Tag: Chicago IL

Hellraisers Journal: Eugene V. Debs: “The Social Democratic Party has made a grand beginning.” Calls Comrades to Duty

Janet RayeEugene Victor Debs
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Quote EVD, SDP Clarion Call, SD Hld, Sept 24, 1898
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hellraisers Journal – Friday September 30, 1898
Chicago, Illinois – Eugene Debs Calls Comrades to Duty

From the Social Democratic Herald of September 24, 1898:

To Our Comrades!
[-by Eugene V. Debs]

EVD re Social Democracy, SLTb p3, Feb 9, 1898

The summer’s heat is ended, and with the bracing air of autumn comes the call to duty. The slogan has been sounded, and every true comrade will hasten to his post.

The Social Democratic Party has made a grand beginning. In its councils harmony and enthusiasm prevail. In every department there is confidence and goodwill. The local branches are composed of true socialists, and, with but few exceptions, are in excellent order. The party has made many of its nominations for fall election, and now steady work, unabating energy, and unfaltering courage are required to make the record of the campaign a certificate of the party’s soundness and splendor.

Therefore, each comrade to his task—alert, dutiful, determined. The very mustering of the forces is an inspiration. The contemplation of the battle makes the blood flow quicker and the heart throb faster. What ecstasy for the soul not dead or stupefied! By its vivifying magic even the rag of poverty becomes a royal robe and the face of misery glows with the soul-born promise of deliverance.

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Hellraisers Journal: Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, on Way to Chicago IWW Convention, Interviewed by Pittsburg Press

Janet RayeElizabeth Gurley Flynn
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Quote EGF re Useless Capitalist Class, Ptt Prs p47, Sept 27, 1908~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hellraisers Journal – Monday September 28, 1908
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania – Elizabeth Gurley Flynn Talks of Socialism

On their way to Chicago to attend the Convention of the Industrial Workers of the World, Elizabeth Gurley Flynn Jones and her husband, J. A. Jones, stopped off at Pittsburg where Gurley Flynn was interviewed for the Pittsburg Press regarding her views on Socialism and Suffrage.

From The Pittsburg Press of September 27, 1908:

EGF Quotes n Interview, Ptt Prs p47, Sept 27, 1908

The force of Miss Elizabeth Gurley Flynn’s personality impresses one the first five minutes one talks to her. This girl Socialist leader is not wildly enthusiastic nor does she “rant” as would be expected of a young, prominent, Socialistic leader, but there is a quiet, compelling strength about her words and herself that claims and holds the attention immediately.

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Hellraisers Journal: From The Industrial Union Bulletin: J. H. Walsh with Hobo Army Riding the Rails to Chicago

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote J H Walsh, Revolution in the Streets, IUB, Sept 19, 1908
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hellraisers Journal, Wednesday September 23, 1908
Adventures of the Overall Brigade Enroute to Chicago

From The Industrial Union Bulletin of September 19, 1908:

IWW, Overalls Brigade HdLn, IUB, Sept 19, 1908

[J. H. Walsh on the I.W.W’s Red Special, Part II of II.]

IWW, re Organizing UE, IUB, Sept 19, 1908

In Seattle we held several good meetings and then departed for the east. We met a very nice train crew apparently, out of Seattle. They claimed to all be union men, but they proved to be cheap dogs of the railroad. Fearing such a large bunch, they telegraphed ahead to Auburn Junction for a force to take us off. When we arrived at the junction we were surrounded by a band of railroad officials-the papers stated there were 25-when we were covered by guns and told to unload. We were marched to jail and held over night. In the morning the writer was separated from the bunch, but finally we were all turned loose. Being separated, we did not learn until evening where each and all were. However, all except the writer had gotten back to Seattle, and secured the services of Attorney Brown, to take up the case, should it become necessary. It was not necessary. The boys held a street meeting in Seattle, and part started from there for Spokane, over one road, and the rest over another road.

We continued our work of propaganda without missing a single date, and all re-united at Spokane, where we held several good meetings. Leaving Spokane, we took in Sandpoint, Idaho, and then rambled into Missoula, Montana, where we had some of the best meetings of all the places along the route.

We put the “Starvation Army” on the bum, and packed the streets from one side to the other. The literature sales were good, the collections good, and the red cards containing the songs sold like hot cakes.

At Missoula, Mont., we have completed two full week’s work on the road. We left Portland with 20 members. We lost 4 of them, but we picked up one at Seattle, and two at Spokane, so our industrial band is practically the same as when we started.

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Hellraisers Journal: From The Industrial Union Bulletin: J. H. Walsh, “I.W.W. ‘Red Special’ Overall Brigade, On Its Way”

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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The morning is bright and all
are sleeping on the jungle grass,
with our arms for pillows,
and coats for covers.
-J. H. Walsh
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hellraisers Journal, Tuesday September 22, 1908
Adventures of the Overall Brigade Enroute to Chicago

From The Industrial Union Bulletin of September 19, 1908:

IWW, Overalls Brigade HdLn, IUB, Sept 19, 1908

[J. H. Walsh on the I.W.W’s Red Special, Part I of II.]

IWW Songs, Union Emblem by Hughes, IUB Sept 19, 1908

In my last article to the Bulletin, I concluded just as we were ready to get to the railroad yards, to take our “Special” en route to Chicago.

Well, we’re in the yards, gathered together at the water tank. In order to know if all are present, we have numbered ourselves. The numbers run from one to nineteen, Mrs. Walsh making twenty. A switchman is seen and he informs us where our “Special car” will be found. The train is late however, and we are delayed a few hours. “Fly Cops” are pretty busy in the yards. They are watching their master’s property that some hobo may not break a sacred seal and pile into a car where valuable merchandise is stored.

Two blasts of the locomotive whistle are heard and the train is starting on it’s journey, and simultaneously nineteen men, all dressed in black overalls and jumpers, black shirts and red ties, with an I. W. W. book in his pocket and an I.W. W. button on his coat, are in a “cattle car” and on our way.

In a short time a glim (lantern) appears and the breakman jumps into the car. His unionism is skin-deep. He belongs to the B. of R. T., but never heard of the class struggle. He is unsuccessful, however, in the collecting of fares, and we continue are journey.

Our first stop, where we expect to hold a meeting is Centralia, and when about half way there, “our car” is set out. There is only one now left in the train to ride on. It is an oil car, so nineteen men will be found “riding” on that car as soon as the train starts. Being delayed for a few hours again, while the train is being transferred across the ferry, we are hovered around the first campfire toward the wee sma’ hours of morning. At last two short blasts of the whistle are heard, and all are aboard. It is only a short distance to our destination and the train is whirling along at passenger speed. The morning is turning cold and spitting a little rain, but all are determined to stick to the car, when again, appears the brakeman and tells us we cannot ride since daylight has come, but he is informed that we must get to Centralia. He insists we’ll get off at the next stop, but we fail to get off, and in a few minutes we arrive at our first stop.

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Hellraisers Journal: Socialist Montana News Editor Finds J. H. Walsh and His Hobo Army Encamped in Billings

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Am I to die, starving in the midst of plenty?
Or shall I die fighting?
For my part, a thousand times over,
I’ll die fighting before I’ll die starving.
-J. H. Walsh
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hellraisers Journal Monday September 21, 1908
Billings, Montana – Mrs. Hazlett Encounters Walsh and His Army

From the Socialist Montana News of September 17, 1908:

IWW Membership Card

On Mrs. Hazlett’s trip to Red Lodge, where the Labor day committee refused to let her speak after having engaged her, she spoke Saturday night at Billings. She had to combat a patent medicine doctor, another street fakir, and J. H. Walsh was there also with his industrial army. This “army” is a curious development of the unemployed protest. It will be remembered that J. H. Walsh was the first editor of the Montana News. He has since been a national organizer for I. W. W., and has been speaking along the coast, and through the western country. He has recently organize this hobo army of twenty, and they are on their way to the convention of the Industrial Workers of the World at Chicago.

They hobo it through the country and camp out. Mrs. Walsh goes through on a Pullman and he takes the baggage. They sing songs of the red flag and revolution, sell literature and take collections. They do not talk for socialism, but only for industrial unionism. Walsh does not believe in political action at all, but only in “direct action.” At the same time he says their propaganda is addressed to the large ranks of the unemployed, floaters, who are disfranchised because of no place to stay. Such work as the “hobo army” does may arouse the spirit of revolt in this class made miserable by society’s injustice, and so teach the only possible remedy for these terrible evils-the ownership by all mankind of the means of life.

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Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for August 1918, Part I: Found in West Virginia & at Chicago IWW Trial

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Mother Jones, Fear Not Organize, Rkfd Mrn Str p3, Mar 19, 1918
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hellraisers Journal, Thursday September 19, 1918
Mother Jones News for August 1918, Part I
-Mother Found in West Virginia, Chicago, and Denver

From the United Mine Workers Journal of August 1, 1918:

Mother Jones Fire Eater, St L Str, Small Crpd, Aug 23, 1917

WEST VIRGINIA NEWS

Charleston, W. Va.—A local of about 250 members has been organized at the Wyatt mines near Shinnston, by Mother Jones and President William F. [M.] Rogers of the State Federation of Labor.

Local Union 2839, Kaymoor, has invested $300.24 in War Savings Stamps and donated $25 to the Red Cross.

Board Member Ballantyne, Mother Jones and Organizers B. A. Scott and Joe Angelo held meetings last week at Worthington, Rosebud, Watson, Shinnston and Mt. Clair.

The Eccles miners have made a splendid showing in the purchase of War Savings Stamps. The assigned quota was $34,000, but the miners have pledges $42,000.

Miners and citizens of Longacre in voting precinct No. 3, have pledged $19,460 for War Savings Stamps.

The mining camp of Donwood, with a population of 450, and a local union membership of 160, has pledged $10,420.79 to the purchase of War Savings Stamps.

[Photograph added.]

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Hellraisers Journal: Chicago IWW’s Enter Leavenworth Pen; Fellow Workers Remain Serene as They March Thru the Yard

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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The bandage will remain on
the eyes of Justice
as long as the Capitalist
has the cut, shuffle, and deal.
-Big Bill Haywood
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hellraisers Journal, Thursday September 12, 1918
Leavenworth, Kansas – Fellow Workers Lectured by Warden

From The Leavenworth Times of September 8, 1918:

I.W.W.’S ENTER FEDERAL PEN
WITH AIR OF UNCONCERN
[Part II]
—–

ADVICE FROM THE WARDEN.

WWIR, In Here For You, Ralph Chaplin, Sol Aug 4, Sept 1, 1917

From the train the prisoners were marched to the chapel to listen to a short talk by Warden Morgan. As is customary when a group of men enter the institution, he explained to them what they should do and advised each one to obey without question every rule. “The prominence of your trial will cause prejudice neither for nor against you” the warden stated. “As with every other man you will be classed as a first grade prisoner on your entrance; how long you hold that classification depends on each one individually. Though you were tried and convicted jointly you will be dealt with individually while here.

“Be exceedingly slow to take advice if it necessitates any deviation from the prison rules. There are ‘old timers’ here who will probably try to get you into trouble that they themselves would avoid. Your treatment here depends largely on yourselves; play fair with us and you will receive leniency in return.”

Next the men were told to take everything from their pockets and put it in their hats. They were warned not to hold back a single bit of personal property. Knives, money, pencils, booklets, glasses and everything they possessed was turned over into the care of prison officials. After undergoing a search they were given something to eat, taken to a group of empty cells and locked up for the night.

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Hellraisers Journal: Chicago IWW’s Enter Leavenworth Pen; Fellow Workers Maintain Belief in Industrial Unionism

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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My views have not changed in the least
since our conviction.
-Big Bill Haywood
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hellraisers Journal, Wednesday September 11, 1918
Leavenworth, Kansas – Haywood and 92 Fellow Workers Enter Prison

From The Leavenworth Times of September 8, 1918:

I.W.W.’S ENTER FEDERAL PEN
WITH AIR OF UNCONCERN
[Part I]
—–

CREW OF NINETY-THREE ARRIVED FROM CHICAGO
LATE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.
—–

STILL HOLD SAME VIEWS
—–

Big Bill Haywood, National Secretary-Treasurer, Tells Newspaper
Reporters That No One There Ever Hindered Government War Program-
Will Not Be Dressed in Until Monday Morning-Other Prisoners
Greet Them With Sneers and Cold Stares.
—–

BBH, Leaving Chicago Court, Reno Gz Jr p5, Sept 10, 1918
Big Bill Haywood

Displaying a spirit of bravado and wearing the air of martyred heroes, William D. “Big Bill” Haywood and the ninety-two Industrial Workers of the World, entered the Federal penitentiary here yesterday [September 7th] to begin sentences for attempting to overturn America’s war program. They arrived in special cars from Chicago at 3 o’clock in the afternoon and at 4:30 everyone was inside the prison walls.

“My views have not changed in the least since our conviction” stated Big Bill Haywood, secretary-treasurer of the National I. W. W., who was given twenty years.

I am still thoroughly convince that not one of the men here has ever hindered the government’s war preparations in the least; on the contrary the I. W. W. has materially assisted in carrying out war activities. Not a munition ship leaves the city of Philadelphia that is not loaded by members of the organization and only two docks on the water front employ other laborers.

WANTS U. S. TO WIN.

Gentle men, understand this, that though I am emphatically opposed to war, my sympathies are with the United Staters in the present conflict, I now see where it could not have been avoided and must be pushed to a successful conclusion. No man has ever been more emphatic in condemning Germany than myself; the Kaiser and the Prussian junkers must be crushed and war, though wrong, seems to be the only method it is possible to use.

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Hellraisers Journal: From the Appeal to Reason: “Red Special on the Way” by Eugene V. Debs

Janet RayeEugene Victor Debs
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Hurrah for the Red Special
and the Social Revolution.
-Eugene V. Debs
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hellraisers Journal, Thursday September 10, 1908
“Crimson Flyer Speeds Westward Bearing the Message of Socialism”

From the Appeal to Reason of September 5, 1908:

RED SPECIAL ON THE WAY
—–
Crimson Flyer Speeds Westward Bearing
the Message of Socialism.
—–

EVD, 1 Red Special Itinerary, AtR p2, Sept 5, 1908EVD, 2 Red Special Itinerary, AtR p2, Sept 5, 1908EVD, 3 Red Special Itinerary, AtR p2, Sept 5, 1908

CHICAGO, Aug. 31.-When the Red Special made its appearance at the Chicago depot, thousands of social revolutionists, gathered from all directions, cheered continuously. Even the representatives of the Chicago capitalist press were present with pencil and camera to picture the great train and its decorations.

People now seem to realize for the first time that the socialist party is not only in the field, but that it is an active and portentous factor in the campaign. Not only was the train viewed by thousands of interested spectators at Chicago, but it evoked exclamations of surprise all along its route.

At 9:30 this morning the flaming special leaves for the west with the state candidates of Illinois, representatives of the national office and other guests aboard. Never have the exponents of a great cause started forth under more favorable auspices or with greater confidence and determination to overcome all obstacles and reach their goal in triumph.

Hurrah for the Red Special and the Social Revolution.-Eugene V. Debs.

—–

Circulars from the office of the national secretary announce that arrangements have been made to carry several hundred passengers every day on the Red Special. Any person can get on the train at any stop and ride as far as he likes at the rate of 2 cents a mile. Meals on the train will cost fifty cents each. there will be no sleeping berth for these passengers, but a first-class day coach will be provided.

Indications are that workers will be getting on at every stop to ride to the next and thus get into touch with the train they sent out. every afternoon passengers will be carried from small stations to the city where an evening meeting is to be held. Debs and all the special train party and all their fellow workers who board the train for short trips will have their meals together and these gatherings are to be made gay affairs. The train will enable workers of one town to get acquainted with those of another and the gathering of so many men and women interested in Socialism is expected to be a great encouragement to those in small communities and to the speakers and candidate for president.

“Those who intend to join the special train” said Otto McFeely, correspondent for the Workers’ Press association “should give the names of their party to the local newspapers and also call the editor’s attention to other special events of the celebration in their town.”

The following is a schedule of the arrivals, departures and stops from the time the train leaves Denver, the sixth day out, until its return to Chicago, September 25.

———-

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Hellraisers Journal: The Liberator Calls for Contributions to Debs Defense Campaign: “The Million Dollar Fund”

Janet RayeEugene Victor Debs
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I have no country to fight for;
my country is the earth;
I am a citizen of the world.
-Eugene Victor Debs
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hellraisers Journal, Friday September 6, 1918
“Debs Is Arrested! What will you do for him”

From The Liberator of September 1918:

Debs Defense, Liberator p36, Sept 1918

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