Hellraisers Journal: Comrade Tom Lewis Reports from Portland: Proletarian Army Heads to Spokane to Fight for Free Speech

Quote EGF, Compliment IWW, IW p1, Nov 17, 1909 ———-

Hellraisers Journal – Saturday December 4, 1909
Portland, Oregon – Proletarian Army Heads to Spokane to Fight for Free Speech

From the International Socialist Review of December 1909:

The Free Speech Fight at Spokane
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[Part II-Report from Portland, Oregon, by Comrade Tom Lewis]

And now, from almost every state in the union, socialists are on the way to help their comrades in Spokane. Comrade Tom Lewis writes us from Portland, Oregon, that in response to the telegrams sent out by the I. W. W. and Socialist Party headquarters calling for men, the Portland friends arranged a meeting to call for volunteers.

At that meeting forty men lined up. A collection was taken and handed to the little band to be used for “Coffee-and-” [coffee and a donut] while the men were enroute. At this time the rainy season is on and it requires men of the real stuff to volunteer to go, especially since nearly all of them will have to make their way jumping freights. Where would we be without such material!

As the time for the men to depart approached, those who were unable to go, gave up their sweaters and overcoats to their comrades. It was an inspiring sight. Finally the word was given. “Boys, forward,” and the little army of proletarians made their way through the streets of Portland in silence, while the rain splashed in the gutters. The passers-by looked and wondered where the determined-looking marchers were going and the police followed them. Doubtless they expected the men to jump the freights in Portland, but we decided it would be better for them to walk to the ferry, cross to Vancouver, Wash., and at 12:30 midnight, board the “Workingmen’s Flyer”—the freight. These are the men we need in our organization, men who are not afraid of the truth, men who will fight, men who have nothing to lose, but a world to gain. Strange as it may seem none of our “reformer” friends joined the band going to Spokane. But—as I have said—the night was a rainy one, and the reformers care only to lead and be looked up to. It would be well if these would-be saviors of the party got out and allowed it to become a wage-workers’ organization.

[Emphasis added.]