Tag: Chicago IL

Hellraisers Journal: From the Spokane Industrial Worker: Lucy Parsons Recalls Terrible Day Her Husband Was Hanged

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
Share

Quote Albert Parsons, Chicago, Nov 11, Alarm p1, Nov 19, 1887———-

Hellraisers Journal – Friday November 18, 1910
Lucy Parsons Recalls Terrible Day in 1887 When Chicago Martyrs Were Murdered

From the Spokane Industrial Worker of November 17, 1910:

A LOYAL WIFE AND LOVING MOTHER
——-

(Extract from “Liberator.”)

Lucy Parsons, Life of AP, pub Chg 1889

 

So the fatal day at last arrived. It was a sad, quiet, chilly November morning. I had not seen my husband for three days. We had two children then. I felt that I must take them to see their father, to look into his noble face once more, and to receive his blessing. I took them by the hands and led them to the jail. When I arrived there I found the accursed place where the slaughter of the innocent was to take place. all roped in for one whole block around, and police with rifles marching up and down all around. I entreated them to let me see him just once more! I was gruffly ordered away. I then begged them, the brutes , to take the innocent children to see their father; certainly they had done no wrong to deserve punishment; but the reply was a patrol wagon was called and I and the children were tumbled in and carried off to the station house and locked in a cell while the murder was being committed.

About noon the matron came to my cell and said in a cold-hearted manner: “Mrs. Parsons, it is all over; your husband has been hanged.” I remembered nothing more until I realized that my little girl was patting me on the cheek and saying. “Mamma, are you asleep?”

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: From the Spokane Industrial Worker: Lucy Parsons Recalls Terrible Day Her Husband Was Hanged” →

Hellraisers Journal: From the Spokane Industrial Worker: “The Haymarket and the Eight Hour Movement of 1886”

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
Share

Quote Albert Parsons, Chicago, Nov 11, Alarm p1, Nov 19, 1887———-

Hellraisers Journal – Friday November 11, 1910
Martyrs of Chicago’s Great Eight-Hour Movement Remembered

From the Spokane Industrial Worker of November 9, 1910:

Haymarket Eight Hour Martyrs, Future Honors, IW p1, Nov 9, 1910

———-

[Detail:]

Haymarket Eight Hour Martyrs, Future Honors detail, IW p1, Nov 9, 1910

———-

Twenty-three years have elapsed since the execution of the four men in the county jail at Chicago. Twenty-three years, ample time for the world to correct its errors of misinformation. And yet, only a comparatively small portion of the people as a whole; yes, it may be safely said that only a minority of the so-called “revolutionists” are possessed of the true status of the affair. It is for the purpose of briefly outlining the facts of the Haymarket “riot” and the resulting murder of four innocent men, and to commemorate their death that this Anniversary Number is issued. The facts are as follows: Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: From the Spokane Industrial Worker: “The Haymarket and the Eight Hour Movement of 1886”” →

Hellraisers Journal: International Socialist Review: “Working Class Politics” -Speech by Debs at Riverview Park, Chicago

Janet RayeEugene Victor Debs
Share

Quote EVD, Socialists n IU, Chg Sept 18, ISR p258, Nov 1910———-

Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday November 2, 1910
Chicago, Illinois – Eugene Debs Speaks on Working Class Politics

From the International Socialist Review of November 1910:

EVD ISR p257, Nov 1910

THE campaign of the Socialist party of Cook county, Illinois, was formally opened on September 18th, Eugene V. Debs being the principal speaker. A vast concourse of people were assembled at Riverview Park where the meeting took place. Below will be found some extracts from the speech of Debs, in which he emphasized the necessity of industrial unity as the only means of effective political action. Said Debs: 

We live in the capitalist system, so-called because it is dominated by the capitalist class. In this system the capitalists are the rulers and the workers the subjects. The capitalists are in a decided minority and yet they rule because of the ignorance of the working class.

So long as the workers are divided, economically and politically, they will remain in subjection, exploited of what they produce, and treated with contempt by the parasites who live out of their labor.

The economic unity of the workers must first be effected before there can be any progress toward emancipation. The interests of the millions of wage workers are identical, regardless of nationality, creed, or sex, and if they will only open their eyes to this simple, self-evident fact, the greatest obstacle will have been overcome and the day of victory will draw near.

The primary need of the workers is industrial unity and by this I mean their organization in the industries in which they are employed as a whole instead of being separated into more or less impotent unions according to their crafts. Industrial unionism is the only effective means of economic organization and the quicker the workers realize this and unite within one compact body for the good of all, the sooner will they cease to be the victims of ward-heeling labor politicians and accomplish something of actual benefit to themselves and those dependent upon them. In Chicago where the labor grafters, posing as union leaders, have so long been permitted to thrive in their iniquity, there is especially urgent need of industrial unionism, and when this is fairly under way it will express itself politically in a class conscious vote of and for the working class.

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: International Socialist Review: “Working Class Politics” -Speech by Debs at Riverview Park, Chicago” →

Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for July 1920, Part II: Speech at Williamson WV Described, Found in Indianapolis, Indiana

Janet RayeBattle of Blair Mountain of 1921
Share

Quote Mother Jones, Un-Christ-Like Greed, IN DlyT Ipls p1, July 15, 1920———-

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday August 22, 1920
-Mother Jones News for July 1920, Part II
Speech at Williamson, W. Va., Described; Found in Indianapolis

From the Buffalo Labor Journal of July 8, 1920:

MOUNTAIN MEN AROUSED
—–

Mother Jones, Williamson WV Conv, UMWJ p8, July 1, 1920

Williamson, W. Va. [June 20, 1920]-“The motto of West Virginia, ‘Mountainers are always free,’ will be made effective,” declared Mother Jones in an address to over 5,000 miners of Mingo county. A drenching rain did not deter the workers from coming out of the mountains, the tent colonies of evicted strikers and neighboring towns. Mayor Porter of this place assured the meeting that he was in perfect sympathy with their efforts to rid the state of Baldwin-Feltz detective thugs, employed by the coal owners.

Secretary Pauley of the West Virginia Federation of Labor told the miners that trade unionists through out the state are behind them in this fight for law and order.

The recent murder of the mayor of Matewan and other citizens by the Baldwin-Feltz detective thugs, who were attempting to evict miners without due process of law, has aroused organized labor to greater activity against these private armies of the coal owners. The same condition prevails in Logan and McDowell counties. Governor Cornwell ignores these outlaws while delivering lectures and issuing statements on the need for “100 per cent. Americanism.”

[Photograph added.]

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for July 1920, Part II: Speech at Williamson WV Described, Found in Indianapolis, Indiana” →

Hellraisers Journal: International Socialist Review, Volume I, Issue 1: The Great Chicago Building Trades Lock-Out

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
Share

Quote EVD, Proud Socialists SDP Conv, SF Cls Strgl p4, Mar 17, 1900———-

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday July 1, 1900
Chicago, Illinois – Great Lock-Out of Building Trades Continues

From the International Socialist Review of July 1900:

“The Chicago and St. Louis Strikes”
Part I of II.

Chicago n St Louis Strikes, ISR p58, July 1900

At the beginning there were various points of contention, but as time passed these all gave way to one main point of contention, the question of the principle of federated trades. All the building trades of Chicago are federated for such common action as may be thought necessary in the Building Trades Council. The contractors insist that this body disband as a condition to any settlement whatever.

This is, of course, an absolutely impossible condition for the laborers, the concession of which would not be a settlement at all, but a crushing defeat. It would mean the setting back of labor one step in the long upward struggle of centuries; the abandonment of one vantage point gained at terrible cost. The individual union is almost if not quite as helpless in the face of the intensely concentrated capital of today as was the individual work man before the capitalist employer of a generation ago. This was especially emphasized in the Chicago struggle as the employers were all united in a Central Contractors’ Council. The fact that the contractors never dreamed of dissolving their central body proved the purely class nature of their demand and showed that the dispute was one that could be settled only by a test of strength.

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: International Socialist Review, Volume I, Issue 1: The Great Chicago Building Trades Lock-Out” →

Hellraisers Journal: Chicago Union Labor Advocate: “Factory Girl…O child at the grim machine toiling” by Morris Rosenfeld

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
Share

Quote Morris Rosenfeld, Mayn Rue Plats, see Silverman, 2010———-

Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday June 7, 1910
“The Factory Girl…at the grim machine toiling” by Morris Rosenfeld

From the Chicago Labor Union Advocate of June 1910:

POEM Factory Girl M Rosenfeld, Chg Lbr Un Adv p20, June 1910Morris Rosenfeld Bio w POEM Factory Girl, Chg Lbr Un Adv p20, June 1910

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Chicago Union Labor Advocate: “Factory Girl…O child at the grim machine toiling” by Morris Rosenfeld” →

Hellraisers Journal: From the Duluth Labor World: Milwaukee Brewers Stung by Too Much Truth from Mother Jones

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
Share

Quote Mother Jones, Mlk Girl Slaves n Virtue, AtR p2, Apr 9, 1910———-

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday May 15, 1910
Milwaukee, Wisconsin – Brewers Stung by True Talks of Mother Jones

From the Duluth Labor World of May 14, 1910:

Mlk Girl Slaves, Mother Jones v Breweries, LW p14, May 14, 1910———-

Mother Jones, Dem Bnr Mt V OH p7, Apr 5, 1910CHICAGO, Ill., May 13.—”Mother Jones” told too much truth about the conditions under which the girls employed in the Milwaukee breweries work and the brewery interests think she has gone far enough. So they are calling to their aid detectives in an effort to suppress the printed matter which is being prepared in pamphlet form.

There was such a demand for the articles exposing the conditions in Milwaukee that it was decided to publish the material in pamphlet form.

Acting through a detective agency by the name of Mooney & Boland, the Northwestern Printing Company, which had the contract to print the article, were intimidated into turning over all the pamphlets.

William Vorsatz, who had charge of the distribution of the pamphlets, immediately complained to the postmaster, Daniel Campbell. Apparently the postal officials were more interested in the power of the brewery combine than the weakness of the girl slaves, and charged that “Mother Jones'” article was “obscene.” They especially referred to a paragraph telling about the treatment of the girls by the brutal foremen.

Twenty thousand copies of the pamphlet were printed and the question of sending them out regardless of the postal ruling is being considered.

In substantiation of “Mother Jones'” story of the breweries a delegation from the Women’s Trade Union League of Chicago visited Milwaukee and verified the statements made.

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: From the Duluth Labor World: Milwaukee Brewers Stung by Too Much Truth from Mother Jones” →

Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for March 1920, Part III: Jim Seymour on Mass Meeting for Labor Defense in San Francisco

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
Share

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

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday May 9, 1920
-Mother Jones News for March 1920, Part III
Jim Seymour Describes Labor Defense Meeting in San Francisco

From The Butte Daily Bulletin of March 29, 1920:

Mother Jones Raises Hell in San Francisco, BDB p4, Mar 29, 1920—–

Bulletin’s “Minister Without Portfolio”
Attends Interesting Gathering of
“Vicious Syndicalists.”
—–

BY JIM SEYMOUR.

(Special to the Bulletin.)

Mother Jones, Crpd Lg, Chg Tb p120, Oct 26, 1919

Frisco (known bourgeoiseally as San Francisco), March 20 (By Mail).-Last night [Friday, March 19th] California hall was filled to “S. R. O.” by specimens of the various breeds of workers and a very few others. William Cleary, attorney for a number of vicious criminal syndicalists, and some woman called “Mother Jones,” were billed to speak under the auspices of the Labor Defense league. Cleary jimmed the meeting by exercising his prerogative as a member of the bar and coming late. The trial was kept waiting for him until several of the chairs got too hot for the comfort of the sitters, whereupon Robert Whitaker, ex-sky pilot [preacher] and chairman of the meeting, who seems too good-natured to be named anything more dignified than Bob, delivered a serm-an opening address in which he mentioned the names of Anita Whitney, Kate O’Hare and one Eugene Debs. The applause percentages follow: Whitney, 96; Debs, 72; O’Hare, 49. Collection for defense of criminal syndicalists, for which the Lord be praised, $148.03.

The Rev. Bob then addressed us a few remarks that convinced us that the white-haired old woman on the stage was really Mother Jones and that nobody was trying to palm off a ringer on us. I don’t know just what it was, but Whitaker said something that Mother Jones didn’t quite agree with; and I don’t know just what Mother Jones’ reply was, but she gave him a good-natured bawling out that seemed to amuse the audience but failed to disturb the equanimity of the man who had just collected $148 for the cause. And so long as it didn’t harm him, or us, or the boys in jail, we will remark that it served him jolly well right-he should have known better than to pull that absurd burgeoise stunt of introducing a speaker that is better known than Jesus Christ. [Note: Mother Jones as a devote Catholic would certainly dispute that description of her fame.]

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for March 1920, Part III: Jim Seymour on Mass Meeting for Labor Defense in San Francisco” →

WE NEVER FORGET-James Kelly Cole Who Lost Life on November 17, 1909, En Route to the Spokane Free Speech Fight

Janet RayeWe Never Forget
Share

Quote Mother Jones, Pray for dead, Ab Chp 6, 1925———-

WNF, James Kelly Cole, IWW Spk FSF, Nov 17, 1909, Rev Writings Poems p12, 1910 ———-

WE NEVER FORGET
James Kelly Cole Who Lost His Life in Freedom’s Cause,
November 17, 1909, at Tomah, Wisconsin
———-

James Kelly Cole, Poems Cover, 1910
“It was on a pilgrimage to help others
who believed in the rights of men
that James Kelly Cole was halted suddenly by death.
A railroad accident at Tomah, Wis., November 17th, 1909,
ended only too untimely his brief, young, hopeful life.
He lived well and bravely and thus did he die.”

———-

Continue reading “WE NEVER FORGET-James Kelly Cole Who Lost Life on November 17, 1909, En Route to the Spokane Free Speech Fight” →