They’ve got us down-their martial lines enfold us;
They’ve thrown us out to feel the winter’s sting,
And yet, by God, those curs can never hold us,
Nor could the dogs of hell do such a thing!
-Paint Creek Miner
Paint Creek, W. Va., 1913
Hellraisers Journal, Tuesday April 17, 1917
International Socialist Review: “A New Revolutionary Song Book”
“When the Leaves Come Out” by Ralph Chaplin is now available for sale from the Review or from The Industrial Workers of the World, Chicago.
A New Revolutionary Song Book— The most popular poem ever published in the REVIEW was, beyond any question, Ralph Chaplin’s famous “When the Leaves Come Out,” written at the time when the mine guards in West Virginia had been guilty of killing and injuring scores of striking miners. Many letters came to this office asking the name of the “Paint Creek Miner.”
These friends will be delighted to learn that the I. W. W. has brought out a book of poems and new songs by Ralph Chaplin, songs and poems as rhythmical with rebellion as the pulse of that splendid organization itself.
“When the Leaves Come Out” is a beautiful book with a cover, about which the I. W. W. has a right to boast, and the sketches within, by the author, are full of strength, revolutionary symbolism and artistic charm. The sign of Black Cat is everywhere.
Next month we hope to quote one or two of our favorite poems from this book. But in the meantime send in 50 cents and get it. We understand the I. W. W. sells this new book in quantities at 35 cents a copy. Address I. W. W., 164 W. Washington street, Chicago, Ill.
The cover of FW Chaplin’s new book features the drawing, “The Miner” by Charles A. Winter, published in the June 1913 edition of The Masses:
Title page:
“When the Leaves Come Out”
“The Red Feast”
“Preparedness”
“Solidarity Forever”
I. W. W. Union Label
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SOURCE
The International Socialist Review, Volume 17
(Chicago, Illinois)
Charles H. Kerr & Company,
July 1916-June 1917
https://books.google.com/books?id=SVRIAAAAYAAJ
ISR April 1917
https://books.google.com/books/reader?id=SVRIAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&source=gbs_atb&pg=GBS.PA581
On RC’s Book
https://books.google.com/books/reader?id=SVRIAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&source=gbs_atb&pg=GBS.PA630
IMAGES
Chaplin, When Leaves, Cover-fr Masses by CA Winter, 1917
https://archive.org/stream/whenleavescomeou00chapiala#page/n2/mode/1up
Ralph Chaplin, When Leaves Come Out, Title Page, 1917
https://archive.org/stream/whenleavescomeou00chapiala#page/n6/mode/1up
Ralph Chaplin, When Leaves Come Out, Poem, 1917
https://archive.org/stream/whenleavescomeou00chapiala#page/6/mode/1up
Ralph Chaplin, When Leaves Come Out, Red Feast, 1917
https://archive.org/stream/whenleavescomeou00chapiala#page/8/mode/2up
Ralph Chaplin, When Leaves Come Out, Preparedness, 1917
https://archive.org/stream/whenleavescomeou00chapiala#page/12/mode/1up
Ralph Chaplin, When Leaves Come Out, Solidarity, 1917
https://archive.org/stream/whenleavescomeou00chapiala#page/28/mode/2up
Ralph Chaplin, When the Leaves Come Out, IWW Label, 1917
https://archive.org/stream/whenleavescomeou00chapiala#page/n67/mode/1up
See also:
From the ISR of April 1913:
“Violence in West Virginia”-Illustrated by Ralph H. Chaplin
(Sadly, some images not available.)
https://books.google.com/books/reader?id=qFNIAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&source=gbs_atb&pg=GBS.PA730
“When the Leaves Come Out” by Paint Creek Miner
https://books.google.com/books/reader?id=qFNIAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&source=gbs_atb&pg=GBS.PA736
From The Masses of June 1913:
“When the Leaves Come Out,” poem by Paint Creek Miner, published next to the beautiful drawing, “The Miner” by Charles A. Winter, which was used on the cover of Chaplin’s book.
http://dlib.nyu.edu/themasses/books/masses027/9
For more on the Paint and Cabin Creek Strike of 1912-1913
http://www.wvgenweb.org/wvcoal/wars.html
For more on Francis Estep, Labor Martyr
http://www.wvgenweb.org/wvcoal/war2.html
WE NEVER FORGET: Francis Estep-31
Coal Miners Grave – Hazel Dickens