter length of the postings along with fewer links.

When my readers find unfamiliar names, places, or events, please use the tags along with JayRaye (in diarist section of search feature). Or just leave a question for me in the comments and I will get back to you.

When I actually leave for Minnesota, I’ll let everyone know.

Solidarity,
JayRaye

Note: Vacation has started! Until Aug 7th, I’ll be able to check in about twice a day. From Aug 8-30th, I’ll be checking in only 2 or 3 times per week. Hope everyone keeps on Raising Hell (with the corporate powers, not with each other) until my return from Minnesota.

““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““`
Working Class Hero – John Lennon

Yes , A Working Class Hero is something to be
If you want to be a hero well just follow me
If you want to be a hero well just follow me
-John Lennon

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In the August 22nd edition of The Salt Lake Telegram, we find published a letter from Joe Hill to the editor. The letter was introduced:

From the death house of the state prison Joseph Hillstrom has written a letter to the editor of The Telegram laying his case before the people. It is the message of a man who is doomed and for whom there seems little hope. The date of his execution is little more than a month away.Hillstrom closes his statement with this declaration: “I have lived like an artist and I shall die like an artist.”

Letter from Joe Hill to The Salt Lake Telegram

                                                                                                        State Prison,
Aug. 15, 1915.Editor, Salt Lake Telegram,
Salt Lake city, Utah
Sir–

I have noticed that there have been some articles in your paper wherein the reason why I discharged my attorneys E.B. Scott and E.D. McDougall, was discussed pro and con. If you will kindly allow me a little space, I think I might be able to throw a little light on the question.There were several reasons why I discharged, or tried to discharge these attorneys. The main reason, however, was because they never attempted to cross-examine the witnesses for the state, and failed utterly to deliver the points of the defense.

When I asked them why they did not use the records of the preliminary hearing and pin the witnesses down to their former statements, they blandly informed me that the preliminary hearing had nothing to do with the district court hearing and that under the law they had no right to use said records.

I picked up a record myself and tried to look at it, but Mr. Scott took it away from me, stating that “it would have a bad effect on the jury.” I then came to the conclusion that Scott and McDougall were not there for the purpose of defending me, and I did just what any other men would have done–I stood up and showed them the door. But, to my great surprise, I discovered that the presiding judge had the power to compel me to have these attorneys, in spite of all my protests.

The main and only fact worth considering, however, is this: I never killed Morrison and do not know a thing about it.

He was, as the records plainly show, killed by some enemy for the sake of revenge, and I have not been in this city long enough to make an enemy. Shortly before my arrest, I came down from Park City, where I was working in the mines.

Owing to the prominence of Mr. Morrison, there had to be a “goat,” and the undersigned being, as they thought, a friendless tramp, a Swede, and worst of all, an I.W.W., had no right to live anyway, and was therefore selected to be “the goat.”

There were men sitting on my jury, the foreman being one of them, who were never subpoenaed for the case. There are errors and perjury that are screaming to high heaven for mercy, and I know that I, according to the laws of the land, am entitled to a new trial, and the fact that the supreme court does not grant it to me only proves that the beautiful term, “equality before the law,” is merely and empty phrase in Salt Lake City.

Here is what Judge Hilton of Denver, one of the greatest authorities on law, has to say about it:

The decision of the supreme court surprised me greatly, but the reason why the verdict was affirmed is, I think, on account of the rotten records made by the lower court.

This statement shows plainly why the motion for a new trial was denied and there is no explanation necessary. In conclusion I wish to state that my records are not quite as black as they have been painted.In spite of all the hideous pictures and all the bad things said and printed about me, I had only been arrested once before in my life, and that was in San Pedro, Cal. At that time of the stevedores’ and dock workers’ strike I was secretary of the strike committee, and I suppose I was a little too active to suit the chief of the burg, so he arrested me and gave me thirty days in the city jail for “vagrancy”–and there you have the full extent of my “criminal record.”

I have worked hard for a living and paid for everything I got, and my spare time I spend by painting pictures, writing songs and composing music.

Now, if the people of the State of Utah, want to shoot me without giving me half a chance to state my side of the case, then bring on your firing squads–I am ready for you.

I have lived like an artist and I shall die like an artist. Respectfully yours,

Joseph Hillstrom

[Photograph added.]

~~~~~~~~~~

SOURCE
The Letters of Joe Hill
-ed by Philip S Foner
Oak Publications, 1965
https://books.google.com/…

IMAGE
Joe Hill
http://en.wikipedia.org/…
Joe Hill, Chicago Day Book of July 20 1914
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/…

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Dear Readers of Hellraisers,

This year for my vacation, Hellraisers will not be as scaled back as it was for the past two vacations. This happy change is due to my new & much faster computer.

The big change that my readers will see, starting July 16th, will be the shorter length of the postings along with fewer links.

When my readers find unfamiliar names, places, or events, please use the tags along with JayRaye (in diarist section of search feature). Or just leave a question for me in the comments and I will get back to you.

When I actually leave for Minnesota, I’ll let everyone know.

Solidarity,
JayRaye

Note: Vacation has started! Until Aug 7th, I’ll be able to check in about twice a day. From Aug 8-30th, I’ll be checking in only 2 or 3 times per week. Hope everyone keeps on Raising Hell (with the corporate powers, not with each other) until my return from Minnesota.

““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““`
The Ballad of Joe Hill – Phil Ochs

Oh, Utah justice can be had
But not for a union man
And Joe was warned by summer early morn
That there’d be one less singer in the land
There’d be one less singer in the land
-Phil Ochs

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In its August 12th edition, The Wichita Beacon published a report by David Bruce from Chihuahua, Mexico, which describes the measures enacted by General Pancho Villa against certain merchants who charge exorbitant prices for food while thousands of men, women, and children starve all around them. Hellraisers will republish the article in three parts, beginning today with part one.

From The Wichita Beacon of August 12, 1915:

HOW VILLA DEALS WITH THOSE WHO TAKE
BREAD OUT OF MOUTHS OF POOR
———-

FIRST COMPLETE STORY OUT OF CHIHUAHUA FROM A MAN WHO HEARD AND
SAW VILLA BREAK FOOD FAMINE—ENOUGH FOOD TO FEED ALL,
YET THOUSANDS STARVE IN CHIHUAHUA!

(Excerpts from a letter written by David Bruce to The Beacon from Chihuahua, Mexico, July 19.)

I may be a bad judge. I may exaggerate the temper of the people. But I believe just now that unless the food that is being held up outside this city for better prices is released, and released quickly, there are going to be riots and the looting of stores in Chihuahua.

I know-it is not a matter of conjecture with me-I know there is enough food in the state of Chihuahua today to feed all northern Mexico. Yet this city is being forced to do without meat, eggs, milk, flour or corn, the while retail dealers shove prices into the sky. And during the 12 days this has continued 27 carloads of cattle were shipped through the city to the states strictly against the executive order of General Villa forbidding the exportation of foodstuffs.

—–

By David Bruce.Chihuahua, Chih., Mexico, July 31.-With dramatic suddenness, General Francisco Villa placed every large merchant in Chihuahua under arrest.

The charge against them is extorting money from the people by charging exorbitant prices for the necessaries of life.

The native merchants are now in the penitentiary; the foreign merchants have been ordered to prepared to leave Chihuahua forever on a train for the United States, which General Villa will provide tomorrow.

Every store in the city is closed. The market is open; prices there have dropped from 100 to 300 per cent since morning.

The arrests were made by General Villa in person.

Three weeks ago General Villa sent a message to the merchants here warning them that if they did not stop raising the prices of necessaries of life they would have to answer to him.

No attention was paid to the warning; led by the foreigners, the merchants continued to boost prices; the hunger and the suffering of the poor increased.

~~~~~~~~~~

SOURCE
The Wichita Beacon
(Wichita, Kansas)
-Aug 12, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/…IMAGES
Starving Women & Children, Mexico,
Wichita Beacon, Jun 4, 1915.
http://www.newspapers.com/…
Crucified, Denver Express, after Ludlow Massacre
http://john-adcock.blogspot.com/…

See also:

Don MacGregor + JayRaye
http://www.dailykos.com/…

“Memoir of a Proud Boy” by Carl Sandburg
http://moapb.weebly.com/

Note: Bruce David is the pen used by Don MacGregor following his service as a General in the Miners’ Army during the Colorado Mine War of 1914 which began after the Ludlow Massacre. MacGregor was also the reporter for the Denver Express who described the arrival of the miners and their families at the Ludlow Tent Colony on the first day of the strike.

““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““`
Dear Readers of Hellraisers,

This year for my vacation, Hellraisers will not be as scaled back as it was for the past two vacations. This happy change is due to my new & much faster computer.

The big change that my readers will see, starting July 16th, will be the shorter length of the postings along with fewer links.

When my readers find unfamiliar names, places, or events, please use the tags along with JayRaye (in diarist section of search feature). Or just leave a question for me in the comments and I will get back to you.

When I actually leave for Minnesota, I’ll let everyone know.

Solidarity,
JayRaye

Note: Vacation has started! Until Aug 7th, I’ll be able to check in about twice a day. From Aug 8-30th, I’ll be checking in only 2 or 3 times per week. Hope everyone keeps on Raising Hell (with the corporate powers, not with each other) until my return from Minnesota.

““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““`
We’re Coming Colorado-John McCutcheon

We are fighting for our rights, boys,
We are fighting for our homes,
Shouting the battle cry of union;
Men have died to win the struggle;
They’ve died to set us free,
Shouting the battle cry of union.

The Union forever, hurrah boys, hurrah!
Down with the gunthugs, and up with the law;
For we’re coming, Colorado, we’re coming all the way,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Union.
-Frank Hayes

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In its August 12th edition, The Wichita Beacon published a report by David Bruce from Chihuahua, Mexico, which describes the measures enacted by General Pancho Villa against certain merchants who charge exorbitant prices for food while thousands of men, women, and children starve all around them. Hellraisers is republishing the article in three parts; we began yesterday with part one and continue today with part two.

From The Wichita Beacon of August 12, 1915:

“HOW VILLA DEALS WITH THOSE TAKE BREAD
OUT OF MOUTHS OF POOR”
-Part 2 by David Bruce
———-

General Villa
““`

One week ago, General Villa called a meeting of the merchants of Torreon, and ordered three of them executed for selling goods for American gold.Still the merchants of Chihuahua continued to raise prices, and the people hungered in the midst of plenty.

Last night, General Villa reached Chihuahua. In this morning’s [July 31] local newspaper appeared a notice “inviting” all merchants to attend a meeting in the governor’s palace (statehouse) at noon today.

The merchants flocked to the meeting. They crowded into the palace, laughing and joking. They fought each other to get into the governor’s reception room, where the meeting was to be held.

Minister of Finance Escudero called the meeting to order. All the time he talked, a hum of conversation went up from the audience.

Suddenly, a stocky, common looking man stepped from a rear room and took the platform. It was Villa. A hush fell over the crowded hall.

And at the same moment, armed guards appeared at every door in the palace.

The faces of the merchants went white. Villa stood surveying them for a long minute before he spoke.

“I called you here to tell you you are in Mexico,” he said. “In Mexico we use Mexican money. Some of you have forgotten that.

“You have charged for the necessaries of life in American gold, and as a consequence the people starve.

“You are robbers!

“There was a time when I was forced into banditry. But never, in my greatest extremity, did I take the bread from the mouths of the poor, nor the clothes from their backs.

“That is what you have been doing. I am going to stop it.”

A man. white-faced, trembling, rose and made a move for the door.

“Sit down!” said Villa. “You are all under arrest.”

There was another long silence. The faces of the native merchants were gray. They were remembering-too late-the fate of the merchants of Torreon. The foreigners looked at each other, and there was fear in their eyes.

[Photograph added.]

~~~~~~~~~~

SOURCE
The Wichita Beacon
(Wichita, Kansas)
-Aug 12, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/…

IMAGES
Starving Women & Children, Mexico,
Wichita Beacon, Jun 4, 1915.
http://www.newspapers.com/…
General Pancho Villa
https://en.wikipedia.org/…

See also:

Don MacGregor + JayRaye
http://www.dailykos.com/…

“Memoir of a Proud Boy” by Carl Sandburg
http://moapb.weebly.com/

Note: Bruce David is the pen used by Don MacGregor following his service as a General in the Miners’ Army during the Colorado Mine War of 1914 which began after the Ludlow Massacre. MacGregor was also the reporter for the Denver Express who described the arrival of the miners and their families at the Ludlow Tent Colony on the first day of the strike.

““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““`
Dear Readers of Hellraisers,

This year for my vacation, Hellraisers will not be as scaled back as it was for the past two vacations. This happy change is due to my new & much faster computer.

The big change that my readers will see, starting July 16th, will be the shorter length of the postings along with fewer links.

When my readers find unfamiliar names, places, or events, please use the tags along with JayRaye (in diarist section of search feature). Or just leave a question for me in the comments and I will get back to you.

When I actually leave for Minnesota, I’ll let everyone know.

Solidarity,
JayRaye

Note: Vacation has started! Until Aug 7th, I’ll be able to check in about twice a day. From Aug 8-30th, I’ll be checking in only 2 or 3 times per week. Hope everyone keeps on Raising Hell (with the corporate powers, not with each other) until my return from Minnesota.

““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““`
Ludlow Massacre – John McCutcheon

The state soldiers jumped us in a wire fence corners,
They did not know we had these guns,
And the Red-neck Miners mowed down these troopers,
You should have seen those poor boys run.
-Woody Guthrie

““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““`

In its August 12th edition, The Wichita Beacon published a report by David Bruce from Chihuahua, Mexico, which describes the measures enacted by General Pancho Villa against certain merchants who charge exorbitant prices for food while thousands of men, women, and children starve all around them. Hellraisers has republished the article in three parts, concluding today the with part three.

From The Wichita Beacon of August 12, 1915:

“HOW VILLA DEALS WITH THOSE TAKE BREAD
OUT OF MOUTHS OF POOR”
-Part 3 by David Bruce
———-

“If anyone in this room wishes to continue selling for American gold,” continued Villa, “his place is in the United States. I will have a train ready in the morning to take all such to the border.”You hear that, Limon!” he said, turning to the jefe des amres, “See the train is ready. You will make no provision for food on it. Those who have starved others should themselves taste hunger.

“In the meantime—,”

A shaking Mexican merchant jumped to his feet and wailed aloud:

“I never sold any goods for gold. Before God I did not, I—.”

“I know all about you,” said Villa. “Tell that story to our God; not to me.”

The man collapsed and began to sob.

“I know exactly what every man has been charging,” said Villa. “My inspectors have been at work for weeks, and I—.”

Villa turned to Limon, the jefe des armes.

“I do not think all the merchants are here,” he said. “Tomorrow you will bring me the names of all those who failed to attend this meeting. They shall be dealt with. In the meantime, separate the foreign merchants from the native.”

This was done. Villa gave a sharp order. The native merchants were marched out in a long double line under a guard of soldiers. They were taken direct to the penitentiary.

Villa turned to the foreigners.

“As for you gentlemen,” he said. “If you wish to charge gold prices you will go to the United States. I will see to that. You had better take inventories of your stocks tonight. To show I am fair. I will pay you the cost price of your stock plus 15 per cent profit. I am overgenerous. As you leave, you will give your names and addresses to the Senor Limon. That is all I have to say to you.”

And he turned on his heel and walked out.

The foreigners ran for their stores like scared rabbits. Some began taking stock. Some tried to make away with the books; two were caught at this and sent to jail.

And in the meantime the city seethes with excitement. Soldiers are everywhere. On every street, on the Plaza on the Alameda, little knots of men are gathered discussing what has happened, speculating on what will happen, on what the gringoes will do. From the poorer quarter, where hunger has been, a steady murmur rises and fails, rises and falls, and no man knows what may come next.

~~~~~~~~~~

SOURCE
The Wichita Beacon
(Wichita, Kansas)
-Aug 12, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/…

IMAGES
Starving Women & Children, Mexico,
Wichita Beacon, Jun 4, 1915.
http://www.newspapers.com/…
Francisco (Pancho) Villa,
Jose Doroteo Arango Arambula (1878-1923)
http://www.donquijote.org/…

See also:

Don MacGregor + JayRaye
http://www.dailykos.com/…

“Memoir of a Proud Boy” by Carl Sandburg
http://moapb.weebly.com/

Note: Bruce David is the pen used by Don MacGregor following his service as a General in the Miners’ Army during the Colorado Mine War of 1914 which began after the Ludlow Massacre. MacGregor was also the reporter for the Denver Express who described the arrival of the miners and their families at the Ludlow Tent Colony on the first day of the strike.

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Dear Readers of Hellraisers,

This year for my vacation, Hellraisers will not be as scaled back as it was for the past two vacations. This happy change is due to my new & much faster computer.

The big change that my readers will see, starting July 16th, will be the shorter length of the postings along with fewer links.

When my readers find unfamiliar names, places, or events, please use the tags along with JayRaye (in diarist section of search feature). Or just leave a question for me in the comments and I will get back to you.

When I actually leave for Minnesota, I’ll let everyone know.

Solidarity,
JayRaye

Note: Vacation has started! Until Aug 7th, I’ll be able to check in about twice a day. From Aug 8-30th, I’ll be checking in only 2 or 3 times per week. Hope everyone keeps on Raising Hell (with the corporate powers, not with each other) until my return from Minnesota.

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How Can I Keep From Singing – John McCutcheon

When tyrants tremble, sick with fear,
And hear their death-knell ringing,
When friends rejoice both far and near,
How can I keep from singing?

The I. W. W. newspaper, Solidarity, has been reporting throughout the month of August that protest meetings against the execution of Joe Hill are spreading across the country. These protest include locals of the American Federation of Labor united with Socialist Party locals who are supporting the I. W. W. Defense Committee in its effort to save the life of Fellow Worker Hill.The Salt Lake Herald-Republican, in its edition of August 13th reported that:

Governor Spry is being flooded with letters, telegrams, cards and petitions against the execution of Joseph Hillstrom…The communications come largely from laboring men, Socialists, I.W.W. members and labor organizations throughout the country.

The Herald

offered, as an example of those petitioning Governor Spry, the following list:     -From Minneapolis: 2,500 Scandinavians;
-From Detroit: The Italian Socialist Federation;
-From Omaha: working men;
-From Portland, Oregon: a mass meeting of working men;
-From Baltimore: Local 192, I. W. W.;
-From Denver: the local I. W. W.;
-From San Francisco: working men and women;
-From Barre, Vermont: granite workers;
-From Lode, California: the W. C. T. U. (Women’s Christian Temperance Union);
-From Detroit: the United Russian Workers;
-From Chicago: the Russian Red Cross Society.

~~~~~~~~~~SOURCE
The Case of Joe Hill
-by Philip S Foner
International Publishers Co, 1966
https://books.google.com/…

IMAGE
Solidarity, July 31, 1915
http://spartacus-educational.com/…

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LETTERS OF JOE HILLJoe Hill to Sam Murray:

                                                                                                    Utah State Prison,
Aug. 12, 1915
Sam Murray
Friend and Fellow Worker,

Yours of August 5th at hand and as you see I have been moved to the State prison. The appeal was denied and I was up in court the other day and sentenced to be shot on the first day of October. We were all very much surprised at the decision, because we thought that I would be granted a new trial any way. But as Judge Hilton says “the records of the lower court are so rotten they had to be covered somehow.” I guess you can draw your conclusions from that statement. I wanted to drop the case right there and then, but from reports received from all parts of the country, I think that the case will be carried to the U. S. Supreme Court. I didn’t thing I’d be worth any more money. You know human life is kind of cheap this year anyway–but I guess the organization thinks otherwise and majority rule goes with me.Well, I don’t know anything new and hoping that you are successful in snaring the elusive doughnut, I remain, Yours for the OBU

Joe Hill

[Photograph added.]

Joe Hill to Elizabeth Gurley Flynn (about Aug 18th per envelope):

                                                                                                  Salt Lake City
State Prison Aug.
Elizatbeth Gurley Flynn N.Y. City
Friend & F.W.

Yours of Aug 3 at hand and should have answered before but there is nothing of importance happening and I have nothing new to tell you.I was resentenced to be shot on the first day of Oct. and according to the local press the only hope for me is the board of Pardons. That means, I suppose that they are going to give me life if I beg for it real nice. Now I’ll tell you Gurley, I never did like the ring of the word “pardon” and I think I’d rather be buried dead, than buried alive. I never “licked the hand that holds the whip” yet and I don’t see why I should have to start it now.

Well Give my Best to the bunch

Yours Joe Hill

I enclose two clippings from the local press. Joe

[Photograph added.]

~~~~~~~~~~

SOURCE
The Letters of Joe Hill
-ed by Philip S Foner
Oak Publications, 1965
https://books.google.com/…

IMAGES
Joe Hill, IWW
http://www.freedomarchives.org/…
The Rebel Girl, Joe Hill, Sheet Music
http://www.gothamcenter.org/…

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Dear Readers of Hellraisers,

This year for my vacation, Hellraisers will not be as scaled back as it was for the past two vacations. This happy change is due to my new & much faster computer.

The big change that my readers will see, starting July 16th, will be the shorter length of the postings along with fewer links.

When my readers find unfamiliar names, places, or events, please use the tags along with JayRaye (in diarist section of search feature). Or just leave a question for me in the comments and I will get back to you.

When I actually leave for Minnesota, I’ll let everyone know.

Solidarity,
JayRaye

Note: Vacation has started! Until Aug 7th, I’ll be able to check in about twice a day. From Aug 8-30th, I’ll be checking in only 2 or 3 times per week. Hope everyone keeps on Raising Hell (with the corporate powers, not with each other) until my return from Minnesota.

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My Old Kentucky Home – Paul Robeson

We Will Sing One Song – Joe Hill

We will sing one song of the meek and humble slave,
The horn-handed son of the soil,
He’s toiling hard from the cradle to the grave,
But his master reaps the profits from his toil.
Then we’ll sing one song of the greedy master class,
They’re vagrants in broadcloth, indeed,
They live by robbing the ever-toiling mass,
Human blood they spill to satisfy their greed.

CHORUS:
Organize! Oh, toilers, come organize your might;
Then we’ll sing one song of the workers’ commonwealth,
Full of beauty, full of love and health.

We will sing one song of the politician sly,
He’s talking of changing the laws;
Election day all the drinks and smokes he’ll buy,
While he’s living from the sweat of your brow.
Then we’ll sing one song of the girl below the line,
She’s scorned and despised everywhere,
While in their mansions the “keepers” wine and dine
From the profits that immoral traffic bear.

We will sing one song of the preacher, fat and sleek,
He tells you of homes in the sky.
He says, “Be generous, be lowly, and be meek,
If you don’t you’ll sure get roasted when you die.”
Then we sing one song of the poor and ragged tramp,
He carries his home on his back;
Too old to work, he’s not wanted ’round the camp,
So he wanders without aim along the track.

We will sing one song of the children in the mills,
They’re taken from playgrounds and schools,
In tender years made to go the pace that kills,
In the sweatshops, ‘mong the looms and the spools.
Then we’ll sing one song of the One Big Union Grand,
The hope of the toiler and slave,
It’s coming fast; it is sweeping sea and land,
To the terror of the grafter and the knave.
-Joe Hill

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                                                                                              August 20, 1915
Terre Haute, IndianaDear Governor Spry,

Please allow me to say a word in behalf of Joseph Hillstrom (also known as Joe Hill). From the reports that have come to me from those in position to know the facts and whom I regard as entirely trustworthy, I am convinced that there is more than a reasonable doubt as to the guilt of this unfortunate brother of ours in the cause of labor. He was convicted upon circumstantial evidence, denied the right to choose his own counsel, while at the same time there was unquestionably a strong prejudice against him on account of his activity in the labor movement.Joe Hill is a poet, a writer of songs, a man of soul, a tender and sympathetic nature and the crime of murder is as foreign to him and as unthinkable as it would be to any other man of like temperament. For this reason and others I will not trouble you with I beg you to give serious consideration to the case of Joe Hill and if you do I am confident you will grant him executive clemency. Joe Hill is not a murderer; he is a man and the great state of Utah where murder is so abhorred cannot afford to take his life.

Thanking you sincerely for myself and for the working people in whose behalf Joe Hill has labored and suffered and made many sacrifices I remain,

Yours very truly,
Eugene V. Debs

[Photograph added.]

~~~~~~~~~~

SOURCE
Letters of Eugene V. Debs, Volume 1
-ed by J. Robert Constantine
University of Illinois Press, Jan 1, 1990
https://books.google.com/…

IMAGE
Joe Hill
http://en.wikipedia.org/…

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Correspondence of Eugene Debs with Elizabeth Gurley FlynnEGF to EVD, about August 18th:

                                                                                                       New York CityDear Comrade Debs,

I write to you on behalf of a valiant soldier in labor’s cause-Joe Hill, the poet and song-writer of the I. W. W. who is in jail, sentenced to death, in Utah. You probably have already heard of the case. Judge O. N. Hilton now has it in charge and is attempting to secure an appeal to the U. S. Supreme Court. I am enclosing data and a form of the appeal to the Governor that is being circulated widely in the East. If you would write even a few lines to some of the Socialist press or to me to send copies to the Socialist press urging financial and moral support, the circulation of the petitions etc. it will help tremendously to stir up working class interest and co-operation for this almost unknown and very worthy comrade.I wonder if the Rip Saw would publish a form of appeal to the Governor to be filled out and sent in by readers?

I am sorry not to have met you on my Middle-West trip, but had a very pleasant hour with Kate Richards O’Hare.

With very best wishes and hoping to enlist your support and co-operation for Joe Hill, I am

Yours fraternally,
Elizabeth Gurley Flynn

[Photograph added.]

EVD from Terre Haute, Indiana, to EGF:

                                                                                                   August 20, 1915Dear Comrade Flynn,

Your communication with printed enclosures in behalf of Joe Hill has just been received and I am glad to undertake without loss of time to comply with your request. When the life of a comrade is at stake all else must take second place. I have been interested in Hill’s case but have had no chance on account of being so hard pressed to take any active part in his behalf. I have now written a letter to Governor Spry of which you will find a copy enclosed. You can use this in any way that will help. I have also written a brief appeal and mailed it to the editor of the American Socialist and asked him to insert it in the next issue. You will find a copy of this enclosed also and you can use it in any way you may think best. As the A. S. is the party paper and all socialist papers receive it in exchange it is quite probable that a number of them will copy this article. Perhaps you would better send a copy of both the letter to the governor and the article to the A. S. to the Int. Socialist Review if you think it will help the agitation in Hill’s behalf. I will gladly do anything more I can and I shall find other ways of getting publicity and reaching the people. Unfortunately the R. S. has gone to press and it will be a month before there is another issue and that will be too late.I too am sorry to have missed you while we were in the middle states but am glad you had the visit with Kate Richards O’Hare. Earnestly hoping we shall be able to save Joe Hill and with all good wishes to you I remain,

Yours fraternally,
Eugene V. Debs

[Photograph added.]

~~~~~~~~~

See above for source.

IMAGES
Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, 1915
http://dp.la/…
Eugene V Debs
https://www.marxists.org/…

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Dear Readers of Hellraisers,

This year for my vacation, Hellraisers will not be as scaled back as it was for the past two vacations. This happy change is due to my new & much faster computer.

The big change that my readers will see, starting July 16th, will be the shorter length of the postings along with fewer links.

When my readers find unfamiliar names, places, or events, please use the tags along with JayRaye (in diarist section of search feature). Or just leave a question for me in the comments and I will get back to you.

When I actually leave for Minnesota, I’ll let everyone know.

Solidarity,
JayRaye

Note: Dear Fellow Workers, Brothers and Sisters, and Comrades: I’m back from Minnesota, but technically still on vacation. I will be checking in briefly at about 2 pm and again at 7 pm each day until Sept 1, at which time Hellraisers Journal will return to it’s regular programing with more links and research included. Many thanks to everyone who watched over Hellraisers during the time that my internet access was much limited. I very much appreciate it.

And thanks to WordsInAction who nominated me for that Daily Kos election and to the person who voted for me (gooder was that you?). I appreciate the honor even tho I don’t exactly understand what the election was all about or what my duties would be had I won the election and which duties I most likely would not have the time to fulfill…but thanks anyway for the recognition!! And congratulations to the winners of the election.

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Joe Hill – Bruce Springsteen

And standing there as big as life
And smiling with his eyes
Joe says, What they forgot to kill
Went on to organize
Went on to organize
-Alfred Hayes

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Joe Hill, convicted of a murder he did not commit, is sentenced to be shot in October in Salt Lake City, Utah. Hill was convicted upon purely circumstantial evidence by a prejudiced jury after being refused his constitutional right to choose his own counsel. Without going into detail at this time there is sufficient evidence to convince any unprejudiced mind that Joe Hill was convicted because of his militant activity in the labor movement. He is an “undesirable citizen” of the I. W. W. variety but he is anything but a murderer.Joe Hill is of a poetic temperament and is the author of songs of labor of genuine merit; he is of a tender, sympathetic and generous nature and utterly incapable of committing the crime charged against him. And now he is sentenced to be shot and we must go to his rescue and use all our influence to save his life. The days are few and there must be immediate action. Let every one who is willing to help write to Honorable William Spry, Governor of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah., petitioning the governor for the pardon of Joe Hill. This petition ought to be circulated and as numerously signed as possible and there should be no delay in sending it. Money is also needed and all of us should contribute our mite and help in every other way we can to save the life of this brother of ours in the cause of labor.

[Photograph added.]

~~~~~~~~~~

SOURCE
American Socialist
(Chicago, Illinois)
-Aug 28, 1915
(Also source for images of text within article.)
pdf!https://www.marxists.org/…

IMAGE
Joe Hil
http://en.wikipedia.org/…

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Letter from Elizabeth Gurley Flynn to Eugene DebsAbout August 22nd:

                                            New York CityDear Comrade Debs,

I received your splendid appeal for Joe Hill and am trying to get same into N. Y. Call. Also received the enclosure of $2.00 which I have forwarded to the Defense Fund.The latest advise I have received from the Salt Lake City committee is that Judge Hilton (Hill’s attorney, an exceptionally reliable lawyer who has defended many miners’ cases-possibly you know him) decided that the only practical move now is to appeal to the Board of Pardons. So he will make another trip from Denver, where his office is, on the 3rd Saturday of Sept. for this purpose. It seems the first two lawyers Hill had did not register objections to points decided against him, so left very little technical basis for appeal to the U. S. Courts.

So we will continue circulating the petitions and having people write to the Governor, in hopes of a favorable effect.

Thanking you for your co-operation, I remain, with best wishes,

Fraternally Yours,
Elizabeth Gurley Flynn

[Photograph added.]

~~~~~~~~~~

SOURCE
Letters of Eugene V. Debs, Volume 1
-ed by J. Robert Constantine
University of Illinois Press, Jan 1, 1990
https://books.google.com/…

IMAGE
Eugene V Debs
https://www.marxists.org/…

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Dear Readers of Hellraisers,

This year for my vacation, Hellraisers will not be as scaled back as it was for the past two vacations. This happy change is due to my new & much faster computer.

The big change that my readers will see, starting July 16th, will be the shorter length of the postings along with fewer links.

When my readers find unfamiliar names, places, or events, please use the tags along with JayRaye (in diarist section of search feature). Or just leave a question for me in the comments and I will get back to you.

When I actually leave for Minnesota, I’ll let everyone know.

Solidarity,
JayRaye

Note: Dear Fellow Workers, Brothers and Sisters, and Comrades: I’m back from Minnesota, but technically still on vacation. I will be checking in briefly at about 2 pm and again at 7 pm each day until Sept 1, at which time Hellraisers Journal will return to it’s regular programing with more links and research included. Many thanks to everyone who watched over Hellraisers during the time that my internet access was much limited. I very much appreciate it.

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Tune: The Red Flag – Billy Bragg

Joe Hill In JailA rebel we have know for long,
Who’s thrilled us often with his song,
Has fallen on an evil day:
They seek to take his life away!

No harm to him can we allow;
He needs our help and he needs it now;
He’s in their dungeon, dark and grim;
He fought for us; we will stand by him.

They’d fill his warrior heart with lead
And gloat to see him safely dead:
His voice forever hushed and still,
Our singing, fighting brave Joe Hill!

No harm to him can we allow;
He needs our help and he needs it now;
He’s in their dungeon, dark and grim;
He fought for us; we will stand by him.

His spirit gloried in the fight:
In Labor’s sure resistless might;
And One Big Union, staunch and strong:
This was the burden of his song.

No harm to him can we allow;
He needs our help and he needs it now;
He’s in their dungeon, dark and grim;
He fought for us; we will stand by him.

His heart was hot with burning hate
Against the bosses, small and great;
He told what haughty Sab-cats do,
And all about the wooden shoe.

No harm to him can we allow;
He needs our help and he needs it now;
He’s in their dungeon, dark and grim;
He fought for us; we will stand by him.

The “long-haired preachers” feared his name;
He filled apologists with shame:
While “Mister Block” so bland and meek,
With “Scissor-bill” did take a sneak.

No harm to him can we allow;
He needs our help and he needs it now;
He’s in their dungeon, dark and grim;
He fought for us; we will stand by him.

Now, boys, we’ve known this rebel long;
In every land, we’ve sung his song;
Let’s get him free that he may see
The day of our great victory!

No harm to him can we allow;
He needs our help and he needs it now;
He’s in their dungeon, dark and grim;
He fought for us; we will stand by him.

He made them hate him high and low;
They feared his tuneful message so;
He’d fight for us while he had breath;
We’ll save him from the jaws of death!

No harm to him can we allow;
He needs our help and he needs it now;
He’s in their dungeon, dark and grim;
He fought for us; we will stand by him.
-Ralph Chaplin, 1914

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Killing of women and children at Ludlow, prostitution of Colorado’s government to the will of the Colorado Fuel & Iron Co., “anarchism stripped of every pretense of idealism,” “anarchism for profits and revenge.”These are charged against John D. Rockefeller and his son, John D. Rockefeller, Jr., in the report by George P. West made public by the U. S. industrial relations commission.

Thus begins the reporting of The Day Book

on the report of George P. West which has recently been made public by the Commission on Industrial Relations. Below the fold, our readers will find the reporting of the Day Book on the West Report which lays out for all to see just what the Rockefellers knew about the Colorado strike situation and when they knew it.

From The Day Book of August 28, 1915:

FEDERAL BOARD ACCUSES ROCKEFELLERS-
“ANARCHISM STRIPPED OF IDEALISM”

Killing of women and children at Ludlow, prostitution of Colorado’s government to the will of the Colorado Fuel & Iron Co., “anarchism stripped of every pretense of idealism,” “anarchism for profits and revenge.”These are charged against John D. Rockefeller and his son, John D. Rockefeller, Jr., in the report by George P. West made public by the U. S. industrial relations commission.

West says the evils of the system of which Rockefeller is a part would go on tomorrow if the Rockefellers died today. But the operations of this system cannot be explained so people know how it works unless the personal acts of the Rockefellers and their personal red-handed record in Colorado is told in detail with names, dates and personal crimination.

The whole bloody Colorado business is worth notice in Chicago, where the Rockefellers control through Rockefeller Foundation ownership $1,109,250 collateral trust certificates and $315,540 of common stock and $1,212,856 of preferred stock of the Chicago City & Connecting Rys., besides $485,000 first mortgage bonds of Chicago Railways Co., $95,000 of H. H. Kohlsaat Co., not to mention the International Paper Co. and the Santa Fe, Burlington, Milwaukee, B. & O. and many other railway and industrial corporations.
Says the report:

Lamont M Bowers
““`

Mr. Rockefeller’s responsibility has a significance beyond even the sinister results of his policy in Colorado. The perversion of and contempt for government, the disregard of public welfare and the defiance of public opinion during the Colorado strike must be considered as only one manifestation of the autocratic and anti-social spirit of a man whose enormous wealth gives him infinite opportunity to act in similar fashion in broader fields. Mr. Rockefeller writes to Supt Bowers: “You are fighting a good fight, which is not only in the interests of your own company, but of the other companies of Colorado and of the business interests of the entire country.”Letters from the president and chairman of the executive board of the Colorado Fuel & Iron Co. to Mr. Rockefeller’s office in New York show that these officers fully realized the gravity of the situation before the strike and also they believed a strike could have been averted by the mere granting of a conference. Yet their refusal to even meet the representatives of the union had from the beginning the warm approval of Mr. John D. Rockefeller, Jr.

Jesse Welborn
““`

Back of Supt Bowers and Pres. Welborn in determining and mainlining the operators’ policies stood John D. Rockefeller, Jr., whose enthusiastic approval and indorsement of these policies gave incalculable moral and material support to both his own subordinates and to the executive officials of other companies. Mr. Bowers’ letters alone should have been sufficient to convince Mr. Rockefeller that the writer was irritable, arbitrary and obstinate to an exceptional degree; that he was a survival of the dark age of theory and practice regarding industrial relations; that he was ignorant of the characters and records of the men he opposed; and that, finally, his attitude toward the government of the state and nation was contemptuous, hostile and defiantNor could Mr. Rockefeller be acquitted even had Mr. Bowers concealed these qualities in his correspondence with 26 Broadway. From the day, seven days before the strike began, when he avoided an interview sought by a mediator of the federal government (Ethelbert Stewart) Mr. Rockefeller refuser to enter upon any independent investigation to determine for himself the true situation in Colorado before he threw all the enormous power of his personal support behind the men who had set themselves to the task of crushing the revolt of 8,000 miners.

Extracts from many letters between Rockefeller and his Colorado men are submitted to show that Rockefeller knew of the hiring of gunmen, the clothing of the gunmen in militia uniforms and he approved the violent anti-labor game carried on in Colorado. The report goes on:

But Mr. Rockefeller’s part in Colorado was not confined to these letters of praise and indorsement which so heartened and sustained the Colorado operator. Prior to the massacre at Ludlow on April 20 the letters proved sufficient for his purpose. But the storm of popular wrath that rose after Ludlow demanded more active participation. It was then Mr. Rockefeller initiated the nation-wide publicity campaign by which he hoped to convince the country that the strikers and not his company’s mine-guard militiamen were responsible for the deaths of thirteen women and children at Ludlow, and that the strike itself, instead of a struggle for freedom, was a revolt by bloodthirsty and anarchistic foreigners, led by men who obtained huge incomes from organized agitation.Early in the summer of 1914 began that remarkable publicity campaign by which Mr. Rockefeller flooded the nation with bulletin after bulletin, defending the coal operators and denouncing the strikers and their leaders. These bulletins contained false and deceptive statements.

Salaries paid to officials of the United Mine Workers in Colorado for year ending November, 1913, were conspicuously displayed as salaries for the nine weeks ending that month.

Ivy Lee
““`

This gross slander was mailed to thousands of congressmen, editors, ministers, school teachers and public officials whose names appeared on the carefully prepared mailing lists of Ivy L. Lee, publicity agent in the service of Mr. Rockefeller. No correction was made until it had been exposed by this commission in December, 1914.Preparation and distribution of these bulletins was carried on with the greatest secrecy as to the authorship of Mr. Lee and as to his employment by Mr. Rockefeller.

When this commission demanded the name of the writers of the bulletins of Mr. Welborn he refused to answer until he had consulted his attorney. Even then he refrained from revealing the fact that the publicity campaign had been initiated and paid for by Mr. Rockefeller.

Has the Colorado strike opened the eyes of Mr. Rockefeller to need for radical concessions and changes in Colorado? Evidence justifying an affirmative answer is lacking.

After showing how Rockefeller knew at every step of the employment and shipment of strikebreakers and gunmen, it is stated:

The history of strikes shows that workmen on strike feel they have a property interest in their jobs and that other workmen who take their places and thus aid their employers to defeat the strike are fit subjects for abuse, ridicule and violence. It is only by ostracising and intimidating strikebreakers that organized workmen can hope to discourage the practice and thereby win a struggle for higher wages or for industrial democracy.Society, if it wishes to prevent violence in industrial disputes, has only two courses open: To prohibit strikes, and in so doing establish involuntary servitude; or to prohibit the importation of strikebreakers at least until the employers consent to meet officials of the strikers’ union.

[Photograph added.]

~~~~~~~~~~

SOURCE
The Day Book
(Chicago, Illinois)
-Aug 28, 1915
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/…IMAGES
The Masses, JDR Jr Caught Red-Handed,
by John Sloan, July 1914
http://dlib.nyu.edu/…
John D. Rockefeller Sr
with son, John D Jr, 1915
http://www.loc.gov/…
Lamont M Bowers
https://books.google.com/…
Jesse Welborn of
Colorado Fuel and Iron Company
http://en.wikipedia.org/…
Ivy L Lee
http://en.wikipedia.org/…

See also:
Report on the Colorado Strike
George P. West
Washington, DC, 1915
(Also source for image of cover.)
https://archive.org/…

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Dear Readers of Hellraisers,

Vacation is over, and it’s back to the salt mines for yours truly beginning tomorrow.

Thanks to everyone who hung in there with Hellraisers all during the month of August!

Solidarity,
JayRaye

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I Hate the Capitalist System-Barbara Dane

I hate the company bosses,
I’ll tell you the reason why:
They cause me so much suffering
And my dearest friends to die.
-Sarah Ogan Gunning

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