Tag: Albert V. Roe

Hellraisers Journal: From the Spokane Industrial Worker: “Free Speech Fight Is on in Kansas City” by G. H. Perry

Janet RayeFrank Little
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KC FSF, Telegram re FL Arrested, Oct 14, IW p1, Oct 19, 1911—————

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday October 29, 1911
Kansas City, Missouri – Fellow Worker Frank Little Sent to County Farm 

From the Spokane Industrial Worker of October 26, 1911:

KC FSF by G. H. Perry, IW p1, Oct 26, 1911

The long threatened fight with the city authorities is on in real earnest. On Saturday, October 14th [Saturday], the blue coated minions of “law and order” came up to our open air meeting at Missouri and Main streets and without giving any warning arrested the speaker, F. H. Little. The then turned to other members and asked if they were leaders,. When they were informed that we had no leaders in the crowd they stated that being a member of the I. W. W. was enough, and so they arrested all who admitted membership. After laying in jail over Sunday the the seven I. W. W. men who were arrested were treated to a burlesque show in the shape of a kangaroo court presided over by Judge Burning. “His honor” listened to a cockroach business man telling that the thought that we were unfair (how horrible Archie) in our statements…

Fellow Worker Little asked for a jury trial which was denied. The “kangaroo” said, “I know what you men want and I don’t want to be bothered with you this winter and I am not going to stand for any stump speeches.” Little told the court why we were organized and the reason he wished a jury trial was so he could be tried in a real court….

Little then went on explaining to the judge the purposes of the I. W. W. and in the middle of a sentence the judge cut him off with “You are fined $25.00 and rest $10.00 each.” Little and the writer were the only ones allowed to say a word in our own defense. Fellow Workers [Albert V.] Roe, [J.] McGuire, [H. D.] Montgomery, [G. W.] Reeder and [Carl] Strobach were kangarooed without saying a word in their own defense…..

After we had gone back to the jail a delegation from the local saw his honor and after telling im that we intended to have free speech he decided to reconsider his former action and he discharged us all but Fellow Worker Little. …

Little left for county farm this morning…This attempt to do away with the selling of I. W. W. literature and street speaking must be met with determined opposition. Men are needed. We are sure they will be found.

———-

[Emphasis added.]

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Hellraisers Journal: Fresno Free Speech Fight Back On; Frank Little Among Many Fellow Workers Arrested and Jailed

Janet RayeFrank Little
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Quote Frank Little, Fresno Jails Dungeons, FMR p6, Sept 2, 1910———-

Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday December 6, 1910
Fresno, California – Free Speech Fight Renewed; Fellow Workers Arrested

From The Fresno Morning Republican of November 30, 1910:

Fresno FSF IWW Renews, FL Arrested, FMR p1, Nov 30, 1910

The Long threatened clash between the Industrial Worker of the World and the local police materialized last night. Twenty-four of the followers of the red flag were lodged in jail by Chief Shaw and a squad of ten policemen.

The expected invasion began at 6 o’clock and continued till 9 when the 34th agitator was taken into custody. During these three hours the police department was never busier in the history of Fresno. As fast as central could ring the bell at police headquarters, Night Desk Sergeant Frank Truax was kept busy jotting down the various corners in the downtown section where the I. W. W.’s were trying to make speeches. Several of the “red shirts” were making wild-eyed speeches to a handful of men. At H and Kern streets two were talking at the same time from soap boxes to a half dozen listener.

Among the twenty-four arrested were three of the leaders, James Murdock, C. L. Fligino [Filigno] and F. H. Little. Yesterday morning Chief Shaw appeared in the police court and swore to complaints charging Murdock and Fligino with vagrancy. It is said that they receive no compensation from the Industrial Workers. In fact, Murdock and Fligino admit that they are speaking for the “good of the cause.”

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Hellraisers Journal: Fresno Herald and Democrat Advocates Whipping Post to Suppress I. W. W. Free Speech Fight

Janet RayeFree Speech Fights
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Quote James Russel Lowell, We Will Speak, Car Wkr p19, Aug 1903———-

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday October 30, 1910
Fresno, California – Editorial Advocates Whipping Post to Suppress Free Speech

From the Spokane Industrial Worker of October 26, 1910:

Fresno FSF, IW Masthead p1, Oct 26, 1910Fresno FSF Preserved, IW p1, Oct 26, 1910

[…..]

ADVOCATES WHIPPING POST TO
SUPPRESS FREE SPEECH.

General Headquarters I. W. W., 518 Cambridge Bldg., Chicago, Ill.

The Fresno Herald and Democrat, published at Fresno, Cal., for which one John Hamilton Gilmour assumes responsibility as publisher, has an editorial in the issue of October 12th commenting on the fight for free speech that is being made by the I. W. W. at Fresno, which ends by saying:

“It is incumbent upon all classes of citizens to aid the police in the suppression of these Industrial Workers of the World if they attempt to disturb the peace of the city. * * * For men to come here with the express purpose of creating trouble a whipping post and cat-o’-nine-tails well seasoned by being soaked in salt water is none to harsh a treatment for peace breakers. Indeed, such a punishment would prove more efficacious than a term in a dark cell.”

The editorial is an indication of what the membership for the I. W. W. have to fight against in carrying on the campaign for education and organization amongst the workers of the San Joaquin valley.

A whipping post and cat-o’-nine-tails seasoned with brine! For what? because workers of that sections-a few of them insist that they have an opportunity of holding meetings, to discuss matters of interest to their class, and to devise ways and means to educate, and organize the wage slaves of the farms, factories and railroads into an effective organization. The master class of the San Joaquin valley have throws off the mask. Through the mouthpiece of their class they have made known to what extent they are willing to go in order that they may continue to plunder the workers of that section, in PEACE.

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Hellraisers Journal: Many Fellow Workers in Jail in Fresno, Arrested for Fighting for Free Speech; More Men Arriving

Janet RayeFrank Little
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Quote Frank Little, Fresno Jails Dungeons, FMR p6, Sept 2, 1910———-

Hellraisers Journal – Friday October 21, 1910
Fresno, California – Many Fellow Workers Jailed, More Men Arrive Daily

From the Spokane Industrial Worker of October 19, 1910:

Fresno FSF, Masthead, IW p1, Oct 19, 1910

FRESNO FIGHT IS ON:
MANY MEN IN JAIL
—————

The fight for free speech in the State of California has opened in Fresno. The boys have been gathering for the last month and more are on the way to the front. Telegrams received by the WORKER informs us that 19 men were arrested on the streets up to the time of sending the message. Large crowds are on the streets and the populace is much excited. Men are arriving on every train and more are coming by boat from Portland and Seattle, according to the statements of letters just received from these cities.

The boys have been forced from their hall and cannot rent another, but are doing well in their camp in the jungles. There the incoming men are fed and prepared to go to the “can.” While there has been no news from the men already in jail, it is a safe bet that they are roaring the “Red Flag” and other working men’s songs.

The boys evidently took the police by surprise, as an editorial in the Fresno Herald of a few days ago asserts that November has been selected as the time for opening the fight. This same slimp street, a scurrilous sewer of degenerated conceptions that rivals the infamy of the “Morning Liar” (sometimes called the Spokane Spokesman-Review), states in its columns that the members of the I. W. W. are thugs, holdups, etc., and that one was killed in an attempted robbery on the way to Fresno. This monumental liar does not mention names, dates nor locations, but leaves it to the scurvy imagination of his own class of degenerates to fill in the missing items of mis-information.

He further advocates the use of the whipping post for men the insist on their privilege of free speech, and even suggests that to wash their wounds with salt water would increase the agony. Such a vicious apostle of a return to the methods of the Inquisition is a fitting herald for the ideas and intentions of the master class, and he only advocates the desires of them all. It is just such articles and just such tactics on the part of the ruling class and their tools that puts murder in the hearts of the helpless victim and breeds a psychology of violence it is to be hoped that no member of the I. W. W. will so far lose control of himself as to attempt to retaliate in kind, but should such articles inflame the minds of the weaker minded workers to the extent that violence is returned for violence, the boss and his prostitute lackeys have only themselves to blame. One thing is certain. Whatever the outcome of the fight, the workers will have been educated to a better understanding of their relationship to the boss and they will have learned to hate the condition of slavery to that extent.

—————

[Emphasis and paragraph breaks added.]

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Hellraisers Journal: I. W. W. Men Arrive in Coalinga and Fresno to Help Out in the Struggle for Right to Picket or Speak

Janet RayeFrank Little
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Quote Frank Little, Fresno Jails Dungeons, FMR p6, Sept 2, 1910———-

Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday October 18, 1910
Coalinga (Near Fresno), California – I. W. W. Taking Part in Strike

From the Spokane Industrial Worker of October 15, 1910:

for HJ 10-18-1910 IW Oct 15, FMR Oct 4 cpy

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Hellraisers Journal: “The day draweth nigh. Soon is the town of Fresno, Cal., to feel the weight of the hand of the I. W. W.”

Janet RayeFrank Little
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Quote Frank Little, re Fresno Sure to Win, IW p4, Aug 27, 1910———-

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday October 16, 1910
Fresno, California – Town soon to feel hand of Industrial Workers of the World.

From the Spokane Industrial Worker of October 15, 1910:

FRESNO FIGHT FOR FREEDOM OF SPEECH
——-

IWW Spk FSF v Employment Sharks, IW p1, Apr 2, 1910
Industrial Worker of April 2, 1910

The day draweth nigh. Soon is the town of Fresno, Cal., to feel the weight of the hand of the I. W. W. This upstart city has taken upon itself the task of wresting from the workers the right of free speech and as a result hundreds of workers are in the vicinity of Fresno prepared at the signal to speak in spite of the “law and order” element of thugs and gum shoes.

Soon will the workers demonstrate to the boss that there are a few privileges, at least, that will not be surrendered.

The owners of halls in Fresno have refused to rent their buildings to the I. W. W. boys, but in spite of this obstacle all will be in readiness for the sounding of the call.

Let every worker in the north and west who can possibly do so go to Fresno and speak on the streets in accordance with the age-long inheritance of the Anglo-Saxon. Let us demonstrate to the boss that we will FIGHT before we will submit to the loss of the privilege of free speech.

ON THE WAY-TO FRESNO.

—————

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Hellraisers Journal: Latest News from Spokane Free Speech Fight by Fellow Worker Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, Part I

Janet RayeElizabeth Gurley Flynn
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Quote EGF, Compliment IWW, IW p1, Nov 17, 1909———-

Hellraisers Journal – Thursday March 3, 1910
Spokane, Washington – Gurley Flynn Reports from Free Speech Fight, Part I

From the International Socialist Review of March 1910:

Latest News from Spokane
—–

ELIZABETH GURLEY FLYNN.
—–

[Part I of II.]

Letter T, ISR p828, Mar 1910HE agitation of the I. W. W. and free speech fight in Spokane, Washington, if it brought no other effects has been valuable in that it has forced the officials to take action against the employment agencies. In the beginning of the difficulty they were admitted by Judge Mann to be the cause of all the trouble. Since that time Mayor Pratt has frankly admitted refunding thousands of dollars to working-men who had been sold fictitious jobs by the employment agencies. There were about thirty-one in the city of Spokane but the licenses of all but twelve of these were revoked.

IWW Spk FSF, EGF, ISR p828, Mar 1910

The following statement from Mayor Pratt explains this action: “On the whole we have found that the larger agencies have not been causing so much trouble. Some of the larger men have made a study of the business, understanding human nature, and have been successful. In some cases we find that men who do not understand the business have engaged in it nevertheless and have made a little money and have held on to every dollar that has come into their possession whether they were entitled to it or not.”

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Hellraisers Journal: Spokane I. W. W. Faces Court Fines and Beatings by Thugs and Sharks for Speaking on the Streets

Janet RayeFree Speech Fights
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Quote JH Walsh, re Employment Sharks, IUB p1, Feb 27, 1909———-

Hellraisers Journal – Friday April 2, 1909
Spokane, Washington – I. W. W. Members Fined and Beaten

From the Spokane Industrial Worker of April 1, 1909:

[Cartoon: The Street Speaker, The Judge, and The Shark]

IWW FSF, Sharks Pay, Spk IW p1, Apr 1, 1909

[Details:]

IWW FSF, Sharks Pay Details, Spk IW p1, Apr 1, 1909

———-

UNION MEETING AT THE COURT HOUSE
—–

After the arrest of National Organizer J. H. Walsh for speaking on the street for the I. W. W., some weeks ago, he was convicted of the crime of street speaking by police judge Mann, and fined $10.00 and costs. The case was appealed to the Superior Court as an object lesson. When the case was called before Judge Ilinkle, the demurrer of the union’s attorney V. T. Tustin was of course over-ruled. The trial will take place in the Spokane County Court House on April 6th. All union men should be present at this entertainment-the admission is free. Those interested in the repeal of the United States constitution by the Spokane employment agents will have a chance to laugh-not out loud-. The decision of this court will be a jewel in the brilliant career of Ilinkle or some of the other sprags. It will make the ever-growing power of the employing class apparent. Judging from the justice handed out to the I. W. W. men heretofore in Spokane, we can expect that not much difficulty will be made on account of the constitution. Even the Indians were allowed to agitate in their tribes. But we are living on “the civilized plane”-and two meals a day.

Funeral notice later. Please omit flowers.

———-

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