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Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday November 18, 1919
Pennsylvania Cossacks, Steel Strikers, and Civil Liberty
From The Nation of November 15, 1919:
Civil Liberty in the Steel Strike
By MARY HEATON VORSE
THE steel strike has been marked by the orderliness of the strikers on the one hand, and on the other by the sweeping denial of their civil rights, and by the brutality of that extraordinary body of men, the State Constabulary of Pennsylvania. When one states that in Homestead, for example, there was a reign of terror, that men were beaten for no cause and chased down the street into strange houses; that men and women were arrested and fined for no cause and their fines remitted under promise that they would go back to work; and that posters fomenting race hatred are even now in current circulation in the steel mills, the statements sound fantastic. Let the documents, however, speak for themselves. One may choose almost at random from a wealth of material. The cases cited are not isolated; town after town had its own story of terrorism to tell.
In spite of Judge Gary’s statement to the contrary, men were persecuted and dismissed for union activities.
Not only were such methods used to discourage the men from organizing, but the rights of free speech and free assembly were denied them. No meetings were allowed in Farrell, Monessen, and Donora. In McKeesport people were arrested while attending a meeting and fined excessively. Rabbi Wise was refused a permit to hold a meeting in Duquesne, the burgess of this town remarking with naive truth: “Jesus Christ couldn’t hold a meeting in Duquesne.” Since September 22 [the date the Steel Strike began] no meetings have been allowed in Pittsburgh except at the Labor Temple. The strike in that city is unpopular with the authorities. Because the sheriff does not like Mr. Foster, he arbitrarily takes away the workers’ civil liberties, though at no time has there been even a suggestion of disorder in Pittsburgh.
Before the strike was actually in progress, the State Constabulary was called in and an extra police force of 5,000 was deputized in Allegheny County alone. Among these deputies were Negro strike breakers—in the towns of Donora and Monessen—and this during a time when an epidemic of race riots had swept the country.
Meantime, posters like the following, which were circulated by the Foremens’ Association, National Tube Company, Elwood Works, appeared in the mills:
WAKE UP AMERICANS!
ITALIAN LABORERS, organized under the American Federation of Labor, are going to strike Monday and are threatening workingmen who want to continue working.
These foreigners have been told by labor agitators that, if they would join the union, they would get Americans’ jobs.
They are being encouraged by ITALIAN MERCHANTS who are in sympathy with them.
ARE YOU GOING TO SLEEP AND LET MOB RULE
THREATEN THE PEACE OF OUR TOWN?In the town of Clairton the American Federation of Labor was unable to obtain a permit to hire a hall for a meeting. Finally, however, a vacant lot was hired from a mill worker and a permit was given for a meeting. When the gathering was held, the State Constabulary rode down the crowd of men, women, and children, who started to disperse without disorder. Then a trooper pulled down the American flag which had been put up, and it was trampled under his horse’s hoofs. Let the affidavits presented to the Senate Committee tell the rest of the story:
The State troopers rushed on the lot and the people started to run away, but when said State troopers rushed to the platform and tore down our flag, then the men became incensed and some ex-soldiers seeing our flag being insulted and defiled rushed at said troopers in defense of our flag and started the excitement and almost caused a riot and loyal citizens were greatly incensed. That there was no provocation for said interference and riding over women and children.
The following affidavits are from ex-service men:
The State police knocked the flag down. I told him to watch the flag. “Don’t knock it down,” and he said, “The hell with the flag!”
The State police rode up to the stand and knocked down American flag and the horse tramp all over it and I called the corporal over and asked him what he meant tearing down the flag I fought for in France for fourteen months and he said, “Don’t talk to me, I did not tear the flag down,” which he did.
This assault on the flag has the appearance of a deliberate attempt to incite to riot.
The following affidavits are typical of scores of others not only in Homestead, but in Butler, Braddock, Monessen, and other steel towns:
Before me, the undersigned authority, personally appeared Nick Hotonski, who being first duly sworn according to law, deposes and says that he lives at 327 Third Avenue, Homestead, Pa., that on Sunday, September 28, 1919, at 8.30 p. m. the deponent was returning from a union meeting in Sokol Hall when he was, without cause or reason, arrested by two borough policemen, who took him to the Homestead police station; deponent was confined at said station under lock and key for two days and two nights; the deponent being released at 9 p. m. on Tuesday, September 30, 1919; no evidence of any character was produced at any time against the said deponent that could or might show that he had violated any law or ordinance of the Borough of Homestead.
(Signed) NICK HOTONSKI.
Before me, the undersigned authority, personally appeared Paul Kurimski, who being duly sworn according to law, deposes and says that he lives at 531 Third Avenue, Homestead, Pa., that on Monday, September 22, 1919, at about 2 p. m., deponent, together with one John Pochuto (Pochuto went to Virginia October 1, 1919) was going from Ann Street to Sokol Hall to a union meeting, there being held at the time.
That when deponent and Pochuto got to the corner of Fifth Avenue and Ann Street they witnessed at this point about eleven State policemen mounted on horseback; the said policemen being only about three houses distant from Sokol Hall where the said union meeting was taking place; that deponent witnessed one of the horses slip and fall; that he stopped for a moment to look and then immediately continued walking, whereupon several of the State police, without warning and without cause and without justification, charged the deponent and his friend Pochuto, the said State police driving their horses up on a sidewalk and against the bodies of deponent and Pochuto, whereupon the deponent in terror sought refuge by running into a nearby house, running to the third floor of said house, whereupon three State police chased the deponent up into the very house in which deponent sought refuge, up to the third floor where deponent there was, and said State police did there and then strike, abuse and injure the said deponent, striking the deponent violently upon his head causing injuries thereon.
Deponent was bathed in his own blood as a result of the vicious, brutal and unjustified attack made by the three State policemen upon him, the deponent.
Deponent was then dragged off to the Homestead police station through the streets of the Borough of Homestead, still bleeding profusely, and deponent was lodged in the Homestead police station. Deponent was first taken to the Munhall police station and was there confined from about 2 p. m. to 6 p. m. and was then removed to the Homestead police station and was there confined until 8 p. m., at which time deponent, together with Pochuto, who was also arrested, was given a hearing before Burgess McGuire and was fined $14.65 each.
Deponent on account of the severe injuries which he had sustained, and on account of the bruises and loss of blood sustained by him by the said attack by the said State police, while confined in the Homestead police station, asked for the privilege of medical assistance which was denied him. Deponent was not able to treat his injuries until after his release when he was able to get home.
Deponent does not know nor understand why or for what reason he was beaten, abused, bloodied, arrested, and fined, nor is he able to ascertain why he has been forced to suffer all the injuries and indignities above complained of. Deponent avers and says that at all times he has been peaceable, quiet, and orderly, and especially so upon the day and date of the grievances above complained of.
(Signed) PAUL KUBIMSKI.
Of special interest is the case of John Bodnar and Mary Dudash. The statements of Bodnar and Dudash follow:
Before me, the undersigned authority, personally appeared John Bodnar, who being duly sworn according to law, deposes and says that he lives at 542 Goldway, Homestead, Pa., that on Tuesday, September 23, 1919, at about 2 p. m. he went to visit his cousin and after leaving the house of his cousin was accosted on the street by a member of the State police who commanded him, the deponent, to enter a certain house, indicating a house, which house and residence was not known to the deponent; that deponent informed said State policeman that he, deponent, did not live in the house indicated by the State police man, nevertheless, the said State policeman said it makes no difference whether you live in there or not, you go in there anyhow, thereupon in fear of violence, deponent did enter the said house, which house was two doors away from the house of the cousin of deponent; that after a time deponent came out of the house into which he had been ordered.
Whereupon the said State policeman returned and again commanded deponent to re-enter the house aforesaid, and upon again being informed by deponent that he, the deponent, did not live in said house, the said State policeman forthwith arrested the deponent and brought him to the Homestead police station, and at a hearing at said station before the Burgess, was fined the sum of $9.65, which amount was paid by deponent. Deponent was charged with disorderly conduct, but deponent denies that he was in any way disorderly; that on the contrary avers and says that he was on the day in question, and at all other times, he, the deponent, was a peaceful and orderly person, and that deponent does not understand why he was chased into the strange house, nor why he was arrested, nor why he was fined.
(Signed) JOHN BODNAR.
Before me, the undersigned authority, personally appeared Steve Dudash, who being duly sworn according to law, deposes and says that he resides at 541 East Fifth Avenue, Homestead, Pa.; that on Tuesday, September 23, 1919, in the afternoon of said day, his wife, Mary Dudash, was severely scalded, burned, and injured by reason of a sudden fright sustained when a State policeman forced John Bodnar into the home of the deponent and his wife, Mary Dudash, that said Mary Dudash, the wife of the deponent, was in a very delicate condition at the time of the fright and injury complained of, caused by the State police and that on Sunday, September 28, 1919, following the date in question, namely the 23d, the said Mary Dudash, wife of deponent, gave birth to a child; that on account of the action of the State police in forcing John Bodnar with terror into the home of deponent and his wife, Mary Dudash, that said Mary Dudash, the wife of the deponent, has been rendered very sick and has suffered a nervous collapse and is still suffering from the nervous shock sustained, on account of the action of the State police above referred to.
(Signed) STEVE DUDASH,
(His X Mark).One of the most inexplicable cases, whose only reason seems to have been the desire to incite to riot, occurred in Braddock. This case was testified to before the Senate Committee, and it is covered by affidavits; but is presented perhaps most vividly in this letter of Father Kazencz [Father Adalbert Kazincy]:
Braddock, Pa., 1919, September 27
W. Z. Foster,
Pittsburgh, Pa.
DEAR SIR:The pyramidal impudence of the State constabulary in denying charges of brutal assault perpetrated by them upon the peaceful citizens of the Borough of Braddock prompted me to send a telegram to the Governor of Pennsylvania in which I have voluntarily offered to bring forth two specific cases of bestial transgression of their “calling.”
On Monday last, at 10 a. m., my congregation leaving church was suddenly, without any cause whatever, attacked on the very steps of the Temple of God, by the Constables, and dispersed by these iron-hoofed Huns. Whilst dispersing, indignation and a flood of frenzy swayed them, frenzy augmented by that invisible magnetic force, the murmuring raging force of 3,000 strong men. One could feel that helpless feeling of being lifted up by some invisible force, thrown into the flux of raging, elemental passion of resentment, against the Cossacks of this State.
Nevertheless, it was the most magnificent display of self control manifested by the attacked, ever shown anywhere.
They moved on, with heads lowered and jaws firmly set, to submit. Oh, it was great; it was magnificent. They, these husky, muscle-bound Titans of raw force walked home only think, thinking hard….Oh, only for one wink from someone, would there be a puddle of red horse-blood mixed with the human kind.
But, no. We want to win the strike. We want to win the confidence of the public.
Tuesday afternoon the little babies of No. 1 were going to the school. They loitered for the school bell to summon. And here come Cossacks. They see the little innocents standing on the steps of the school house; their parents on the opposite side of the street. What splendid occasion to start the “Hunkeys’” ire, let us charge their babies. That will fetch them to an attack upon us.
They did. But the “Hunkey” even at the supreme test of his coolheadedness, refused to flash his knife to save his babies from the onrush of the cruel horses’ hoofs.
I am relating to you, Mr. Foster, things as they happened. You may use my name in connection with your charges, against the Constabulary.
Sincerely yours,
(Signed) Rev. A. KAZENCZThere had been previously no trouble in Braddock, nor had the Constabulary been asked for by the city authorities. I quote from the Minutes of the Braddock Borough Council of October 6:
Mr. Verosky (Member of Council): Mr. Chairman, the citizens of the borough wish to know by whose authority the State Constabulary were called into Braddock to take up their quarters here and to practically relieve the police of their duties, by patrolling the streets on foot, mounted, and always under arms.
Mr. Holtzman (President of Council): Surely, I do not know who called them into town, but were I the burgess, I would make it my business to find out, in view of the fact that the Constabulary is neither wanted, nor needed here.
Mr. Verosky: Well, in that case, the burgess may throw some light on the subject.
Mr. Callahan (Burgess): The question comes to me as a surprise, and I am sure that I do not know by whose authority the Constabulary was called in.
Each day sees the suppression of free speech go relentlessly on. This is a case that should have been tried at the bar of public opinion, but the public has remained indifferent. Apparently the rights and liberties of citizens do not apply to the steel strikers.
[Photograph, emphasis and paragraph breaks added.]
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SOURCES
Quote MHV Immigrants Fight for Freedom, Quarry Jr p2, Nov 1, 1919
https://www.newspapers.com/image/405049859
The Nation, Volume 109
(New York, New York)
-July 1-Dec 31, 1919
https://books.google.com/books?id=bvE4AQAAMAAJ
–The Nation of Nov 15, 1919
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=bvE4AQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&pg=GBS.RA1-PA607
Page 633-“Civil Liberty in the Steel Strike”
-by Mary Heaton Vorse
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=bvE4AQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&pg=GBS.RA1-PA613
IMAGE
GSS, PA Cossacks in Clairton, Lt Dg p10, Oct 4, 1919
https://archive.org/details/literarydigest63newy/page/n25
See also:
“PA State Federation of Labor Asks If Constitution Is Only For Capitalists”
-by Mary Heaton Vorse
Tag: Mary Heaton Vorse
https://weneverforget.org/tag/mary-heaton-vorse/
Literary Digest Volume 59
-Oct-Dec 1919
(New York, New York)
https://archive.org/details/literarydigest59newy/page/n6
Literary Digest of Oct 4, 1919
-Page 9: “The Steel Strike”
https://archive.org/details/literarydigest63newy/page/n23
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Which Side Are You On? – Natalie Merchant