Hellraisers Journal – Sunday January 26, 1919
Leavenworth Prison – Stanley J. Clark Confirms Brutal Treatment
From The New Appeal of January 25, 1919:
I.W.W.’s Beaten Up, Says Stanley Clark
International Socialist Review February 1918
Confirmation of the story of brutalities inflicted upon political prisoners in the federal prison at Leavenworth, Kans., published in a recent issue of The New Appeal, has reached us in the form of a letter from Mrs. Dorothy Clark, wife of the well-known Socialist lecturer, Stanley J. Clark. Clark was convicted of having violated the Espionage Act and is a fellow prisoner of the I. W. W.’s and other radicals at Leavenworth.
Mrs. Clark, hearing of the occurrences at the federal prison and anxious to learn whether her husband had been injured, came to Kansas City, Mo., which is within an hour’s car ride of the prison doors. While learning that Clark had escaped maltreatment she also learned that The New Appeal’s report of the manhandling of other prisoners was not exaggerated. In a letter to The New Appeal Mrs. Clark says:
I came here because I had heard of the inhuman treatment that men were receiving in this prison at Leavenworth and I knew that I should go insane unless I could see Stanley and know just what had happened. I was relieved of course to find that nothing had happened to him personally, but I found him terribly stirred up and in a perfect frenzy of indignation over the treatment that the other prisoners had received.
It seems that they have a new warden, who at once began to lengthen the hours of work and to cut down food rations. Some of the poor boys, not realizing that they were buried in there and by the world forgotten and absolutely at the mercy of their captors, attempted to strike to enforce the old and regular system of hours of work.
There were twenty-nine of them in the “pit.” Clark told me that the warden put face masks and protectors on big negroes and armed them with whips and ball bats and told them to clean up on those boys. —– —– (name omitted for obvious reason) told me that three were not expected to live, eight were in the hospital and the others were hung by their wrists for twenty-four hours, and then with nothing done for their swollen and dislocated wrists they were taken down and put in solitary confinement and given bread and water.
A trusty in the prison told me that three days after the affair he went in the “pit” to clean up and there were scraps of clothing and hair and blood and even chunks of human flesh about on the walls and floors of that place.
Stanley said that he thought they were intending to make a sweep of the Industrial Workers, for that story that the papers carried of two revolvers found in Haywood’s locker was a frame-up pure and simple. But he said that the news of this outrage reached the public, a thing they did not count on, and when Secretary Baker threatened an investigation he thought they gave up the idea for a time at least.
The New Appeal, as it has stated previously, does not believe that the whole truth about the Leavenworth affairs is known in Washington. It cannot conceive of the authorities higher up countenancing such proceedings or even ignoring them when brought directly to their attention. In its desire that the affair be investigated and justice be done to the political prisoners at Leavenworth The New Appeal has sent the following letter to Attorney General Gregory, who still holds his position though his resignation has been announced:
Girard, Kans.,
January 18, 1919.
Hon. T. W. Gregory,
Attorney General,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
We are enclosing for your perusal a clipping from The New Appeal of January 11 containing an account of brutalities inflicted upon political prisoners in the federal prison at Leavenworth, Kans. The complete documents upon which the story was based are in our files and will be produced if you request it. We request that you read this story and we would point out that an early investigation of the charges made therein is obviously desirable.
Our readers are righteously aroused by this outrageous affair. They wish to know what action the higher officials in Washington intend to take. The New Appeal believes that those responsible for this disgrace to our democracy should be summarily removed from the places of authority they have so viciously abused. Leavenworth prison should be given another thorough renovation.
We beg to further point out that a brutal prison official is a distinct public menace. He serves to create a spirit of bitterness and a leaning toward violence in his victims that must inevitably react in some manner upon society. He sends out into the world men whose blunted and bludgeoned natures and whose deep and burning sense of wrong are apt to find outlet in ill-considered and indiscriminate acts of vengeance.
The persecution of the political prisoners at Leavenworth is dangerously likely to have a more far-reaching effect. These men have sympathizers throughout the country who personally and passionately resent an injury done to their comrades. Their rebellious inclinations are strengthened by such examples of what they will denounce as deliberate political persecution.
If the Industrial Workers of the World as an organization is a menace to American institutions this is certainly not the proper way to combat it. So long as there are conditions which provoke unrest and which are based upon palpable injustice the spirit of revolt will manifest itself in various forms.
Leavenworth is an argument which the I. W. W.’s, comrades of the victimized prisoners, will not neglect to use to the greatest possible advantage. They have a striking case of injustice that unless promptly and adequately dealt with by the government is likely to furnish some unfortunate Bolshevik propaganda.
Respectfully yours,
THE NEW APPEAL.
It is to be hoped that some definite action will result from this publicity which the Leavenworth officials doubtless did not expect. At any rate the matter has been carried to the attention of Washington and we shall see what happens. The New Appeal will inform its readers of any further developments.
Stanley J. Clark, and attorney from Jacksonville, Texas, was convicted at the mass IWW trial in Chicago and sentenced to to ten years in prison. He served in Leavenworth Penitentiary until July 21, 1922 when his sentence was commuted. He had two children. After prison, Clark left the IWW to join the U.S. Communist Party.
Per search for “Stanley J Clark” as Socialist/IWW in Texas and Kansas press:
First appearance: Galveston Daily News of Aug 8, 1904
-Listed among speakers at Texas Socialist Encampment, crowd estimated at 4,000 to 6,000, first annual encampment, state convention is final event of encampment, candidates nominated. https://www.newspapers.com/image/30173630/
Found thereafter in Texas and Kansas press as Soicalist speaker (found nothing to indicate that he was a member of the IWW), esp Appeal to Reason.
(search: 1900-1923, Texas, Kansas, “stanley j clark”) https://www.newspapers.com
From Houston Post of Thurs Aug 23, 1917:
-Arrested “Tuesday night” by U.S. Deputy Marshal for speech made “Monday night.” Charged with inciting rebellion. https://www.newspapers.com/image/94926923/
From The Marshall (TX) Messenger of Oct 19, 1917:
-taken by US Marshal “yesterday” and bound for Chicago, under indictment by Chicago federal grand jury on charges of disloyalty. https://www.newspapers.com/image/319935901/
From the Leavenworth Post of Apr 25, 1921:
-After appeal fails, Stanley J. Clark is “first wobblie back to federal prison” having “made the trip unaccompanied.” https://www.newspapers.com/image/112168851/
From the Wichita Daily Times (Wichita Falls TX) of Mar 28, 1922:
-Mrs. Stanley J. Clark to accompany children of “Children’s Crusade” to WDC, organized by Kate Richards O’Hare to plead with President Harding for release of fathers. https://www.newspapers.com/image/23512085/
From the Corsicana (TX) Daily Sun of Thur Apr 1922:
-Vanguard of “Women’s and Children’s Army in Saint Louis,” vanguard includes Mrs. Stanley J. Clark, will leave for WDC on “Monday.” https://www.newspapers.com/image/55996569/
From The Morning Tulsa Daily World of Apr 30, 1922:
-WDC, Apr 29-President Harding’s refusal to Receive Children’s Crusade “Draws Press Fire.” Mrs. Stanley J. Clark is one of those turned away. https://www.newspapers.com/image/82697183/
From The Los Angeles Times of May 6, 1922:
-WDC May 5.-Kate Richards O’Hare and Mrs. Stanley J. Clark gain audience with President Harding’s Secretary, George B. Christian, Jr, informed that release of prisoners depends on recommendations of Atty. Gen. Daugherty. https://www.newspapers.com/image/380274075/
CHILD CRUSADERS SOON TO LEAVE WASHINGTON
—–
Release of Federal Prisoners Means Their
Visit Here Has Been Successful.
The child crusaders who came to Washington several months ago to urge the President to bring about the release of fathers and brothers serving sentences in the federal penitentiary for violation of war-time laws, are understood to be contemplating closing their campaign in this city. It is explained that they feel that their purpose has practically been accomplished and their presence here is no longer necessary, already a number having returned to their homes.
The release of all but one of those in whose interests they came to Washington has been obtained. He is John Pancner of Detroit, whose papers are now at the White House to be reviewed by President Harding. Staley J. Clark who recently was released, is said to be editing a paper in this city, the Voice of Liberty. He is being assisted in this work by his wife, who was one of the leaders in the crusade movement.
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Mourn Not the Dead by Ralph Chaplin
Mourn not the dead that in the cool earth lie
-Dust unto dust
The calm, sweet earth that mothers all who die
-As all men must;
Mourn not your captive comrades who must dwell
-Too strong to strive
Within each steel-bound coffin of a cell,
-Buried alive;
But rather mourn the apathetic throng
-The cowed and the meek
Who see the world’s great anguish and its wrong
-And dare not speak!
—–