Don’t worry, Fellow Worker,
all we’re going to need
from now on is guts.
-Frank Little
Hellraisers Journal, Wednesday March 20, 1918
Seattle, Washington – Socialists Sam Sadler and Hulet Wells Jailed
From The Seattle Star of March 19, 1918:
Friends to Fix Up Bail
Late Today
—–Sentenced to U. S. Prison,
He Plans to Make Appeal
—–BOND IS FIXED AT $5,000
—–
Hulet M. Wells, sentenced to serve two years in federal prison for conspiracy to resist the draft, spent Monday night and Tuesday morning in the county jail, while futile efforts were made to raise $5,000 bail that would free him pending his fight for liberty, that will be carried to the U. S. court of appeals.
“Bail may be arranged today,” said Assistant U. S. Attorney Moore, early Tuesday afternoon.
Dr. Sidney Strong, Business Agent Doyle of the Central Labor Council and Wells parents from Mt. Vernon were attempting to negotiate a satisfactory bond.
Wells, who is former president of the Central Labor Council and socialist candidate for mayor, was sentenced Monday afternoon.
His co-defendants, Sam Sadler, well-known socialist, and Morris and Joe Pass, received the same sentence.
Oral notice of appeal was made in open court by Judge William R. Bell, as attorney for the defense, immediately following imposition of sentence by United States District Judge Jeremiah Neterer.
Morris and Joe Pass, under a second conviction as slackers, were given an additional sentence of 12 months in the Pierce county jail. Judge Neterer provided that the second sentence be served concurrently with the first.
New bond for Wells was fixed at $5,000. Upon his assurance that he would be able to place the amount without difficulty, he was allowed to remain in the custody of Chief United States Marshal W. E. Theordore.
Can’t Get New Trial
Sadler, unable to furnish bond for the amount, and the Pass brothers, with bond for both convictions placed at $7,500, are held in the King county jail.
Sentences were imposed following the overruling of motions for a new trial and in arrest of judgment.
In asking for a new trial, Judge Bell made a technical attack upon the form of the indictment and the court’s instructions to the jury.
Replying, Special Assistant United States Attorney General Clarence L. Reames sprang a sensation by reading the charges of alleged “railroading” contained in a resolution passed by the Central Labor council.
As the last opportunity the government would have to meet that phase in court. Reames stated that he presented the matter, so that in the future no charge might be made that the trial had proceeded unfairly.
In denying the motion for a new trial, Judge Neterer stated that he felt that the defendants had had a fair trial. Sentence was pronounced immediately upon motion of the defense.
———-
Suspects Are Being Interned
—–Cleanup Raids Will Spread to
Every County if Necessary
—–TOWN IS QUARANTINED
—–SPOKANE, March 19.-With orders to continue their efforts until assured there are no more dangerous members of the I. W. W. in Northern Idaho. Idaho state guard units and regular army troops are today conducting a thoro investigation of towns said to harbor members of the order.
The cleanups at St. Maries and Benewah county will be spread to every other county if necessary, declared Adjt. Gen. Moody of the Idaho forces.
Thus far, there has been no violence. All suspects are rounded up by the troops and they are subjected to question upon which depends their release.
The town of Fernwood, reported to be full of I. W. W., was placed under quarantine, troops guarding the railway station, roads leading from town and the hotel.
Only men with passports are allowed to leave, and passports are issued only to those passing the investigators’ questions.
[Photographs of Sadler and Wells added.]
SOURCE
The Seattle Star
(Seattle, Washington)
-Mar 19, 1918
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn87093407/1918-03-19/ed-1/seq-1/
IMAGE
Sam Sadler, Hulet M Wells, ISR July 1917
https://archive.org/stream/ISR-volume18#page/n5/mode/1up
See also:
Revolution in Seattle: A Memoir
-by Harvey O’Connor
Haymarket Books, 2009
(search: wells sadler pass)
https://books.google.com/books?id=ayj5zs40WtoC
Hulet M. Wells
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hulet_M._Wells
The IWW in the Lumber Industry
-by James Rowan
Lumber Workers Industrial Union #500
Seattle, WA, 1920
https://www.iww.org/history/library/Rowan/lumberindustry
The Red Flag – The James Connolly Songs of Freedom Band