Hellraisers Journal: From the Huntington Socialist and Labor Star: Plant Destroyed, Staff Sent to Jail under Military Despotism

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Hellraisers Journal – Saturday May 31, 1913
Huntington, West Virginia -Report on Military Raid of Socialist and Labor Star

From The Socialist and Labor Star of May 30, 1913:

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To the ‘Star’ readers who are no doubt wondering why they failed to receive the little truth teller the last few weeks we dedicate this explanation.

There was a reason!

On the morning of Friday May 9th, between the hours of 1 and 2 the printing establishment belonging to the Socialist Printing Co., and in which the mechanical work on the Star had been done for the last few months, was raided by militiamen acting under orders from Governor Hatfield. The raiding party was composed of Major Tom Davis and Lieutenants Rippitoe and Templeton who ruthlessly destroyed job work, type printing material, plates, etc.

The type “forms” of the Star had just been completed and were ready for the regular issue of the paper. Some of the type in the newspaper pages was beaten to a shapeless mass of massed metal. After the types and plates had been beaten and broken, the “forms” were hurled from the composing stones and their contents scattered over the office and street. Portions of the wrecked material were found the next morning two squares from the Star office.

Not satisfied with their destruction of the Star forms, the valiant soldiers proceeded to demolish departments in which the Socialist Printing Co. did commercial job printing. Every job in the department, including forms for several sets of By-Laws for local unions, which had not yet been printed, were smashed and printed matter ready for delivery to local merchants was destroyed.

All of the account books, letters, invoices, files, and copy in the office were confiscated and carried away.

The Socialist Printing Co. incorporated under the laws of W. Va. authorized to do business in this state, has suffered a loss conservatively estimated at $2,000.

[W. H. Thompson, editor of the Star, Elmer Rumbaugh, F. M. Sturm, R. M. Kephart and Geo. W. Gillespie were arrested and transported into the martial law zone of the State. The home of Thompson was then raided ransacked.]

We almost forget to state that these midnight proceedings were ordered because The Labor Star and its owners had dared to disagree with Gov. Hatfield in the matter of the miners strike which he has just settled so satisfactorily-to Tim Scanlon and the Huntington Chamber of Commerce…..

[Emphasis added.]

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SOURCES & IMAGES

Quote Mother Jones, WV on Trial re Military Court Martial
-Speech NYC Carnegie Hall, NYCl p, May 28, 1913, per Foner
(search: carnegie hall)
https://books.google.com/books?id=OE9hAAAAIAAJ

The Socialist and Labor Star
(Huntington, West Virginia)
“Right and Justice for All, Special Privileges to None.”
“Endorsed by Huntington Trades and Labor Assembly”
-May 30, 1913
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85059765/1912-05-31/ed-1/seq-1/
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85059765/1912-05-31/ed-1/seq-2/
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85059765/1912-05-31/ed-1/seq-3/
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85059765/1912-05-31/ed-1/seq-4/

See also:

More from Huntington Socialist and Labor Star of May 30, 1913
Note: Date on newspaper is incorrect, events described took place in 1913, not 1912.
Page 1:
-“Trades & Labor Assembly Hears Report of Committee It Sent to Washington”
Page 2:
-“Law and Order” re raid on Labor Star & home of Editor Thompson
-“Governor Hatfield”
-“[G. W.] Gillespie Tells His Experiences As Prisoner of War”
Page 3:
-“What Are Constitutions to West Virginia’s Law and Order Worshipers”
-“To Crush Socialism in West Virginia”
-“Why West Virginia is Different” by Frank J. Hayes, UMWA VP
Page 4:
-Articles from page 1 continued and concluded.
-“‘Fight ‘Er over Again’ Say Paint Creek Miners” by Sigurd Russell
-“‘Slug ‘Em and Jug ‘Em” Motto Suggested by Deb” by J. L. Engdahl
-“The Western Comrade”-articles featured for June 1913 include
“About Jack London” by Emanuel Julius