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Hellraisers Journal – Sunday December 12, 1909
Spokane, Washington – Fellow Workers to Speak Until All Are Arrested
From the Socialist Montana News of December 2, 1909:
[Part II of II.]
Justice Orders Ordinance Made to Order.
Justice Mann who is holding up the judicial end of the government persecution detected the flaw in the first ordinance, as class legislation, and dismissed the prisoners under it. Another ordinance was then framed on the judge’s advice, designating any speaking on the street where a crowd gathers as disorderly. Thus the judge makes the laws, and decides on it, and passes sentence on it.
The second day 133 were arrested and 33 sentenced to 30-day terms in jail.
Attorney Moore for the I. W. W. gave notice of appeal to the superior court.
Foote, the editor of the Industrial paper published at Portland, was arrested as soon as he reached town.
A bulletin posted at headquarters of the Industrial Workers of the World was as follows:
Fellow workers, tomorrow this fight will be carried on with greater determination than ever. We have only begun to fight; 200 men will go to jail tomorrow.
Immediately below was posted another, which read:
Every man who is appointed captain to select five or more men and proceed to hold meetings.
Every captain and squad go to the places designated and speak until all are arrested.
Remember, the authorities claim to have broken the backbone of the organization. Show them that they are just as ignorant as bulls usually are…..
The socialist of Spokane have actively taken up the I. W. W. fight.
Holding Out Well.
The Free Speech fight being waged at Spokane has assumed proportions that are startling the authorities.
Over 300 human beings jailed for offensive talking on the street which every street fakir, religious freak and politicians of all shades and degrees have done for years.
Free Speech was to be the heritage of the American Commonwealth.
The I. W. W. people are holding out well. They refuse to work like criminals, which they are not. They are political prisoners.
The socialists all over the country have taken up the fight. This is well. It may not solve the problem of oppression, but it shows by physical demonstration how little real liberty the people have, and no part or parcel in the laws of our boasted democracy.
Bestial Lust of Officials.
The greatest sensation in connection with the fight has been the brutal insults offered to the women arrested by the police. The Seattle Socialist published a written letter by Agnes Thekla [Thecla] Fair to a friend telling of these horrible insults to the I. W. W. women and also exposing similar conditions during the Seattle street fight.
The entire edition was confiscated by the police. America is no better than Russia when officialdom is attacked.
Elizabeth Gurley Flynn is directing the fight and raising funds to maintain it.
Funds for support should be sent to Fred Heslewood, National Organizer I. W. W.. Coeur d’Alene City. Ida.
[Emphasis added.]
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SOURCES & IMAGES
Quote EGF, Compliment IWW, IW p1, Nov 17, 1909
https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/industrialworker/iw/v1n35-nov-17-1909-IW.pdf
Montana News
(Helena, Montana)
-Dec 2, 1909
https://www.newspapers.com/image/72192234
See also:
Tag: Spokane Free Speech Fight of 1909-1910
https://weneverforget.org/tag/spokane-free-speech-fight-of-1909-1910/
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