By the Gods, it shall not be!
The bloated, beastly Steel Trust pirates
shall not murder our innocent
comrades and fellow-workers!
-Eugene Victor Debs
Hellraisers Journal, Sunday October 22, 1916
Mesabi Range, Minnesota – Italy Takes Up Case of Carlo Tresca
From the Appeal to Reason of October 21, 1916:
Italy Takes Hand to Save Tresca
From Steel Trust
The SteelTrust wants to get rid of several striking workers (including Carlo Tresca and other leaders), because of their activities in the recent strike of the iron workers on the Mesabe Range in Minnesota. Of course, the Steel Trust has plenty of money and employs a sufficient number of thugs to have the work of “disposition” done in an efficient and effective manner. But since the Colorado incident [Ludlow Massacre], it is exceedingly unwise to do too much rough stuff at first hand, so the dirty work is left to the state. In other words, the Steel Trust is using the commonwealth of Minnesota to railroad Carlo Tresca, four strikers, one woman and two union leaders, to the gallows.
The Steel Trust decided to have these defendants charged with first-degree murder, so the legal machinery was set in motion, and the victims were thrown into cells. They will be tried in a section that is highly charged with bitterness against anyone who strives to improve the conditions of the toilers. They are the victims of a great injustice and the institutions of so-called free America are being used to aid in the conspiracy, rather than to protect the liberties of the people.
One would imagine that if this were a free country, Congress would do something to shelter these workers in chains, but, so far as is known, Republican and Democratic Congressmen hardly knew that there was a great strike in Minnesota. It remained for Italy to take a hand-Italy, with its king and its court, interfering with America, the land of the free hot air!
Italy Takes a Hand.
Arturo Caroti, a Socialist member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, aided by Deputy Lucci, interrogated Sonnino, Italy’s foreign minister. Caroti called attention to the fact that Tresca is an Italian subject and that he is being persecuted. He asked if the foreign minister would take measures to protect Tresca. Sonnino assured the Socialist interpolaters that the Italian government would see to it that Tresca was not railroaded.
Caroti has delivered many speeches and written many articles of protest. Avanti, an Italian Socialist daily newspaper, has given space to numerous contributions, in which Caroti calls upon his countrymen to come to the defense of Tresca and save him from the claws of the merciless Steel Trust.
In one article, Caroti says Tresca and his comrades are in greater danger than were Ettor and Giovanitti, who were tried in Massachusetts after the Lawrence strike and who were found not guilty. Conditions, writes Caroti, are worse in Minnesota than in other states.
Hatred Against Labor Is Intense.
The hatred against Socialism or any belief in labor’s emancipation is beyond one’s comprehension. It appears as though the jury will be thoroughly prejudiced against the defendants. Tresca, particularly, is the one who is wanted most. The Steel Trust has long been anxious to rid itself of his pestiferous presence-pestiferous to profits. Caroti called attention to the fact that in Pittsburgh, Pa., some years ago, Tresca was attacked by Steel Trust thugs. He is also responsible for the statement that Tresca suffered a severe gash near his jugular vein. He still has scars, says Caroti.
Numerous Protest Meetings.
We learn from other issues of Avanti that numerous mass meetings of protest have been held throughout Italy. Filippo Turati, floor leader of the Socialists in the Chamber of Deputies, and editor of La Critica Sociale, was the principal speaker at a huge demonstration in Milan. The meeting, which passed resolutions of protest, was opened by Caroti, who outlined the facts of the case.
Eugene V. Debs, in a stirring statement, comes to the support of the indicted men. He says that shortly after the strike was called, the sheriff organized an army of thugs and gunmen, giving them orders to crush the workers. A riot was provoked by the gunmen, with the result that two strikers were killed. Not one deputy has been indicted for this murder, though it is known who committed the deed. Later, deputy sheriffs entered a striker’s home and precipitated a fight, says Debs.
Miss Flynn Visits Girard.
What happened in this striker’s home was described for the APPEAL by Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, a labor leader, who visited Girard a few days ago. She says that when one deputy fell to the floor, another deputy fired three shots. It is presumed that these shots ended the existence of the deputy. When examined, a deputy admitted having fired the shots, claiming that he wanted to empty his weapon so that it could do no harm, were it to fall into the hands of the strikers.
Meanwhile, Tresca and the other leaders of the strike were miles away. However, they were arrested for “conspiracy.” The Steel Trust hopes to prove that Tresca (who was not near the scene of the shooting) provoked the violence. This is absurd, in face of the fact that the deputies forced their way into the striker’s home. If any one provoked violence it was the legalized minions of the Steel Trust.
—–
[Photograph added.]
From The Duluth News Tribune of October 19, 1916:
ELIZABETH GURLEY ON TRAIL OF SHEKELS
—–
GILBERT, Oct. 18.-Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, I. W. W. speaker, delivered the first of a series of speeches here this evening before a large crowd at the Socialist hall. A number of curiosity seekers were among them. Her talk was a protest against the incarceration on murder charges of Carlo Tresco, Sam Scarlett, Joe Schmidt and others, who are being held for trial in connection with the murder of James Myron, deputy sheriff, at Biwabik during the strike. Solicitation of funds to defray the expense of the defense of the alleged murderers was an important part of the meeting. Other places she will speak at on her tour are Aurora, Oct. 19; Biwabik, Oct. 20; Eveleth, Oct. 21; Bovey, Oct. 22; Keewatin, Oct. 23; Hibbing, Oct. 24; Chisholm, Oct. 25; Buhl, Oct. 26, and Virginia, Oct. 27.
—–
[Photograph added.]
SOURCES
Appeal to Reason
(Girard, Kansas)
-Oct 21, 1916
https://www.newspapers.com/image/67312384/
The Duluth News Tribune
(Duluth, Minnesota)
-Oct 19, 1916, page 5
http://www.genealogybank.com/
IMAGES
EGF, Tresca, MN Iron Miners Strike, Ev IN, Aug 17, 1916
https://www.newspapers.com/image/139947620
Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, Reno Gz-Jr, July 12, 1916
https://www.newspapers.com/image/147168974
See also:
Hellraisers Journal: Italian Government Takes Interest in
Case of Carlo Tresca, Imprisoned in Minnesota
https://weneverforget.org/hellraisers-journal-italian-government-takes-interest-in-case-of-carlo-tresca-imprisoned-in-minnesota/
Hellraisers Journal: Eugene Debs Protests Frame-Up
of Organizers & Strikers on Mesabi Range
https://weneverforget.org/hellraisers-journal-eugene-debs-protests-frame-up-of-organizers-strikers-on-mesabi-range/
“Banquet in Honor of Arturo Caroti”
From: La Parola dei Socialisti (Chicago, IL) of July 25, 1914
http://flps.newberry.org/article/5425702_1_0447
Tag: Minnesota Iron Miners Strike of 1916
https://weneverforget.org/tag/minnesota-iron-miners-strike-of-1916/