Oh, I like my boss,
He’s a good friend of mine,
That’s why I am freezing
Out in the bread line.
Hellraisers Journal, Wednesday April 8, 1908
Spokane, Washington – Jawsmiths and Good Singers Enliven Street Meetings
From The Industrial Union Bulletin of April 4, 1908:
Developments at Spokane
[by J. H. Walsh]The membership of the Mixed Local in this city have pushed the agitational work, and hung on with that tenacity that is necessary to accomplish the desired results of industrial organization. They are now located in a new headquarters, and since my arrival here three weeks ago we have taken in something like 125 new members, paid off all the back indebtedness to headquarters, and also organized a branch of the Servians of some 35 members. The boys here are charging 50 cents initiation, but at the times generally are not quite as strenuous as on the coast, and it can be collected much easier than it could be at places like Tacoma, Seattle or Portland.
There are so man hundred idle men in this country that many around the headquarters have little to do but study the question, compose poetry and word up songs for old tunes. It might be of interest to some to know about the program that has been followed out in this city for a few weeks and which has its effect. Among the I. W. W. membership there are a few good singers as well as jaw-smiths, and their genius has been expressed in the following composition and rendition at the street meetings as well as in the hall:
This may not be as scientifically revolutionary as some would like, but it certainly has its psychological effect upon the poor wage slave that inhabits the proletarian part of the city, and has the Starvation Army dope poured into his ears about five times a week. A jawsmith is not in it with this truthful sarcasm handed out by a quartet, when the new words are set to an old familiar tune, and every utterance protrays the actual truth of the living conditions of the proletarians who form the audience.
Of course we are handicapped here in not having a headquarters large enough nor in the heart of the proletarian center of the city. But this trouble is true of nearly every large city of the west. To get a headquarters in the working class center of these western cities is no easy task, and the rents are exorbitant even though one can be secured. However, the members here are making every effort to get located in the right place, and continue the push of organizing work. I hope to be able to report more developments from here in the near future.
J. H. WALSH,
National Organizer I. W. W.———-
SOURCE & IMAGE
The Industrial Union Bulletin
(Chicago, Illinois)
-Apr 4, 1908, page 2
https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/industrialworker/iub/v2n06-apr-04-1908-iub.pdf
See also:
James H. Walsh
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_H._Walsh