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Hellraisers Journal – Saturday January 18, 1919
Chicago, Illinois – National Labor Convention for Mooney Hears from Radicals
From The Butte Daily Bulletin of January 16, 1919:
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(Special Dispatch to The Bulletin.)
Chicago, Jan. 16.-At this morning’s session of the Mooney Labor Congress Ed Nolan scored the capitalist press on its criticism of the invitation of Debs and its attempt to give a sense of dissension among the delegates. Debs’ name was again greeted with tumultuous applause. It was moved that the Nonpartisan league be given the floor. The motion was defeated. Dunn of Butte moved to give the Detroit delegate the floor. The Detroit leader clearly outlined the program before the convention as follows:
No political begging, a general strike to free Tom Mooney and also to take a stand to free political prisoners and recognize Russia; reorganize the American Federation of Labor on an industrial basis.
The radicals are satisfied with the moves so far.
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(Special United Press Wire to The Bulletin.)
Chicago, Jan. 15.-Radicals late this afternoon seized control of the labor congress on the Mooney case, according to W. F. Dunn, Butte publisher, whose resolution to invite Eugene V. Debs to speak at the conference passed amidst an uproar. The cheering lasted 10 minutes when Dunn mentioned Debs’ name. “We are now in control of the congress,” declared Dunn, after the the resolution passed. Radicles are ready to stand together and force action on the vital questions before the Mooney case is taken up. Telegrams from radical labor unions from various parts of the country were read by Dunn and others. Once came from the soviet party of Russia, demanding political amnesty. Another urged immediate demobilization of American troops.
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Chicago, Jan. 16.-The National labor congress, called to consider plans for freeing Thomas J. Mooney, the San Francisco labor leader, “framed” against by one of the most notorious anarchists and capitalist snakes ever holding a district attorney’s office anywhere, completed its organization yesterday afternoon by electing the following officers: Chairman, Edward D. Nolan of San Francisco, at the head of the Workers Defense league, an organization that has for months past been handling the defense of Mooney; vice-chairman, John J. Mowerer of Allentown, Pa., president of the Pennsylvania Federation of Labor; secretary, E. B. [“Harry”] Ault of the Seattle Union Record. Leo Daly of Butte declined the nomination of chairman. Daly was sent here by the Silver Bow Trades and Labor assembly of Butte and is classed with the progressive element, as also is W. F. Dunn of the Butte Bulletin staff, the Bulletin being the leading independent daily newspaper of the northwest.
The radicals will make a fight today on “the attitude of labor toward capital during the period of reconstruction.”
The radicals also have resolutions calling for a general strike to free Mooney and all other “political prisoners” convicted since the beginning of the war , which would include Eugene V. Debs, William D. Haywood, Victor L. Berger, Adolph Germer, Emma Goldman and Rose Pastor Stokes.
Adoption of the report of the committee on rules caused the first clash of the day between the conservatives and the radicals.
The report was finally approved, the radicals controlling. During the debate one of the radicals questioned the right of Edward J. Nockels, secretary of the Chicago Federation of Labor, to sit as a delegate.
W. F. Dunn of Butte expressed the view of the radicals within the trade union ranks when he protested against the alleged steam-roller methods of the conservatives in controlling the convention, and attacked the American Federation of Labor. He said the convention was not the property of the International Workers’ Defense league, the American Federation of Labor, or the Chicago Federation of Labor, and might consider any subject it pleased. He said the radical element in the labor movement had done the hard and dangerous work in the Mooney case and were entitled to every consideration. He said the radicals insisted upon discussing international questions before adjournment.
[Said Dunn:]
The Mooney case is not all that we are here to discuss. After we dispose of that we want to outline plans to free ourselves from the chains of industrial slavery. The attitude of organized labor on international industrial questions should make every man here blush with shame.
He was loudly cheered by the convention.
Two members of the Italian labor commission, which was invited to visit the country by the American Federation of Labor and who were said to be in Chicago, were refused invitations to attend as fraternal delegates.
Speakers who opposed issuing the invitations, which were requested by the Italian commissioners themselves said that they did not represent Italian labor and were opposed by the Italian bolsheviki.
In line with action, a motion by W. F. Dunn of Butte, Mont., to invite Eugene V. Debs, the socialist leader, now under conviction of violating the espionage act, to address the convention, was carried amid loud and prolonged cheering.
Revolutionary Ideas.
Resolutions were presented for the organization of a national soldiers’ and sailors’ council to safe-guard the interest of labor during the period of reconstruction.
For a referendum vote on the terms of peace.
Abolition of all restrictions on the issuance of passports.
For a general strike to compel the immediate release of political, industrial and religious prisoners.
That the Russian, Austrian and German bolsheviki be given representation at the Paris peace council.
For a uniform workday of six hours.
For a uniform lunch period of two hours in all lines of industry.
Adoption of a modification of the I. W. W. idea for one big labor union by having one organization for each trade.
A plan to have all western labor organizations withdraw from the American Federation of Labor to organize [or reorganize?] a Western Federation of Labor.
A score of messages of greeting from labor organizations in all parts of the country pledging support in the movement to aid Mooney were read.
A. W. Hoch of Seattle, Wash., telegraphed that 75 workmen had subscribed $1 each for the organization of a soldiers’ and sailors council in that city.
Message From Butte.
A message from the workers’ council of Butte, Mont., asked the convention to declare for an organization of all workers under the Australian plan, the immediate withdrawal of allied troops from Russia, and concluded with a request that greetings be sent to the soviets of Russia.
Dunn Leader.
W. F. Dunn of Butte, Mont., called a caucus of the radical delegates which was held last night to agree upon a program for today.
Radicals will demand an accounting of the funds expended in the Mooney case in the last two years.
[Emphasis to names added.]
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SOURCES & IMAGES
Quote EVD re General Strike, Journal Paper Mill Workers p7, Mar 1919
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=-ZBOAQAAMAAJ&hl=en&pg=GBS.PA7
The Butte Daily Bulletin
(Butte, Montana)
-Jan 16, 1919
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045085/1919-01-16/ed-1/seq-1/
See also:
Hellraisers Journal – Friday January 17, 1919:
Chicago, Illinois – National Labor Convention
Convenes on Behalf of Mooney Plans Country-Wide General Strike
William F Dunne
Note: internet searches re Dunn/Dunne need to be done using “william f dunne,” however, in the Butte Daily Bulletin, we almost always find him: “W. F. Dunn.” Therefore, from this time forward, both tags will be used.
https://spartacus-educational.com/USAdunneWF.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_F._Dunne
-re Debs unable to attend National Labor Convention for Mooney:
January 11, 1919-letter from Eugene V. Debs in Terre Haute
-to Arthur E. Elmgreen [Arthur F. Almgreen] in Chicago.
January 24, 1919-reprinted in the Duluth Truth as:
“My Heart is with Mooney.”
-First published in The Chicago Socialist.
https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/parties/spusa/1919/0111-debs-toelmgreen.pdf
-re Arthur F. Almgreen of Ward 23, Chicago:
The Assembly Bulletin: Official Publication of the Legislative
Voters League of the State of Illinois
Kable Brothers Company
https://books.google.com/books?id=P3o0AQAAMAAJ
Oct 1918-Nominations for 51st Gen Assembly
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=P3o0AQAAMAAJ&hl=en&pg=GBS.PA70
Cook Co D31, Parts of Ward 23
-Arthur F Almgreen, Socialist, for House
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=P3o0AQAAMAAJ&hl=en&pg=GBS.PA78
-re invitation to Debs & Debs unable to attend:
The Journal
Official Organ of the International Brotherhood of Pulp, Sulphite,
and Paper Mill Workers or the United States and Canada
(Fort Edward, New York)
-March 1919 to December 1919
Published by the Brotherhood
https://books.google.com/books?id=-ZBOAQAAMAAJ
-Edition of March 1919
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=-ZBOAQAAMAAJ&hl=en&pg=GBS.PA1
“The Mooney Labor Congress.
By H. W. Sullivan, 1st Vice-President”
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=-ZBOAQAAMAAJ&hl=en&pg=GBS.PA6
Letter from Ault to Debs inviting him to attend.
& Letter from Debs to Ault stating that he cannot attend due to being
“in the custody of federal court officials and not permitted to go to Chicago.”
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=-ZBOAQAAMAAJ&hl=en&pg=GBS.PA7
-re Conviction of Debs
Tag: USA v Debs 1918
https://weneverforget.org/tag/usa-v-debs-1918/
-re Conviction of Haywood
Tag: IWW Federal Trial Chicago 1918
https://weneverforget.org/tag/iww-federal-trial-chicago-1918/
-re Convictions of Berger and Germer:
http://debs.indstate.edu/s688o5_1919.pdf
-re Conviction of Emma Goldman
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/goldman/pdfs/PublishedEssaysandPamphlets_TheTrialandConvictionofEmmaGoldmanandAlexanderBerkman.pdf
-re Conviction of Rose Pastor Stokes
(scroll down to “Anti-War Activism”)
https://www.tikkun.org/newsite/rose-pastor-a-progressive-era-hero-of-the-99-percent
Edwards Nockels
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Nockels
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Workers of the World Awaken – Ariana Eakle
Lyrics by Joe Hill
“Is the height of your ambition to good and willing slaves?”