One thing I never can forget—
that I owe my life and my liberty
to the working class of America,
and what you have accomplished for me
and my comrades you can do for yourselves.
-Big Bill Haywood
Hellraisers Journal, Sunday March 1, 1908
Big Bill Haywood Speaks in Historic Cradle of Liberty
From the Appeal to Reason of February 29, 1908:
HAYWOOD IN FANEUIL HALL.
—–
Historic Cradle of Liberty Rocked Once
More by Working Class Movement
for Industrial Freedom.
—–BY JOHN RYAN.
Special to the Appeal.
BOSTON, MASS., Feb. 22.-Faneuil hall, the cradle of liberty, was the scene of a historic gathering Monday night [February 17th]. It was the most impressive, enthusiastic and inspiring meeting ever held there. Patrick Henry, with words of fire, demanded constitutional rights. Wendell Phillips asked for the freedom of the negro. Haywood, in a speech logical, eloquent and so heartfelt that many wept, demanded the freedom of the wage slave. The day will come when his portrait will hang in Faneuil hall by the side of those of Patrick Henry and Wendell Phillips. Those fortunate enough to get inside seemed to realize the historical significance of it and felt they were standing in the presence of one who is as much greater than those who have gone before as his message is greater than theirs.
Patrick Mahoney, of Cigar Makers No. 97, acted as chairmen. As first speaker he introduced Joseph Spero, who did so much for the great Boston demonstration held on the Common the 5th day of last May [1907], where one hundred thousand people gathered to protest against the hanging of Moyer, Haywood and Pettibone.
Comrade Mahoney introduced Miss Luella Twining as the little woman who had come from the west and done more for the liberation of Moyer, Haywood and Pettibone than any other person. She made an appeal for Steve Adams and the miners in Goldfield. The collection was $150.
In introducing Haywood, Comrade Mahoney said:
On this platform have stood many renowned men and women. Here our forefathers came to protest against the oppression of King George. They made the rafters of this hall ring for over a century. Never has so important a meeting been held here, never has so great a man stood on this platform as William D. Haywood.
When our comrade from the west stepped forward he was given an ovation. The people of Boston had been waiting to see and hear him in Faneuil hall, and they expressed their pent-up feeling in the reception they gave him.
His address was brilliant; many said the best they had ever heard in that hall. The Social Revolution is already producing its orators. He was interrupted by great applause. He made his points well and brought them out with telling effect.
He spoke forcibly for industrial unionism and the necessity for political action on the part of the unionists.
He recited the circumstances of President Roosevelt’s sending the troops to Goldfield which led to resolutions being introduced demanding that Roosevelt remove the troops immediately from Goldfield and Fairbanks, Alaska.
He recited the strikes of the miners since their organization, describing vividly their suffering under the militia that is continually called out.
He spoke an hour and a half. Everybody listened with breathless intensity to the end, and when he finished he was given the greatest reception ever accorded anyone in Faneuil hall in the memory of those present.
———-
[Photograph added.]
From the Appeal to Reason of February 8, 1908:
How Haywood Became a Socialist.
An eastern newspaper reporter asked Haywood how he became a Socialist, and elicited the following:
Some years ago I was working in the Trade Dollar mine in Idaho. My stope was 220 feet above the main level, reached by climbing a ladder straight up the shaft. One day two of the owners of the mine came in at the main level, and one said to the other:
“Jim, suppose you go up to where Haywood is working.”
“I wouldn’t climb that ladder for ten thousand dollars,” was Jim’s reply.
Yet I was climbing it every day for $3 a day. I couldn’t see where the difference came in. I couldn’t understand why there should be between him and me the difference between $10,000 and $3. He was of no finer clay than I. He was no more fond of his wife and children. Life was no sweeter to him. I was risking my life every day to make money for that man. So I was set thinking, and in time I became a Socialist.
From the Appeal to Reason of February 22, 1908:
Haywood’s Monster Meetings.
While the daily press is giving but scant notice of Haywood’s meetings, the truth is that at every point where he is billed to speak the largest audience room obtainable will not accommodate the thousands who are anxious to hear what the western miner has to say. The local papers, however, in the cities where he appears can scarcely ignore so important an event and grudgingly give a fairly decent report of the ovation tendered Haywood. The Appeal is in receipt of a letter from Comrade Luella Twining, secretary of the Haywood lecture tour, which says:
Haywood is meeting with a grand reception and making a most favorable impression. He will speak in Faneuil hall, Boston, the 18th [17th] and at Brockton on the 20th.
It is significant that Haywood is meeting with a more enthusiastic reception than Taft. Of course, the daily press do not tell you this. They minimize the one and lie outrageously about the other.
———-
SOURCE
Appeal to Reason
(Girard, Kansas)
-Feb 29, 1908
https://www.newspapers.com/image/67587206/
-Feb 8, 1908
https://www.newspapers.com/image/67587173/
-Feb 22, 1908
https://www.newspapers.com/image/67587197/
IMAGE
BBH, SF Call p17, Dec 8, 1907
https://www.newspapers.com/image/87855980/
See also:
The Christian Advocate, Volume 83
T. Carlton & J. Porter, 1908
From edition of February 20, 1908:
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=N646AQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en&pg=GBS.PA318
Thursday, February 13, [1908]…President Roosevelt ordered a company of Infantry from Fort Gibbon, Alaska, to Fairbanks, Alaska, to suppress disorder in mining strike there…
The Cripple Creek Strike
A History of Industrial Wars in Colorado, 1903-1905
-With appendix covering the Haywood-Moyer-Pettibone Case
-by Emma F Langdon
Denver, 1908
http://www.rebelgraphics.org/wfmhall/langdon00.html
(Click up to: “Saturday, 11:00 a. m. January 4, 1908…”)
http://www.rebelgraphics.org/wfmhall/langdon35.html#haywoodonlecturetour
The Cripple Creek Strike:
A History of Industrial Wars in Colorado, 1903-1905
-With appendix covering the Haywood-Moyer-Pettibone Case
by Emma F Langdon
Great Western Publishing Company, 1908
https://books.google.com/books?id=olgpAAAAYAAJ
(“Saturday, 11:00 a. m. January 4, 1908…”)
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=olgpAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&pg=GBS.PA538
From Emma F. Langdon: Coverage of events from January to April 1908-
Saturday, 11:00 a. m. January 4, 1908, the jury in the case of George A. Pettibone rendered a verdict of “Not Guilty.”
MOYER CASE DISMISSED.
The case of Charles H. Moyer was called by Judge Wood in the afternoon. James H. Hawley, representing Prosecuting Attorney Van Duyn, signified the desire of the state to have an order of dismissal entered. So the formal dismissal of Charles H. Moyer, President of the Western Federation of Miners occurred at 4:00 o’clock p. m. January 4, 1908.
“I am satisfied,” said Judge Wood, “that the course taken by the district attorney and decided upon by attorneys for the slate is the proper one to be taken. I have watched the evidence carefully, so far as the connecting and corroborating evidence under the statute was concerned in its application to this defendant, and certainly nothing has been developed in the two cases that would justify the court in submitting the case against him to a jury, unless there was considerable additional connecting testimony, and for that reason the case will be dismissed and an order entered exonerating the bail of the defendant.”
At the request of the state the case against Dr. Magee and C. W. Aller, charged with perjury by reason of testimony given by them in the Haywood case, were also dismissed.
At the conclusion of the Pettibone case the Western Federation of Miners had expended a total sum of over $300,000, in the defense of those persecuted in connection with the conspiracy.
This ended the farce of the conspirators to murder judicially, the three men kidnapped from Colorado, February 17, 1906. The Federation after all the slander came forth from the battle grander and stronger to continue the great struggle for Industrial Liberty.
Adams is the only victim left to be vindicated. He stood trial twice in Idaho and in each case the jury failed to agree but in both instances the majority stood for acquittal. The enemies of the Federation finally came to the conclusion they could not convict Adams on the charge of being implicated in any of the Idaho cases, transferred him to Telluride, Colorado, on the charge of murdering Arthur Collins years ago. Court will convene in that district in May, 1908. A change of venue in the case of Adams will be asked. In case this is granted, his case will go over to the fall term of court. In the meantime, Steve Adams occupies a prison cell.
As this work goes to press, April, 1908 [emphasis added], Charles H. Moyer, President of the Western Federation of Miners, is again at the helm—having assumed his duties as president immediately upon the acquittal of his friend George A. Pettibone. After the acquittal of Haywood and the release of President Moyer upon bond, the latter devoted his energies almost entirely to the Pettibone case—was untiring in his determination not to desist until the prison doors were thrown open and Pettibone walked forth a free man.
HAYWOOD ON LECTURE TOUR.
In January [1908] Mr. William D. Haywood started on an extended lecture tour through the Eastern states. Mr. Kirwan resigned as acting secretary-treasurer [Kirwan had replaced Haywood before the tour began.] and Mr. Earnest Mills, executive board member of Greenwood, B. C., was appointed by the executive board to fill the position of secretary-treasurer. Mr. Mills has been closely connected with the movement for years and is recognized as a man of executive genius and ability.
Mr. Haywood was greeted in all the large cities by audiences that packed every meeting place. His Boston meeting probably ranks among the most notable of his extended tour on account of the history that has been made in the hall where the workers gathered to listen to him.
Faneuil hall, the cradle of liberty, was the scene of a historic gathering Monday night, February 17. It was the most impressive, enthusiastic and inspiring meeting ever held there. Patrick Henry, with words of fire, demanded constitutional rights. Wendell Phillips asked for the freedom of the negro. Haywood, in a speech logical, eloquent and so heartfelt that many wept, demanded the freedom of the wage slave.
Patrick Mahoney, of Cigarmakers No. 97, acted as chairman. As first speaker he introduced Joseph Spero, who did so much for the great Boston demonstration held on the Common May 5, 1907, where one hundred thousand people gathered to protest against the hanging of Moyer, Haywood and Pettibone.
Mr. Mahoney introduced Miss Luella Twining as the little woman who had come from the West and done more for the liberation of Moyer, Haywood and Pettibone than any other person. She made an appeal for Steve Adams and the miners in Goldfield. The collection was $150.
In introducing Haywood Chairman Mahoney said:
On this platform have stood many renowned men and women. Here our forefathers came to protest against the oppression of King George. They made the rafters of this hall ring for over a century. Never has so important a meeting been held here, never has so great a man stood on this platform as William D. Haywood.
When Mr. Haywood stepped forward he was given an ovation. The people of Boston had been waiting to see and hear him in Faneuil hall and they expressed their pent-up feeling in the reception they gave him.
His address was brilliant; many said the best they had ever heard in that hall. The Social Revolution is already producing its orators. He was interrupted by great applause. He made his points well and brought them out with telling effect.
A meeting had been arranged and widely advertised, permit granted and an audience of 3,000 congregated to hear Haywood speak February 5. Delegations from all over New England gathered and when the doors of Faneuil hall were thrown open at 7 o’clock they poured in. Ten minutes before the hour set for opening, a messenger arrived with a notice to the committee on arrangements canceling the permit for the meeting. The crowd, when this was explained, refused to go, and the janitor sent in a call for the police. For a time it looked like serious trouble, but the police reserves were called and the crowd was literally forced out of the hall and the doors locked.
Just then Haywood arrived and started to address the people from the street corner. The police threatened to arrest him, so he advised the people to go home. The city authorities explained their conduct by stating they had had considerable trouble with the unemployed and were afraid Haywood’s speech would incite them to riot.
Mr. Haywood also addressed the convention of the United Mine Workers of America who were assembled in annual convention at Indianapolis. This visit of Mr. Haywood’s brought the organization of the U. M. W. of A. and the Federation in closer sympathy than ever before. A step was taken, by the appointment of a committee from the coal miners to visit the coming Western Federation of Miners convention to see if a joint understanding could be reached that would result in the amalgamation of the two miners’ organizations.
All organized labor would be pleased to see the two great miner’s organizations united into one body—many times in the past they have differed to a great extent as to tactics—notwithstanding this, when either were in trouble, differences of opinion were forgotten and they were united when either was being oppressed by their common foe.
The United Mine Workers contributed liberally to the defense fund—more than one donation of $5,000 being sent immediately following the kidnapping besides the amount donated by local unions of the organization. It was very fitting that Haywood should address the great convention at Indianapolis for the coal miners protested vigorously against the treatment accorded Moyer, Haywood and Pettibone and substantially backed their moral support with the necessary prerequisite—cash.
While Moyer, Haywood and Pettibone have been vindicated—tyranny still lives and Labor has yet to fight the battle for the Industrial emancipation of the toilers in the ranks and the complete overthrow of corporate tyranny—”Why don’t they vote as they march on Labor Day?”