Fellow Worker and I. W. W. songwriter, Joe Hill, who has been languishing in the Salt Lake County Jail since January of 1914, has been moved to the Utah State Prison. On the 3rd of July the Utah Supreme Court denied him a new trial, and he was immediately transferred to the state prison where he awaits re-sentencing.Our Rebel Songwriter was found guilty of the murder John G. Morrison on purely circumstantial evidence in a trial conducted by Judge M. L. Ritchie and sentenced to be executed. Hill’s attorneys, O. N. Hilton and Soren X. Christiansen, maintain that the trial was unfair and that Joe Hill should be granted a new trial.

The appeal was heard on May 28th at which time O. N. Hilton argued that: 1). there was a failure of identification; 2). the testimony was insufficient to support the verdict; 3). the court erred in admitting expert testimony; and 4). the defendant was without counsel.

It remains clear that Fellow Worker Joe Hill has not been proven guilt beyond a reasonable doubt; that no motive was ever established for the crime; that the killing appeared to be a revenge-killing and not the result of a robbery, and yet no prior connection between Hill and the victim was ever suggested, much less established; and that no positive identification was made of Joe Hill by any of the witnesses.

Judge Hilton concluded his remarks before the Supreme Court with a heartfelt plea for the life of Joe Hill:

I now ask your honors frankly, if you, or any one that is dear to you, was condemned upon the inconclusive, disjointed fragments of suspicion, misnomered by the state as evidence against this defendant, would you say that you or they were justly condemned and that the crime charged had been proved against you beyond a reasonable doubt?Would you, or would you permit anyone dear to you to go to his death under the flimsy testimony and then say that you or he had been tried, fairly and impartially, according to the laws of the land, and in accordance with the safeguards provided by the constitution?

Of course, Joe Hill is not

someone dear to the Justices of the Utah Supreme Court. He is an active member of and songwriter for that radical class-conscious union, the Industrial Workers of the World.

~~~~~~~~~~SOURCES

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

STATE v. HILLSTROM. No. 2764.
Decided July 3, 1915. (150 Pac. 935.)
https://books.google.com/…

Letter from Joe Hill to Elizabeth Gurley Flynn
-July 7, 1915

Appeal of State of Utah vs Hillstrom
http://www.joehill.org/…

IMAGES
Joe Hill, IWW
http://www.freedomarchives.org/…
Orrin N Hilton
http://darrow.law.umn.edu/…

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

LETTER FROM JOE HILL TO ELIZABETH GURLEY FLYNN

                                                                                           Salt Lake City
July 7-15Elizabeth Gurley Flynn Chicago Ill.
Dear Friend & F. W.

Rec. Your letter at the Co. jail. Was denied a new trial and was immediately moved to the State Prison where I am now. Will be taken down to the city pretty soon and re-sentenced. I have no comments to make regarding the decision. You know the details of the case pretty well and you may draw your own conclusions about it. I don’t know if anything can be done to the case as I have not heard from Hilton yet. I was told though that the case could be taken to the U. S. Supreme Court just for the cost of having the transcripts made out which would not exceed $100.00, but I am not very posted on the subject myself & could not say for sure what it would cost. You see it would not be necessary to have a lawyer in Washington D.C. and thats why the expenses would not be so very heavy. Of course it would take two or three years before the case would be taken up because there are something like two thousand cases on the docket but if we could get justice that wouldn’t make any difference. Even if I should die before the decision were handed down, I am only a drop in the bucket & this is a fight where individuals don’t count. My right hand was shot all to splinters any way when I was arrested and it doesn’t matter much where I go to but to tell you the truth I hate to lay down as long as there is a fighting chance.                                                           Yours for the O. B. U.

Joe Hill

[Photograph added.]

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/…

See also:
Joe Hill + JayRaye
http://www.dailykos.com/…

For More on the Appeal:

Appeal to Utah Supreme Court
http://www.joehill.org/…

Foner on the Appeal by O. N. Hilton
https://books.google.com/…

For more on the Decision of
the Supreme Court:

Analysis of Court’s decision by Philip Foner:
https://books.google.com/…

Report of Cases Decided in the Supreme Court
of the State of Utah, Volume 46
West Publishing Company, 1916
https://books.google.com/…

STATE v. HILLSTROM. No. 2764. Decided July 3, 1915. (150 Pac. 935.)
https://books.google.com/…

Appeal from District Court; Third District; Hon. M. L. Ritchie, Judge.
Joseph Hillstrom was convicted of murder. He appeals.
AFFIRMED.
O. N. Hilton and Soren Christensen, for appellant.
A. R. Barnes, Attorney-General, and E. V. Higgins and G. A. Iverson,
Assistant Attorneys-General, for the State.

Opinion of the Court by Chief Justice C. J. Straup:
https://books.google.com/…Associate Justice J. Frick (Concurring):
https://books.google.com/…

Associate Justice J. McCARTY (Concurring):
https://books.google.com/…

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

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

From yesterday’s Indianapolis Star:

LAWSON VERDICT DUE TO JURY TAMPERING?
—–
Counsel for Convicted Labor Leader Charges Bailiff
With Intimidation of Panel at
Original Murder Trial.
—–

John R Lawson with Louie Tikas during the strike.
““`

TRINIDAD, Col., July 9-Charges that the verdict by which John R. Lawson, international executive board member of the United Mine Workers of America, was convicted of first-degree murder was secured through intimidation and jury tampering by a court bailiff, were aired in the District Court here today in the arguments on Lawson’s motion for a new trial.Lawson was, convicted May 3 of first-degree murder in connection with the killing of John H. Nimmo, a deputy sheriff, in a battle near Ludlow, Col., between deputies and striking coal miners.

The motion for a new trial filed by Lawson’s attorney was accompanied by an affidavit signed by Grover Hall, a member of the jury which convicted the labor leader. In it Hall declares he believes Lawson innocent. He swears that during the more than forty hours of jury deliberations he was repeatedly told by Frank Gooden, the bailiff in charge of the jury, that his wife was dangerously ill.

Not Taken to Luncheon.The affidavit makes the further charge that on May 3 the jury was not taken to luncheon at the usual hour, and that Gooden informed Hall that Judge Hillyer had ordered the jurors to be locked in a room and given no food until they had agreed upon a verdict. Finally Hall declares, he agreed to vote for a verdict which he believed was contrary to the evidence.

An affidavit by Bert Bramlett, who served as bailiff in-the murder trial of Louis Zancanelli, preceding the Lawson trial, stated that Gooden had boasted to him that he had brought pressure to bear upon Grover Hall.”

Bertha Hall, wife of Grover Hall, in an affidavit offered when the hearing opened, swore that during the Lawson trial she had a cold. The affidavit charges that on the evening of May 2 “one Zeke Martin was in the house of affiant and insisted that affiant should have a doctor; that Martin finally called a physician who said Mrs. Hall was not seriously ill.” Zeke Martin at that time was under-sheriff.

Other affidavits submitted are from men alleged to have participated as mine guards in the battle in which Nimmo was killed and purport to indicate that Nimmo was struck by a bullet fired by one of the guards, not by strikers.

—–[Photograph added.]

Mother Jones Speaks at Chicago Protest Meeting.

Mass meetings are being planned around the country to protest the unjust conviction of John R. Lawson. This afternoon in Chicago, Mother Jones and Frank Walsh will speak at a mass meeting at the Garrick Theater.

~~~~~~~~~~

SOURCES

The Indianapolis Star
(Indianapolis, Indiana)
-July 10, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/…

The Day Book
(Chicago, Illinois)
Noon & Last Editions
-July 10, 1915,
(See links above.)

IMAGE
John R Lawson
with Louie Tikas during the strike.
http://ludlowsymposium.wordpress.com/…

Hellraisers Journal is on vacation!
Hellraisers will be on a vacation of sorts until September 1st and will appear in abbreviated form until that date. A complete vacation is not possible since the ruling class never took a vacation from their suppression and oppression of the working class.

There are no limits to which powers of privilege
will not go to keep the workers in slavery.
-Mother Jones

———-

““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““`
A Miner’s Life- Kilshannig

Soon this trouble will be ended,
Union men will have their rights,
After many years of bondage,
Digging days and digging nights.
Then by honest weight we labor,
Union miners never fail;
Keep your hand upon the dollar
And your eyes upon the scale.

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

CLEANSING THE SOLDIERS UNIFORM IN COLORADO

General John Chase
“““““

The disgraced, discredited, debauched, disreputable and demoralized Colorado national guard received “due recognition” Thursday when the war department at Washington ordered 12 companies of militia dropped from the list of those recognized by the government and announced that a similar order covering the two state artillery batteries would probably be issued next week. This action is taken upon the recommendation of war department inspectors, and very much embarrasses Governor George A. Carlson and Adjutant General John Chase, who stated as recently as last week that the state militia was in “satisfactory condition.”This blow can be appreciated when it is realized that General Chase will no longer be permitted to draw on the $4,000,000 government appropriation for the Colorado national guard, and that nearly half a million dollars worth of regular army equipment will have to be given up. It is one more incident to prove the charges made by laboring men that the state militia is rotten and corrupt to the core and has been a rank disgrace to the soldier’s uniform.

A report is current that Governor Carlson will further stullify himself and the state by reappointing Chase as adjutant general as a “vindication of his inefficiency” and then permit him to write an official resignation. In this way everything done by the “Huerta” general in the Colorado coal strike, even to riding down and sabering defenseless women and children in the streets of Trinidad, and breaking a gunstock over the heads of unarmed strikers in the Ludlow tent colony, is to be officially sanctioned. This has been demanded of the governor by the coal operators, whose puppet he is, and he dare not refuse.

It is gratifying, however, to know that the United States war department has determined to wash its hands of the whole filthy state “melish” mess.-Denver Labor Bulletin.

—–[Photographs added.]

Examples of “the whole filthy state ‘melish’ mess.”The Perpetrators of the Ludlow Massacre.

Louis Tikas and James Fyler Murdered.

~~~~~~~~~~SOURCE
The Labor World
(Duluth, Minnesota)
-July 10, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/…

IMAGES
Linderfelt (3rd from left)
and Militiamen at Ludlow Saloon
http://www.du.edu/…
General John Chase of Colorado
http://en.wikipedia.org/…
Perpetrators of the Ludlow Massacre:
Linderfelt, Lawrence, and Hamrock
http://en.wikipedia.org/…
Louis Tikas and James Fyler murdered at Ludlow.
https://archive.org/…

Hellraisers Journal is on vacation!
Hellraisers will be on a vacation of sorts until September 1st and will appear in abbreviated form until that date. A complete vacation is not possible since the ruling class never took a vacation from their suppression and oppression of the working class.

There are no limits to which powers of privilege
will not go to keep the workers in slavery.
-Mother Jones

“““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““`
Palikari ― Louis Tikas and the Ludlow massacre

A Song for Louis Tikas:
This cannot be embed but lyrics and audio are at the link.

Louis Tikas
-by Frank Manning
http://unionsong.com/…

Mourn with me, my sisters and my brothers,
For a leader lying silent in the grave,
A man who lived his whole life saving others,
And, in the end, his life is what he gave.
Louis lived his whole life saving others,
And, in the end, his life is what he gave.

WE NEVER FORGET
Louis Tikas and James Fyler

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

TO TAKE LAWSON CASE TO
SUPREME COURT
(BY SPECIAL LEASED WIRE)DENVER, July 13.-Edward P. Costigan, of counsel for John R. Lawson, sentenced yesterday to life imprisonment for the murder of John Nimmo, said today an appeal to the State Supreme Court would be taken as soon as the necessary formalities could be completed.

——

On July 12th, in Trinidad, Lawson was denied a new trial by Judge Hillyer who also refused to allow the labor leader to remain free on bond. John R. Lawson was then immediately escorted to the Las Animas County Jail by the Sheriff Kane.One of deputy sheriffs guarding the many former strikers imprisoned there is none other than Walter Belk, the Baldwin-Felts gunthug who took part in the murder of Gerald Lippiatt, organizer for the U. M. W. of A.

~~~~~~~~~~SOURCES

Reading Times
(Reading, Pennsylvania)
-July 14, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/…

Out of the Depths:
the Story of John R. Lawson, a Labor Leader
-by Barron B. Beshoar
Colorado Labor Historical Committee
of the Denver Area Labor Federation, 1980
https://books.google.com/…

IMAGE
Edward P Costigan
http://socialarchive.iath.virginia.edu/…

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

JOHN R. LAWSON IN JAILFrom Out of the Depths by Barron Beshoar:

John Lawson quickly settled into the routine of the riveted, boiler-plate jail. Even here, he found, there was work he could do. Little Zancanelli, often half delirious, alternately cried and stormed. Lawson found he could ease Zancanelli’s mind. More than 50 other strike prisoners in the jail needed comfort and encouragement. Lawson talked to them in soothing hopeful tones each day as they came from their tiny cells for a brief period of exercise in the filthy bull pen.Outwardly, Lawson was smiling and confident, buoying up the other prisoners with his own cheerfulness. Inwardly, he had little hope despite his great faith in ultimate justice and the abilities of Hawkins. Lawson had seen two of his friends, Fyler and Tikas, lying in the roadway where they had been shot down and he knew that he and his friends in the jail could expect no mercy or compassion.

The swaggering Linderfelt, with a deputy sheriff’s commission in his pocket, was free to walk around in the bright Southern Colorado sunshine, the same sunshine that beat down upon the graves of his humble victims. Outside Lawson’s cell each night, pacing up and down the corridor with a revolver in his holster was Belk, the Baldwin-Felts detective who had killed Gerald Lippiatt. He was a deputy sheriff and clothed with the majesty of the law….

Patience was necessary to save himself and his friends from going mad with futile, despairing rage…

[Paragraph breaks added.]

IMAGE

John Lawson with Olive and Fern
from Day Book, Last Edition, April 23, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/…““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““`
Dig The Devil’s Blood

WE NEVER FORGET
Gerald Lippiatt

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

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

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

Congressman Frank Buchanan
“““““

John D. Rockefeller, Jr., denounced as the master-mind in the Colorado mining situation which resulted in the murder of men, women and children, may be forced to answer the questions of the federal industrial relations commission or be sent to jail for contempt. Rep. Frank Buchanan of Illinois declared he will gladly introduce such a resolution at the next session of congress and bitterly denounced the young oil king and the sentencing of John R. Lawson to life imprisonment at Denver for a murder committed while he was eight miles away.

[Said Buchanan:]Mark John D. Rockefeller, Jr., with the stamp of the criminal…He has violated many statutes. Other violators are in the penitentiaries. Why should we let the money lords go free and do as they please?

We need more men like Walsh, the chairman of the industrial relations commission. He is fearless and is doing much to bring the moneyed highbinders and pirates to the level of the masses.

I am certainly in favor of bringing John D. Rockefeller, Jr., before the bar of congress, and I hope I am selected to introduce a resolution that will either force him to answer Chairman Walsh’s questions or send him to jail for contempt.

[Continued below.]

[Continued from above.]

Attorney Hawkins
““`

Despite the fact that the supreme court of Colorado is reviewing the conduct of Judge Granby Hillyer in the district court of Denver [of Trinidad], Hillyer yesterday denied John R. Lawson, labor leader convicted of murder in connection with strike disorders, a new trial and sentenced him to spend the remainder of his life at hard labor in the state penitentiary. He also denied Lawson’s plea that he be permitted to go on bond pending action in the appeal by the supreme court…The state supreme court of Denver took under advisement application of Horace N. Hawkins and A. M. Belcher, attorneys for United Mine Workers America, for writ barring Judge Granby Hillyer from presiding at trial of three former coal mine strikers at Walsenburg.

——

COLORADO ATTORNEY GENERAL DEFENDS
ROCKEFELLER JUDGEDenver, Colo., July 13.-Judge Granby Hillyer, to whom Frank P. Walsh referred as the “corrupt court,” was defended by Att’y Gen. Fred Farrar before the supreme court. A writ of prohibition was sought by coal strikers’ attorney to prevent Hillyer presiding at future trials of miners indicted for murder in connection with fatal riots during the recent labor war in Colorado. Farrar denied the allegation that previous employment by the coal employers unfitted Hillyer to trial former strikers.

——[Photograph added.]

~~~~~~~~~~

SOURCE
The Day Book
(Chicago, Illinois)
-July 13, 1915, First Edition
(Also source for headline.)
http://www.newspapers.com/…
http://www.newspapers.com/…

IMAGES
Frank Buchanan, 1915,
Congressman of Illinois
http://www.loc.gov/…
Horace N Hawkins, UMWA Attorney
https://ludlowsymposium.wordpress.com/…

““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““`
Which Side Are You On – Natalie Merchant

Don’t scab for the bosses
Don’t listen to their lies
Us poor folks haven’t got a chance
Unless we organize
Florence Reese

Which Side Are You On, updated for these modern times

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

From The Day Book of July 13, 1915:

THE LAWSON CASEComment in Chicago on life sentence of John R. Lawson in Colorado:

Frank P. Walsh, chairman U. S. industrial com’n: “Lawson’s crime was defiance of the Rockefellers. He was eight miles from the scene at the time of the murder for which he is sentenced. It is a mockery of justice, a threat to the republic.”

Ed Nockels, sec’y Chicago Federation of Labor: “A Rockefeller lawyer especially appointed to try strike cases as a judge, did the dirty work. American justice-bah!”

John C. Kennedy, alderman of 27the ward: “This is the stuff that breeds violence. It breaks the faith of men in peaceful methods.”

W. D. Haywood, sec’y I. W. W.: “United Mine Workers ought to call a nation-wide general strike. No coal to the United States till the prison doors open for Lawson.”

From the Indianapolis Star of July 13, 1915:

“MOTHER” JONES PROTESTS.
—–
Addresses Union Men at Lawson Meeting
in Terre Haute.TERRE HAUTE, Ind., July 12.-“You’re a bunch of moral cowards; you haven’t any manhood,” shouted “Mother” Jones here tonight when addressing union men gathered to protest against the life sentence imposed upon John R. Lawson, Colorado labor leader, for alleged criminal actions during the Ludlow strike.

“If ever this nation goes upon the breakers, our judicial pirates will be responsible, she continued. “The judiciary of this country is an insult to civilization. It is always the working man who goes to the prison. I believe the time is here to stop it and we’re going to stop it. If you men are too cowardly to stop it, go home and we women will do it.”

——

From The Day Book of July 14, 1915:

DENUNCIATORY RESOLUTIONS PASSED
IN LAWSON CASEWilkesbarre, Pa., July 14.-Declaring that John R. Lawson, convicted of killing Mine Guard John Nimmo during Colorado Mine strike, was victim of a conspiracy, denunciatory resolutions were adopted by Parson local, United Mine workers of America. John P. White, national president of the union, personally dictated the testimonial and presented it to the miners, by whom it was unanimously adopted. The resolution will be acted upon by the 150,000 anthracite mine workers.

—–

From The Day Book of July 16, 1915

From the Duluth Labor World of July 17, 1915:

~~~~~~~~~~SOURCES

The Day Book
(Chicago, Illinois)
-July 13, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/…
-July 14, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/…
-July 16, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/…

Indianapolis Star
(Indianapolis, Indiana)
-July 13, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/…

The Labor World
(Duluth, Minnesota)
-July 17, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/…

IMAGES
John R Lawson, 1915
http://www.loc.gov/…
John Lawson & Mother Jones,
Wichita Beacon, Kansas, Apr 22, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/…
John P White
http://www.umwa.org/…

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

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

From The Brooklyn Daily Eagle of July 19th:

900 MEN STRIKE AT BAYONNE
—–Nine hundred men working in the barrel and case departments of the big plant of the Standard Oil company at Bayonne, N. J., struck today because their demands for an increase of 11 per cent, in wages had not been granted.

The strike is the second to occur in a few days, the still cleaners having left work late last week when they failed to get a 15 per cent increase in wages which they had asked for.

These strikers, it was said today, may tie up the entire plant and affect 6,000 men in all.

—–

~~~~~~~~~~

SOURCE
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle
(Brooklyn, New York)
-July 19, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/…

IMAGE
Bayonne Strikers
(Date of this photo unknown,
used here to represent the strikers of 1915.)
https://miningawareness.files.wordpress.com/…

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

Some Back Ground on the Bayonne Standard Oil Strike of 1915

From Foner’s History of the
Labor Movement, Vol. 6:

[During the summer of 1915], the growing dissatisfaction at Standard Oil first found expression among the stillcleaners, a group of one hundred men, nearly all Polish workers, whose function was to enter the stills soon after they had been emptied and scrape from the interior walls the tarry substances left from the distilling process. The stillcleaners were paid on a piece-rate basis and earned about $2.25 a day. They worked in the stills at temperatures ranging from 200 to 300 degrees. To protect their bodies from the intense heat they wore several layers of thick clothing, and swathed their faces with cloths. During a shift of seven hours they drank from ten to fourteen quarts of coffee each, to stimulate perspiration in order to withstand better the intense heat.A special grievance of the still cleaners was the treatment they received at the hands of foremen. They complained that the foremen was continuously insulting them, and punished them when they voiced resentment. A common form of punishment was to force the stillcleaner to remain inside the super-heated vats for extended periods of time. It was not uncommon under these circumstances to see workers carried from the vats unconscious. But all complaints to Standard Oil on this issue were simply ignored.

…The stillcleaners at Standard Oil decided to apply to the management for a similar increase, and for relief from the tyrannical actions of the foremen. They held a meeting and decided to engage Paul Supinsky to draw up their demands. These included a fifteen percent increase in wages and the immediate discharge of a particularly obnoxious foreman. An answer was to be given in twenty-four hours.

The written demands were presented to Superintendent Hennessy by a committee of six stillcleaners. Supinsky accompanied the committee when it presented its demands. Superintendent Hennessy refused to hear the demands, launched into a tirade against the committee chairman for engaging an outside agent, discharged every member of the committee, and issued a statement warning the workers agains “outside agitators,” declaring that the company would adamantly refuse to deal with any outsider.

On July 15, 1915, all the stillcleaners walked off the job, demanding a fifteen percent wage increase and better treatment by the hated foremen. They were joined by nine hundred coopers who demanded a similar wage increase…

SOURCE

History of the Labor Movement in the United States Vol. 6
On the Eve of America’s Entrance into World War I
-by Philip S Foner
International Pub, 1982
https://books.google.com/…IMAGE
Bayonne Standard Oil Strike of 1915,
boy picking up a stone
https://en.wikipedia.org/…)

See also:
The New Republic
-Aug 14, 1915
“The Bayonne Strike”
https://books.google.com/…

““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““`
A Hard Rains A Gonna Fall – Bob Dylan

And it’s a hard, and it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard
And it’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall
-Bob Dylan

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

From The Brooklyn Daily Eagle of July 20, 1915:

OIL PLANT CLOSED AS RIOTING BEGINS
IN BAYONNE STRIKE
—–

Standard Oil Co. Won’t Yield to Demand
of 1,000 Men for More Wages.
—–
POLICE QUELL DISORDER.
—–
May Call Out Militia If Rioting Continues-
May Affect Other Plants.
—–

The Bayonne plant of the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey was closed down today, following a strike of about 1,000 still cleaners and barrel makers for increased wages. Four thousand other workmen refused to go to work either through sympathy, as claimed by the strikers, or intimidation, the view given by the company’s officials.

The order to close down was given by General Manager George B. Gifford and the few scores of men who had entered the plant, willing to work, were sent to their homes. It was said that the company had sufficient supplies on hand or within reach to permit the plant to lie idle for a year. Some serious rioting, which occurred early today, it was said, was a factor in influencing the shut down.

Several hundred men alleged to be strikers and their sympathizers took part in the disorder today. They first tried to stop men who were willing to work from going into the plant, and then attacked a detail of police who were on the ground to prevent disorder. Inspector Daniel Cady, who was in command, ordered the police to charge with clubs and draw revolvers. Dozens of shots were fired, over the heads of the rioters, and before this and the threatening night sticks, the crowd drew back. No one was seriously hurt, but six arrests were made. Nearly the whole of Bayonne’s police force were on the ground later to maintain order. If the disorder is renewed, it was stated, special policemen would be sworn in, and if this measure did not suffice the militia would be called. The strikers during the day held numerous street corner meetings and listened to addresses by their leaders.

It was stated that the strikers would make efforts to have the men employed at the Tidewater works and at Bay May, N. J., join the movement tomorrow.

The strike trouble at the works first appeared last week when the still cleaners, a comparatively small part of the working force, went out because their demands for an 11 per cent increase in wages was not granted. They were followed yesterday by the men in the barrel shops, 900 in number, who had asked for a 15 percent increase. Today the rest of the employees refused to go into the works.

The strike puts an end for the time being to the loading of case and barrel oil for Europe. There are six steamers now tied up at the piers in the Kill Von Kull, which skirts the plant. They will probably be towed out into the stream and anchored off Tompkinsville if the strike continues. They are in various stages of loading. All six are said to be destined to England.

The men who struck today made no demand for increased wages, but it is thought likely that they will do so before they return to work. At present their strike is of a sympathetic nature.

—–

~~~~~~~~~~

SOURCE
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle
BrooklynNew York
-July 20, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/…

IMAGE
Bayonne Standard Oil Strike of 1915,
fighting in the streets
(Note: the source does not give an
exact date for this photograph.)
http://www.loc.gov/…

See also:
The New Republic
-Aug 14, 1915
“The Bayonne Strike”
https://books.google.com/…

““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““`
High Hopes – Bruce Springsteen & Tom Morello

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

John Molosky, 18 years old, was killed and many more injured, yesterday, when police fired directly into a crowd of strikers who were marching from the Standard Oil plant to the Tidewater Oil plant to meet the men who were walking out of that plant to join the strike.From The Brooklyn Daily Eagle of July 21st:

1 KILLED; 53 HURT IN BAYONNE RIOTS;
TROOPS ASKED FOR
——

Foreign Workmen Assemble in Front
of Standard Oil Works There.
——
ATTACK ON FIRE HOUSE.
—–
Sheriff Asks Them to Disperse-
Police Inspector’s Horse Shot.
——

Serious rioting during which one man, John Molosky, 18 years old, was killed and nearly threescore more or less seriously injured, marked the second day of the strike of workmen at the plant of the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey at Bayonne. The workers, most of whom are of foreign birth [Polish] and unorganized, gathered at the gates of the plant at an early hour and disorder, which then began, lasted until nearly noon. At that time the police, assisted by deputy sheriffs and firemen, brought the situation under temporary control at least. The police say several thousand persons took part in the attack.

Of the fifty-three injured taken to the Bayonne Hospital, fifty are men and boys who fought about the gates of the plant; the other three are policemen. Inspector Cady had a horse shot from under him and he narrowly escaped injury himself when he was at one time surrounded near a fire house by rioters, to which point he had gone to stop an attack.

Sheriff Eugene Kinkaid of Hudson County arrived on the scene shortly afternoon and took command of affairs. In an endeavor to bring an end to disorder by means of persuasion, the sheriff, soon after his arrival, rode in his automobile to a square where a crowd of 500 persons were assembled to discuss the strike and watch the gates.

The Sheriff immediately commanded attention and , standing in his car, addressed the crowd. He told the men that they must remain orderly and what his duties were in the situation, under the law. He called on every man who would obey him to hold up his hand, and a majority of those present did so.

Sheriff Kinkaid spoke for half an hour and several times the men cheered his statements, especially his promise to do what he could to settle the difficulty. The Sheriff said he was willing to meet representatives of the strikers, hear their grievances and do his best to bring about a settlement. In consideration of this, he asked the men to disperse peaceably to their homes and they said they would do so. A committee of three was appointed by the men and they will meet Sheriff Kinkaid later in the day.

There were three separate attacks by rioters today. The first was at the fire house of an engine company, and here all the windows were broken, after which the crowd moved on and attacked the police near the main gate of the Standard Oil plant. Three rioters were injured by bullets from the policemen’s pistols before the crowd left.

Worst Fighting of Day Occurs
and Man Is Killed.The rioters then made their way to the plant of the Tidewater Oil Company, half a mile away, which remains in operation today, though the strikers had been led to believe that the men there would join them today. As they approached the plant 1,300 of the men there left their work and marched out to the crowd, but apparently this did not satisfy the rioters, as they made a rush at the police on guard.

The most serious fighting of the day followed, and it was during this attack that Molosky was killed and a majority of the injured received their wounds. The police at first, it is stated, fired over the heads of the rioters but when this had no effect they shot directly into the crowd. Even this did not stop the rioters and the guard of police were almost out of ammunition when help arrived and the situation was brought under control.

Some time after this fight occurred a small office building of the Tidewater Company was discovered in flames and the building was virtually destroyed before the fire could be controlled. The origin of the fire is unknown.

This afternoon the Standard Oil officials landed 200 men from tugs at the plant, presumably deputies who will assist in guarding the works.

—–

~~~~~~~~~~

SOURCE
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle
(Brooklyn, New York)
-July 21, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/…

Note: according to Foner the name of the young striker killed was John Stovanchick. He was 18 years old and Polish. I have been unable to verify the young man’s name. News reports all have him as John Molosky, but, in my experience, news accounts are very careless with the names of strikers, especially those with foreign sounding names. I will continue in my attempts to learn more about this labor martyr.

History of the Labor Movement in the United States Vol. 6
On the Eve of America’s Entrance into World War I
-by Philip S Foner
International Pub, 1982
https://books.google.com/…

IMAGE
Bayonne Standard  Oil Strike, 1915,
police fire on strikers
http://www.loc.gov/…

See also:
The New York Times
(New York, New York)
-Aug 16, 1915
“HIT ROCKEFELLER IN BAYONNE REPORT; Industrial Board’s Investigations Lay Strike to Low Wages and Oppression. SHERIFF’S ACTS CRITICISED Findings Given Out by Chairman Walsh Constitute an Arraignment of Standard Oil Methods.”
http://query.nytimes.com/…

““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““`
Never Cross A Picket Line-Billy Bragg

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

Yesterday’s New York Times carried a long front-page article describing the July 21st battle between strikers and police in Bayonne in which one young striker was killed. The New York Times gives the name of the fallen striker as John Stovanchik, an 18 year-old laborer from Bayonne. He was shot in the head during the battle and died later that day in City Hospital. Hellraisers will feature the entire article in three parts beginning today with part one.

The Battle of Bayonne, Part OneFrom The New York Times of July 22, 1915:

MILITIA TO QUELL BAYONNE RIOTERS;
1 DEAD, MANY HURT
——

Two Regiments Await Order to Subdue Strikers
at Standard Oil’s Plant.
—–
FIVE FIRES START IN WORKS
—–
Forty Huge Tanks Menaced by Rivulets of
Flame from Cut Feed Pipes.
—–
PITCHED BATTLE IN STREET
——
Mob Routs Police, While Bullets and Stones Fly-
Guards Carrying Rifles Man Stockade.
—–

Two regiments of New Jersey militia were ready at midnight last night to proceed to Bayonne to quell riots in the strike at the great plant of the Standard Oil Company. Early yesterday morning [July 21st] there were conflicts in which one man was killed, a dozen others were seriously hurt, and many slightly injured, and which ended in the company’s guards being driven back within the concrete stockade and the city police practically leaving the field to the strikers.

The efforts of Sheriff Eugene F. Kinkead calmed the strikers in the afternoon, but at night several fires, supposedly incendiary, started in the plant, and until they were under control threatened the entire place.

Mayor Pierre P. Garven asked Governor Fielder for militia early in the day, but the Governor refused to call the troops out without a request from the Sheriff. At night Sheriff Kinkead left for the Governor’s Summer home at Sea Girt, and it was understood that the Second Regiment, of Trenton, and the Fourth Regiment of Jersey City, except Company I, which is composed of Bayonne men, were held in readiness. It was also said that the Essex county troop of cavalry might be called out.

[Continued below.]

[Continued from above.]

Calls for Militia.The Chamber of Commerce of Bayonne asked the Governor for militia protection, and the Texas Oil Company, whose plant, a mile away from that of the Standard, has not been affected by the strike, also asked that the troops be called out.

Director of Public Safety Henry Wilson said that the appeal of the Chamber of Commerce for militia was premature, Sheriff Kinkead held a conference late at night with Governor Fielder and Adjutant General Wilbur F. Sadler at the Sheriff’s summer home at Deal Beach. Afterward he said:

While there is some disorder in Bayonne it is not yet of a nature to warrant calling out the National Guard. The Governor is ready to aid us with any relief which may be found necessary.

The company refused to treat with the men unless they first returned to work, and this they would not do. Rival organizers of the American Federation of Labor and the Industrial Workers of the World were busy among the strikers, who were unorganized when they went out. Besides the 5,000 employes of the Standard the 2,000 men working for the Vacuum and Tidewater Oil companies had also gone out, and a committee of the Bayonne strikers went yesterday afternoon to the Standard’s plant in Linden Township, near Elizabeth, and tried to get the 2,000 men working there to quit.The officials in Linden said there was no dissatisfaction, and that their men had no affiliations with the Bayonne strikers, but a general meeting of the Elizabeth workmen was called for noon today to hear the arguments of the visitors from Bayonne.

Dead.STOVANCHIK, JOHN, 18 years old; Prospect Avenue and Twenty-second Street, Bayonne; shot in the head and died in the City Hospital. The strikers believed he was shot by a policeman, but there was no evidence to corroborate this view.

Injured.CADY, DANIEL, Police Inspector; lacerations all over the body.
HARRIS, SAMUEL, policeman; hit by stone.
LANGTREE, JOHN, policeman; hit by stone.
McGEEHAN, HUGH, policeman; hit by stone.
VAN WOERT, Marvin, policeman; cut by a thrown bottle.
WHITNEY, FRED, policeman; right writs slashed with a knife.
GRAGLIA, MICHAEL, laborer 48 East Twenty-third Street; cut in head.
JIMNEH, JOHN, laborer; shot in the arm.
KARETSKI, MARTIN, laborer; leg broken,
KEEVER, ADAM, laborer; shot in the knee.
MACHAKOS, WALISKA, laborer; shot in the wrist.
POLOCA, FRANK, laborer; shot in the leg.
URNITZ, JOSEPH, laborer; shot in the thigh and abdomen.

Urnitz may die. All of the injured were taken to the City Hospital except Inspector Cady, who went home. It is believed that at fewest thirty other strikers and guards were cut or bruised less seriously than those listed in the rioting of the morning.

——

~~~~~~~~~~

SOURCE
The New York Times
(New York, New York)
-July 22, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/…
http://www.newspapers.com/…
http://query.nytimes.com/…

IMAGE
Bayonne Strike, Police Patrol
http://www.loc.gov/…

See also:

The New Republic
-Aug 14, 1915
“The Bayonne Strike”
https://books.google.com/…

The New York Times
(New York, New York)
-Aug 16, 1915
“HIT ROCKEFELLER IN BAYONNE REPORT; Industrial Board’s Investigations Lay Strike to Low Wages and Oppression. SHERIFF’S ACTS CRITICISED Findings Given Out by Chairman Walsh Constitute an Arraignment of Standard Oil Methods.”
http://query.nytimes.com/…

For more on condition which led to the strike:
“Hellraisers Journal: Bayonne, NJ- 900 Coopers Join Stillcleaners
on Strike at Standard Oil Refinery” by JayRaye
http://www.dailykos.com/…

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

““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““`
The Road I Must Travel – The Nightwatchmen Tom Morello

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

Thursday’s New York Times carried a long front-page article describing the July 21st battle between strikers and police in Bayonne in which one young striker was killed. The New York Times gives the name of the fallen striker as John Stovanchik, an 18 year-old laborer from Bayonne. He was shot in the head during the battle and died later that day in City Hospital. Hellraisers is featuring the entire article in three parts. Today we offer the third part of the article.The Battle of Bayonne, Part ThreeFrom The New York Times of July 22, 1915:

[After striker, John Stovanchik was shot..]Two trucks, two hose companies, and an engine company were prepared to turn streams of water on the crowd, but before the hose was used, Sheriff Kinkead, accompanied by George T. Vickers, First Assistant County Prosecutor, arrived from Jersey City. When Kinkead, a former Congressman, and friendly to labor, stood up on the seat of his auto there was a burst of cheers. He told the crowd to be peaceable and to meet at Mydosch’s Hall, at Avenue F and Twenty-third Street, at 3 o’clock to see what could be done about an agreement with the company.

2,000 at Strikers’ Meeting.Two thousand men crowded the hall when the meeting was called to order by Paul Supinski, the Jersey City lawyer who represented the strikers in the first demands, and hundreds more were outside.

[Kinkead said:]I thank you on behalf of Hudson county…for conducting yourselves as you have done since I took charge. Let this co-operation continue and you will all be happier, and as long as you behave so I shall have no deputies sworn in. I will play square with you, and expect you to do the same with me. I don’t want any repetition of the Roosevelt affair.

The strikers complained that, with the recent rush of war orders, the foremen had so speeded the work that they were compelled to work twice as fast as before, and that a working day of nine hours and fifty minutes, with only half a day off on Saturday, left them no rest. They chose J. D. Baily, a striker; Lipinski, Albert Gzeliga, and Alexander Androjeski a committee to go, accompanied by the Sheriff and Mr. Vickers, to confer with General Manager George B. Gifford and Superintendent Hennessy of the Standard plant.Before the meeting ended the strikers heard that the Sheriff had sent to Jersey City for a patrol wagon to take to the county jail the twelve guards who had taken refuge in the engine house, and more than a thousand men gathered in front of the house, determined to stop it and get the guards. They let the patrol wagon enter the firehouse at 5 P. M. and sent men to put a log across the street and to get water-main pipes to obstruct it in its passage out.

Within thirty seconds from the time the doors of the engine house closed behind the patrol wagon they opened and the wagon backed out through the crowd and shot away up the street. The log and pipes were not yet in place and the crowd was outwitted. The wagon took eleven prisoners to Jersey City. One of the twelve in the engine house had walked out through the crowd unrecognized.

The crowd barricaded the street with pipes just before an automobile hook-and-ladder truck drove down the thoroughfare with Sheriff Kinkead on the front seat. On seeing the pipes the Sheriff tried to talk to the crowd, but what he wanted to say was drowned by cheers, and the truck drove down a side street.

[Continued below.]

[Continues from above.]

Frank Tannenbaum of the
Industrial Workers of the World.
“““““

The crowd swarmed back to Mydosch’s Hall at 5:30 o’clock to hear the report of the committee. Frank Tannenbaum, the I. W. W. agitator who served a term on Blackwell’s Island for leading the unemployed into Manhattan churches, had arrived, as well as John J. Dowd, Sixth Vice President of the International Brotherhood of Boiler Makers, Iron Ship Builders, and Helpers of America, who represented the American Federation of Labor. The Standard Oil Company’s answer absolutely refused to treat while the men were on strike, but said that if they would return to work the company would take everybody back and give an answer within four days. If not, no strike breakers would be imported, but the plant would be shut down.Sheriff Kinkead and Mr. Vickers tried to persuade the men to accept this, and said that if the company refused to accede to their demands after the interval they would back the men in any strike, but the strike leaders held that it would be impossible to get so large an unorganized body of men out again, and that they had better stay out. On a vote, the crowd howled a reply in half a dozen languages of which the principal ingredient was the English phrase, “Stay out.”

The Sheriff again asked them to keep order and told them the committee would go back to the company today and try to make some arrangement.

Alexander Marks, an organizer for the American Federation of Labor, spoke in Polish, attacking the Rockefellers and urging the men to stay out, and Tannenbaum offered the help of the I. W. W. After the meeting Tannenbaum busied himself with getting up a public funeral for Stovanchik, who was killed.

While the meeting was being held a fire started in oil-soaked lumber in the tank yard, and at intervals in the next half hour four more fires were discovered on the Standard’s premises. Some of them were in cars loaded with lumber, others in the paraffine yard. At half past seven a feed pipe leading to one of the big oil tanks was cut and set on fire, and flames were blazing in the yard, where there were forty huge tanks full of naphtha, kerosent, and gasoline-the nearest within 300 feet of the flames. Until about 8 o’clock the fire burned unchecked, for all the Standard’s firemen had struck and the Bayonne department, which never had been called to a fire in the plant, was reluctant to take the initiative. Finally they started and by 9:30 these fires were under control and four of the nearest tanks emptied.

Fires Light Up Bay.The pipes leading from the pumphouse to thirty tanks were cut at 9 o’clock, and the oil, which ran about all over the yards, began to blaze up. Later this, too, was under control, but at midnight the flames were still blazing brightly, with no prospect of burning out. All that part of the bay was lit up and heavy black smoke drifted for miles.

Within the concrete stockade which surrounds the plant the company’s guards were waiting, armed with repeating rifles, and boats were waiting to take off the officials if the situation got too hot for them. Two tank steamers coming from Europe yesterday to be loaded at Bayonne were diverted by wireless to Philadelphia.

The workmen of the International Nickel Company and the Pacific Coast Borax Company, whose plants are in East Twenty-second Street, passed the strikers’ pickets yesterday going to and from work in long lines, with their time cards stuck in their hats to indicate their neutrality. They took up collections to aid the strikers. Storekeepers at Constable Hook offered the strikers unlimited credit. Sheriff Kinkead closed all saloons in the neighborhood, and all street car traffic in that part of Bayonne is at a standstill.

From its offices at 26 Broadway the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey yesterday issued the following statement:

From the facts known to the company the present situation is due entirely to the action of a few professional agitators who are endeavoring to cause trouble among the employes of the company. The company intends to do everything it can for the protection of its employes and property. It has adopted the course provided by the laws of New Jersey. The proper public authorities of the City of Bayonne, the County of Hudson, and the State of New Jersey have been duly notified and the company has no doubt that the situation will very soon improve.

The company’s officials refused to say whether they thought pro-German agitation had anything to do with the strike. It is said there are few Germans among the workmen, most of whom come from countries allied against Germany.

——

~~~~~~~~~~

SOURCE
The New York Times
(New York, New York)
-July 22, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/…
http://www.newspapers.com/…
http://query.nytimes.com/…

IMAGE
Bayonne Strike, Sheriff Kinkead
http://www.loc.gov/…
Bayonne Strike, Frank Tannenbaum
http://www.loc.gov/…

See also:

The New Republic
-Aug 14, 1915
“The Bayonne Strike”
https://books.google.com/…

The New York Times
(New York, New York)
-Aug 16, 1915
“HIT ROCKEFELLER IN BAYONNE REPORT; Industrial Board’s Investigations Lay Strike to Low Wages and Oppression. SHERIFF’S ACTS CRITICISED Findings Given Out by Chairman Walsh Constitute an Arraignment of Standard Oil Methods.”
http://query.nytimes.com/…

For more on condition which led to the strike:
“Hellraisers Journal: Bayonne, NJ- 900 Coopers Join Stillcleaners
on Strike at Standard Oil Refinery” by JayRaye
http://www.dailykos.com/…

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

““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““`
There Is Power In A Union-Billy Bragg

Now I long for the morning that they realize
Brutality and unjust laws can not defeat us
But who’ll defend the workers who cannot organize
When the bosses send their lackeys out to cheat us?

The Union forever defending our rights
Down with the blackleg, all workers unite
With our brothers and our sisters from many far off lands
There is power in a Union
-Billy Bragg

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

On July 22nd two more strikers were shot dead on the streets of Bayonne, New Jersey, as the strike against the Standard Oil Company continued.From Pennsylvania’s Scranton Republican of July 23rd:

TWO KILLED DURING RIOT IN BAYONNE
—–

Fights Between Strikers and Armed Guards
At Oil Plant Swell Death List.
——
SHERIFF IS POWERLESS
—–
Effort to End Trouble Meets with Some Success,
Strikers Accepting Arbitration.
——

NEW YORK, July 22.-Two men were killed today in fights between striking employes of the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey and armed guards at Bayonne, bringing the total deaths up to three since the inception of the strike.

Sheriff Eugene Kinkead, who had worked earnestly to pacify the strikers, called on Governor J. F. Fielder for troops when he was jeered by crowds after the battle. Wilbur F. Sadler, adjutant general of New Jersey was ordered to Bayonne and on his report rests the calling of the militia.

Later, Sheriff Kinkead appealed to  Washington for federal mediators and two of them were immediately sent by the department of labor. They were expected to reach Bayonne late tonight.

A development tonight which may have the effect of helping to end the strike, or at least bring a truce, was the acceptance by the strikers of an offer of the five county commissioners to act as arbitrators…

From The Scranton Republican of July 24, 1915:

ANOTHER RIOT MARKS STRIKE
AT OIL PLANT
—–
Sheriff and Fifty Deputies Attacked By Thousand
Strikers and Sympathizers.
—–

NEW YORK. July 23.-A fresh out break late today disturbed the comparative quiet which prevailed in the Constable Hook section of Bayonne, N. J., after the cessation of the rioting of the previous three days when three were killed and scores injured. It occurred when Sheriff Eugene F. Kinkead led fifty deputies through the streets and was attacked by a crowd of more than 1,000 strikers and sympathizers, necessitating a call for the police reserves. Although the sheriff made an appeal to the crowd to disperse, they answered with showers of clubs and stones and were only quieted after priests and strike leaders appeared and counseled them to go to their homes.Many shots were fired, but the only known injuries consisted of sore heads and bruised limbs.

While the rioting was going on the two mediators from the federal department of labor were in conference with officials of the Standard Oil company in an effort to bring about a settlement of the strike at the oil plant of the Standard, which caused a shut down of the Tidewater company’s plant. The mediators announced they would have no statement to make tonight regarding their efforts.

Governor Fielder was told late today by Sheriff Kinkead that it would not be necessary to call the state militia, if he secured 100 uniformed policemen from nearby towns to assist in preserving order. “If we don’t get these extra police, we ought to have the militia,” the sheriff told the governor. “Every man who throws a stone or draws a gun should be arrested.”

The only flurry besides the rioting occurred earlier in the day, when the strikers made a demand on Sheriff Kinkead for their wages, it being the regular pay day at the plants. When the strikers were told they would not be paid until Monday they became incensed and for a time threatened reprisals. The authorities thought it wise to defer paying the men unless they were in dire distress, until Monday.

Sheriff Kinked, at his conference with Governor Fielder, told the state’s chief executive that he was prepared to stay in Bayonne and defend life and property.

“Not a deputy of mine fired a shot today,” Kinkead told the governor. The only shots fired were by police officers to intimidate the crowd.”

The strikers held a meeting tonight at which their leaders pleaded with them to be peaceable, promising that their grievances would be adjusted satisfactorily.

[Photograph added.]

~~~~~~~~~~

SOURCE
The Scranton Republican
(Scranton, Pennsylvania)
-July 23, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/…
– July 24, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/…

IMAGES
Bayonne Standard Oil Strike, Strikers Shot Down,
New Castle News, Jul 24, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/…
On patrol during Bayonne Standard Oil Strike of 1915,
https://www.flickr.com/…

See also:

The New Republic
-Aug 14, 1915
“The Bayonne Strike”
https://books.google.com/…

The New York Times
(New York, New York)
-Aug 16, 1915
“HIT ROCKEFELLER IN BAYONNE REPORT; Industrial Board’s Investigations Lay Strike to Low Wages and Oppression. SHERIFF’S ACTS CRITICISED Findings Given Out by Chairman Walsh Constitute an Arraignment of Standard Oil Methods.”
http://query.nytimes.com/…

For more on condition which led to the strike:
“Hellraisers Journal: Bayonne, NJ- 900 Coopers Join Stillcleaners
on Strike at Standard Oil Refinery” by JayRaye
http://www.dailykos.com/…

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

““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““`
The Red Flag – Socialist Victory Choir

The people’s flag is deepest red,
It shrouded oft our martyred dead,
And ere their limbs grew stiff and cold,
Their hearts’ blood dyed its ev’ry fold.

Then raise the scarlet standard high.
Within its shade we’ll live and die,
Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer,
We’ll keep the red flag flying here.
-Jim Connell, 1889

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

From The New York Times of July 25, 1915:

STANDARD SPURNS STRIKE MEDIATION
—–
Rejects Compromise Offer of Committee,
City Officials, and Federal Officers.
—–
SITUATION GROWS CRITICAL
—–
Governor Refuses to Order Out Militia and
Sheriff Can’t Get Enough Police.
—–
Kinkead Threatens to Arrest Tide Water Officials-
Fear Men Have Hidden Arsenal.
—–The Standard Oil company last night refused the offer of the striking employes of its great plant at Bayonne, N. J., to go back to work on Monday providing the company would agree to the immediate arbitration of the strikers’ demands.

The only concession held out by George B. Hennessy, Superintendent of the Bayonne plant, was that if the men would come back to work at once he would use his personal influence to procure consideration for what they wanted. This offer was refused, and the strike, which has tied up the plants of the Tidewater and Vacuum Oil companies as well as that of the Standard and which has caused the killing of three men and the wounding of many others, now reaches a more serious phase.

The Bayonne police, reinforced by about fifty men from nearby places and the deputies sworn in by Sheriff Eugene F. Kinkead, are believed to be unable to handle the situation that will arise if the strikers again become violent. Governor Fielder so far has refused to order out the National Guard.

The disappointment at the company’s refusal to arbitrate was intensified by the fact that the proposal presented to it by the strikers’ committee considerably modified their first demands, and had been formulated after a conference with city and state officials and with John A. Moffit and James A. Smythe, the two Commissioners of Conciliation appointed by the Federal Department of Labor…

Sheriff Kinkead, while frantically trying to get more uniformed police from neighboring towns had to admit the practical failure of his deputies to make any impression on the mobs by ordering them away and ordering the company’s guards to stay out of sight within the concrete stockades. The Sheriff found that the sight of armed guards along the wall enraged the crowds which had seen those same guards fire on Wednesday and Thursday. The deputies, without uniforms, had no effect at all on the temper of the mobs.

The feeling of the crowds was intensified by the fact that all night long the guards in the Tidewater plant had ben sniping at houses along east Twenty-second Street. The saloon and hotel of Mrs. Delia Boyle  at 92 east Twenty-first Street was hit many times, and lives of persons sleeping in it were endangered. A tenement at 6 Avenue F. inhabited by eighteen families, was hit many times, and the big electric light hanging in front of Mydosch’s Hall was put out by a shot.

[Continued below.]

[Continued from above.]

Sheriff Warns Officers.Sheriff Kinkead went to the Tidewater plant and warned the officers that if any shot was fired except in defense of life-“and by that,” he said, “I mean life, not property”-he would arrest officials of the company. So by evening all the armed men had disappeared from the fortifications, and there was outward quiet…

[The Martyr’s Funeral]The strikers had planned to hold a great public funeral for John Sterancaka [Stovanchik?] the first of the three men killed in the fighting. It had been intended to have a long procession of sympathizers from his home at 99 Prospect Street to Cooper Hall, thence to St. John’s Greek Church, which is in the war zone, and after ceremonies at both these places to go to the Central Railroad station and leave for the Moravian Cemetery at Port Richmond, S. I.

Sheriff Kinkead shut down on this and personally supervised the funeral. At 1:15 o’clock, nearly an hour before the strikers had expected the ceremonies to begin, a few of the friends of Sterancaka’s family went to the house, where services were held under the direction of the Rev. Father Thomas Szabo of St. John’s Church. The body was taken directly to the Staten Island Ferry and conveyed to the New Richmond cemetery. The white hearse was followed by ten carriages, thirty honorary pallbearers, and about fifty sympathizers on foot…

~~~~~~~~~~

SOURCE
The New York Times
(New York, New York)
-July 25, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/…

IMAGE
Bayonne Strikers
https://miningawareness.files.wordpress.com/…

See also:

The New Republic
-Aug 14, 1915
“The Bayonne Strike”
https://books.google.com/…

The New York Times
(New York, New York)
-Aug 16, 1915
“HIT ROCKEFELLER IN BAYONNE REPORT; Industrial Board’s Investigations Lay Strike to Low Wages and Oppression. SHERIFF’S ACTS CRITICISED Findings Given Out by Chairman Walsh Constitute an Arraignment of Standard Oil Methods.”
http://query.nytimes.com/…

For more on condition which led to the strike:
“Hellraisers Journal: Bayonne, NJ- 900 Coopers Join Stillcleaners
on Strike at Standard Oil Refinery” by JayRaye
http://www.dailykos.com/…

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

““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““`
Vince Gill/Alison Krauss/Ricky Skaggs – Go Rest High On That Mountain

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

Frank P Walsh
““`

WALSH COMMISSION TO PROBE NEW JERSEY STRIKEInvestigation will be immediately begun by the Federal Commission on Industrial Relations into the strike at the Standard Oil plant at Bayonne, N. J., where three strikers have been shot to death and scores wounded in battles with police and Rockefeller guards.

As the commission, under congressional order, goes out of existence August 1, it must work hurriedly. The report of the commissioners will be coupled with their findings into the Colorado strike troubles, where the Rockefellers were excoriated for the tactics of their hired mine guards.

——[Photograph added.]

From The New York Times of July 27, 1915

SHERIFF CAPTURES POLICE
FOR STRIKE
—-

Invades Jersey City and
Swears in Surprised Officials
as Bayonne Deputies.
—–
PUTS CHIEF UNDER ARREST
—–
All This After Punching Strike Leader
and Proving Him an Impostor.
—–
1,500 TO GO BACK TO WORK
——
Oil Plants’ Strikers Make Kinkead Their Chief
and He Predicts Ending of the Trouble.
——

Bayonne strikers on the evening after battle of July 22nd.
“““““

Eugene F. Kinkead, Sheriff of Hudson County, N. J., who had fought strikers and oil guards alike, who had begged police aid of neighboring towns and been refused, who had appealed in vain to Governor Fielder for State troops, and who had worked for nearly twenty hours out of every twenty-four in the last week, suddenly determined yesterday, single handed, to end the strike which had affected 8,000 men of the Standard, Tidewater, and Vacuum Oil Companies in Bayonne, N. J. He worked swiftly and so directly to the single end of terminating the strike that in his wake rose cries that he was exceeding his authority.By night fall Kinkead had punched and arrested Jeremiah J. Baly, formerly Chairman of the strikers’ committee, and had discredited him as a strike leader, showing that he never even had been an employe of Standard Oil; he had punched and arrested as an agitator the I. W. W. orator, Frank Tannenbaum; he had stolen a strikers’ meeting, and he had forced a vote on a proposal to return to work with the implied promise of higher wages which he himself had won from Standard Oil officials. When the strikers had voted them down, his influence caused the strike committee to resign, and he persuaded 1,500 of the leaderless men to accept him as leader and to return to work today.

Jersey City Refuses Aid.To provide the protection which he had promised to the men who had elected to follow him, the Sheriff, for the second time since the strike began, sought police aid from Jersey City. He wanted uniformed men to impress the strikers, should an attempt be made to prevent his followers from entering the oil works today. He telephoned to Chief of Police Frank Monahan of Jersey City asking for a detail of police.

But a sympathetic strike started yesterday in the Eagle Oil Works, a subsidiary of Standard Oil, at Caven Point, Jersey City, and Monahan answered that the Sheriff could not have the men. Director of Public Safety Frank Hague of Jersey City had declined to lend the police when there was no trouble at home. Now Monahan was sure they could not go. The sheriff would not be refused. He asked Monahan to visit him at Bayonne and talk the matter over….

Monahan declined flatly to leave Jersey City, and over the wire the Sheriff roared:

“Consider yourself under arrest.”

Kinkead then jumped into his automobile and made for Jersey City at full speed.

Swears in Deputy Director.It was shortly before midnight when the Sheriff arrived at City Hall, Jersey City. He went directly to Mr. Hague’s office. The Director was not in and his deputy, James F. Norton, was in charge….

“Well, raise your right hand and be sworn in as my Deputy,” commanded the Sheriff.

“But I can’t. there’s trouble here. I tell you I can’t.”

“Raise your hand,” repeated the Sheriff inexorably, and so Norton was sworn and was told to report to the sheriff at Bayonne Police Headquarters at 5 o’clock this morning….

Sheriff Calls in Police.Giving Norton until 5 o’clock this morning to report to him, the Sheriff hurried out. The Deputy Director was powerless, for the Sheriff’s authority was supreme, and he sat in his office receiving telephone calls from police stations all over the city, which reported visits of the Sheriff…

Jersey City had refused his request for aid when the Sheriff had asked it as a favor. Now he took what he wanted, and Jersey City was powerless to protest…

~~~~~~~~~~

SOURCES

The Day Book
(Chicago, Illinois)
-July 27, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/…

The New York Times
(New York, New York)
-July 27, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/…

IMAGES
Frank P. Walsh from Harpers Weekly of Sept 27, 1913
http://books.google.com/…
Bayonne Standard Oil Strike of 1915,
evening after battle of July 22, 1915
https://books.google.com/…

See also:

The New Republic
-Aug 14, 1915
“The Bayonne Strike”
https://books.google.com/…

The New York Times
(New York, New York)
-Aug 16, 1915
“HIT ROCKEFELLER IN BAYONNE REPORT; Industrial Board’s Investigations Lay Strike to Low Wages and Oppression. SHERIFF’S ACTS CRITICISED Findings Given Out by Chairman Walsh Constitute an Arraignment of Standard Oil Methods.”
http://query.nytimes.com/…

For more on condition which led to the strike:
“Hellraisers Journal: Bayonne, NJ- 900 Coopers Join Stillcleaners
on Strike at Standard Oil Refinery” by JayRaye

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

““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““`
Chemical Workers Song – Ron Angel

A process man am I and I’m telling you no lie.
I’ve worked and breathed among the fumes.
That trail across the sky.
There’s thunder all around me and poison in the air.
There’s a lousy smell that smacks of hell.
And dust all in my hair.

But you go boys go.
They time your every breath.
And every day you’re in this place.
You’re two days nearer death.
But you go…
-Ron Angel

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