-Joe Hill
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thursday November 18, 1915
Salt Lake City, Utah –
Joe Hill Remains Calm as President Requests Reconsideration of Case
Word from the Utah State Prison in Salt Lake City is that Fellow Worker Joe Hill continues calm and resolute on this, most likely, his last full day of life. Newspapers across the nation today carried the news of the request, made by President Wilson to Governor Spry, that the case be reconsidered. There is little hope that the Governor will honor this request.
Fellow Worker Hill awoke this morning and said to his deathwatch: “This is my busy day.” And indeed the day will be a busy one. He will receive a visit from Sheriff Corless who will explain the “procedures” planned for execution. Also visiting will be Hill’s lawyer, Soren X. Christensen. It is hoped that the prison authorities will allow a visit by local members of the Industrial Workers of the World, but this is, as yet, uncertain.
The four Salt Lake City daily newspapers plan to interview our Rebel Songwriter later this afternoon. The evening will be spent writing letters and telegrams of good-bye to friends and fellow workers across the nation.
From The Salt Lake Tribune of November 18, 1915:
PRESIDENT WILSON ASKS REOPENING OF HILLSTROM CASE
—–
Action Is Taken Upon Requests of
the I. W. W., American Federation of Labor and
Other Organizations and Individuals.
—–EKENGREN SAYS HE IS GRATIFIED
——
Has Not Interceded With the Chief Executive Since the
Adverse Action of the State Board of Pardons,
but He Is Still Hopeful.
—–
Special in The Tribune.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 17.-The appeal made today by President Wilson to Governor Spry in behalf of Joseph Hillstrom was in compliance with requests to intercede sent him from branches of the I. W. W., a resolution adopted by the American Federation of Labor asking clemency for Hillstrom, and requests from many individuals and organizations, some connected with labor interests and others representing anti-capital punishment and various reform societies. None of these letters or requests, it was stated at the White house, was of a threatening character…..
—–
In Message to Governor Spry It Is Urged That
“Thorough Reconsideration” Be Given;
Reply Will be Made to the Request Today.
—–MATTER UNDER CONSIDERATION
—–
No Hint of the Probable Action by the State Executive
or the Board of Pardons Has So Far
Been Given to the Public.
—–
Governor Spry yesterday received from President Wilson a telegram urging a “thorough reconsideration of the case of Joseph Hillstrom, sentenced to be shot tomorrow as a murderer.
No action on the request of the president was taken yesterday. The governor will send a reply to his message this morning. At a conference with members of the board of pardons this morning, Governor Spry will at once answer the president and decide whether or not Hillstrom dies tomorrow.
Neither Governor Spry nor those who conferred with him about the case yesterday would give a hint as to what the decision this morning would be. Neither would the governor nor his advisers make any comments upon this, the second, request of President Wilson for a respite for the condemned murderer.
Will Reply Today.
“There will be no reply to President Wilson tonight,” said Governor Spry last evening. “There is nothing else to be said about the case at this time, except that tomorrow morning I will send an answer to Washington.”
The governor was asked if there would be a meeting of the board of pardons proper this morning.
“That,” he replied, “remains to be seen. I shall advise with members of the board as individuals and it will be determined whether we shall then resolve into a special meeting of the board of pardons.”
President’s Telegram.
President Wilson’s message was received at the governor’s office shortly before noon. It was as follows:
With unaffected hesitation, but with a very earnest conviction of the importance of the case, I again venture to urge upon your excellency the justice and advisability of a thorough reconsideration of the case of Joseph Hillstrom.
(signed) WOODROW WILSON.
The governor at once took the telegram under advisement. After luncheon, the three justices of the supreme court-Judge J. E. Frick, Judge W. M. McCarty and Judge D. N. Straup-who are also members of the board of pardons, went to the governor’s office at the capitol and held a consultation with him which lasted all the afternoon.
Meets With Attorney General.
During the day also, the governor conferred with Attorney General A. R. Barnes, who is also a member of the board of pardons, and with other officials. From these conferences no announcements came except that nothing would be done until today.
The message from President Wilson was the only one from an official source received by the governor yesterday. It was reported that the Swedish government, through its minister in Washington, had supplemented the president’s telegram, but no word from the Swedish minister was received.
President Wires Gompers.
Telegraphic dispatches yesterday stated that President Wilson had wired to Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labor, now in session at San Francisco, as follows:
I have telegraphed Governor Spry of Utah urging justice and a thorough reconsideration of the case of Joseph Hillstrom.
On the preceding day the convention of the American Federation of Labor had adopted resolutions declaring that Hillstrom did not have a fair trial, asking Governor Spry to extend clemency, and appealing to the president of the United States to use his influence in the matter…..
[Photographs of Woodrow Wilson, William Spry and Joe Hill added.]
The Man Who Never Died:
The Life, Times, and Legacy of Joe Hill, American Labor Icon
-by William M. Adler
Bloomsbury Publishing USA, Aug 30, 2011
https://books.google.com/books?id=nCwHDiXYMRMC
The Salt Lake Tribune
(Salt Lake City,)
-Thursday Morning, Nov 18, 1915
http://newspaperarchive.com/us/utah/salt-lake-city/salt-lake-tribune/1915/11-18/
The Letters of Joe Hill
-by Philip S. Foner
Oak Publications, 1965
https://books.google.com/books?id=1tHfAAAAMAAJ
IMAGES
Joe Hill arrest record, Salt Lake County Jail, ab Jan 14, 1915
http://local.sltrib.com/charts/joehill/gallery/joehill.html
Woodrow Willson, 1912
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/96522632/
Joe Hill, Governor Spry, Sunset Magazine, Nov 1915
https://books.google.com/books/reader?id=IUFEAQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&source=gbs_atb&pg=GBS.PA855
Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, 1915
http://dp.la/exhibitions/exhibits/show/breadandroses/strikers/elizabeth-gurley-flynn
Joe Hill to Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, Sept 30, 1915
https://www.flickr.com/photos/tamiment/sets/72157600984845007/
Information from Archie Green via Gibbs Smith:
The Ninth Edition of the Little Red Songbook was published in Cleveland in March of 1916 and was dedicated as the “Joe Hill Memorial Edition.” Four new songs, Joe Hill’s Last Will, and Joe Hill’s Farewell Message were featured therein, including “The Rebel Girl” on page 35.
The Rebel Girl
-Words and Music by Joe Hill
There are women of many descriptions
In this queer world, as everyone knows.
Some are living in beautiful mansions,
And are wearing the finest of clothes.
There are blue blooded queens and princesses,
Who have charms made of diamonds and pearl;
But the only and thoroughbred lady
Is the Rebel Girl.
CHORUS:
That’s the Rebel Girl, that’s the Rebel Girl!
To the working class she’s a precious pearl.
She brings courage, pride and joy
To the fighting Rebel Boy.
We’ve had girls before, but we need some more
In the Industrial Workers of the World.
For it’s great to fight for freedom
With a Rebel Girl.
Yes, her hands may be hardened from labor,
And her dress may not be very fine;
But a heart in her bosom is beating
That is true to her class and her kind.
And the grafters in terror are trembling
When her spite and defiance she’ll hurl;
For the only and thoroughbred lady
Is the Rebel Girl.
Joe Hill to Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, September 30, 1915:
Joe Hill to Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, November 18, 1915 at 10 pm:
Dear Friend Gurley: I have been saying Good Bye so much now that it is becoming monotonous but I just can not help to send you a few more lines because you have been more to me than a Fellow Worker. You have been an inspiration and when I composed The Rebel Girl you was right there and helped me all the time. As you furnished the idea I will now that I am gone give you all the credit for that song, and be sure to locate a few more Rebel Girls like yourself, because they are needed and needed badly. I gave Busters picture to Hilda and she will watch so his pony doesn’t run away. With a warm handshake across the continent and a last fond Good-Bye to all I remain Yours as Ever -Joe Hill
[Buster was the nickname of Fred Flynn, son of EGF.]
Source for Lyrics:
http://www.folkarchive.de/rebgirl.html
Performance by Cathy Richardson, arranged by Bucky Halker