Tag: April 1919

Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for April 1919, Part II-Found Speaking in Peoria, Illinois

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Mother Jones, Kaisers here at home, Peoria IL Apr 6, 1919———-

Hellraisers Journal – Saturday May 17, 1919
Mother Jones News for April 1919, Part II
-Found Speaking in Peoria, Illinois

On Sunday April 6th, Mother Jones spoke at the Peoria Coliseum on behalf of Tom Mooney. She shared the stage with Duncan MacDonald and T. H. Tippett, both of whom also delivered addresses.

Sunday April 6, 1919, Peoria, IL
Mother Jones Speaks at “Mooney Day” Event

Tom Mooney, Prison Garb, NY Tb p26, Dec 8, 1918

Friends, fellow workers, we are living today in the greatest age the world has ever passed through in human history. The whole world is ablaze with revolt. The uprising among the unfortunate workers is suppressed in the daily press. I took a clipping while in New York the other day, out the New York World, which said that the human race has never in human history passed through an age like this.

There was once back in Greece, a young man, two hundred years after the world’s greatest agitator was marred, crucified, hung, maligned, vilified, by the powers there. There arose in Carthage an agitation and the courts became uneasy. They sent down to Carthage in those days a force that arrested all those who were in the agitation movement which was eighteen hundred years ago. We have not changed the program very much since. We have talked a lot about Christianity, but we have never seen any Christianity yet. There has never been any Christianity on the earth and there is not going to be any for a while yet! They held them in slavery or sold them, if they did not need them, and so, they brought them into court.

Among those was a young man and the judge said to him “Who ar you?” He said, “I am a man,” a member of the human family. The judge asked, “Why do you carry on this agitation” The boy replied, “Because I belong to a class that in human history have always been crucified, robbed, murdered, jailed, maligned, vilified, starved and because I belong to that class, I feel it is my duty to awaken that class to their power and their duty.” He was sentenced, of course.

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Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for April 1919, Part I-Found in Pennsylvania and Illinois

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Mother Jones, Fight for Flag Apr 8, Rockford IL Morn Str p4, Apr 9, 1919———-

Hellraisers Journal – Friday May 16, 1919
Mother Jones News for April 1919, Part I
-Found Speaking to Strikers in Rockford, Illinois

From Rockford Morning Star of April 9, 1919:

“MOTHER” JONES TELLS STRIKERS NOT TO GIVE UP
—–

OVER 2,000 PERSONS CROWD ARMORY TO HEAR
WOMAN LEADER OF LABOR.
—–

SAYS SHE’S BOLSHEVIK
—–

Mother Jones Extracts Apr 8, Rockford IL Morn Str p4, Apr 9, 1919

Don’t go back to work until you get an eight-hour day! Don’t go back to work until you get more pay, because the cost of living is going up! I have got to go away tonight, but I am coming back, and if you have not enough officers to continue this fight, let me know, and I will put ’em on the scrap pile.

With this declaration “Mother” Jones the eighty-nine year old woman leader of labor, closed her address before a mass meeting of Rockford’s furniture strikers at Armory hall Tuesday afternoon, which brought forth a tremendous ovation from over 2,000 persons who had crowded the hall to hear the comments of a veteran on the struggle between capital and labor.

[She said:]

The trouble with us is that we have used our brains to build up industry and have created wealth by the billions and haven’t asked where this wealth is going to. But the pendulum is now swinging in another direction. We are not pleading any longer-we are demanding! The time has come to demand. I have no use for the cringing slave. We are now facing a new regime.

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Hellraisers Journal: From Appeal to Reason: Book Review and History of “The Unbroken Tradition” by Nora Connolly

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Nora Connolly, We saw him no more. UnBroken Tradition p186, 1919———-

Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday April 30, 1919
From Appeal Book Department: “The Unbroken Tradition” by Nora Connolly

In the April 26th edition of the Appeal to Reason, we find Miss Nora Connolly’s book, “The Irish Rebellion of 1916 or The Unbroken Tradition,” on sale for $1.25 (see below). In the April 12th edition of the Appeal we find a review of Miss Connolly’s book along with a short history of the Easter Uprising of 1916.

From the Appeal to Reason of April 12, 1919:

Daughter of Rebel Leader Tells Story of Irish Revolt

Irish Rebellion Fighting Song, AtR p4, Apr 12, 1919
—–

Thus goes one of the fighting songs of the Irish patriots who rose in armes against British authority in Ireland, the week of Easter, 1916. The physical failure of the brief, spirited upflare of independence is now a part of Ireland’s tragic history; yet today no one who sees clearly can doubt that the cause of a free Ireland is stronger than ever.

Nora Connolly, Irish Rebillion of 1916 or Unbroken Tradition p88, BnL, 1919

Nora Connolly-a young girl possessed of the fortitude and vision that is the unending marvel of character displayed by all true revolutionists-was an intimate participant in the rebellion of 1916. Her father, James Connolly, was the leader of the rebel forces and was executed for his “treason” to what most Irishmen have always regarded as an alien and hostile government. Nora Connolly escaped after the rebellion and made her way, through caution and subterfuge, to America. Here she set down the story of this ill-fated uprising with a direct candid simplicity that reveals events in their bold, epic outlines. This story, whose unaffected realism is so intense that the reader vividly visualizes and emotionally seems to move in the very midst of the scenes described is called “The Unbroken Tradition,” because, says Nora Connolly:

In Ireland we have the unbroken tradition of struggle for our freedom. Every generation has seen blood spilt, and sacrifice cheerfully made that the tradition might live. Our songs call us to battle or mourn the lost struggle; our stories are of glorious victory and glorious defeat. And it is through them the tradition has been handed down till an Irish man or woman has no greater dream of gory than of dying “A soldier’s death so Ireland’s free.”

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Hellraisers Journal: From The Liberator: “Reflections on the Seattle General Strike by a Woman Who Was There”-Revolution?

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Anna Louise Strong, NO ONE KNOWS WHERE, SUR p1, Feb 4, 1919———-

Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday April 29, 1919
Seattle General Strike: Revolution? -60,000 Striking Workers Run the City

From the New York Liberator of April 1919:

When Is a Revolution Not a Revolution

Reflections on the Seattle General Strike
by a Woman Who Was There

Seattle General Strike, Metal Trades Council, SUR p3, Feb 4, 1919

“A GENERAL STRIKE, called by regular unions of the American Federation of Labor, cutting across contracts, across international union constitutions, across the charter from the American Federation of Labor,”-this was what the chairman of the strike committee declared it to be. A General Strike in which the strikers served 30,000 meals a day, in which the Milk Wagon Drivers established milk stations all over town to care for the babies, in which city garbage wagons went to and fro marked “Exempt by Strike Committee”; a General Strike in which 300 Labor Guards without arms or authority went to and fro preserving order; in which the Strike Committee, sitting in almost continuous session, decided what activities should and should not be exempted. from strike in the interests of public safety and health, and even forced the Mayor to come to the Labor Temple to make arrangements for lighting the city.

Yet almost any member of the Strike Committee will tell you, in hot anger, that “this was no revolution, except in the Capitalist papers; it was only a show of sympathy and solidarity for our brothers in the shipyards.” And so in truth it was, in intention. It would seem that the beginnings of all new things take place, not through conscious intention, but through the inevitable action of economic forces.

Hardly yet do the workers of Seattle realize all the things they did.

The shipyard workers of Seattle struck, 35,000 strong, on [Tuesday] January 21st. On January 22, a request was brought to the Central Labor Council for a general strike in sympathy with the Metal Trades. This was referred to the various unions for referendum. By the following Wednesday, January 29, the returns were pouring in.

“Newsboys vote to strike and await instructions of Joint Strike Committee.” “Hotel maids vote 8 to 1 for strike.” “Waitresses expect to go strong for general strike.” Foundry employees, butchers, structural iron workers, milk wagon drivers, garment workers, carpenters, barbers, building laborers, longshoremen, painters, glaziers, plasterers, cooks and assistants, these were among the votes to come in the first week.
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Hellraisers Journal: National Civil Liberties Bureau Corrects Attorney General on Number of Political Prisoners

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Ralph Chaplin, Prison Reveille, Lv New Era p2, Apr 4, 1919———-

Hellraisers Journal – Monday April 28, 1919
New York, New York – National Civil Liberties Bureau on Political Prisoners

From the Appeal to Reason of April 26, 1919:

Deny Attorney General’s Statement Regarding
Number of War Prisoners

Remember Political Prisoners by Bingo, OH Sc, Mar 10, 1918

(The National Civil Liberties Bureau of New York City makes public the following statement in reply to the assertion of the Attorney General that the number of political prisoners in the United States has been greatly exaggerated:)

—–

In a published statement the Attorney General intimates that the current estimate that there are 1,500 political prisoners in the United States is the result of either frenzied imagination or deliberate intent to deceive the public.

We accept full responsibility for the estimate in question and wish to reassert our belief in its moderation and accuracy. The Attorney General evidently does not regard a person who is under indictment or is out on bail pending appeal as a political prisoner. His view is that liberty on bail is the same thing as liberty without the threat of prison. Such an assertion needs no comment. Nor does the Attorney General include conscientious objectors. The following table shows how our estimate has been derived and we challenge the Attorney General to show that it is inaccurate in any substantial particular. The figures for prosecution under the Espionage Act are taken from the report of the Attorney General for the year ending June 30,1918, and are the most recent published officially. We have repeatedly requested more recent figures but our requests have been refused.

Clas War n Political Prisoner Numbers per NCLB, AtR p3, Apr 26, 1919
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Hellraisers Journal: From Ohio Socialist: Prison Poems from FW Charles Ashleigh and from CO H. Austin Simons

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Frank Little re Guts, Wobbly by RC p208, Chg July 1917———-

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday April 27, 1919
From Leavenworth Prison – Poetry of Charles Ashleigh and H. Austin Simons

The following three poems appeared in the Ohio Socialist of April 23, 1919. The first is by Fellow Worker Charles Ashleigh and the second is by H. Austin Simons, Conscientious Objector. The third is by Mary O’Reilly, Socialist of Chicago.

Prison Poems, IWW, C Ashleigh, Visions, OH Sc p2, Apr 23, 1919
Prison Poems, CO, HA Simons, Rose, OH Sc p2, Apr 23, 1919
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Hellraisers Journal: Helen Keller: “Workingmen…cannot be truly free unless they own themselves and their labor.”

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Helen Keller, an IWW, interview NY Tb jan 15, 1916———-

Hellraisers Journal – Thursday April 24, 1919
Helen Keller on Workers, Labor Exploitation and Freedom

Helen Keller, NY Ithaca Jr p7, Nov 5, 1917

From the New York Rebel Worker of April 15, 1919:

[From Helen Keller.]

Workingmen everywhere are becoming aware that they are being exploited for the benefit of others, and that they cannot be truly free unless they own themselves and their labor. The achievement of such economic freedom stands in prospect— at no distant date—as the revolutionary climax of the age. (Helen Keller.)

——————–

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Hellraisers Journal: From N. Y. Rebel Worker: “The Spirit of Our Class War Prisoners” & “Discipline” at Leavenworth

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Frank Little re Guts, Wobbly by RC p208, Chg July 1917———-

Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday April 23, 1919
Leavenworth Penitentiary – Rebels Behind Bars Remain Strong

From the New York Rebel Worker of April 15, 1919:

THE SPIRIT OF OUR CLASS WAR PRISONERS.

The Portland Fellow Workers send $285.75 to be equally divided among the boys in the Leavenworth Penitentiary, but the rebels confined therein decided unanimously to send same to the general office as the organization is in need of ready cash at present.

This is the spirit of the men who fought for us, and for whom we are now fighting, and their message is organize, organize some more.

———-

[Emphasis added.]

——————–

Disciplinary Reports from Leavenworth Penitentiary

J. A. MacDonald, No. 13133

IWW, J. A. MacDonald, 13133 Leavenworth, Sept 7 or 8, 1918

January 24, 1919
Became sarcastic and ridiculed the laws and system of Government of the United States. Isolation on restricted diet and removed as school teacher.

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Hellraisers Journal: Rousseau: “You are undone if you forget that the earth belongs to no one, and that its fruits are for all.”

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Rousseau, Earth Fruits, Origin of Inequality, 1754———–

Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday April 22, 1919
Poetry and Philosophy from the New York Rebel Worker

From The Rebel Worker of April 15, 1919:

I FEEL SO GOOD.

I have to sing
I feel so good.
Because some grand
Duke’s sawing wood.

And pretty soon
A big bunch more,
Will have to work
Until they’re sore.

And then we stiffs.
Will run this earth.
And all their pains
Will cause us mirth.

And if some guy
Tells us that’s wrong,
We’ve got a story
Good and long.

Of things they’ve done
While we were slaves;
Grand Dukes and such
Are common Knaves.

                                                                                    -A. SIGISMUND.

———-

[From Jean-Jacques Rousseau]

Jean-Jacques Rousseau, 1712-1778
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, 1712-1778

The first man who, having inclosed a piece of ground, bethought himself of saying “This is mine,” and found people simple enough to believe he was the real founder of civil society. From how many crimes, wars, and murders, from how many horrors and misfortunes might not anyone have saved mankind by pulling up the stakes or filling up the ditch and crying to his fellows:

Beware of listening to this imposter; you are undone if you once forget that the fruits of the earth belong to all of us, and the earth itself to nobody.

(Jean Jacques Rosseau.)

———-

[Photograph added.]

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Hellraisers Journal: From The Rebel Worker: “Can the Capitalists Run the World?” (without ruin, waste and war?)

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Mother Jones Raising Hell, NYT p1, Oct 6, 1916———-

Hellraisers Journal – Monday April 21, 1919
Can the Capitalists Run the World without Ruin, Waste, and War?

From the New York Rebel Worker of April 15, 1919:

CAN THE CAPITALISTS RUN THE WORLD?

Art Young, Capitalism All right so far, Liberator p19, Apr 1919

The March [April] Liberator wants to know, “Can the workers run the world?” This question tickles our risibilities and causes us to submit to an attack of the merry ha ha! It unconsciously re-echoes the capitalists’ claim that they run the world and that they are the only ones that can run the world. For a radical socialist magazine to re-echo capitalist misstatements is bad Marxian-ism-the sin of sins against the holy of holies. And then the question is preposterous in the light of contemporaneous events. What we behold, if our eye sight is not falling us, is not a world run by capitalists, but a world that is running the capitalists—running them out of existence, p. d. q. (By the way, we suggest that Art Young draw a cartoon for his new satirical weekly, “Good morning,” showing the capitalists “running” the world according to modern history.)

Then look at the way the capitalists run the world when the world is not running them. H. L. Gantt, one of New York’s foremost production engineers, says the present system is only 15 per cent efficient. There’s some running for you-running to waste-85 per cent. Will the Liberator please repeat its question again? We enjoy anything that suggests a collosal joke, such as the capitalists’ assumption that they are the efficient world runners par excellence. Ask Gantt; he knows.

Now, for a change, let us take seriously this question of running the world. Let us state frankly that if the workers ever run the world the way the capitalists are running it, we’ll start a bloodly counter-revolution against them! And we’ll inflict an antiproltetarian mismanagement dictatorship on them; by God, so we will. We want the world to be run, not ruined or wasted.

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