You ought to be out raising hell.
This is the fighting age.
Put on your fighting clothes.
-Mother Jones
Hellraisers Journal, Tuesday March 6, 1917
Seattle, Washington – Tracy Proudly Displays His I. W. W. Button
As the trial of our Class-War Hero, Tom Tracy, gets underway in Seattle, a reporter for The Seattle Star describes the Fellow Worker:
Tracy, the defendant,…is a young-looking, heavy-set man, in a blue flannel shirt and red tie, with his I. W. W. button in evidence on his coat lapel.
He told reporters before the trial began that he is 36 years old, was born in Nebraska, and has done road construction work principally, in several Western states. He watched the slow progress of drawing and examining jurors with evident interest, but with an air of detachment.
From The Seattle Star of March 5, 1917:
I.W.W. TRIAL OPENS WITH
FIGHT ON JURY
—–BY MABEL ABBOTT
The first of 74 I. W. W. murder trials resulting from the riots in Everett, November 5, 1916, got under way before Judge Ronald Monday.
After an hour and a half of examination as to whether he is an I. W. W., whether he is a member of the Employers’ association, what newspapers he reads, and whether he forms his opinions upon what they contain, J. H. Hicks, 5225 15th ave, N. E., proprietor of Hicks’ cafeteria, was challenged for cause Monday morning by Attorney George Vanderveer, representing Thomas H. Tracy, I. W. W.. on trial for participation in the shooting of Deputy Sheriff Jefferson Beard, at Everett, November 5, and excused by Judge Ronald from sitting in the case.
If examination of jurors proceeds at the same rate, with even a reasonable number of challenges, the selection of the jury will take two or three days, at least.
Tracy is the first of the 74 I. W. W. charged with first degree murder, to be tried. All have asked for separate trials.
Important Fight
The setting of the big fight indicates that it will rank in importance with the McNamara dynamiting trial in Los Angeles and the Ettor and Giovanitti trials in Lawrence, Mass.
Among the array of lawyers in the court room when the trial opened, were A. L. Veitch, of Los Angeles, who is credited with the convictions of the McNamaras, who assists the prosecution in the present case, and Fred H. Moore, also of Los Angeles, who defended Ettor.
The state is also represented by Prosecutor Black, of Snohomish county, and H. D. Cooley, of Everett. For the defense, besides Moore, are George H. Vanderveer. O. N Hilton, of Denver, and C. E. S. Wood, of Portland.
Tracy Wears I. W. W Button
Tracy, the defendant, who sits behind this legal battery, is a young-looking, heavy-set man, in a blue flannel shirt and red tie, with his I. W. W. button in evidence on his coat lapel.
He told reporters before the trial began that he is 36 years old, was born in Nebraska, and has done road construction work principally, in several Western states. He watched the slow progress of drawing and examining jurors with evident interest, but with an air of detachment.
Hicks’ newspaper reading made the subject of special inquiry by attorneys for both sides.
“Have you ever read a paper called the Industrial Worker?” Cooley asked.
Hicks said he had, once. He found it on a counter in his restaurant. He said it didn’t have any particular effect on his ideas as to labor and capital.
“Have you read the Northwest Worker? The Socialist World? The Seattle Record? The Pacific Coast Longshoreman?” be was further asked. He denied having read any of them.
“Have you ever discussed this matter with Mayor Gill?” was an other question.
Hicks said he had not.
“Did you read an account in the papers of a statement purported to have been made by the mayor immediately after the Everett shooting?”
Hicks thought he had.
Formed an Opinion
“Did you form an opinion from what you read as to the merits of this case?”
Hicks said he had formed an opinion, but thought he might change it as the trial proceeded.
This admission was made the special point of attack in the examination by Attorney Vanderveer for the defense.
Hicks repeated that he had formed an opinion, and that the opinion was based on what he had read in the newspapers, but insisted that the opinion did not go so far as to say who was right and who was wrong. After nearly an hour of effort by Vanderveer to get a closer statement of the juror’s ideas, he finally asked:
“But you knew, from what you read in the papers, that there were two groups concerned in the Everett affair, one group on the dock and one group on the boat?”
“Yes,” agreed Hicks.
“And you had an opinion that one group was right and the other group was wrong?”
Challenged for Cause
“Yes.”
“And it would require evidence to change that opinion?”
“Yes.”
“I challenge the juror for cause,” said Vanderveer.
The panel at noon stood:
H. J. Sheeser, G. C, Hupp, Dollie Bowles, Louise S. Raynor, H. E. Van Cleve. Clara Ullman, Nettie E. Thompson, B. A. Shenk, P. C. Ives, Clarence R Thomas, F. W. Chandler, T. J. Byrne.
[Photograph added.]
The Everett Defense News Letter No. 13 of February 24th offers more information on the working-class life of Fellow Worker Tom Tracy:
SEATTLE, Wash., Feb. 24th,-The following is taken from an interview by a representative of the labor press with Thomas H. Tracy, the first of the 74 men to be tried in Seattle, on the 5th of March, on a murder charge.
A CHILD OF THE WORKING-CLASS.
Thomas H. Tracy was born in Nebraska 36 years ago, and is of working-class parentage. His father was a railroad worker. His father also tried farming to some extent, but the condition of the family was one of want and poverty, the family being large and the wages too small for their adequate support.
A PIONEER OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION.
Most of Tracy’s working time has been spent as a teamster on various jobs of construction throughout the Western states, though he has also been foreman of construction and has also prospected in Nevada. He was working on construction on the Clark Road (S. P. L. A., & S. L.) in Nevada, and later freighted with teams from Las Vegas, Nevada, to the Bull Frog district when Rhyolite, Beatty, Gold Reed and Goldfield were new camps.
WANTS A FAIR FIELD AND NO FAVOR.
Tracy is thirty-six years old, of medium height and sturdy build. He appears to be of that tough, enduring fiber which, when coupled with a servile mind, is much sought after by employers. But one glance into his clear, steady, blue eyes will convince you that Tracy has no servile mind, but that he wishes to stand up and meet you as man to man, without humility or patronage on either side.
BELIEVES IN CAUSE OF THE WORKERS.
When Tracy came to Everett, on Nov. 5th, as one of the passengers on the “Verona,” he had no idea there would be any trouble such as took place when they received their murderous greeting from the drink-crazed deputies, and he says that none of the others on the boat had any such idea. He says he has felt for years that there was something wrong with social conditions, but he had always left it to others to set things to right. Finally he concluded, however, that it was useless to wait for things to right themselves, but that only the working-class could help the working-class. He then became a whole-hearted supporter of the great working-class cause.
DESPERATE TACTICS OF IMPORTED GUMSHOES.
The lengths to which the Prosecution of Snohomish County will go in their determination to do the bidding of their lords, the lumber barons, and railroad our men is shown by the absolutely illegal and unscrupulous methods practised by their agents.
INTIMIDATION OF DEFENSE WITNESSES.
Reports have come to the Defense offices from workingmen who were on the “Verona” that they have been approached in Tacoma and other nearby places by smooth plausible persons-particularly one Jamie McCarthy, who calls himself an ex-navy man-and have been invited to come to Seattle for a good time. On arrival in Seattle, the new friend has revealed himself to them as an officer and has made dire threats of all sorts of penalties unless they will accompany him to the “investigators,” the idea seeming to be to vaguely convey the notion to the victim that this is part of a Federal investigation. Arrived at the hotel, the victim is brought into the presence of Mr. Malcolm McLaren, notorious ex-Burns man, and deputy-prosecutor Vietch, Mr. McLaren’s office partner in Los Angeles.
FORCED TO SIGN THE STATEMENT.
The workers who were made to appear before this modern inquisition were closely questioned and then bullied into signing a statement, according to their reports. Also, they were cautioned against saying anything to Moore, the attorney for the Defense. Every effort was made to instill into their hapless prey the “bull-horrors” which is an expression term for a mild form of persecution mania.
WORKERS, REMEMBER MARCH THE FIFTH!
On March 5th the curtain will rise on one of the greatest legal dramas ever executed on the stage of the age-long conflict of Capital and Labor. Whether the curtain is to descend upon a victory or a defeat rests entirely with the working-class of America. If the response is great enough, if the aid is forthcoming readily enough, we shall be able to put up a fight worth while. The 74 men in jail in Everett have done their share towards the winning of liberty for the working-class. Now it is up to the rest of the workers on the outside to see that the masters do not take them away for life. Five of our fellow workers have been killed. The organized workers of America will never forget the names of Gus Johnson, Abraham Rabinowitz, Felix Baron, Hugo Gerlat and John Looney, the five martyrs of labor who were shot down in cold blood on Bloody Sunday, Nov. 5th, in Everett. The best way we can perpetuate and do honor to our dead is to free the living! Workers, the liberty of 74 of our class brothers is at stake! The lumber bosses, the Open Shop pirates, with their gunmen and slimy detectives, are hungry for the lives of these 74 men. Immediate action is needed to save them! Workers, the hour draws near!
Funds are urgently needed. Send all donations to Herbert Mahler, Sec’y-Treas., Everett Prisoners’ Defense Committee, Box 1878, Seattle, Wash.
Protests and resolutions should be sent to President Wilson and to Gov. Lister, Olympia, Wash. Mass meetings should be held and publicity given to this case. Demand of your congressmen and senators that there be a Federal investigation into the tragedy of Everett, Nov. 5th. ACT NOW!
[Emphasis added.]
SOURCES
The Seattle Star
(Seattle, Washington)
-Mar 5, 1917
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn87093407/1917-03-05/ed-1/seq-1/
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn87093407/1917-03-05/ed-1/seq-2/
Everett Defense News Letter No. 13
(Seattle, Washington)
-Feb 24, 1917, (047)
http://digitalcollections.lib.washington.edu/cdm/search/collection/pnwlabor/page/1
IMAGES
IWW Button, libcom Sioux City FSF 1915
http://libcom.org/files/The%20Sioux%20City%20Free%20Speech%20Fight.pdf
Everett Class War Prisoners 1916-17, Thomas H Tracy
http://www.nw.epls.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/EvrtMassacre/id/30/rec/21
See also:
The Everett Massacre
A History of the Class Struggle in the Lumber Industry
-by Walker C. Smith
IWW, 1918
https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/001106557