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Hellraisers Journal – Thursday July 31, 1919
Leavenworth, Kansas – Haywood and Miller Released on Bond
From The Leavenworth Times of July 29, 1919:
HAYWOOD WILL GO ON SPEAKING
TOUR OF THE U. S.
—–
Says That I. W. W.’s Want Him to
Address Them in Many Places.
—–NEVER WAS DISLOYAL, HE SAYS.
—–
Is Opposed to War, but Wanted America to Win
-Has No Personal Complaint to Make
About Prison Treatment.
—–
William D. Haywood, I. W. W. leader, was released from the Federal penitentiary shortly after 10 o’clock yesterday morning. He did not get out Sunday as expected, because the letter containing his approved bond did not reach the prison until yesterday morning. Haywood was already for departure and he went out within half an hour after the bond was received.
The bond for $15,000 for the release of Haywood was signed by Otto C. Cristienson [Christensen], William Bross Lloyd and Mary C. Marcy. They are all said to live in Chicago, although the palace of residence of the signers was not given. There has been considerable trouble about getting a bond for Haywood that Judge Landis of the Federal court in Chicago would approve, and it can be taken for granted that this is a guilt edge one.
A bond came in on the same mail for the release of Francis C. Miller, another I. W. W. leader serving a ten year term. It was for $10,000 and was signed by Otto C. Christienson, Margaret Schipman, Albert De Silvers and John Metzen. The bond for the release of Ralph Chaplin did not come in and he was unable to go out with Haywood and Miller.
Not Furnished Transportation.
On leaving the prison Haywood was dressed in a neat fitting dark suit of clothes. He wore glasses and carried a grip. Haywood and Miller going out on bond and were not furnished transportation to their former homes, the same as is allowed to discharged prisoners.
After coming to the city Haywood and Miller went to a bank where they drew some money to take them to Chicago. Haywood then went to a telegraph office and wired several messages to friends that he was out and was on his way to Chicago They left here for Kansas City on the 11:30 electric car.
Haywood, while not demonstrative, seemed to be in high spirits. He said that he proposed going on a speaking tour of the United States pending the time he is out on appeal. This may be a long time for if the Federal Court of Appeals refuses to set his sentence aside it will be taken to the United States Supreme Court for a final decision.
Will Go on a Speaking Tour.
“I expect to make a tour of the country, speaking for the I. W. W. organization,” said Haywood when asked about his plans pending the time his case is on appeal in the United States Court of Appeals. It is before that court now and will go to the United States supreme court if he is not set free.
Continuing, Haywood said:
For the first month I will have work at our general office in Chicago raising funds and getting all the help possible to carry our cause through the higher courts. I intend to work and help all the other boys of which there are seventy-five still here of the ninety-five brought in last September, the same as I do in my own case. I have word that members of the organization want me to speak in many places and I will be glad to do so.
Spoke in Leavenworth Years Ago.
There have been lots of false reports published about the members of our organization. The newspapers have given us a bad name and everything that goes wrong has been blamed on us. For instance it was published that we set the new cell house on fire at the prison Saturday night a week ago when there is nothing to it. We were locked up at the time the fire started, and does it seem reasonable that we would set a building on fire that adjoins the one where we were locked up in cells?
United States Attorney Robinson for Kansas seems to be a radical official, judging from the report that he is said to have accused the I. W. W.s of burning wheat fields. There are hundreds of our workers employed in the wheat fields to save the crop and they made no trouble. It is foolish to say that workingmen like they are who want to get food for all the people in the world would start fires to burn up wheat.
Says He Was Never Disloyal.
“What have you to say about the charge of disloyalty you were convicted of? was asked.
We were not disloyal to the government during the war period or any other time. Of course we were opposed to war as all workingmen and other people should be, but I say that we did not try to hinder America in winning the war and there is no evidence to prove that we did anything of that kind.
“How were you treated at the prison?”
Personally I was treated all right. There are prison rules that the officers have to enforce, which I obeyed and I had no trouble. A penitentiary is not a nice place to stay. I expected this before I was brought in. I had nothing to do with making any trouble at the prison at any time, and have no personal complaint on the way the officers treated me.
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[Photograph and emphasis added.]
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SOURCES
Quote BBH Corporation Soul, Oakland Tb p11, Mar 30, 1909
https://www.newspapers.com/image/72436098/
The Leavenworth Times
(Leavenworth, Kansas)
-July 29, 1919
https://www.newspapers.com/image/77085953
IMAGE
BBH, Sx Cty Jr p3, July 29, 1919
(Sioux City Journal of Sioux City, IA)
https://www.newspapers.com/image/478719557/
See also:
Tag: Big Bill Haywood
https://weneverforget.org/tag/big-bill-haywood/
Tag: Francis Miller
https://weneverforget.org/tag/francis-miller/
Tag: Chicago IWW Class War Prisoners
https://weneverforget.org/tag/chicago-iww-class-war-prisoners/
Tag: Class-War Prisoners
https://weneverforget.org/tag/class-war-prisoners/
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Commonwealth of Toil – Pete Seeger
Lyrics by Ralph Chaplin