You ought to be out raising hell.
This is the fighting age.
Put on your fighting clothes.
-Mother Jones
Hellraisers Journal, Wednesday November 1, 1916
From the Duluth Labor World: News Regarding I. W. W. Defendants
From The Labor World of October 28, 1916:
JOHN ORLANDICH TELLS HIS
STORY FOR FIRST TIME
—–
A great big hulk of a man with innocent baby eyes stood looking out of the bars in the St. Louis county jail. The interpreter spoke rapidly to him in his own language. The baby eyes lighted up and filled with tears. Gesticulating, the big man poured forth his tale, in melodious strange sounding words.
It was the first time that John Orlandich had been able to make himself clearly understood since he was imprisoned. Orlandich, Tresca, Scarlett, Cernogorovich, Nickich and Masonovich, Iron Range miners, who went on a strike, are all in jail charged with murder. The people of Minnesota, through their government, claim that these men killed James Myron, a special deputy [deputized company gunthug], during the Range strike.
Orlandich doesn’t even know why he is in jail. He asked the interpreter if he had broken any laws by refusing to work. The trials are to start Dec. 5.
JOE SCHMIDT OUT OF JAIL TO VISIT WIFE
—–Joe Schmidt, I. W. W., charged with murder, was released on bail from the St. Louis county jail last night and left for Scranton, Pa., immediately. His wife is in a serious condition.
Mrs. Schmidt just gave birth to a baby which died and friends fear for her life. She has been worrying over her husband’s imprisonment.
As soon as possible Schmidt will return with his wife and he will voluntarily re-enter the jail.
———-
An Editorial from The Labor World:
AN INDICTMENT.
Joe Schmidt, I. W. W. accused of murder by the steel trust, has been bailed out of the St. Louis County jail.
Schmidt was one of the victims of the steel trust’s determination to “get” some one connected with labor for daring to stand for the rights of the workers.
Schmidt knew that the stork was expected by his wife.
Mrs. Schmidt knew that her husband was in the St. Louis County jail.
Can you husbands realize Schmidt’s state of mind?
Can you mothers realize Mrs. Schmidt’s state of mind?
The baby died and now Mrs. Schmidt is in a serious condition. She may die. The doctors say that worry over her husband’s imprisonment is making her condition worse.
Schmidt left Duluth Wednesday night, for Scranton, Pa., his home.
And who is to blame for this?
The steel trust with it’s frame-up charges, assisted by it’s newspapers.
And also assisted by it’s corrupt Minnesota officials.
And all Schmidt did was to try to help others.
But the steel trust objected.
Why not remember this on election day?
———-
From The Duluth News Tribune of October 29, 1916:
I. W. W. AGITATOR GOES TO DYING WIFE
—–
Released From Jail at Virginia,
Joseph Schmidt Hurries
to Scranton, Pa.
—–
Released from jail at Virginia where he has been held since his indictment and arraignment in connection with the murder of Deputy [deputized company gunthug] Sheriff James C. Myron, Joseph Schmidt, an I. W. W. agitator, is now with his wife at Scranton, Pa., where she is lying at the point of death.
While confined at the county jail at Duluth he received a telegram telling him of the birth of an infant in his family. Later the baby died and his wife, grieving and worrying over her husband’s arrest, failed rapidly. Schmidt and others were transferred in September from the jail at Duluth to Virginia, Where their trial is slated to be held in December. The amount of bail was placed at $2,000 and was raised by friends of the defendant.
Schmidt agreed to return for trial when notified by his attorneys.
———-
SOURCES
The Labor World
(Duluth, Minnesota)
-Oct 28, 1916
https://www.newspapers.com/image/49876686
https://www.newspapers.com/image/49876688/
The Duluth News Tribune
(Duluth, Minnesota)
-Oct 29, 1916, page 9
http://www.genealogybank.com/
Note: some confusion seems to exist between the two newspapers as to whether Schmidt was released from the jail in Virginia or from the St. Louis County Jail in Duluth. Most accounts place the prisoners in Duluth at this time. More research needed.
Source (among others) for Myron as a mine guard:
“Invading Miners’ Homes” by Otto Christensen
International Socialist Review, Sept 1916
https://books.google.com/books/reader?id=SVRIAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&source=gbs_atb&pg=GBS.PA161
IMAGES
Gavoilo (John) Orlandich, ISR, Sept 1916
https://books.google.com/books/reader?id=SVRIAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&source=gbs_atb&pg=GBS.PA161
Joseph Schmidt, ISR, Nov 1916
https://books.google.com/books/reader?id=SVRIAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&source=gbs_atb&pg=GBS.PA298
The Labor World, Editorial, Oct 28, 1916
https://www.newspapers.com/image/49876688/
IWW Metal Mine Workers IU No. 490, Hibbing MN, June 19, 1916
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015079021849;view=image;size=150;page=root;seq=3;num=1
See also:
Also from ISR of Sept 1916
“The Mesaba Strike” by George P. West
(Extracts from a report on the strike of iron miners of the Mesabi Range submitted to the Committee on Industrial Relations by George P. West, author of the report of the United States Commission on Industrial Relations on the Colorado strike. The report was based on a field investigation.)
https://books.google.com/books/reader?id=SVRIAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&source=gbs_atb&pg=GBS.PA158