Tag: Chicago IWW Class War Prisoners

Hellraisers Journal: From The Messenger: “Miscarriage of Justice” by Chicago IWW Class-War Prisoner, Walter T. Nef

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

Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday November 9, 1921
Walter T. Nef  Writes from Leavenworth Penitentiary 

From Then Messenger  of November 1921:

MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE

[by Walter T. Nef]
(Continued)

IWW Chg Class War Prisoners bf Leaving for Leavenworth, Late Apr 1921, with Names fr Messenger p235, Aug 1921

On July 16, 1916, I left the office in Philadelphia andwent to work as a longshoreman and worked most of the time on ammunition and powder, general cargofor Murphy, Cook & Co., and sometimes on lumber,to which I can get many members to testify. There have been no explosions on the docks of Philadelphia or on any ships out of that port and all the ammunitionwas loaded by members of the I. W. W.and there were no guards on the docks. The head foreman, called  “Billboro,” can testify to my work asa longshoreman. Besides there are many members who can testify to my position in regard to Germany and the war.

As I stated before Honorable Judge K. M. Landis before sentence was passed, I know of no conspiracy andif there had been a conspiracy against the government then explosions and obstructions would havetaken place. But there were none. We had lotsof members on the Panama Line, which is under governmentcontrol, and there was no trouble. Besides the members liked to work on those boats and notime was lost on any trips. The Bulletins testify to this, I think. The Bulletins were published in  “Solidarity,” I think, and “Solidarity” was introduced as evidence.

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Hellraisers Journal: From The Nation: Letter from James Rowan, Class War Prisoner 13113 at Leavenworth, Kansas

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote BBH IWW w Drops of Blood, BDB, Sept 27, 1919—————

Hellraisers Journal – Friday August 5, 1921
Letter from Fellow Worker James Rowan, Class War Prisoner

Leavenworth Prisoner #13113:

James Rowan, Chg IWW Class War Prisoner, Lv Sept 7, 1918

From The Nation of August 3, 1921:

The Imprisoned I. W. W. at Leavenworth

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NATION:

SIR: May I call your attention, as well as that of your readers, to the cases of the I. W. W. prisoners at present doing time at Leavenworth? There are about one hundred and twenty of these men, all told. They are serving sentences varying from five to twenty years. I happen to be one of those serving a twenty-year sentence, so I can speak from first-hand knowledge.

We were arrested in 1917 under three indictments, known respectively as the Chicago, Sacramento, and Wichita indictments, charging us with conspiracy to hamper and obstruct the United States Government in the conduct of the war. After being held from one to two years under unspeakable conditions which caused the death of some, and others to go insane, in the county jails of Chicago, Sacramento, Wichita and other towns in Kansas, we were “tried,” convicted, and given sentences varying from one to twenty years. Fifteen received twenty-year sentences and the majority of the remainder are now serving ten year sentences.

Not one of us was proven guilty of any crime. We were convicted under the stress of war-time hysteria and public prejudice. Our real offense was that we all were, or had been, more or less active members of the I. W. W. We held, and still hold, certain opinions regarding the present system of society which are unfavorable to the ruling class and at variance with those held by the great majority of the people. Whether these opinions are right or wrong cuts no figure as far as the principle involved in these cases is concerned. If men can be imprisoned for their opinions then the liberties guaranteed by the Constitution no longer exist in the United States; free press and free speech are only empty phrases used to deceive the unthinking. If we are forced to serve out these sentences then no one is safe. Anyone holding opinions which the American plutocracy consider dangerous to their privileges can be thrown behind prison bars and forced to spend many years in a felon’s cell.

Our imprisonment not only means loss of liberty and all that makes life worth living to us. It is also a direct attack on the liberties of one hundred and ten million people. If the American people stand for these high-handed and savage judicial acts, unparalleled in any modern civilized country, it means that they have abandoned all claims to the rights and liberties for which our forefathers shed their blood. The lives of one hundred and twenty men are of little consequence. If forced to serve out our sentences we can do so, and I for one would rather stay in jail with a clear conscience than bow the knee to privilege on the outside. The real tragedy lies in the moral breakdown of a great people.

The only power that can free us is aroused public opinion. These cases must be investigated and the facts given wide publicity, and such a strong protest made to the officials at Washington that they may see their way clear to take action leading to the early release of all political prisoners in the State and Federal prisons of the United States. A small group of liberals and radicals are doing all in their power to bring about general amnesty for all political prisoners. Needless to say we thoroughly appreciate their efforts on our behalf. I ask you to add your voice to theirs, to the end that justice may be done and the voice of freedom, in unmistakable tones, may once more ring through the land.

JAMES ROWAN
Leavenworth, Kansas, July 13

[Emphasis and paragraph break added.]

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Hellraisers Journal: The Messenger Calls for Action on Behalf of Ben Fletcher and Other Political and Class-War Prisoners

Janet RayeA. Philip Randolph
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Quote Matilda Robbins ed, Ben Fletcher, p132 PC—————

Hellraisers Journal  – Monday July 4, 1921
Messenger Calls for General Amnesty for Political and Class-War Prisoners

From The Messenger of July 1921:

BEN FLETCHER, CLASS AND POLITICAL AMNESTY

IWW, Ben Fletcher ed, 13126 Leavenworth, Sept 7 or 8, 1918
Fellow Worker Ben Fletcher

WHEN the historian of the future writes of this period he will find that black as well as white men languished in prison cells on account of the political and economic beliefs they entertained. Anthropologists take note!

Ben Fletcher was the only Negro, among the 101 Industrial Workers of the World, who was convicted and sentenced, by Judge Keneesaw Mountain Landis, to 10 years imprisonment in Fort Leavenworth, for an alleged violation of the Espionage Act.

Like Debs, these men were the victims of a vicious war hysteria. Their only crime was that they dared to proclaim the essential rights of the toiling masses, black and white, Jew and Gentile, native and foreign, to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; though these rights are supposed to be vouchsafed in the Magna Charta of American liberties–the Declaration of Independence. It is clear that Fletcher and his white co-workers sinned against the sacred creed and dogma of financial imperialism, drunk and maddened with the red wine of mass murder. The excuse for their imprisonment was that they interfered with the successful prosecution of the war. That excuse no longer exists, for the war is over; still these men are not yet free. Every country, which was a party to the war has proclaimed political amnesty for political and class-war prisoners, save our own. Why?

This is the question which every black and white citizen, worker and lover of liberty should ask President Harding and Attorney General Daughterty

The MESSENGER is calling upon the Negro church and press to preach sermons and write editorials for the release of Ben Fletcher. Needless to say that the white political and class-war prisoners will be included. We call upon every Negro to send telegrams and letters to Harding, Daugherty and the congressman of his district for the release of Fletcher and other political and class-war prisoners. We only single out Fletcher because the Negro population is not aware of the reason for his imprisonment, and, consequently, has a luke-warm interest in the cause of political amnesty. We realize that all workers, regardless of race, creed or color or nationality will benefit from sentiment created; though that sentiment be created, nominally, in the interest of a single worker because of certain conditions, such as race, which make it possible to interest a large part of the population, such as Negroes, or Irish or Italians, etc.

All hands to the Wheel of General Amnesty for Political and Class-War Prisoners. 

—————

[Photograph and emphasis added.]

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Hellraisers Journal: The Leavenworth Times: “Prison Welcomes Twenty Wobblies to Its Rock Pile.”

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Ralph Chaplin Mourn Not the Dead, Bars and Shadows, 1922———-

Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday April 27, 1921
Leavenworth, Kansas – Fellow Workers Report to Prison Voluntarily 

From The Leavenworth Times of April 26, 1921:

PRISON WELCOMES TWENTY
WOBBLIES TO ITS ROCK PILE.
———-

INDUSTRIAL WORKERS OF WORLD
REPORTED VOLUNTARILY YESTERDAY.
———-

SAY ‘HAYWOOD IS COMING’
———-

Charles Ashleigh, Oxford Graduate, Ralph H. Chaplin, Artist-Poet,
Ben Fletcher, Walking Delegate and Other “Leading Lights”
Among Those Who Re-Entered Federal Penitentiary
-Several Refuse to Believe “Big Bill” Fled to Escape Sentence.
———-

IWW Chg Class War Prisoners bf Leaving for Leavenworth, Late Apr 1921, with Names fr Messenger p235, Aug 1921

Twenty of the forty-six Industrial Workers of the World, convicted for violation of the espionage law and obliged to return to the Federal penitentiary because the United States supreme court denied an appeal on a trial review, reported voluntarily yesterday.

“Haywood will be here soon,” declared most of the “wobblies,” who reported yesterday. They refuse to believe that “Big Bill,” their international secretary and chieftain, fled to Russia to escape the prison sentence of five to twenty years.

Stanley J. Clark, Chicago attorney, under sentence of ten years, was the first to report. He arrived yesterday morning from Fort Worth, Tex. Charles Bennett, also under sentence of ten years, was the twentieth man to report, being “dressed in” at 5 o’clock yesterday evening.

Twelve “wobblies” marched through the prison gates in one group. Among the twelve were Ben Fletcher, walking delegate for the I. W, W. and the only colored man in the entire consignment Charles Ashleigh, Englishman and graduate of Oxford University, and Ralph H. Chaplin, artist and poet, who was detailed by the “wobblies” to investigate the Centralia, Wash., conspiracy. Nizra Pietro [Pietro Nigra], who drew the shortest sentence, only ten months, also reported.

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Hellraisers Journal: The Leavenworth Post: “Haywood Flees to Russia to Escape Prison” -Left from New York April 1st

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote BBH re Capitalist Class, Lbr Arg p4, Mar 23, 1911———-

Hellraisers Journal – Friday April 22, 1921
Chicago, Illinois – Federal Officials Confirm Haywood is in Russia

From The Leavenworth Post of April 21, 1921:

BBH Flees to Russia, Lv Pst p1, Apr 21, 1921

(By The Associated Press.)

BBH in Boise Cell 1907 ed, Lv Pst p1, Apr 21, 1921

Chicago, April 21.-Federal officials today received confidential information that William D. Haywood, secretary of the Industrial Workers of the World who was scheduled to begin a sentence at United States penitentiary, at Leavenworth this week, had fled from the United States and now is in either Moscow or Riga.

Attorney Admits Departure.

Otto Christensen, attorney for Haywood, said he had been informed that Haywood sailed from New York on the Oscar Second about April 1, and landed at Riga about April 16. He said he thought Haywood had gone to Russia on a personal mission and was not fleeing from the penitentiary sentence.

Authorities Start Search.

Charles F. Clyne, United States district attorney announced that search had been started for Haywood.

“He is not at Leavenworth, Chicago, nor New York, and we have private information that he has landed either at Moscow or Riga,” said Clyne.

“That is all we know about it but we expect to have definite information very quickly.”

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Hellraisers Journal: U. S. Supreme Court Rules Against William D. Haywood and 79 Fellow Workers Convicted at Chicago

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote BBH IWW w Drops of Blood, Sept Oct 1919———-

Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday April 13, 1921
Washington, District of Columbia – U. S. Supreme Court Rules Against Haywood

From The Leavenworth Post of April 11, 1921:

DECISION IS AGAINST WILLIAM D. HAYWOOD
———-
Supreme Court Refuses to Review
Conviction of Industrial Leader.
———-

79 OTHERS TO COME BACK.
———-

(By the Associated Press.)

BBH William Haywood 13106, Leavenworth Pen, Sept 1918

Washington Apr. 11.-The supreme court today refused to review the conviction of William D. Haywood and seventy-nine more members of the I. W. W. on charge of having conspired to obstruct war activities of the government.

Then refusal of the supreme court to interfere closed the long fight to save Haywood and his associates from prison only a presidential pardon can now prevent their sentences from being imposed.

Evidence Was Questioned 

The petition for the review was based on the contention that the federal agents conducting the raids on houses and offices of the official of the I. W. W. on September 5, 1917 acted without search warrants and evidence obtained was illegal under the recent ruling of the supreme court.

The cases were tried before federal Judge Landis and the sentence ranging from one to twenty hears were imposed.

Most of the men were given their liberty on bail bonds aggregating $500,000 pending the outcome of the appeals.

BBH at Detroit IWW Book Store, OBU p16, Jan 1921

———-

[Emphasis and photographs added.]

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Hellraisers Journal: From The Liberator: “Twenty Years” by Mary Heaton Vorse -Appeals at an End for Chicago IWW Case

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

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday January 2, 1921
Chicago, Illinois – Mary Heaton Vorse Has Supper with Convicted Fellow Workers

From The Liberator of January  1921:

Twenty Years

By Mary Heaton Vorse

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

RECENTLY in Chicago, after a meeting, I went to get a sandwich with a group of labor men. As I looked around the table, it came to me with a shock that I was the only person there, but one, who was not condemned to a long jail sentence. For all the people at the table were members of the Industrial Workers of the World convicted in the famous Chicago case.

Ralph Chaplin sat next to me. I had been talking only a few minutes before with his wife, a girl of extraordinary loveliness. She had not come out with us to supper because she had gone home to put her little boy of seven to bed. I had seen them standing all three together, only a half hour before.

Ralph Chaplin is a gifted idealist, a poet, as well as a man of action. His quality of uncompromising courage made me think of Jack Reed. It is upon such youth that the strength of a people is founded, men ready to suffer and with gifts to make people understand the beliefs which have stirred their hearts. And his wife is like him. It made you feel right with life to see them together. They face a 20-year sentence.

Ralph Chaplin is to be put in jail because he belonged to an industrial union, a legal organization.

Ralph Chaplin was Editor of “Solidarity.” And that is why he was given twenty years. It was a pretty bad crime for anyone to hold a red card. The talented ones were selected for 20-year sentences. Apparently Judge Landis could not bear that a man of attainments and gifts should belong to the organization of the I. W. W.

Charles Ashleigh is another poet. What had he done? He had been an I. W. W. He has a sentence of five years. He was one of those against whose sentence even Captain Lanier of the Military Intelligence protested. One wonders if the Captain had ever read the poem by his distinguished relative, called “Jacquerie.” And so Charles Ashleigh is among those who are slated for Leavenworth, where he has already spent two years.

Opposite me sat George Hardy, the. General Executive Secretary. He was one of those who got off easy. He only got a year and he has already served his sentence. No one knew exactly why some got long sentences or why some got short ones.

Bill Haywood, at the head of the table, as a matter of course was given the maximum sentence; that means a death sentence if it is carried out.

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Hellraisers Journal: From The Liberator: Poem by Fellow Worker Charles Ashleigh from Leavenworth Penitentiary

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

Hellraisers Journal – Monday April 12, 1920
Leavenworth, Kansas – Prison Poem by Charles Ashleigh

From The Liberator of April 1920:

IWW Class War Prisoners, Poem C Ashleigh, Liberator p7, Apr 1920

Fellow Worker Charles Ashleigh, No. 13115, Leavenworth, Sept 1918:

IWW, Charles Ashleigh, 13115, Leavenworth, Sept 1918

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Hellraisers Journal: Fellow Worker Ben Fletcher, Imprisoned Since September 1918, Released on Bond from Leavenworth

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

Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday February 18, 1920
Leavenworth Penitentiary, Kansas – Ben Fletcher Released on Bond

From The Leavenworth Times of February 8, 1920:

FOUR PRISONERS WERE RELEASED AT FEDERAL PEN
—–
All but One, Ben Fletcher, Colored I. W. W.
Were Taken Immediately into Custody.
—–

[…..]

IWW, Ben Fletcher, 13126 Leavenworth, Sept 7 or 8, 1918
Fellow Worker Ben Fletcher

Ben Fletcher, the only colored I. W. W. of “Big Bill” Haywood’s tribe, received, September 8, 1918, at the Federal penitentiary was released yesterday from that institution on an appeal bond to the amount of $10,000. The bond was furnished in Chicago and Ben, immediately upon his release, set out for that metropolis.

The colored “wobbly” was one of four inmates, who were released yesterday, but Fletcher is the only one to enjoy his freedom. The others were taken into custody at the prison gates…..

[Photograph added.]

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