Mother Jones was in Michigan’s copper country during the past three weeks agitating for the the organization of the miners of that area into the Western Federation of Miners. She also came to support a strike of street railway workers. While in copper country, she delivered a speech at Calumet described by the local press as “pyrotechnic.” The Miners Magazine, the official journal of the W. F. of M., in its latest edition has reprinted a synopsis of that speech from the account provided by the Copper Country Evening News, a newspaper published in Calumet.During the speech, Mother noted that the working man and woman should have the sense of mule, and that is to kick when told to work, work, work, beyond endurance:

Work, work, work is preached from the pulpit, the newspaper and the magazine. The laboring people are anxious to divide the honor, but they won’t. You never hear from the pulpit, the magazine or the newspaper headlines, rest, rest, rest. There are men who break their necks to go to work early in the morning and do not know when to quit at night. I don’t know about the copper mines, but in the coal mines mules are employed. They kick when it comes time to stop work.

Mother encouraged the miners to organize if they want a better life for themselves and their families. The entire article from the Miners Magazinecan be found below the fold.

From the Miners Magazine of May 4, 1905:

“Mother” Jones is raising her voice in behalf of the downtrodden laboring men of the state of Michigan. The Copper Country Evening News, published at Calumet, Michigan, gives the following synopsis of her address recently delivered in that city:

[Mother Jones began:]

When we look back over the world’s history and go back to the cradle of the race, we try to see how they started out. We can see human beings on the banks of a great river way back in the ages. They could not lisp a language but made known their thoughts by glances and signs. They looked to the opposite bank of the river and beheld trees loaded with fruit. They knew it was there to nourish them, but between them and that wealth stood this tremendous body of water. They began to use their reasoning powers-they were more advanced than we are in some ways-in an effort to find a way to secure this wealth. Finally, one savage saw a branch floating down the stream. It finally decided that the water held up this branch and one savage put his foot on it.By long reasoning he evolved a scheme to ride across the water on the body of a tree. Two other savages then had aspirations. They did not want to see only one of their number over there eating the fruit and by experiments they bound two together. But one savage wanted to take his children and they might fall off into the water, so he scooped out the inside of the tree and placed them in it. They reasoned with the brain that nature gave them and took possession of that wealth. They reasoned better than the workingman of to-day. For the great liners which plow the oceans and the locomotives that thunder across the continent are the results of reasoning-all the machinery that produces is the result of that study, and we find that all wealth is in the hands of a few. The other large class must appeal to the few for the right to work, to live, to eat, to be housed.

Work, work, work is preached from the pulpit, the newspaper and the magazine. The laboring people are anxious to divide the honor, but they won’t. You never hear from the pulpit, the magazine or the newspaper headlines, rest, rest, rest. There are men who break their necks to go to work early in the morning and do not know when to quit at night. I don’t know about the copper mines, but in the coal mines mules are employed. They kick when it comes time to stop work.The machinery which seems so hard for us to claim now will be easy in the future. Look at the great factories. The time of the hand tool is past. We don’t work alone now, but collectively, even by thousands. We are brought face to face with a new condition. we work to-day for the great syndicate instead of the single employer. The last war with Spain opened markets which have been locked up for centuries. International armies battered down the walls of Peking and the American nation took the key.

The workingmen have not kept pace with this step. They dream away their days-they dream as they did of old. They do not think. They still slumber. They go on just like dumb animals. It is just as a street railway superintendent said when the men struck: “The cattle don’t know what they’re doing.” And the fact is, they did not. They were not organized. They knew that they had cowards to deal with and they used the lash and I give them credit for it. You “scab” on each other. The capitalist don’t scab on each other. They are too honorable.

She told a story about the sugar trust and then cried sarcastically:

But you fellows will “scab.” Do you wonder that a few own all the Machinery on earth? But your day will come some time. I do not care if it don’t though. It is for your children and your children’s children that I am fighting.In the coal mines and mills some men make good wages, but the average do not. At the end of the month they have nothing and have to ask for help. Is this the condition you boast of in this century? When a human being is killed in a mine, his dead body is hauled up in the cage and the men go back to work laughing. This man was murdered. It is brutal. It is inhuman. It is illustrated by the story of a mine owner who exclaimed every time a miner was killed: “Was the mule killed?” You see, the mule cost $120 and the miner did not cost anything. He could be replaced.

The speaker referred to the cabled condolences to Russia from Washington when the Grand Duke Sergius was killed, “that murderer of the working people.” She said that about the same time 150 miners were killed in a mine in Alabama.

In less than five minutes 150 souls were blown to eternity. Yet there was not one word of condolence, not a single line. If there is any sympathy it must come from our own ranks. What right have you to fear? You say you cannot join the union because you would lose your job. Poor, dreamy wretch. You never owned a job, for those who own the machinery own the job, and you have to get permission to earn your bread and butter. You can change masters, it is true, but you have to hunt your master for that job you call yours.

Mother with young strikers at start of
The March of the Mill Children, 1903
“““““

I have gotten up at 4:30 in the morning and gone with babies to the factories. They began work at 5:30 and quit at 7 at night. Children six years old going home to lie on a straw pallet until time to resume work the next morning! I have seen the hair torn out of their heads by the machinery, their scalps torn off, and yet not a single tear was shed, while the poodle dogs were loved and caressed and carried to the seashore. And you stand idly by and indorse this thing. If it were you who were going to suffer I would say “Let it be so.” But it is for your children and your children’s children that I do this-that I fight your battles for you.A fruit grower in California, after the Chinamen were excluded, sent to South America for 500 monkeys. He trained them to pick the fruit, and for fear they would eat the fruit he muzzled them. Your employers do not have to go to the expense of muzzling you-you are already muzzled.

Mother Jones then began an exhaustive description of the conditions which prevailed in Colorado during the recent labor troubles there, and she said:

Yes, I was in Colorado. I was there seven months and I would be there yet if the military had not put me out in the night.

She said that a blacker conspiracy was never put up than there was against the people of that state.

I am not afraid of the pen, the sword or the scaffold. I will tell the truth about it everywhere I please.

She reviewed the action which brought about the troubles and paid a tribute to the Western Federation of Miners. She said the people who were sent out of Colorado were inhumanely treated and had to drink out of the place where horses did; that they were placed in cars and unloaded after a long ride miles from any place of shelter, and that they had no food in all the journey.She appealed to the women to bring up their children in the right way. Then she spoke of the troubles with the miners of West Virginia.

These men were peaceful. They worked in the mines in the mountains and lived in shacks. A marshal came there to arrest them. The people said they had not violated the law and resisted arrest. The next night a United States deputy and a large number of men stole softly up the mountain side and murdered those men while they slept. I am not speaking from what I have read in books; I was there. I took their bleeding heads in my lap and I kissed their dead lips. They are my brothers and sisters. they were murdered for human greed and that is all.

Mother Jones spoke tenderly of the workingman who takes a drink. She said that it is a good thing that he can forget his misery for a few minutes. “It’s a wonder that we are not all drunk all the time,” she exclaimed. She said she had worked among drunken men for years. She ridiculed the idea of sending missionaries to foreign lands, saying that there is plenty of such work needed here at home.She closed with an appeal to the men to organize.

Boys, get together and organize. It will make business better for your city. It will end the troubles. It will end the strikes. Down in Illinois they used to have strikes right along, but since the men organized they get together with the mine operators and talk over the matter and arrive at a decision as to their best interests. They never have any trouble there.

[Paragraph breaks and photographs added.]

MOTHER JONE ARRIVES IN MICHIGAN’S COPPER COUNTRYThe Pennsylvania Tyrone Daily Herald of April 15, 1905-

Announcing the arrival of Mother Jones:

“Mother” Jones in Copper Country.Houghton, Mich., April 15.-Mrs. Mary Jones better known throughout the country as “Mother” Jones, famous as a labor agitator, arrived in the copper country, drawn here by the street railway and mine strikes. “Mother” Jones was prominent as an organizer of miners in the Colorado labor troubles, and owing to her influence was deported from the state. She will speak in the copper country towns.

The Minneapolis Journal of April 15, 1905-Ringing the alarm bells about the supposed intentions of Mother and the W. F. of M.:

MICHIGAN

OPERATORS WILL NOT TEMPORIZE
—–

COPPER MINES WILL BE CLOSED ABSOLUTELY IF MEN STRIKE
—–
No Concessions Will Be Considered and Owners
Will Prepare for an Indefinite Siege-
Federation Organizers Believed to Be Quietly
Agitating a General Strike.
—–

Special to The Journal.
Houghton, Mich., April 15.-In expectation of a general strike on May 1, the mine operators of Houghton, Keweenaw and Ontonagon counties have decided in case of a walkout to make no concessions whatever, and close down absolutely for an indefinite period.

The conservative element among the Calumet & Hecla employees are laboring hard to prevent a strike. In case of a general strike the old men may not get their jobs back when a settlement is reached.

“Mother” Jones is here and Charles Moyer, president of the Western Federation of Miners, has been a visitor. The federation organizers say they are not agitating a strike, but the evidence is to the contrary.

Sixteen thousand men would be affected directly, and as many more indirectly by a general strike.

—–

MOTHER JONES ARRIVES IN MINNEAPOLISThe Minneapolis Journal of May 6, 1905-

Announcing the arrival of Mother in that city with the claim that she is now a member of the American Labor Union:

Fresh from the excitement of the street car strikes at Houghton, Mich., “Mother” Jones of the American Labor union is in Minneapolis. Local leaders of the association gave a reception in her honor yesterday afternoon at the Russell Coffee house. Mrs. Jones believes in a great future for the American Labor union. Much of her time at strike centers is spent in endeavoring to prevent rioting.

~~~~~~~~~~SOURCES

Mother Jones Speaks
-ed by Philip S Foner
NY, 1983

Tyrone Daily Herald
(Tyrone, Pennsylvania)
-Apr 15, 1905
http://www.newspapers.com/…

The Minneapolis Journal
(Minneapolis, Minnesota)
-Apr 15, 1905
http://www.newspapers.com/…
-May 6, 1905
http://www.newspapers.com/…

IMAGES
Mother Mary Harris Jones
http://theadvocateonline.com/…
Mother Jones, Appeal to Reason, Mar 11, 1905
http://www.newspapers.com/…
Copper Miners of Michigan
http://blogs.mtu.edu/…
Mother Jones at start March of Mill Children, June 1903
(search with Mother Jones, choose p.253)
http://books.google.com/…

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The Spirit of Mother Jones – Andy Irvine

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

See Also:
Spirit of Mother Jones Festival July 2014

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Wednesday May 10, 1905
Chicago, Illinois – Teamster Strike Grows, Strike Sympathizer Killed in Violent Clash

From yesterday’s Rock Island Argus of Illinois:

TEAMSTERS NAME COMMITTEE
TO SEE THE PRESIDENT
—–

Additions to Ranks of Men Out at Chicago
Threaten to Cause Shortage of Flour
and Tieup of the Building Trades.

Chicago, May 9.-The Crane company drivers will strike tomorrow. Instructions to do so were issued to the leaders this afternoon.

—–

Chicago, May 9.-Striking teamsters appointed a committee today to see the president when he reaches Chicago.Discharge of a union teamster for refusing to deliver goods at a boycotted store, resulted in an addition to the ranks of the strikers today. The new men out are the drivers for the teaming company which delivers flour for the milling companies. If the employers’ association supplies teamsters the deliveries of flour will be continued; otherwise a shortage is threatened. Two drivers of the Crane company were also discharged today, and all employes of the company threaten to go out. Many business houses hitherto neutral have concluded to insist that their drivers shall deliver goods to houses under ban.

Deliveries Nearly Normal.Deliveries of retail stores are said to have been almost normal today. Policemen, deputy sheriffs and hired guards rode in wagons. Deliveries in downtown districts were made by an additional number of wagons, and there was practically no disorder.

The strikers made a motion in the United States court to have the federal injunction dissolved but the court deferred until tomorrow the hearing of the argument.

Flour Supply in Peril.Chicago, May 9.-A shortage in the delivery of flour to groceries and bakeries is threatened by the spread of the teamsters’ strike today. Drivers of the Wening Teaming company, a large concern chiefly engaged in delivering flour for milling companies, quit work when one of them was discharged for refusing to deliver to boycotted stores.

Building Industries Threatened.Crane company, controlling most of the material in the steam fitting and gas fitting industries may be involved in the strike through the discharge of two drivers who refused o deliver material at the Marshall Field building. The company gives employment to 25,000 men directly or indirectly through it’s mills, foundries and warehouses. Should a strike of the Crane teamsters be declared the building industry of the entire city will be badly handicapped.

[Article continued below the fold.]

[Article continued.]

Companies Aggressive.While the strike today is assuming more threatening attitudes, the Employers’ Teaming company is becoming increasingly aggressive. Today 1,800 teams were sent out. The company promised to furnish teamsters to do the work of all drivers who quit.

The delivery of retail goods was further extended, and the number of deputy sheriffs and special police, increased.

—–RIOTING IS RESUMED;
POLICE FIGHT MOB OF A THOUSAND PERSONSChicago, May 9.-Rioting broke out at Lake and Clark streets this afternoon when a fruit-laden truck belonging to the Employers’ Teaming company, and driven by Henry Scott, a colored nonunion teamster was surrounded by a blockade of wagons and a mob of 1,000 persons. A riot call brought the police to the spot and after half an hour of active work the police dispersed the crowd. Stones and missiles were thrown and one shot fired.

Women Start It.Women strike sympathizers started the riot, bombarding the nonunion driver with oranges and other fruits from an elevated railroad station. Many car windows were smashed. The riot stopped traffic on the street car lines for nearly an hour.

Ask Dissolution of Injunction.A motion to dissolve all federal injunctions against the strike leaders on the ground that the bills are supported by insufficient affidavits was made before Judge Kohlsaat today by Attorney Leboskey. Kohlsaat continued the proceedings until tomorrow morning, saying he was too busy to hear the arguments today.

Shoots Assailant.Chicago, May 9.-To defend himself against a volley of heavy stones, William O’Day, a colored teamster drew his revolver and fired twice yesterdy, fatally wounding his assailant, Albert Enders. Enders did early last evening at his home, 451 Twenty-third street. O’Day was locked up at the Twenty-second street police station. Enders was an active strike “sympathizer.”

—–

From the Chicago Broad Ax of May 6, 1905:

COLORED MEN
—–

Should Not be Brought to Chicago to Act as
Strikebreakers for Such Negro-Hating
Concerns as Marshall Field & Co.
and Mandel Brothers.
—–

The great teamster’s strike in this city is at fever heat, and at the present writing it seems it will be a death struggle between the teamsters, the business men or the capitalistic classes, at this time we will not attempt to discuss any other phase of this bitter class struggle between capital and labor, except as it effects the law abiding colored people-those who will continue to reside in this wonderful city after the strike has been lost or won either by the teamsters or by those who are opposing them.It is the opinion of the vast majority of the better class of colored people residing in all parts of Chicago, that the managers of the Employer’s Teaming Company are not justified in bringing hundreds and hundreds of colored men here from the remote parts of the South-many of them representing the lowest and the toughest element of the race, who are armed to the teeth and are ready to shoot any person on the slightest provocation, to temporally serve as strike breakers, for such Negro hating concerns as Marshall Field and Company, Mandel Brothers, and Montgomery ward and Company who have no use for Negroes in general except to use them as brutish clubs to beat their white help over the head so that they will bow or knuckel down to them in all things.

Every intelligent colored man and woman residing in or near Chicago are aware of the fact that for years past Marshall Field and Mandel Brothers have absolutely refused to permit colored men or women to work in their stores even as cuspadore cleaners, and any Negro who will spend his money in their stores or work for them simply as a strikebreaker, is an enemy and a traitor to his race.

Marshall Field and Company, Mandel Brothers, Montgomery Ward and Company and the other firms who are engaged in bringing many colored men here from the South to serve them for the time being like so many servile and abject slaves have by their actions proven themselves dishonest in this respect, for if they were inclined to give permanent work to colored men as teamsters, they could find plenty of respectable colored men right here in Chicago who are familiar with the city, and they would be in a much better position to act as teamsters, providing they were assured steady situations, than that class of colored men who are thrown in here from the rural districts of the South who are like a fish out of water or a wild horse in a city like Chicago.

But the managers of the Employers’ Teaming Company, and the firms referred to seemingly only want to deal with the roving and the unresponsible Negro, so that they can handle them for a short time to suit themselves. It is therefore the duty of the Afro American preachers, residing in this city, to proclaim aloud from their pulpits against flooding Chicago, at this particular time, with so many colored men, who resemble or act like desperadoes, and judging by the conduct of many of them they are ready to cut and shoot at the drop of the hat.

The press in general should in a manly way help to discourage this practice of rushing thousands of colored men into this city to act as tools for the puffed up millionaires who are Negro haters at heart and who have no use nor respect for colored men except to use them whenever they want to browbeat and bulldoze, and lord it over their white help.

Our chief contention is that it adds nothing to the credit of the Negro to become professional strikebreakers and the presence of this class of Negroes in Chicago at the present time makes it much more difficult for the respectable colored people in this community to get a long, and they assist to greatly increase all kinds of lawlessness which is now flourishing in this city.

—–

~~~~~~~~~~

SOURCES

Rock Island Argus
(Rock Island, Illinois)
-May 09, 19051893-1920
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/…

The Broad Ax
(Chicago, Illinois)
-May 06, 1905
(Also source for newspaper’s banner.)
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/…

IMAGES
Teamster Strike, Patrol Wagons Guard Scab Trucks
http://www.newspapers.com/…
Masthead of The Broad Ax
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/…

See also:

For more on The Broad Ax:
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/…

NOTE:

Throughout its history, the Broad Ax (Salt Lake City and Chicago) was issued weekly by its founder, publisher, and editor, Julius F. Taylor (1853-1934).  Born into slavery near New Market, Virginia, Julius Taylor was the 13th of 14 children of Gilbert and Mary Ann Taylor.  Taylor’s parents and older siblings had earlier been sold to different owners but remained in relatively close proximity in the Shenandoah Valley. In the mid-1860s Taylor made his way to Philadelphia and settled successively in St. Paul, Minnesota; Fargo, North Dakota; and Chicago, before arriving in Salt Lake City in 1895. There Taylor founded the Broad Ax, which joined two other black newspapers published in Salt Lake City at a time when there were fewer than 1,000 African Americans in the state…With tensions rising between the Broad Ax and the leaders of the Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City, Taylor relocated to Chicago in 1899…

In 1912, Taylor joined with the publishers of three other black Chicago newspapers to form the Colored Press Association of Chicago (not to be confused with the Associated Negro Press founded by Claude Barnett in Chicago in 1919)…

Knock at the Door of Opportunity: Black Migration to Chicago, 1900-1919

Christopher Robert Reed
SIU Press, 2014
(Search: Julius F. Taylor, all pages relevant.)
https://books.google.com/…Note: I searched for a long time for
a photo of Julius F. Taylor, to no avail, but did find a
a photo of his mother with a bit of bio:

Life Story of Mrs Mary Ann Taylor Dixon-
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/…

Mrs Mary Ann Gale Taylor Dixon, report on funeral-
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/…

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Solidarity Forever-UAW

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NEGROES PROTEST AGAINST RACE PREJUDICE
IN STRIKE.
—–

Stirring Speeches Made at Massmeeting Attended by
More than One Thousand Persons.
—–

More than 1,000 negroes assembled at the Bethel African Methodist church, Thirtieth and Dearborn streets, last night and adopted resolutions read by Mrs. Ida Wells Barnett protesting against the action of the Department Store Drivers’ union, which, the resolution asserted, circulated a “slanderous” letter against negro drivers, declaring them to be “loafers,” not willing to work.This charge was denounced as a willful and malicious falsehood urged against men who proved their value by risking their lives to obtain work. The resolutions also called upon the mayor to “save hard working citizens from the kind of protection which lets the rioter go free and sends the victim to the jails and hospitals.”

The speakers were the Rev. A. J. Carey, pastor of the church; ex-County Commissioner Edward H. Wright, Dr. George C. Hall, Mrs. Ida Wells Barnett, and George T. Kersey.

“We deplore the fact that in this controversy between labor and capital race prejudice should have a part when there is no race issue in the strike that now holds our city in its grasp,” said Mr. Carey.

“As long as the negro remains a law abiding citizen he should have the right to labor and be protected at his labor,” said Mr. Wright. “This is a public right and should not be influenced one way or the other because of the color of a man’s skin.”

Dr. George C. Hall said: “We must be allowed to go upon the streets peacefully and not be subjected to the infamous treatment which we have received at the hands of both these agents. We are not going to ask the people to stop this; we are going to stop it ourselves.”

—–[Photograph added.]

From the Illinois Rock Island Argus of May 10, 1905

STRIKE DISORDER HALTS FOR
PRESIDENT’S VISIT
—–

Teamsters and Employes Agree
to be Less Aggressive
—–
ONLY FOR THE DAY
—–
Men Decide Against Asking Chief Executive
to Arbitrate
—–

President Roosevelt
at his home at Oyster Bay

Chicago. May 10.-Representatives of labor have abandoned the plan of petitioning Roosevelt while in Chicago today to use his good offices in bringing about a settlement of the strike. A lengthy petition had been prepared protesting against the use of federal troops.President Shea said this afternoon:

Roosevelt will not be asked to arbitrate the strike. None of the committee appointed will call on him. We don’t see what good it will do labor to asked the president to arbitrate the strike.

Promise Peace and Order.Chicago, May 10.-Promises of peace and order for today, the president’s day, were made by both sides in the teamsters strike. The Employers’ Teaming company decided to reduce its teaming and delivery operations, and the teamsters’ joint council voted against a general strike, and determined no further sympathetic movements should be made, except in cases where teamsters were ordered to make deliveries to boycotted houses in which event individuals should walk out.

[Photograph added.]

From the Rock Island Argus of May 11, 1905

PRESIDENT HEARS LABOR’S PROTEST
—–

Expresses Regret at Language Used and
Declares Law Must be Enforced.
—–

Teamsters’ President Cornelius Shea
“““““

Chicago, May 11.-The committee of labor men appointed to call on President Roosevelt and lodge with him the protest against the employment of federal troops during the present teamsters’ strike, was granted an audience late yesterday afternoon. Outside of the members of the committee, President Roosevelt and Secretary Loeb, no one was present during the conference. The following account of what passed in the room was given out by Secretary Loeb:

Protest is PresentPresident Shea presented the protest, accompanying it with a few words of explanation. The president read the protest at once, and then told the committee that no suggestion had come to him from any source that he should take action. He said that he was wholly ignorant of the merits of the case and had no knowledge of what the situation is or what steps should properly be taken to end it. In view of the statements made in the letter, he regretted that it should have spoken of the use of the army as it did…..

Repeated Statement.The president said:

Mr. Shea, I can only repeat what I have said. I am a believer in unions. I am an honorary member of one union. But the union must obey the law just as a corporation must obey the law; just as every man, rich or poor, must obey the law. As yet no action has been called for by me, and most certainly if action is called for by me I shall try to do exact justice under the law to every man, so far as I have power. But the first essential is the preservation of law and order, the suppression of violence by mobs or individuals.

This closed the interview and the committee withdrew.

—–

From the Rock Island Argus of May 12, 1905

CHICAGO EMPLOYERS HAVE NEW POLICY;
FACTORIES CLOSED AND MEN LAID OFF
—–

Business Hurt by Strike is
Argument Put Forward.
—–
MAKE UP A BLACKLIST
—–
Those Not Returning to Work by End of Next Week
Permanently Barred.
—–

From the Chicago Daily Tribune
of May 10, 1905
“““““

Chicago, May 12.-Employers today began the execution of a new policy as to the teamsters strike, the men in the various manufacturing industries being laid off because of lack of business in consequence of the strike.

Send Out Many Wagons.Hundreds of wagons were sent out today by the strike-bound houses, advertisements for teamsters to “fill permanent positions” filled the newspapers and on every side was evidence of aggressiveness of the employers. Protection was promised to prospective drivers. Most advertisements state that union or nonunion men will be accepted.

Kinsley’s restaurant has been turned into a hotel where nonunion teamsters are housed and fed.

Mistaken for Strike Breaker.Charles Johnson, colored, employed by the Standard Oil company was mistaken for a strikebreaker by a mob in Wentworth avenue and probably fatally injured.

Walter St.Clair, colored, employed by Armour & Co., was attacked by strike sympathizers in Twenty-seventh street and beaten with clubs, blackjacks and other wagons. deputy sheriffs rescued him.

Move 1,900 Wagons.A total of 1,900 wagons will be moved today by nonunion teamsters under protection of about 4,000 policemen and deputy sheriffs. This is the largest number of guards since the teamsters strike began….

[Photograph added.]

From The Appeal of Saint Paul, Minnesota, May 13, 1905:

THE STRIKE

There were several shooting affairs Sunday which did not result in the serious wounding of any person, but showed that the rough element in the ranks of the teamsters was seeking for opportunities to injure the Afro-American non-union men. At the barn of the Employers’ Teaming association, at Eighteenth and Dearborn streets, Albert Wells, an Afro-American driver, was shot in the left wrist by a white man recognized as a union picket.

—–Two non-union Afro-American teamsters of the Employers’ Teaming Company were painfully hurt and escaped more serious injury only by the interference of the police in a riot today in the alley north of the Olympic theater. The injured men were Wade Crowder, who was cut about the head and face, and John Pitkins, struck on the head by a stone.

—–Leon Mandel, a Jew, member of the firm of Mandel Brothers, said Monday:

We do not want the Negro Non-unionist. It was a mistake to import them. They breed jealousies and disturbances which lead to slugging, violence and rioting.

—–Sheriff Barrett and county Commissioner Oscar De Priest, who is an Afro-American, had a lively tilt in the office of the sheriff, when De Priest appeared and urged Barrett to appoint several Afro-Americans as deputies. Barrett emphatically refused, declaring that the presence of Afro-Americans as deputies would only incite riot. This angered De Priest and hot words passed between the two county officials.

—–Since the swearing in of special deputies began two days ago several Afro-Americans have appeared at the office of the sheriff, asking that they be appointed. They had letters of introduction from De Priest in some instances. They were refused by Chief Deputy Peters, who gave them no reason other than by inference why he could not appoint them.

—–The riot press have attempted to make out that the strike is a race war. This is absolutely false. There are Afro-American members in nearly all of the labor unions, including the garment makers’ and the teamsters’ unions. The Afro-American non-union teamsters have certainly not shown the white feather.

—–[Photograph added.]

From the Chicago Broad Ax of May 13, 1905

The Broad Ax, in an editorial last week, came out strongly against Afro-Americans serving as strikebreakers. The other point of view is expressed this week through a letter to the editor:

REFLECTIONS ON THE GREAT
TEAMSTERS STRIKE.
To The Editor:-A great deal of indignation has been let loose in the past few weeks on the part of the colored people because certain Negro strike-breakers have been beaten and ill-treated while performing the duties of their employment, and because prejudice against the Negro has been intensified somewhat by his taking the places of the striking teamsters.

This indignation is but just and proper. It voices our protest against the unfair and dirty prejudice that would make a “strike-breaker” doubly cursed because he is black. At the same time, it also shows our stand for law and order, and our demand that citizens be protected in their right to work, which is but a part of their liberty.

But this indignation would not amount to a puff of wind, were there not men of our race, fighting for these rights and against this prejudice. The day has not yet come when the world rights wrong when its attention is called to it. No one goes about seeking whom he may help. Every man and every race, and every country, must help itself, must protect its own honor and rights, must fight its own battles, must blaze its own way to the front.

There are colored men who object to the bringing of these rough, burly Negroes from the South, to bear the burden of this industrial strike. They say it means only harm to those of the race already in Chicago; that they will create a greater prejudice here, and, when the white people have settled their differences, the Negroes of Chicago will have to pay, in the years to come, an awful price for the coming of these disturbers from the South. These be indeed, timed [timid?] souls, who would rather bear what ills they have with grace, than struggle for greater truth. They look not beyond today, and care for nothing more than that their own skins should remain whole.

If men have to, and ought to, fight for what they believe to be right,-and that is the only standard-what are they to do when they know they are right! Are they to yield and submit themselves to the tyranny and dictation of those whom they known to be in the wrong? If they do, do they not yield at the same time their manhood, and do they not submit to be branded with the mark of a coward? After such a course, can they expect that any other man or race or nation will respect their rights, or extend to them courteous consideration in their requests or demands? Never! The others will but add insult to insult, and vent their spleen upon this race who, they know, will kiss the hand that smites them.

It has cost treasures in life and money to obtain, to establish, and to keep, almost any human or national right which can be mentioned. Just now the Negro has two things for which he must yet struggle and fight-his citizenship rights, which, indeed, includes the other his right to work. What if it does cost life! or days of unrest? Should we not rather rejoice that since peace has refused her blessing, we have sought it in war?

Is it not true that the courage, the manhood, the determination to do what they lawfully may do, shown by the Negro strike-breakers in Chicago, have raised the Negro in the estimation of the people? Do you not know that doors will open to him now, for this struggle, that otherwise would remain forever closed?

Then let us pay the price, content to know that we are battling for what becomes a man!-B.

[Paragraph breaks added.]

The Broad Ax comments on the meeting held at Bethel Church:

Tuesday evening a meeting was held in Bethel church for the purpose of protesting against the treatment accorded to the Colored men called “Strikebreakers,” by the police. Rev. Archibald James Carey, Dr. George C. Hall, Edward H. Wright, and Mrs. Ida Wells-Barnett, provided all the wind power, a resolution was passed denouncing The Chicago Tribune, and The Chicago American for the hostile attitude they have assumed against all Afro-Americans. These are the two leading daily newspapers that the Colored people of Chicago have for many years gladly assisted their owners to become millionaires in preference to supporting their own newspaper. Further comment is not necessary.

~~~~~~~~~~SOURCES

Chicago Daily Tribune
(Chicago Daily Tribune)
-May 10, 1905
http://www.newspapers.com/…

Rock Island Argus
(Rock Island, Ill.)
-May 10, 1905
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/…
-May 11, 1905
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/…
-May 12, 1905
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/…

The Appeal
-May 13, 1905
(Saint Paul, Minnesota)
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/…

The Broad Ax
-May 13, 1905
(Chicago, Illinois)
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/…

IMAGES
Ida B Wells-Barnett, Chicago, Illinois
https://stylesource01.wordpress.com/…
Teddy Roosevelt at Sagamore Hill,
his home in Oyster Bay, Long Island
http://tr.amnh.org/…
Cornelius Shea, 1903
http://teamster.org/…
Transporting Scabs
http://www.newspapers.com/…
The Appeal, St Paul, MN, May 13, 1905
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/…
Broad Ax Banner
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/…

See also:
Tag: Chicago Teamsters Strike of 1905
http://www.dailykos.com/…

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Solidarity Forever-UAW

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From the Rock Island Argus of May 16th:

FIFTY STRIKING CHICAGO SCHOOL CHILDREN
ARRESTED AND JAILED
—–

Movement Grows, 1,500 Going Out
Without Cause.
—–
MEN STILL DETERMINED
—–
Decline to Take Steps Looking to Peace—
Threaten to Tie Up the City.
—–

Blockade at State and Madison Streets
“““““

Chicago, May 16.-Three hundred colored strike breakers arrived in Chicago today from St. Louis. They were largely recruited from river towns. Another gang came in from Cincinnati. Nearly a score of the latter deserted when they reached here claiming they were told no strike was prevailing here. One deserter said the coaches in which they traveled were locked during the entire trip.

Messengers Out.Over 100 of the Postal Telegraph company’s messengers struck this morning. The boys occupied themselves chiefly in jeering at nonunion teamsters.

Two colored men were severely beaten in Fourteenth street today by a mob which the police dispersed by the free use of their clubs.

More Pupils Quit.Pupils of the Fallon public school also struck when two loads of coal from the Peabody Coal company were delivered at the building. The Fallon school and the Graham school are in adjoining districts on the south side.

Youngsters Put in Jail.The youngsters became so disorderly 50 of them were arrested and jailed. The others quickly disappeared from the streets. The strike of school children assumed larger proportions today when 1,500 pupils of the Graham school refused to enter the building. Officials say no “unfair” coal has been delivered at the school.

Looks Like Spread.Chicago, May 16.-The possibility of a tieup in all delivery business in Chicago including funerals grew definite at a meeting today of President Shea, with W. J. Gibbons, business agent of the Cab and Livery Wagon Drivers’ union and representatives of the liverymen’s and undertakers’ associations…

———-Photograph added.]

Below the fold Hellraisers

offers further news on the Chicago Teamsters strike from the past week.

From the Illinois Rock Island Argus of May 13, 1905:

FOUR MORE TEAM OWNERS’ ASSOCIATIONS
MAY JOIN
—–

Prospects Are There Will be
8,000 New Strikers.
—–
HAVE BEEN NEUTRAL
—–
President Shea Declares All Teamsters
May Be Called Out.
—–

Chicago, May 13.-Four Chicago team owners associations employing about 8,000 drivers, heretofore neutral in the teamsters strike will confer tonight with the teamsters’ joint council. If the teamsters officers adhere to their present policy, these associations may discharge the drivers who refuse to make such deliveries. In this event the strike is likely to extend Monday.

Will Call Out All.President Shea of the Teamsters’ union said: “If they want to fight, let them come on. We will call out every member of our union rather than give up.”

Deliveries increased today and there is little interference. The Employers’ association claim to have a surplus of teamsters. A big demonstration is expected tomorrow at the funeral of Pierce, the union driver, who was shot by a deputy sheriff. Stones were thrown by school children at non-union drivers who delivered coal to the Carter H. Harrison school.

Another Death.The death of Harry Grady today added anther fatality to the list attributed to the strike. Grady and his brother, William, were called to the rear of their home in the night and without apparent provocation shot down.

Martin Lacy a nonunion colored teamster, was dragged from his wagon by six men and beaten into insensibility.

Ice wagon drivers, who are demanding an increase in wages, have reached a deadlock with the employers. Nineteen ice companies have refused to promise the teamsters advance…

———-[Photograph added.]

From the Rock Island Argus of May 15, 1905:

GREATER UPHEAVAL MAY YET
APPEAR AT CHICAGO
—–

Influences Among Teamsters
Working to Head it Off.
—–
THE END MAY BE NEAR
—–
President Shea Requests Meeting of
Officers of A. F. of L. Saturday.
—–

Patrol Wagons Guard Trucks
“““““

Chicago, May 15.-Possible signs of the end of the teamsters’ strike began to grow today. President Shea, of the teamsters union, sent a telegram to President Gompers, of the American  Federation of Labor requesting that a meeting of the national board of that body be held in Chicago at the end of the week. The report is also confirmed that Shea had telegraphed the national officers of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters to come to Chicago forthwith. The executive board will be in session Wednesday or Thursday. Some members are already here.

Makes for a Settlement.The move to bring the national board of the American Federation of Labor together was viewed by the team owners, who through their various associations have been striving to bring about a conciliation between the strikers and employers, and by labor officials generally as important in the direction of a settlement. This may possibly take the form of calling off the strike. The telegram to Gompers asked that he call the meeting in Chicago not later than Saturday…

———-[Photograph added.]

From the Rock Island Argus of May 17, 1905:

GOMPERS’ PRESENCE MAY MEAN
END OF THE STRIKE
—–

Federation Leader is in Chicago
by Invitation.
—–
HOLDS CONFERENCES
—–
No Intention of Interfering Unless
Shea Requests Him to.
—–

Chicago, May 17.-Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labor, was the central figure in the teamsters’ strike situation to day. His presence in Chicago is regarded as offering hope of peace, but the cry of the strikers was still for arbitration, which the employers had resolutely refused as to the garment workers in whose behalf the teamsters quit work six week ago.

Will Not Interfere.Just before going into conference with the labor leaders, Gompers said:

I am not in position to say what will or will not be done. I will say, however. I have no intention of interfering, unless I am commissioned by President Shea and his colleagues to do so.

Invited to Come.Gompers admitted he had come to Chicago at the solicitation of both business men and teamsters’ officials to act in the capacity of peacemaker.

Pledges Aid for Peace.During the morning Gompers called on Mayor Dunne. He assured the mayor he would use every honorable effort to bring about a speedy settlement of the strike to the best interest of all concerned, although admitting that he was without authority to act. Immediately after leaving the mayor Gompers conferred with Ald. Dover, chairman of the mayor’s peace committee…

———-[Photograph added.]

From the Rock Island Argus of May 18, 1905:

LABOR LEADERS UPSET ALL PLANS
TO END THE STRIKE
—–

Arbitration Committee Appointed
Without Authority.
—–
DELIVERY THE ISSUE
—–
President Shea Declares There Will be No
“Backdoor Settlement.”
—–

Chicago, May 18.-Aside from the presence of Samuel Gompers, the influence that gave greatest promise of a settlement of the strike was the arbitration committee appointed by the Chicago Team Owners’ association and the Teamsters’ union.The question of arbitration is on the justification of the teamsters in refusing to make deliveries to strike affected firms. In anticipation of a favorable verdict the large team owners prepared today to begin hauling to such stores.

Both Name Men.The team owners met this morning and appointed as their member of the arbitration committee Edward J. Hines, a prominent lumber man. The teamsters selected William J. Gibbons, president of the Teamsters’ Joint council as their representative. These two after appointing a third member will, it is announced, proceed to settle the question whether the teamsters should deliver goods to boycotted houses.

Shea Upsets Move.Later in the day President Shea, of the Teamsters, International union, threw cold water on all peaces moves. He declared he had not considered arbitration in any form, and had never agreed to arbitrate the question whether the teamsters should deliver to boycotted houses.

No “Backdoor” Settlement.[Said Shea:]

There will be no backdoor settlement…When I am beaten I will come out and say so.

———-[Photograph added.]

From the Rock Island Argus of May 19, 1905:

CHICAGO TEAMSTERS’ STRIKE ENDS TONIGHT
OR TOMORROW MORNING
—–

Sheriff Barrett Positively States
Hostilities Will Close.
—–
CALLING IN THE GUARDS
—–
Neither Side to Claim Victory, But Best Men
Go Back to Work.
—–

Mayor Edward Dunne
“““““

Chicago, May 19.-“The strike will end tonight or tomorrow morning. There will be no claim of victory of defeat by either side. The employers will take back the teamsters who are worthy and desirable men and who have not violated the law.”

REPORT CONFIRMED.This declaration was made by Sheriff Barrett today and was confirmed from several sources. The sheriff began to call in extra deputies engaged in guarding the wagons of the Employers’ Teaming company.

MAYOR ALSO INFORMED.Chicago, May 19.-Mayor Dunne today said he had learned from a source not connected with either side of the teamsters’ strike, that the strike will be called off within 24 hours.

A report appeared on the ticker today that Sheriff Barrett had informed the grain firm that a settlement of the trouble had been reached and the announcement will be made this afternoon.

Board Holding Council.Chicago. May 19.-The national executive board of the teamsters’ union came to Chicago this afternoon, and are holding a secret session.

Shea Makes Flat Denial.

Chicago, May 19.-President Shea, when told of the declaration of the mayor and sheriff said:

There is no man in the world that has the power to call this strike off or make any such settlement. The teamsters’ joint council alone has that power. The council has not considered any such proposition.

Gompers Departs.Chicago, May 19.-Overtures looking to a peaceable settlement of the teamsters’ strike here were temporarily set aside today. Through the departure of President Gompers for Dayton, O., last night the chief influence upon which the hopes of peace were centered was removed…

———-
[Emphasis removed from first four paragraphs for ease of reading.]
[Photograph added.]

~~~~~~~~~~

SOURCE
Rock Island Argus
(Rock Island, Illinois)
-May 13, 1905
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/…
-May 15, 1905
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/…
-May 16, 1905
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/…
-May 17, 1905
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/…
-May 18, 1905
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/…
-May 19, 1905
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/…

IMAGES
Blockade at State and Madison Streets
https://books.google.com/…
Cornelius P Shea
https://books.google.com/…
Patrol Wagons Guard Trucks
http://www.newspapers.com/…
Samuel Gompers,
Oakland Tribune, May 17, 1905
http://www.newspapers.com/…
International Brotherhood of Teamsters,
Charter with AFL
http://teamster.org/…
Mayor Edward Dunne
http://darrow.law.umn.edu/…

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Never Cross A Picket Line-Billy Bragg

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Luke Grant, labor editor of the Inter Ocean, took on the subject of the upcoming convention of Industrial Unionist in his column this past Sunday. He had this to say about the intentions of those who favor establishing a new labor body based on industrial organization:

The whole scheme is chimerical and intended to drag the workers into the mire of politics. The new union would simply be a tail to the socialist kite; indeed, that is all that the dreamers who are advocating it hope for.

Grant took particular aim at Father Hagerty’s “wheel of fortune,” subjecting Hagerty’s proposed chart of industrial organization to much ridicule.The American Labor Union, one of the organizations involved in planing the upcoming convention, also found itself skewered by Grant’s sharp pen.

Below the fold our readers can find those portions of Luke Grant’s column which pertain to the convention of industrial unionists now scheduled to be held in Chicago on June 27th.

From the Chicago Inter Ocean of May 21, 1905:

IN THE WORLD OF TRADE AND LABOR UNIONS.
-BY LUKE GRANT.

WITH the near approach of the convention of the great industrial union which the dreamers in the American Labor Union and the Western Federation of Miners expect to revolutionize industrial affairs, it might be well for organizations contemplating sending delegates to look closely into the affair.The convention will be held in Chicago on June 27, and some of the delegates who have theories on saving the world, but who are not connected with labor unions which will pay their expenses, are already on the way for this city. It is a long walk from the Pacific coast to Chicago, but with some of the “cranks” it is “get there or bust.”

Circulars are being distributed broadcast, showing just how easy it is to have an industrial union on the lines proposed. Thomas Hagerty, who was formerly a priest, and who was never connected with a labor union in his life and knows nothing of the practical workings of a labor organization, has drawn a chart, showing how the different workers will be united on industrial lines.

This chart, which is being distributed, explaining the plan, is a wonder in more ways than one. It contains eight chief departments, which are subdivided into thirty-eight subdivisions. If the plan was carried out every one of the international unions now existing would be cut up and partitioned out according to Mr. Hagerty’s fantastical notions. The teamsters, instead of being in one organization, would be in seventeen, and other unions, like the engineers, would fare even worse. This is the great solidarity plan with a vengeance.

The chart looks like a sort of wheel of fortune, with the unions plastered all over it wherever they happened to strike after being thrown on the wheel by Mr. Hagerty. There is a good deal of humor in the scheme, too, although no one up to this time has accused Mr. Hagerty of being a practical joker.

Father Hagerty’s Wheel as it appeared in the April 20th edition of Miners Magazine.
“““““

For instance, in the Department of Agriculture, in the subdivision of floriculture, we find it begins with gardeners, landscape gardeners, and steamfitters, in the order named. Just why Mr. Hagerty put the steamfitters and the gardeners in one division is hard to understand. Probably he got the idea from the fact that our friend “Honest” John Mangan, who is a steamfitter, attended the last convention of the American Federation of Labor as a delegate from a gardeners’ and florists’ union in Chicago. Or perhaps it is because steam and hot water pipers are necessary in conservatories, but whatever the reason is, they are there, anyway.The engineers, according to Mr. Hagerty’s idea, would be in twenty-seven different divisions, and at that he has missed a few.

Mr. Hagerty seems to have overlooked an important point. He should have placed the bridge and structural iron workers and the dentists together, as both do bridge work. The butchers and the barbers might also be placed in the same column, as the one shaves pig’s feet and the other shaves men’s faces. The paper hangers and the bill posters should also have been put together, as both of them hang paper on dead walls.

The cigar-makers are placed with the cigarette-makers, and all classed in the department of the distribution of food stuffs. Samuel Gompers believes this idea came from the fact that many cigar-makers have a habit of chewing cigars.

Taking it all together, the chart is “fearfully and wonderfully constructed,” and just what sort of an organization will be formed next month no one except Mr. Hagerty and Mother Jones can tell.

An interesting thing about the convention is that official letters sent out concerning it reveal the financial standing of the American Labor union, which has always boasted about being the only organization that paid strike benefits to its members.

In its official organ and elsewhere the American Labor union has invited workers to sever their connection with their old organizations and get into the only one that is able to do them any good. It always pays its obligations promptly, according to its officers, but the following letter sent to members with a great deal of secrecy will show whether the claim is true or not:

To the International, National, and Local Unions of the American Labor Union.
-Fellow Workers: The situation of affairs in our organization is such that the executive board, now in session, deems it important that the general membership be informed of the same so that intelligent action can be taken on the matters referred to consideration and vote.President McDonald resigned as president and has been succeeded by Brother John Riordan, a member of the board. Both Brothers McDonald and Smith have been retained as members of the Board, and Brother McDonald made general organizer of the organization.

The books, accounts, and conditions of the organization have been carefully audited and considered and found correct. Owing to the great expense of the organization during the past two years we find the general fund in debt in the amount of about $5,000. This, together with the expense of board meeting, sending delegates to the Industrial union convention of June 27, 1905, and other immediate expenses estimated outside of the usual expenses of the organization, makes a total probable indebtedness in the neighborhood of $8,000. This amount is the figure the board has decided it is necessary to raise to clear off all debts, and put the organization in a position to go into the new movement clear of any obligation. Then, too, the Hope lumbermen’s strike is fast depleting our strike defense fund, and some money will be necessary to carry wage controversies to a successful issue.

Our organization is in a good, fighting, healthy condition, and it will be easy to raise the amount of money fixed above without a heavy burden upon any member, by every member realizing the true conditions of affairs and through his patriotism to the organization and its grand work, by promptly paying his or her small portion of this sum.

To this end the board has levied an assessment of 25 cents per member per month, beginning with the month of May, and continuing monthly until the desired amount is raised and this is official notice to the unions of the levying of such assessment. If all unions respond promptly, the indebtedness can be paid during the month of May; if not, then easily during June, so the assessments will not extend over two months.

Our unions have voted to go into the new Industrial union movement, which convention has been called to meet at Chicago on June 27, and to send ten delegates to such convention. Owing to the large expense of sending these delegates the board will recommend that if the returns of the assessment herewith levied are sufficient that the ten delegates be sent to the convention. But if not, then only the five delegates receiving the highest number of votes shall be sent, and the other five be alternates, according to the number of votes received by each. We trust that the entire ten delegates can be sent. But we wish affairs to be known before the delegates are elected, so that there will be no misunderstanding if only the five delegates receiving the highest number of votes are furnished funds from general headquarters to attend the industrial convention. Notification for nominations and ballots for election of these delegates will be sent you as speedily as possible.

The closeness of the Industrial union convention and the fact that our membership have voted to go into it, and the further fact that if such new movement is successfully launched the A. L. U. will become and integral part of it, leaves us in such condition that the board deems it advisable that the question of postponing the biennial convention of the A. L. U. (which would be held this year on June 18) until after the Industrial union convention is held and its results known, and be submitted to the general membership for referendum vote. In the meantime nominations for general officers, call for convention, and election of delegates to the A. L. U. convention will be postponed.

Fraternally yours,
D. C. COATES, General President.
REES DAVIS, Vice President.
JOHN RIORDAN, General Sec.-Treas.

DANIEL M’DONALD,     CHARLES MOYER,
M. E. WHITE,              GEORGE ESTES,
CLARENCE SMITH,      W. F. WALTON,
J. M. CLEMENTS,         F. W. OTT.
JOHN W. DALE,

Daniel McDonald, formerly president of the American Labor union, resigned some time ago to engage in mining. At least that is the reason he gave the writer of this column for his resignation, but it appears from the foregoing letter that he is still active as an organizer in the movement which is intended not to benefit the workers, but to disrupt old and tried labor organizations. The whole scheme is chimerical and intended to drag the workers into the mire of politics. The new union would simply be a tail to the socialist kite; indeed, that is all that the dreamers who are advocating it hope for.

[The Texas State Federation of Labor on the W. F. of M.]The Texas State Federation of Labor, which closed its annual session in Denison a few days ago, has placed itself squarely on record as to where it stands on the formation of the so called industrial organization, which it is proposed to form at a convention to be held in this city next month.

A representative of the Western Federation of Miners, which is behind the industrial movement, was refused admission to the convention of the Texas state branch, and resolutions were adopted, which are being sent to all central bodies throughout the country. The resolutions read:

Whereas, The Texas State Federation of Labor believes that none of the time of organizations affiliated with the American Federation of Labor should be devoted to hearing the arguments or pleas of representatives of dual organizations or of representatives of organizations antagonistic to the American Federation of Labor, or that assistance should be given to organizations that are attempting to form dual organizations to the American Federation of Labor; andWhereas, The Texas State Federation of Labor did exclude and refuse to recognize one W. H. Leonard, representative of Western Federation of Miners, for above reason; be it

Resolved, That this convention appoint a committee of three to compile data covering the actions of this convention, and that a copy of same be mailed to the headquarters of every international and national body affiliated with the American Federation of Labor, with the recommendation that similar action be taken by all organizations when occasions of this kind arise.

The convention refused to contribute any financial aid to the Western Federation of Miners, and scored the disrupptionists in the following language:

It was the opinion of the convention, knowing that similar occasions would arise in other like conventions and like bodies, that the action of the Texas State Federation of Labor, which has more good laws to its credit and bad laws defeated than any similar organization in the United States, would be a precedent that would be wise to follow.In view of these facts, the Texas State Federation of Labor, which has always held true allegiance to the American Federation of Labor, is unalterably opposed to the action of the officers of the Western Federation of Miners, who are endeavoring to form a dual organization (for which purpose a convention has been called in the city of Chicago in the month of June), and who are sending emissaries throughout the country with the hope of securing the co-operation of disgruntled political schemers, thinking thereby to create discord in the ranks of organized labor and gain for themselves converts and retard our present movement.

[Photographs added.]

~~~~~~~~~~

SOURCE
The Inter Ocean
(Chicago, Illinois)
-May 21, 1905
(Also source for image of union bug.)
http://www.newspapers.com/…

IMAGES
Father Thomas J Haggerty
http://www.iww.org/…
Father Hagerty’s Wheel,
Miners Magazine, April 20, 1905
http://www.gutenberg.org/…
American Labor Union, letterhead, April 1905
https://books.google.com/…
Western Federation of Miners Button
http://www.nps.gov/…

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One Big Industrial Union – May Day Chorus of Asheville

PAINT ‘ER RED!

Come with us you workingmen and join the rebel band
Come you discontented ones and lend a helping hand
We march against the parasite to drive him from the land
With One Big Industrial Union

Chorus:
Hurrah! hurrah! we’re gonna paint ‘er red!
Hurrah! hurrah! The way is clear ahead!
We’re gaining shop democracy and liberty and bread
With One Big Industrial Union.

In factory and field and mine we gather in our might
We’re on the job and know the way to win our hardest fight
For the beacon that shall guide us out of darkness into light
Is One Big Industrial Union.

Come on you fellows, get in line, we’ll fill the boss with fears
Red’s the colour of our flag, it’s stained with blood and tears,
We’ll flout it in his ugly mug and raise our loudest cheers
For One Big Industrial Union.

“Slaves”, they call us, “working plugs”, inferior by birth
But when we hit their pocketbooks, we’ll spoil their smiles of mirth
We’ll stop their dirty dividends and drive them from the earth
With One Big Industrial Union.

We hate their rotten system more than any mortals do
Our aim is not to patch it up but build it all anew
And what we’ll have for government when finally we’re through
Is One Big Industrial Union.
-Ralph Chaplin/Elmer Rumbaugh

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While Hellraisers supports the Teamsters in their strike, which was begun as a show of solidarity for Chicago’s striking Garment Workers, we deplore the violence now bringing chaos to the city. Nowhere have we been able to find a call for peaceful picketing   from the leaders of the Teamsters or from the Chicago Federation of Labor. If such calls are pointed out to us, we will issue an apology.From the Illinois Rock Island Argus of May 15, 1905:

Negro is Shot Dead.James Jennings, 26 years old, colored, was shot dead and P. Lagrogoris, owner of a lunch wagon in front of 2517 State street, was severely beaten early yesterday. Legrogoris was taken to Mercy hospital, where it is said his condition is serious.

From the Rock Island Argus of May 17, 1905:

Boy Shot and KilledChicago, May 17.-The first schoolboy has fallen a victim to the violence attending the teamsters strike.

Enoch Carlson, 11 years old, a pupil in the Ward school, was shot and killed by a negro strike breaker, who was passing the child’s home, 2701 Princeton avenue. The shooting occurred at 6:15 p. m. after a score of playing children had shouted derisively at the negro and a companion…

From the Chicago Broad Ax of May 20, 1905:

Crimes, Murder

And All Kinds of Lawlessness Continues To Follow
in the Wake of the Teamsters Strike.

At the present writing everything seems to indicate that the great or the bitter fight on the part of the striking teamsters is far from being settled, and in the meantime, crimes, murder, and all kinds of lawlessness continues to flourish in all parts of this city, so far innocent colored men, women, and children, and white ones too, for that matter, have been dragged from the street cars, beat up and otherwise mistreated, and shot down like common dogs by the white and black roughens and sluggers who have been so conspicuous in this teamsters’ strike.It is too bad that those in authority at the first inception of the strike, did not insist upon throwing the state troops into this city, for the sole purpose of maintaining order and for the further purpose of protecting the lives and the property of all citizens regardless of their race or color, if such the first place at no time since the commencement of the teamsters’ strike would there have been the slightest occasion to inflame the public mind by working up an agitation in favor of race wars.

By failing to uphold and enforce the laws at all times has been the immediate cause of peaceable citizens who have not been interested in the strike one way or the other being foully murdered and through the reign of mob law, murder, and all kinds of lawlessness, a white gentleman foully murdered a colored man named Jennings at 26th and State St. last Saturday night. This same lawless spirit caused Mr. Bailey, an honest and respectable Afro-American who was not a strike breaker, to be dragged, from a street car at State and Van Buren streets, and to be beat up for nothing whatever, except that he happened to be a colored man.

Therefore it is no more than reasonable that as long as the striking teamsters and their sympathizers trample the laws of this city under their feet, and continue to place no valuation on human life, colored men who have been brought here to assist to end the strike also feel that they have the undisputed right to do the same thing, hence the killing of the little schoolboy, Enoch Carlson, at 27th and Princeton avenue, the first of the week by some unknown colored man who was supposed to be a strike breaker, and it is claimed he was brought here from Tennessee, Oklahoma, and that he was employed by the employers’ Teaming Company to drive for the Peabody Coal company, and Marshall Field and Company.

The shooting to death of Enoch Carlson, which was a horrible crime to be perpetrated by any human being, was the culmination of all the riotous scenes, crimes, murders and all forms of lawlessness which have been enacted in Chicago since the beginning of the teamsters’ strike.

From henceforth there should be no more temporizing on the part of the city, county or state authorities with those connected with either side of the strike, which should be stamped out at once, even if it is necessary to call out the state troops to preserve law and order, and to prevent the citizens of Chicago from being shot down in cold blood, while preambulating up and down its streets.

—–[Photographs added.]

From The Appeal of Saint Paul, Minnesota, May 20, 1905:

SEEN AND HEARD IN MANY PLACES.[A note by William Penn:]

In the Daily News Saturday, May 13th, appeared an article, entitled “Negroes and the Strike.” I presume that “Dyers,” the name attached, is that of an Afro-American. Whatever his color, he has the right idea, and I quote his article in full without further comment:

NEGROES AND THE STRIKE.

Strike sympathizers can stand back in the crowds of spectators and hurl bricks and insults at the strike breakers-white or colored-who are attending strictly to business. But if the drivers thus attacked attempted to protect themselves, the chances are that the policemen would arrests them rather than the persons who were guilty of the disorder-unless, perhaps, the lives or heads of the policemen themselves were in danger, in which case the arrested lawbreaker would be allowed by some justice to get off with a fine of $1, when it should have been a fine of $50 or $100, and from ten to thirty days in jail. The order to arrest all violators of the law seems to have a sting to it. If the city officials had put their feet on the violence at the outset they could have stamped it out.I am persuaded that the colored strike breakers have been very unjustly treated. for instance when the police searched the strike breakers for weapons they would fail to disarm the union pickets. When the police came to the rescue of an attacked Negro they would generally succeed in arresting the colored man, but not his assailants. Students and citizens have been attacked for nothing else than because they were Negroes, despite the fact that they had nothing whatever to do with the strike.

William O’Day, a colored union teamster, was attacked by Albert Enders, a union hanger-on. The colored man shot his assailant, fatally. The the employers should see that he is given a just trial.

The other evening a colored laboring man was riding home from his regular work on a 26th street car. When near Stewart avenue the conductor pointed out this man to two union pickets, they at once attempted to get at him and had not the colored man been prepared for such attacks they might have done him great injury before a policeman appeared.

Can any one blame the colored men for defending themselves? The Negroes have a better right to work here than so many foreigners who are guilty of all manner of crimes. Worst of all, many of the foreigners are anarchists and plotters against the government of the country. The Negroes are free from any such charge as this.

C. H. Dyers.

[Introduction to Dyers’ article added before article for clarification.]
[Photographs added.]

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SOURCES

Rock Island Argus
(Rock Island, Illinois)
-May 15, 1905
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/…
-May 17, 1905
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/…

The Broad Ax
(Chicago, Illinois)
-May 20, 1905, Image 1
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/…

The Appeal
(Saint Paul, Minnesota)
-May 20, 1905
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/…

IMAGES
Blockade at State and Madison Streets
https://books.google.com/…
The Broad Ax Banner
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/…
The Broad Ax, Julius F. Taylor, editor.
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/…
The Appeal Banner
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/…
The Appeal, “A national Afro-American newspaper.”
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/…

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Solidarity Forever
-Angela Kelly & Troy Coman of UAW Local 898/Rawsonville

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