Hellraisers Journal: From the Industrial Worker: Latest from Fresno Free Speech Fight, City Hates to Holler “Quit”

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Hellraisers Journal – Friday February 24, 1911
Fresno, California – Latest News from the Free Speech Fight

From the Spokane Industrial Worker of February 23, 1911:

THE LATEST FROM FRESNO.
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City Would Like to Holler “Enough”
-More Men Are Needed to
Board With the County.
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The fight for Free Speech is still going on in Fresno. The men are all “stickers” and are determined to stick until they win. We have held two street meetings, Sunday, February 5 and 12. We had large crowds at both meetings, and the public sentiment is changing in our favor.

The city officials would like to quit, but they hate to lay down under fire. The city has enough, but hates to holler “quit.” Now that the fight has lasted as long as it has, they will never want to tackle the I. W. W. again. It is now up to the members to get to Fresno in strong enough numbers to FORCE the officials to “lay down.”

This has been a clean fight on our side and has been carried on by “Direct Action.” We want no compromise. Nothing but the unconditional surrender on the part of the city, and the release of all prisoners will go with us. I think after this fight is over we will have no more Free Speech fights for awhile. The officials of other cities will think twice before they tackle us.

I have been out of jail since February 1, when I was acquitted by a jury of farmers in four minutes on a charge of vagrancy. I have done some outside work since my release. Some of the boys will have jury trials on Friday. I will plead their cases, then speak on the streets and go to jail. Am getting homesick for my beans and raisins. Can’t stay out much longer. Wake up, boys. Come to Fresno and help whip the BOSS as he should be whipped. Meet us in the Fresno jail.

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[Newsclip and emphasis added.]

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SOURCE

Quote Frank Little, Fresno Jails Dungeons, FMR p6, Sept 2, 1910
https://www.newspapers.com/image/606951967/

Industrial Worker
(Spokane, Washington)
-Feb 23, 1911, page 1
-also see pages 2 and 4 for more re Fresno FSF
https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/industrialworker/iw/v2n49-w101-feb-23-1911-IW.pdf

IMAGE
Fresno FSF, Frank Little Acquitted, FMR p5, Feb 2, 1911
https://www.newspapers.com/image/606949026

See also:

Feb 2, 1911, Fresno Morning Republican-IWW Free Speech Fighter Frank Little Acquitted of Vagrancy
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71946838/feb-2-1911-fresno-morning/

Note: Frank Little was arrest again at Fresno street meeting on night of Feb 15, making 5th time in local jail during past year, see:
Feb 16, 1911, Fresno Morning Republican-Frank H Little Arrested for Speaking at Street Meeting
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71949613/feb-16-1911-fresno-morning/

Tag: Frank Little
https://weneverforget.org/tag/frank-little/

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The Popular Wobbly – The Grand Industrial Band
Lyrics by T-Bone Slim