Hellraisers Journal: From the Industrial Worker: Spokane IWW Gives Impressive Farewell to Free Speech Fighter F. J. Ferry

Quote EGF, re Spk FSF, ISR p618, Jan 1910 ———-

Hellraisers Journal – Monday April 18, 1910
Spokane, Washington – Impressive Funeral Honors Free Speech Martyr F. J. Ferry

From the Industrial Worker of April 16, 1910:

Once again the Grim Reaper Death has visited the ranks of the gallant band of men who valorously defended their principles during the recent Spokane free speech fight, and has claimed as its latest victim Fellow Worker F. J. Ferry, a member of L. U. No. 222.

Fellow Worker S. O. Chinn, the first martyr to Spokane police brutality, who died four weeks ago as a result of the hardships suffered in jail, was a young man not yet in the prime of life. He was a mere youth-the prospect of life stretched before him full of possibilities; he hadn’t begun to live yet. He had just started on “Life’s fitful dream” when he was cut off. He was out of place in this capitalistic world, as is every man of principle, so he had to be sacrificed. Not for him was the boon of life enjoyed by all animated nature; he was an intruder, a revolutionist; he interfered with the smooth working of the well-laid plan of the master class to hold the workers in subjection; his presence in life was a danger to their organized system of exploitation; therefore he, the merest stripling, with every natural right to life, was ruthlessly murdered.

In the mad career of the suicidal capitalist class, not only is the seed of the future society thus wantonly, but the old and storm-twisted oaks of the working class-men who have earned every right to peaceful old age-are also destroyed on the slightest pretext when the interest of the modern juggernaut demands it. Fellow Worker Ferry was an old man 62 years of age. He was a life-long veteran of the cruelest struggle in history-the struggle for existence in a capitalist society. Ever since early boyhood he has been robbed and abused by an insatiate parasite. In common with his fellow-slaves of the working class, he was denied the luxuries and necessaries that make life worth living. He was reduced to the condition of a machine, being given only enough of the product of his labor to simply keep life in his body. After many years of killing slavery as a baker, he became worn out and was cast aside to make room for a younger victim-like an old machine he was “scrapped.”

An old and battle-scarred victim of capitalism-deprived of home and family and all the natural attributes of a worthy old age-he earned his scanty living as best he could with seemingly no other goal in store for him than that of so many workers-an apologetic exit from life-a hurried trip to Potters’ Field.

But he became imbued with the philosophy of the new society; he joined the I. W. W.; he became a rebellious slave. For this he was made a social outcast-even more so than simply as a discarded slave-he became an object of loathing and hatred to his masters-a creature to be eradicated if possible.

When the I. W. W. dared to protest against the stifling of free speech in Spokane he, scorning the rest from labor’s battles that his gray hairs entitled him to, allied forth with the younger men to speak on the streets, despite the ultimatum of the police. He said “Fellow Workers,” and for this heinous crime he was given the sentence that resulted in his death. All his past services were forgotten; he was not even treated with the consideration shown to an old horse pensioned off to pasture. Though for 25 years he has lived in Spokane and contributed all his surplus product to the upbuilding of the “Pride of the Inland Empire,” he was sentenced to death for speaking on her streets. He ran the gauntlet between two rows of kicking and striking policemen; then came the living hell of the sweat box, followed by the six days’ hunger strike and the infamous Franklin School-where for 34 days 200 revolutionists were fed on 4 ounces of bread per man daily for daring to assert their right to express their opinions in public.

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While at Franklin School, in common with his imprisoned Fellow Workers-every effort was made to break his unconquerable spirit. Failing by sheer force and brutality to make him prostitute his principles, the police offered him food and liberty if he would give up, but in vain he stuck to the last.

When at last released brought relief from the terrible bread and water diet, it was too late to save Fellow Worker Ferry. Sixty-two years of capitalism capped by the punishment meted out to a refractory slave were too much for him. His poor old, withered frame gave out and he lingered until April 5th, when he was attacked with pneumonia. His power of resistance was gone and he died April 8th.

[Note: FW Ferry’s death certificate states he died April 7th.]

How typical of capitalist civilization that a man who spent the best days of his life as a baker should die of starvation because he showed the courage of his convictions! The funeral was held from the I. W. W. Hall on Sunday afternoon [April 10th]. It was impressive in its simplicity. There were a few words of tribute paid his memory by Fellow Workers Thompson and Heselwood; the inspiring strains of “The Marsellaise’ and the “Red Flag,” the march through the streets by several hundred members; the trip to Greenwood; the last words at the grave; a few tear-stained faces; the return to Mother Earth and a few memories that will long be remembered by all who can appreciate the virtues of a real fighter.

Full many a gem of purest ray serene
The dark unfathomed caves of ocean bear;
Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,
And waste its sweetness on the desert air.

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[Photograph and emphasis added.]