You ought to be out raising hell.
This is the fighting age.
Put on your fighting clothes.
-Mother Jones
Hellraisers Journal, Tuesday August 29, 1916
Virginia, Minnesota – Mrs. Masonovitch Held in County Jail
From the Duluth Labor World of August 26, 1916:
STUDY CONDITIONS OF MINERS WIVES
—–
Women’s Welfare League Would Relieve
Suffering In Strike Zone.
—–
VIRGINIA, Aug. 26.-Mrs. L. A. Hamlin of St. Paul, a member of the executive board of the Women’s Welfare league of that city, visited in Virginia and Biwabik recently, making an investigation of the strike conditions for the St. Paul club and for the charities and correction committee of the Minnesota Federation of Women’s Clubs, of which Mrs. V. F. Kinney of Minneapolis is chairman.
Mrs. Hamlin is making the investigation for the purpose of reporting on the manner in which the women of the range are treated, especially by the special deputy sheriffs employed by the mining companies. The women’s Welfare league was recently addressed by Miss Elizabeth Gurley Flynn of the I. W. W. and Marie Heaton Vorst [Mary Heaton Vorse], who visited on the range to secure news of the strike for Harper’s magazine and other eastern publications.
Mrs. Masonovich’s Case.
The case of Mrs. Milka Masonovich of Biwabik is being investigated especially, and the representatives of the club went to the governor and asked why she was being held. It was then understood and reported in St. Paul that Mrs. Masonovich used a club on the body of Deputy Sheriff James Myron after he had been killed at their place, at the Chicago [mining] location.
Mrs. Hamlin will recommend that Mrs. Masonovich and children be released from the county jail, where they have been held awaiting trial. She declares she can find no reason why she should be kept a prisoner after reading the testimony given at the coroner’s inquest at Biwabik.
[Said Mrs. Hamlin:]
I went to their home today…I found that the mother and the small children have been kept in the county jail at Duluth. She has a nursing baby and should not be kept there under any conditions. The other children were left at the house with some boarders. I am also investigating other cases where it is alleged that there has been cruel and harsh treatment of the strikers’ wives by deputies.
Interest in Strike.
The people of the state, especially of the Twin Cities, are taking a great interest in the range strike as it affects the women. I have not completely investigated the homes, but what I have seen appear to be meager. The report of George Parsons West and the report of the state labor board investigators was thoroughly discussed at our meeting. The state report was considered to be a true statement of conditions. I will recommend to the state federation and the Women’s Welfare league that the governor be asked to urge the release of Mrs. Masonovich. What action they will take, I do not know.
When the people of the rest of the state realize that the employes of the United States Steel corporation are suffering hardships and when we read of the $81,000,000 dividend for one quarter, the people are going to ask a few questions why the men are not paid more wages, and I believe that the matter will be taken up at the next session of the state legislature if the women of the state have any influence with the lawmakers.
—–
[Photograph added.]
SOURCE
The Labor World
(Duluth, Minnesota)
-Aug 26, 1916
https://www.newspapers.com/image/78642917
IMAGE
Masonovitch, Militza & Phillip, ISR, Nov 1916
https://books.google.com/books/reader?id=SVRIAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&source=gbs_atb&pg=GBS.PA299
See also:
The Rebel Girl: an autobiography,
my first life (1906-1926)
-by Elizabeth Gurley Flynn
International Publishers, 1973
Section: “Blood on the Range”
Note: EGF states that Mrs. Hamlin was the
daughter of former Governor Austin of Minnesota.
A photo of Mrs. Masonovitch with her baby is included.
https://books.google.com/books?id=TK2y0I-E9EkC
Union Maid – Billy Bragg & Friends