Hellraisers Journal: William Z. Foster, Reporter for Workingman’s Paper, Locked Behind the Bars of Spokane City Jail

Quote EGF, Compliment IWW, IW p1, Nov 17, 1909 ———-

Hellraisers Journal – Monday January 24, 1910
Spokane, Washington -Foster Locked Up for Covering Free Speech Fight

From the Seattle Workingman’s Paper of January 22, 1910:

———-
—–

TO THE RESCUE!
—–

Spokane officials not only say “no Free Speech for Workingmen,” but they have gone the limit when they say “The Workingman’s Paper” “shall not be sold or distributed in Spokane.”

Well, workingmen and women, what do you think of that for an ultimatum from Chief of police Sullivan?

Wm. Foster, the only reporter in Spokane representing the Labor Press outside of Spokane, was arrested for standing on a sidewalk in Spokane!

That is all-absolutely all-he was doing.

He was not speaking-he was not urging any one else to speak-on the streets of Spokane. He was simply listening to what some three others were saying in order that he might send in a report to this paper. That was all. He was arrested for disorderly conduct.” He was arrested and given 110 days on the rock pile. Ball and chain are fastened to him and he is also shackled to the man net to him.

He has been put on bread and water for days at a time. He is forced to work on cold icy streets with shoes worn so that his feet are on the ground.

He is told every few days that he will be released so soon as he promises not to report what is happening in Spokane for a Workingman’s Paper.

BUT HE WILL NOT PROMISE!

We have tried to get him out on bonds, but no lawyer will make out the necessary papers and hunt up bondsmen without pay.

And we have no money!

Since Foster has been confined in the jail did you notice that the reports about Spokane’s brutal treatment of those who are fighting for Free Speech have not appeared in the Labor Press as before!

Do you want the Workingman’s press throttled? Do you want your fellow-workingmen kept in ignorance of what would show him as nothing else could that there ARE classes in this country and that his interests are always on the side of his own class.

Now we need money. We need it bad! WE NEED IT NOW!

What for? First, necessary expense involved in releasing Foster on bonds for his appearance for trial in the Superior Court where his case has been appealed.

Foster will try his own case, so there will be no lawyer’s fees except for making out necessary papers, etc.

Second, Mrs. Bessy Fiset [Workingman’s Paper Assistant Editor] will go to Spokane to work for Freedom of Speech and a Free Press. She will require living expenses only.

Then when Foster is released we shall have to send him enough to live on while he is getting news and sending out reports of what is happening to the fighters for Free Speech and a Free Press in Spokane. That is what the Spokane officials are so anxious to suppress, and that is the only reason Foster was arrested.

The officials say the reports in “The Workingman’s Paper” are a libel on Spokane. Foster says they are the truth, and when he gets a chance he is going to tell more truth, and when he gets out of jail he’ll have some “hot stuff” to send in.

It will cost us about twenty dollars a week to the end of the fight.

If you can’t go to jail for Free Speech and a Free Press, you know what you can do. If you don’t dig up this time, well, I guess you don’t want emancipation.

Now, what we must have is money to send to Spokane right away.

Foster has already served over 30 days and he has at least 60 days more to serve-if he lives.

Are you going to allow an innocent man to remain in that foul jail 110 days because he will not promise not to tell the truth for the benefit of his own class?

He is paying a big price for refusing to be a traitor to his own class! What are you doing?

Many of the Comrades have already responded. We will publish names in next week’s issue.

Will your name be in the list?

To the rescue of a Free Press as well as Free Speech!

H. W. T.
[Hattie W. Titus,
Workingman’s Paper Business Manager]

[Emphasis added.]