Category: Southern Colorado Coalfield Strike 1913-1914

Hellraisers Journal: Mother Jones: “…the babes of Ludlow, I stand here bringing their tears and wasted hopes to you…”

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Mother Jones Babes of Ludlow, Speech at Trinidad CO UMW District 15 Special Convention, ES1 p154 (176 of 360)—————

Hellraisers Journal – Monday September 21, 1914
Trinidad, Colorado – Mother Jones Speaks at Special Convention of District 15

Mother Jones at Ludlow with Frank Hayes, full, possibly Sept 23, 1913
Mother Jones at Ludlow with Frank Hayes, possibly September 23, 1913

Mother Jones was greeted with wild cheering and applause in Trinidad, Colorado, when she arose to speak this past Tuesday at the special convention of District 15, United Mine Workers of America. Delegates were gathered there to consider President Wilson’s proposal for ending the year long strike.

Mother remembered the children and the mothers who were massacred at Ludlow on April 20th:

I stand facing the far east, sounding the voices of the babes of Ludlow, I stand here bringing their tears, their wasted hopes to you, the heartaches of the mothers, the screams and the agonies of those who gave up their lives there; but they did not die in vain. They stirred the nation from end to end and you never again will see such a condition of slavery in Colorado.

The convention resulted in a vote in favor of acceptance of the plan put forward by President Wilson. 

From the Proceedings of the Miners’ Special Convention, September 15, 1914
-Excerpts from the Speech of Mother Jones:

Now, boys, many things have happened in the last year. One year ago today, I talked to you about industrial freedom. We are living in a great nation. Industrial despotism will have to die and you, my boys, must use your brains, you must study and think. The sword will have to disappear and the pen will have to take its place. We are the bulwark of the nation.

Thank God that we have another great man, another Lincoln, in Washington today in our President. (Applause.) He does not rush into things but weighs everything carefully in the scale.

If there are any representatives of the Colorado Fuel & Iron company here, I want to tell you to keep out. You cannot vote in this Convention, for none but bona fide working men will have a vote here. If you are here, I will find you, I can spot you immediately, for I can smell you four miles away. (Applause.)

* * *

At the time of the strike in West Virginia, I cancelled engagements in San Francisco and went to West Virginia. I went to Charleston and took the Cabin Creek train and went up there. A little boy came to me and he said, “Mother, have you come to stay with us?” “Yes, I have come to stay with you,” and the tears trickled down his cheeks as he told me how they had beaten his mother and his baby brother and driven his father away and he said: “If I live to be a man I will kill twenty of them.”

They were not United States bayonets. They were corporation bayonets, and corporation bayonets are in the hands of sewer rats and the others are in the hands of men. While in West Virginia, I was a guest of the State, I was arrested and placed in the bull pen. But they didn’t keep me quiet there for I was raising hell more than if I had been out. Now these boys didn’t get what they wanted in that settlement in West Virginia. They came to me and asked my advice and I said: “Take what you can get out of the pirates.” The newspaper men asked: “What do you think of the settlement?” and I told them it was alright, it wasn’t what we wanted, but what we could get. The mine owners of West Virginia have begun to realize what that settlement means to them. You were never in the condition here that they were in West Virginia. I was not followed here by the Baldwin-Felts thugs in the dead of night or horseback as I was in West Virginia. In a battle we had there seven of my brothers were murdered in cold blood and twenty-one were wounded.

* * *

The President of the United States, when he found you could not settle your difficulties, sent the federal troops here to defend you, and now if you don’t accept this proposition what more can he do. He has to withdraw  the troops. The constitution gives him so long to keep them here and I don’t know but what he has already overstepped that authority now.

Another thing, you have allowed here in this strike is to let everybody to get a hand in it. Now this fight is ours, we have got the United States with us and we are fighting the greatest moneyed power in the world. John D. Rockefeller controls the whole of New York City and New York with its millions of population has to submit to him. He owns the mines, the industries and the railroads clear through the nation, but one man arises against that power and says to the miners of Colorado, I will be with you if you are fair. He faces the greatest moneyed power in the world and says these miners shall at least have a showing.

* * *

I stand facing the far east, sounding the voices of the babes of Ludlow, I stand here bringing their tears, their wasted hopes to you, the heartaches of the mothers, the screams and the agonies of those who gave up their lives there; but they did not die in vain. They stirred the nation from end to end and you never again will see such a condition of slavery in Colorado.

* * *

Now, boys, you know I have no interests outside of the welfare of the children yet to come. I have carried your case to Congress, to the President, and I feel that we ought to pay that tribute of respect to the head of the nation in accepting this proposition. It is not all we want but Christ did not get all he wanted. So, boys, take my advice, I beg of you in the name of the women and children of Ludlow to pay that tribute of respect to the President of the nation, saying that we appreciate the move he has made and I believe you will get more.

Now, don’t say Mother Jones is playing politics. I never played politics in my life. I have been a Socialist for twenty-nine years and I would hammer a Socialist if he is a crazy lunatic just the same as any one else. I am not living for nothing I hold no office only that of disturbing. Before I leave the world, I have a contract with God Almighty to stay here eighty-two years more, there will be no bayonets and no guns, we will all be great citizens, and the bayonets of the future will be the pen, which is mightier than the sword. The next thing the public officers will do at Washington will be to take over the mines. We want the mines and we want the oil fields and we are going to have them. I stand here today as one pleading with you, I ask you to accept the President’s proposition. Let the nation know that the United Mine Workers are not what they are represented to be by General Chase and his staff of pirates. I want the people to know that you miners are men and law-abiding citizens.

[Emphasis added]

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Mother Jones: “…the babes of Ludlow, I stand here bringing their tears and wasted hopes to you…”” →

Hellraisers Journal: Colorado Miners Accept Wilson’s Proposal; John Lawson Charged with Murders, Released on Bond

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote John Lawson 1913, after October 17th Death Special attack on Forbes Tent Colony, Beshoar p74—————

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday September 20, 1914
Colorado Miners Accept Wilson’s Peace Plan; John Lawson Charged with Murders

Mother Jones w Lawson n Hawkins at Denver CO Mar 16, 1914
John Lawson, Mother Jones, Horace Hawkins

Las Vegas Optic of Las Vegas, New Mexico, reported the optimistic news that the Colorado Strike could be settled within the next few days. Mother Jones spoke in Trinidad at the Special Convention of District 15 of the United Mine Workers of America. She made a plea for acceptance of President’s Wilson’s peace proposal. She was greeted with much cheering and Wilson’s settlement plan was accepted by the miners, and that acceptance communicated to  the President.

In other news, John Lawson, hero of the striking miners, has surrendered to authorities. He now stands charged with twelve murders. He was not present when any of these men were killed, but is charged under the reasoning that he was a leader of the strike which led to their deaths.

From the Las Vegas Optic of September 15, 1914:

END OF STRIKE MAY COME
IN FEW DAYS

COLORADO MINERS HOLD A MEETING TO DECIDE
ON FUTURE ACTION
———-

Washington, Sept. 15.-President Wilson was notified today by the United Mine Workers of America that they had accepted the tentative basis for the settlement of the Colorado strike submitted by the president last week. The mine operators have not yet replied.
———-

Trinidad, Colo., Sept. 15.-“Thank God! We’ve got a great man-another Lincoln-in the person of the president at Washington.” said “Mother” Mary Jones, 82 year old strike leader in a speech today before the convention of the Colorado miners called to consider the proposal of President Wilson for a three year truce in the Colorado labor war. And the cheers which greeted the tribute to the president brought smiles to the faces of the officers of the United Mine Workers of America who are advocating the adoption of the peace protocol.

“Mother” Jones, who admits authorship of the famous “save your money and buy a gun” speech in West Virginia, appeared today in the guise of a peacemaker.

“The sword will have to disappear; the pen will have to take its place,” she declared.

The convention got under way shortly before noon. The only business transacted at the morning session was the appointment of a committee to examine the credentials of the delegates.

Lawson Gives Self Up

John R. Lawson, Colorado member of the executive board of the United Mine Workers of America today surrendered himself to the sheriff of Las Animas county to answer indictments charging him with 12 murders in connection with the coal miners’ strike. He was released on $15,000 bond.

Lawson is accused of the following deaths:

Mack Powell, killed October 9, 1913; John Nimmo, killed October 25, 1913; Tony Heno, Joseph Uppson, George Hall, S. A. Newman, M. Newman, Edward Kessler, Gosney Murrake, Jacob Smith and Kito, all killed in the battle of Forbes April 29, 1914.

Lawson is charged with assault to murder Walter Belk, October 7 and Zeke Martin October 27, 1913. He is also accused of arson in connection with the attack on the Forbes mine.

Soon after his arrival from Denver today, Lawson went alone to the sheriffs office to give himself up. He was told to go to the district court and arrange for bond and return when his bond was ready.

Felix Shippl, a striker from Sopris, was arrested on a grand jury warrant today charging him with an assortment of murders.

[Emphasis added.]

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Colorado Miners Accept Wilson’s Proposal; John Lawson Charged with Murders, Released on Bond” →

Hellraisers Journal: The Price Paid by Striking Colorado Coal Miners to Secure Enforcement of State Mining Laws

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Mother Jones Babes of Ludlow, Speech at Trinidad CO UMW District 15 Special Convention, ES1 p154 (176 of 360)—————

Hellraisers Journal – Saturday September 19, 1914
List of Martyrs of Colorado Coalfield Strike by U. M. W. of A.

From the Denver United Labor Bulletin of September 12, 1914:

Martyrs of Colorado Coalfield Strike, ULB p7, Sept 12, 1914

“Blanket Arrest of Union Miners”

HdLn Blanket Arrest of Union Miners Trinidad CO, ULB p5, Sept 12, 1914

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: The Price Paid by Striking Colorado Coal Miners to Secure Enforcement of State Mining Laws” →

Hellraisers Journal: Ludlow Tent Colony Disenfranchised as JDR Jr’s Company Gunthugs Direct Arrests of Union Men

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote John D Rockefeller Jr, Great Principle, WDC Apr 6, 1914, US House Com p2874—————

Hellraisers Journal – Friday September 18, 1914
Las Animas County, Colorado – Gunthug Walter Belk Active in Arrests of Union Men

From the Appeal to Reason of September 12, 1914:

HdLn Gunthug Belk Rules Ludlow CO, AtR p2, Sept 12, 1914

Ludlow Is Disfranchised

Ludlow, the strikers’ tent colony of nearly a thousand souls, is to be barred from the ballot box.

Ludlow’s citizens must go to Hastings two miles away to register, and Hastings is surrounded by company land, guarded by the armed thugs of the Baldwin-Felts Detective agency, armed while the union men are gunless.

No union man is permitted on company land and so the ballot box is in the grip of the coal operators.

A committee of citizens went to Colonel Lockett’s office in the city hall of Trinidad, Tuesday morning, to ask for protection at the polls and the colonel refused to see them. In his place stood Captain Rockwell with this message from the colonel:

“If the operators desire they can prohibit voters from going to the polls when the polls are on company land-the military will furnish no protection to any person on election day.”

The voice was that of Captain Rockwell, but the command was that of Colonel Lockett, Lockett of the United States army under whose protecting arm scabs have been flooding to the struck mines and digging coal for Rockefeller.

[Emphasis added.]

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Ludlow Tent Colony Disenfranchised as JDR Jr’s Company Gunthugs Direct Arrests of Union Men” →

Hellraisers Journal: From the Appeal to Reason: Miss Helen Schloss, The Red Nurse, Arrested for Picketing, Now in Trinidad Jail

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Helen Schloss, Women w Hungry Souls, Black Hills Dly Rg p2, July 15, 1910—————-

Hellraisers Journal – Thursday September 17, 1914
Colorado Socialists Now Lodged in the Foul Trinidad Jail

Colorado Socialists, Helen Schloss and A. Marians, are now imprisoned in the Trinidad Jail, a jail where conditions are so vile that it stands condemned by the State Board of Health. Also a guest of that foul lodging establishment is John Murray, Appeal correspondent.

No Stranger to Jail, Helen Schloss behind bars during Little Falls Strike:

Helen Schloss Jailed, Little Falls Strike, IRS Cv, Jan 1913

From the Appeal to Reason of September 12, 1914:

Federals Imprison Trained Nurse

By telegraph to Appeal to Reason.

Trinidad, Colo.-Helen Schloss, Socialist, trained nurse in charge of hospital tents of the striking miners at Ludlow, was arrested while picketing with a number of miners’ wives at the railroad station. The gallant Southern Major Cabell of the United States army had on of his soldiers swear to the complaint, and a company just imported from Tellerville held court in the railroad station, sentencing Miss Schloss to 15 days in Trinidad’s jail.

It was this same Major Cabell and his soldiers that man-handled Miss Schloss and a score of miners’ wives a few days ago at Ludlow, the brutal attacks of the federals leaving black and blue marks upon the women. The jail in which Miss Schloss is confined has been condemned by the state board of health, and is at this time crowded with striking miners just indicted by a hand-picked grand jury, on which were a number of notorious gunmen.

Miss Schloss nursed the wounded miners in the hospital tents, and cared for their children. Her arrest has shocked the entire community.

                                                                                   JOHN MURRAY

[Emphasis added.]

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: From the Appeal to Reason: Miss Helen Schloss, The Red Nurse, Arrested for Picketing, Now in Trinidad Jail” →

Hellraisers Journal: The women answered: they had to take a part in the strike; their husbands’ fight was their fight, and side by side they would struggle with the men.

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Quote Helen Schloss, Women w Hungry Souls, Black Hills Dly Rg p2, July 15, 1910—————

Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday September 16, 1914
Women on Picket Duty at Ludlow, Colorado, Face Federal Soldiers

Ludlow Refugees at Trinidad, ISR p715, June 1914

Helen Schloss tells a stirring story of the courageous women of the Southern Colorado Coalfield Strike who have now taken up picket duty and are meeting the scabs as they arrive at the Trinidad depot. Bearing the insignia of the “Women’s Union Picket Squad,” the women face arrest by federal soldiers.  When they were advised by Major Rockwell to cease picketing:

The women answered that they had to take a part in the strike, that their husbands’ fight was their fight, and that side by side they would struggle with the men.

From The Labor World of September 12, 1914:

WOMEN ON PICKET DUTY IN COLORADO

———-
Wear Sashes Bearing Insignia That all
May See When Leaving Trains.
———-
FEDERAL SOLDIERS IGNORE INSTRUCTIONS
———-
Charged That Outsiders Are Permitted
to Take Jobs of Striking Miners.
———-
BY HELEN SCHLOSS.

LUDLOW, Colo., Sept 11.-Women in the strikers’ colony have become pickets. They are already doing valuable work. One Sunday evening recently as the train was pulling in, a group of women appeared at the station to meet it. They had sashes across their chests bearing the insignia, “Women’s Union Pickett Squad.”The soldiers at the station were dumbfounded, and did not know what to make of us. We were not molested that evening, and we called a scab a scab. We pleaded with the scabs not to go into the mines, and take their brothers’ jobs. We informed them of the danger in the mines with unskilled hands.

We kept up our arrogant picketing for two trains but when the third train arrived, we were informed that we would not be allowed at the depot.

Major Cable, of the federal troops, who is a southern gentleman, told us that he hated to see women in the capacity of pickets, and that perhaps the scabs might insult us, and that he as a soldier would hate to see us insulted. The gentleman pleaded with us, but we stood on our grounds of constitutional rights.

We informed the major that we would return to the depot. He then informed us that we would be arrested and taken before the justice of the peace. After much argument and after we tried to show him what picketing meant, he said that we might return to the depot providing we did not call any names, such as scabs, which seemed to be very offensive to the gentleman.

One Saturday evening after the train pulled out and the scabs were waiting in the hacks for the soldiers to take their names, and while the pickets were standing near to listen, we were told to move.

We did move, but not enough to suit the major. “Soldiers,” he shouted, “remove the women.” The soldiers surrounded us like a pack of hounds, and tried to remove us from the platform. But alas, they were mistaken, they thought perhaps we would be so frightened that we would run back to the tent colony. But we did not move. One husky soldier grabbed me and dragged me from the plat form, and I had a toss and tumble with him. Mrs Dominiske took hold of a post and stuck to it with all her strength. Mrs Bartolotti had her face slapped. Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: The women answered: they had to take a part in the strike; their husbands’ fight was their fight, and side by side they would struggle with the men.” →

Hellraisers Journal: President Wilson Demands Settlement to Colorado Coalfield Strike, Issues Plan for Three-Year Truce

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Quote Mother Jones re Miners Org Real Power of Labor Mv, Speech UMW D14 Conv, Apr 30, 1914, Ptt KS, Steel Speeches p134—————

Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday September 9, 1914
President Woodrow Wilson Demands End to Colorado Strike

From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World of September 7, 1914:

Woodrow Wilson, 1912

DEMANDS THAT STRIKE BE ENDED
———-
President Wilson Sent Message
to Leaders of Miners’s Union
———-
FEDERAL TROOPS STAND GUARD
———-
Are on Duty to Protect the Citizens
From Atrocities
———-
Government Has Particular Interest
 in This Strike
———-

Washington, D. C., Sept. 7.-President Wilson addressed letters to the heads of mining companies and officers of the United Mine Workers of America concerned in the Colorado coal strike, virtually demanding that the long strike be ended, because of federal troops on duty in the strike district, the president feels that the government has a peculiar interest.

[Photograph added.]

From the Mount Vernon, Ohio, Democratic Banner of September 8, 1914:

WOULD END LABOR WAR IN COLORADO
———-

Wilson Submits a Proposition
to Operators and Miners.
———-

SUGGESTS THREE-YEAR TRUCE
———-

Appeals to Patriotism of Belligerents and at the Same Time Warns
the Mine Owners That Federal Troops Should no Longer Remain
Doing Police Duty in Strike Districts. Now Up to John D., Jr.

Washington, Sept. 8.-President Wilson submitted a plan for a three years’ truce to all parties in the Colorado mining strike. The president urges the acceptance of this plan on patriotic grounds, alluding to the European war and the need that “all untoward and threatening circumstances be taken out of the life of the people of the United States.” At the same time the president serves warning on operators and miners that the federal troops have remained about as long as they ought to remain doing police duty in the strike districts.

This action by the president will again necessitate a decision by the Rockefeller interests as to whether they will make any concessions in the vital principles involved in the strike. Thus far John D. Rockefeller, Jr., has indicated a purpose of fighting it out to the very end.

The president points out that there are important public interests involved in the existing controversy aside from those of the two contending parties. The plan he submits was evolved by two representatives of the government who have studied the issues in the strike for several months with a view to finding a solution.

The plan contemplates establishment of a truce for three years, during whence the state mining and labor laws shall be enforced, and the restoration to employment of all striking miners who have not been found guilty of violation of the laws. Intimidation of nonunion or union men is to be prohibited and wage scales are to be posted at each mine. A grievance committee is to be chosen by the employes of each mine which shall be entrusted with treating with the employer when trouble arises. A committee, to be appointed by the president, is to be the appeal body to which grievances that can not be otherwise settled are to be taken.

The president sent a letter outlining the government’s plan to the presidents of the Colorado Fuel and Iron company, the chairman of the Victor American Fuel company, the president of the Rocky Mountain Fuel company and the officers of the United Mine Workers of America.

[Emphasis added.]

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: President Wilson Demands Settlement to Colorado Coalfield Strike, Issues Plan for Three-Year Truce” →

Hellraisers Journal: Nurse Helen Schloss and Union Leaders Jailed at Trinidad CO; Martial Law Enforced at Butte MT

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Mother Jones re Miners Org Real Power of Labor Mv, Speech UMW D14 Conv, Apr 30, 1914, Ptt KS, Steel Speeches p134—————

Hellraisers Journal – Saturday September 5, 1914
News from Miners’ Strikes at Trinidad, Colorado, and Butte, Montana

From the Salem, Oregon, Capital Journal of September 2, 1914:

Mother Jones Says Government Will
Take Over the Colorado Mines

Mother Jones Coming to Seattle crpd, Stt Str p2, May 29, 1914

“Mother” Mary Jones, the militant woman strike leader, claims to have some “inside” information to the effect that President Wilson will soon take vigorous action in the Colorado mine strike situation. “Mother” Jones declared that within the next two or three days the United States Government will take over and administer the strike-bound Colorado mines.

[Photograph added.]

From Lawrence [Kansas] Daily Journal-World of September 2, 1914:

BUTTE UNDER MARTIAL LAW
———-

All Saloons Ordered Closed-No Public Gatherings
———-
Newspapers Under Strict Censorship.
-Women Not Allowed on the Streets

Butte, Mont., Sept. 2.-Butte is under martial law by a proclamation issued by Governor Stewart. On the order of Major Dan J. Donahue, commanding the militia, all the saloons were closed and public gatherings of any character were forbidden without permission of the commanding officer. Women will not be permitted on the streets after 8 o’clock in the evening nor before 6 in the morning. No disturbance thus far has occurred since the troops have arrived. Major Donahue has formally notified the newspaper offices of the city that they were under censorship.[Emphasis added.]

From Lawrence Daily Journal-World of September 3, 1914:

NO DISTURBANCES AT BUTTE
———-

Militia Arrest Leaders of Mine Workers’ Union

Butte, Mont., Sept. 3.-Butte’s fist day of Martial law was without disturbance. The Montana National guard occupied the court house and city hall. Headquarters of the state militia were established in the court house with Jess B. Roote as chief of staff and judge advocate. At the city hall Provost Marshal Frank Conley took charge.Orders were given soon after the militia moved into the business district to arrest leaders of the Butte Mine Workers’ union, the organization formed to oppose the Western Federation of Miners. Four arrests were made late in the afternoon, one of the men being James Chapman, chairman of the jurisdiction committee.

Provost Marshal Conley searched the city for President McDonald of the union, but he could not be found. He is wanted on charges of inciting riots. The list of men who are wanted was said by Major Roote to be a long one.

For the first time in three  days the jurisdiction committee of the new union did not appear at the mines to prohibit non-members from working. Outside of the court house, Gatling guns were placed in the streets and two machine guns were placed on the roof of the court house. Martial law orders prohibit all public meetings without special permits.

[Emphasis added.]

From the New York Times of September 3, 1914:

ARRESTS IN MINE WAR.

Trinidad Jail Is Filled – Union Leaders Reported Indicted.
Special to the New York Times

DENVER. Sept. 2. – Twenty prisoners, including union officials, strikers, and sympathizers, alleged to be concerned in the disorders arising out of the Colorado mine war are in jail at Trinidad, and many warrants are still to be served. The warrants, charging murder, arson, and other crimes, which followed the several pitched battles between strikers and mine guards this spring, are based on indictments which were returned by the Grand Jury last Saturday. It is believed that some of the prominent officers of the United Mine Workers have been indicted. Their names will not be revealed until the arrests are mad.The Trinidad Jail is filled tonight. Among the prisoners are William Diamond, National organizer of the United Mine Workers; James Davis, Marshal at Aguilar; Frank Miner, President of the Trinidad Trades Council, and Robert Uhlich, former President of the Trinidad Miners’ Union.

Helen Schloss of Denver, who is in charge of the strikers’ hospital at Ludlow, was arrested today by Federal troops charged with picketing. Her arrest has caused great concern among the strikers.

[Emphasis added.]

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Nurse Helen Schloss and Union Leaders Jailed at Trinidad CO; Martial Law Enforced at Butte MT” →

Hellraisers Journal: From the International Socialist Review: “The Gunmen and the Miners” by Eugene Victor Debs

Janet RayeEugene Victor Debs
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Quote Mother Jones, Clean Up Baldwin Gunthugs, Speech Aug 4 Montgomery WV—————

Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday September 2, 1914
Eugene Debs Advocates for Creation of a Gunmen Defense Fund

From the International Socialist Review of September 1914:

The Gunmen and the Miners

By Eugene V. Debs

Death Special, ISR p727, June 1914

The time has come for the United Mine Workers and the Western Federation of Miners to levy a special monthly assessment to create a GUNMEN DEFENSE FUND.

This fund should be sufficient to provide each member with the latest high power rifle, the same used by the corporation gunmen, and 500 rounds of cartridges.

In addition to this every district should purchase and equip and man enough Gatling and machine guns to match the equipment of Rockefeller’s private army of assassins.

This suggestion is made advisedly and I hold myself responsible for every word of it.

If the corporations have the right to recruit and maintain private armies of thieves, thugs, and ex-convicts to murder striking workingmen, sack their homes, insult their wives, and roast their babes, then labor unions not only have the right but it is their solemn duty to arm themselves to resist these lawless attacks and defend their homes and loved ones.

To the miners especially do these words apply, and to them in particular is this message addressed.

Paint Creek [West Virginia], Calumet [Michigan], and Ludlow [Colorado] are of recent occurrence.

You miners have been forced out on strike,and you have been made the victims of every conceivable method of persecution.

[For attempting to organize,] you have been robbed, insulted and treated with contempt; you have seen your wives and babes murdered in cold blood before your eyes.

You have been thrown into foul dungeons where you have lain for months for daring to voice your protest against these cruel outrages and many of you are now cold in death with the gaping bullet wounds in your bodies to bear mute testimony to the efficacy of government by gunmen as set up in the mining camps by the master class during the last few years.

Under government by gunmen you are literally shorn of the last vestige of liberty and you have absolutely no protection under the law. When you go out on strike, your master has his court issue the injunction that strips you of your power to resist his injustice, and then has his private army of gunmen invade your camp, open fire on your habitations, and harass you and your families until the strike is broken and you are starved back into the pits on your master’s terms. This has happened over and over again in all the mining states of this union.

Now the private army of gunmen which has been used to break your strikes is an absolutely lawless aggregation.

If you miners were to arm a gang of thugs and assassins with machine guns and repeating rifles and order them to march on the palatial residences of the Rockefellers, riddle them with bullets, and murder the inmates in cold blood, not sparing even the babes, if there happened to be any, how long would it be before your officials would be in jail and your unions throttled and put out of business by the law?

The Rockefellers have not one particle more lawful right to maintain a private army to murder you union men than you union men would have to maintain a private army to murder the Rockefellers.

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: From the International Socialist Review: “The Gunmen and the Miners” by Eugene Victor Debs” →

Hellraisers Journal: Mrs. Bartolotti of Ludlow: “Put me and my seven children in jail…but I am going on the picket line.”

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Quote Ludlow Mary Petrucci, Children all dead, ed, Trinidad Las Animas Co CO Affidavit, May 11, 1914—————

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday August 30, 1914
Trinidad, Colorado – Women’s Union Picket Squad Defies Federal Soldiers

Ludlow Refugees at Trinidad, ISR p715, June 1914

As reported by John Murray  in this week’s Appeal, the “Women’s Union Picket Squad,” will now take the place of the men on the picket line in defiance of the federal troops under the command of Colonel James Lockett.

Members of the Women’s Union Picket Squad include the widow of Ludlow Martyr John Bartolotti, who declared:

The soldiers can put me and my seven children in jail if they want to, but I am going on the picket line and keep the scabs from coming in and starving us to death.

Mrs. Petrucci whose three children perished in the Ludlow Massacre will also be found on picket duty:

I shall picket, too, but my children are all gone.

From the Appeal to Reason of August 29, 1914:

New Clash Imminent

BY JOHN MURRAY

Trinidad, Colo.-Federal troops under the command of Colonel James Lockett have driven the striking miners away from all the railroad stations in southern Colorado where non-union disembark for the coal camps. Union men are being arrested daily, but the miners’ wives are defying the military and have taken their husbands’ places on the picket line.

Members of the Women’s Union Labor Alliance, led by their president, Edith Walker, organized the Women’s Union picket squad and have met every train coming into Trinidad, in spite of the attacks made upon them by company spotters and deputy sheriffs.

Tourists heads fill every car window as the overland trains pull into Trinidad, and the eyes of the gaping crowd follow the fearless women as thy march along the platform questioning every suspicious looking stranger who they think may be on his way to the mines.

Thus far the federal soldiers on duty only stare at the women pickets, who, to make sure that there shall be no misunderstanding as to what they are doing, wear large white badges pinned across their breasts upon which are printed the words “Women’s Union Picket Squad.”

Mine Owners Get Busy.

Raging at this open defiance of what the coal operators call “Law and Order,” the daily Advertiser, mouthpiece of Rockefeller interests in Trinidad, shrieks to the United States commanding officer for help in the following front-page display, placed in a box and printed in large type:

To Commander Federal Troops from CO Coal Ops Ns, AtR p2, Aug 29, 1914

Thus far no arrests have been made by the federals, but Captain Rockwell, the officer on duty at the Santa Fe station, has warned the miners’ wives on picket that “although human,” he “must obey orders.”

The women are prepared to go to jail if the federal soldiers force the issue.

Said Mrs. Bartoloti (Virginia Bartolotti) whose husband (Giovanni/John Bartolotti) was killed in the Ludlow massacre, “the soldiers can put me and my seven children in jail if they want to, but I am going on the picket line and keep the scabs from coming in and starving us to death.”

“I shall picket, too, but my children are all gone,” declared Mrs. Petrucci, whose three little ones met their end in the flames of the historic Ludlow “death-hole.”

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Mrs. Bartolotti of Ludlow: “Put me and my seven children in jail…but I am going on the picket line.”” →