Tag: Class-War Prisoners

Hellraisers Journal: From the Cook County Jail: New Lyrics to an Old Song by Class War Prisoner Harrison George

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We laugh and sing, we have no fear
Our hearts are always light,
We know that every Wobblie true
Will carry on the fight.
-Harrison George

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Hellraisers Journal, Sunday November 18, 1917
From Cook County Jail, Illinois – “For the O. B. U.”

REMEMBER

By HARRISON GEORGE.
Cook County Jail, Oct. 18, 1917
(Tune: “Hold the Fort”)

We speak to you from jail today
Two hundred union men,
We’re here because the bosses’ laws
Bring slavery again.

Chorus

In Chicago’s darkened dungeons
For the O. B. U.
Remember you’re outside for us
While we’re in here for you.

We’re here from mine and mill and rail
We’re here from off the sea,
From coast to coast we make the boast
Of Solidarity.

We laugh and sing, we have no fear
Our hearts are always light,
We know that every Wobblie true
Will carry on the fight.

We make a pledge-no tyrant might
Can make us bend a knee,
Come on you worker, organize
And fight for Liberty.

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Hellraisers Journal: Drumright Follows Tulsa: IWW Hall Raided, FWs Forced to Throw Bricks Thru Window

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Don’t worry, Fellow Worker,
all we’re going to need
from now on is guts.
-Frank Little

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Hellraisers Journal, Saturday November 17, 1917
Drumright, Oklahoma – Takes Cue From Tulsa “Knights of Liberty”

From The Leavenworth Weekly Times of November 15, 1917:

DRUMRIGHT TAKES CUE;
ORDERS ALL I.W.W.’S TO FLEE
—–

ARE FORCED TO HEAVE BRICKS THROUGH
HEADQUARTERS WINDOWS
—–

IN FOR GENRAL CLEAN-UP
—–

Sheriff Issues Statement Urging Shooting on Sight of
Any I. W. W. Suspect Caught Molesting Property-
Plot to Aid I. W. W. Prisoners to Escape
Cook County Jail Frustrated-
Workers Call Convention in Omaha-
4,000 to 5,000 Members Will Be Present
—–

WWIR, IWW Flog Tar Feather, Morn Tulsa Dly Wld, Nov 10, 1917

Tulsa, Okla. Nov. 10.-Taking their cue from the actions of the “Knights of Liberty” of Tulsa who last night flogged, tarred and feathered seventeen members of the I. W. W. and warned all others to flee, officers at Drumright today raided the I. W. W. headquarters there, arrested the secretary and at the point of the pistol forced the men found in the hall to throw bricks through the window on which the sign had been painted. Then all were ordered to “get out.”

Drumright recently was the center of a threatened I. W. W. uprising in the adjacent fields.

Sheriff Griff Graham of Washington county issued a statement today urging the shooting on sight of any I. W. W. suspect caught molesting property.

Several letters were received today by Tulsa newspapers asking if they could put the writers in touch with the “Knights of Liberty” saying they would like to organize other bodies of the same order. No one here can be found who will admit knowing anything of the inside workings of the order.

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Hellraisers Journal: From the Cook County Can: The Can Opener Reports Jail Delivery Plot Nipped in the Bud

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Don’t worry, Fellow Worker,
all we’re going to need
from now on is guts.
-Frank Little

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hellraisers Journal, Friday November 16, 1917
Cook County Jail, Illinois – Class War Prisoners Publish Newspaper

Although locked up behind the bars of the Cook County Jail, the class war prisoners, members of the Industrial Workers of the World, have managed to find paper and pencil and to publish a brand new I. W. W. newspaper, appropriately named “The Can Opener.”

From The Can Opener of November 15, 1917:

WWIR, IWW Chg Cook Co Jail Can Opener, Nov 15, 1917

The Sabo-Cat and I. W. W. Emblem:

WWIR, IWW Chg Cook Co Jail Can Opener Sabo Cat, Nov 15, 1917

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Hellraisers Journal: “Red Sweetheart” Taken into Custody While Visiting With FW Andreytchine at Cook County Jail

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Don’t worry, Fellow Worker,
all we’re going to need
from now on is guts.
-Frank Little

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hellraisers Journal, Tuesday November 13, 1917
Cook County Jail, Illinois – “Girl in Red” Detained

Miss Genevieve Semashko, dubbed the “Girl in Red” by the Tribune, was detained at the Cook County Jail on Saturday, November 10th, while attempting to communicate with her sweetheart, George Andreytchine. FW Andreytchine is one of the I. W. W. class war prisoners currently held as a guest of that institution. The “Red Sweetheart” was suspected of aiding a plot to “battleship” the jail.

From The Chicago Sunday Tribune of November 11, 1917:

WWIR, IWW, Andreytchine Red Sweetheart, Chg Tb Nov 11, 1917

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Hellraisers Journal: International Socialist Review “Labor Notes,” Show IWW Still Active Despite Arrests of Leaders

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Howard’s camp at Alder Creek is also working eight hours.
Twelve men from this camp donated $47 for the Idaho cases.
The camp is 100 per cent organized.
-Fellow Worker Fred Hegge

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Hellraisers Journal, Friday November 9, 1917
“Labor Notes” from the International Socialist Review

If the Plutocrats, fat on war profits, believe the ongoing round-up the leaders of the Industrial Workers of the World will put an end to the work of the One Big Union on behalf of the underpaid and overworked common laborers of the nation, the following report from the Review should disabuse them of that notion.

Labor Notes

Labor Notes, ISR Nov 1917

Agricultural Workers

THE convention of the A. W. I. U. No, 400 convened at 9:30 a. m. October 15 with about 150 members present, and adjourned October 17, 1917. Mat K. Fox was chairman of the proceedings and M. G. Bresnan recording secretary. C. W, Anderson was elected secretary-treasurer. Mat K. Fox, O. E. Gordon, M. Sapper, W. Francik, James Rohn, Louis Melis and M. G. Bresnan is the new organization committee. The convention sent greetings to all members of the I. W. W. and all class war prisoners. The A. W. I. U. No. 400 has pledged all support possible to those indicted on federal charges.

It has been suggested that all members of No. 400 donate one day’s wages toward the defense of the men in jail. Members in Chicago have already voted to do this.

From the Sacramento Valley comes the report that bumper crops are the expectation for the bean and rice growers. Shortage of labor is becoming acute. Wages are low according to the high cost of living. Workers are dissatisfied, discontent is becoming greater, and spontaneous strikes are accruing in numerous localities of these two industries. Delegates are needed by the hundreds to get into this field and organize the workers. Remember, one good man on the job is worth a dozen off the job. Everybody place your shoulder to the wheel and make this year the banner year for the agricultural workers in California. This harvest will last up to the rainy season of winter. Larger wages can be gotten by a little determination.

— C. W. Anderson, Sec’y-Treas., Minneapolis, Minn., Box 1776.

Butte and Anaconda Strike

LWIU, IWW Label, Lumber Rowan, ab 1920

FOUR months we have been on the firing line. It has been one of the greatest battles ever waged on the industrial field, and when we have won (which we will, and that shortly) the mine owners will know that they have been thru some battle. They will think twice the next time before trying to place their heel on the miner’s neck. They have run over this community for so long they thought it was theirs to do with as they pleased, without question.

Here’s to him of the hot-box, with the courage and strength to have rudely jarred and punctured their arrogant dream! To him is due a debt of gratitude for having questioned the right of the plutes to run over this community and state rough-shod; out of it is going to issue not only betterment for ourselves underground, but social and political betterment for the community and state.

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: International Socialist Review “Labor Notes,” Show IWW Still Active Despite Arrests of Leaders” →

Hellraisers Journal: From Behind the Bars of Cook County Jail, Big Bill Haywood Interviewed by Carl Sandburg

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If one man has a dollar he didn’t work for,
some other man worked for a dollar he didn’t get.
-Big Bill Haywood

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Hellraisers Journal, Saturday November 3, 1917
Cook County Jail, Illinois – Big Bill Haywood Speaks

From the International Socialist Review of November 1917:

HAYWOOD LONGS FOR “OTHER BOYS” IN JAIL
—–
Wants All I. W. W. Prisoners Brought Here—
“It Will Be so Homelike”
—–
By Carl Sandburg

Big Bill Haywood, ISR, Nov 1917

Thru a steel cage door of the Cook county jail, Big Bill Haywood today spoke the defiance of the Industrial Workers of the World to its enemies and captors.

Bill didn’t pound on the door, shake the iron clamps nor ask for pity nor make any kind of a play as a hero. He peered thru the square holes of the steel slats and talked in the even voice of a poker player who may or may not hold a winning hand. It was the voice of a man who sleeps well, digests what he eats, and requires neither sedatives to soothe him nor stimulants to stir him up.

 

The man accused of participation in 10,000 separate and distinct crimes lifted a face checkered by the steel lattice work and said with a slow smile:

Hello, I’m glad to see you. Do you know when they’re going to bring the rest of the boys here? We’d like to have them from all over the country together here. It would be homelike for us all to be together. Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: From Behind the Bars of Cook County Jail, Big Bill Haywood Interviewed by Carl Sandburg” →

Hellraisers Journal: Everett Prisoners Freed; IWW Organizing Drives Declared in Lumber, Mining, and Marine Transport

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Don’t Mourn, Organize!
-Joe Hill

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Hellraisers Journal, Friday June 1, 1917
From the International Socialist Review: Telegram from Washington

INDUSTRIAL ACTION NEWS

Everett Massacre, Prisoners Released Telegram, ISR June 1917

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Everett Free Speech, Class War Prisoners at Cemetery, May 12, 1917, WCS

ON the 5th of November, 1916, five working men, members of the Industrial Workers of the World, were shot to death on the docks at Everett, Wash., by hirelings of either the mill owners of the State of Washington, or the Commercial Club of Everett, Wash. Forty-six other workers were wounded.

For this crime, seventy-three workers were jailed for six months under various charges and on the 5th day of May, this year, Thomas H. Tracy was acquitted of a murder charge after a trial lasting two months. Now comes the good news of “all prisoners released.” Another clean cut victory for the fighting I. W. W.!
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Hellraisers Journal: Everett Class War Prisoners Released After Tracy Acquittal, Honor Murdered Fellow Workers

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Pray for the dead and
fight like hell for the living.
-Mother Jones

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Hellraisers Journal, Sunday May 13, 1917
Seattle, Washington – Mount Pleasant Cemetery

Following the acquittal of Tom Tracy, the Everett Free Speech Fight Prisoners have been released. They immediately visited the Mount Pleasant Cemetery were three of five Everett Martyrs lie buried:

Everett Free Speech, Class War Prisoners at Cemetery, May 12, 1917, WCS

Their next action was to turn themselves in at the I. W. W. Union Hall, to be assigned as needed. They have spent the time in jail studying in preparation to become capable union organizers.

———-

Everett Massacre Martyrs of Nov 5, 1916

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Hellraisers Journal: May Day in Seattle: IWW Martyrs Honored, Joe Hill’s Ashes Scattered, Prisoners Serenaded

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Don’t waste any time in mourning-organize.
-Joe Hill

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hellraisers Journal, Wednesday May 2, 1917
Seattle, Washington – I. W. W. Honors Martyrs on May Day

May Day 1917 Seattle, At Graveside of Martyrs, Everett Massacre, WCS

—–

Members and supporters of the Industrial Workers of the World celebrated International Workers’ Day by honoring their martyred dead with a grand march to the graves of three of the five Free Speech Fighters who were murdered at Everett last November. Joe Hill’s ashes were scattered to the winds, after-which the marchers made their way to the King County jail to sing for the I. W. W. boys imprisoned there.

May Day 1917 Seattle, Singing to Prisoners, Everett Massacre, WCS 277

—–

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Hellraisers Journal: Charles Ashleigh: How Forest & Lumber Workers’ IU Stood Forth Against the Lumber Trust Dragon

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We meet today in freedom’s cause
And raise our voices high;
We’ll join our hands in union strong
To battle or to die.

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Hellraisers Journal, Thursday March 1, 1917
Everett, Washington – Solidarity can free our brave class comrades!

In an article in this month’s edition of the International Socialist Review, Charles Ashleigh gives some background on the organizing efforts in Everett, Washington, which landed 74 I. W. W. men in the Snohomish County jail facing murder charges. He calls for workers to stand in Solidarity with these heroic class-war prisoners, and states that working-class loyalty can win their freedom.

Northwest Lumber Jacks, ISR, March 1917

The Lumber Trust and Its Victims

By CHARLES ASHLEIGH

THE great Northwest! Land of snow-topped hills and fertile valleys; of the gray Puget Sound and timber-covered acres! This is the much vaunted land of plenty, country of enterprise—the State of Washington.

Years ago, the first stalwart pioneers laid the foundation of a civilization which is now ripening to a maturity,—and, it would seem, a decay! The pioneers are gone and, in their place, are the mighty potentates who have come into power over the land: the emperors of lumber. Hundreds of thousands of acres of timber land have become the stage for the slow, grinding industrial drama of the exploitation of the army of slaves of the lumber companies. From myriad logging camps and a multitude of saw-mills flows an ever-increasing volume of fat profit into the gaping maw of the few who own the lumber industry. Along the shores of Puget Sound are a number of busy ports, the purpose of whose existence is the shipping of the lumber to all parts of the world.

And, in the “lower end” or “working-stiff quarter” of every town upon the Sound you can see the producers of this tremendous wealth. Congregated on street corners, in pool halls, in the sitting-rooms of cheap “flop-houses” and in the “employment sharks'” offices are crowds of sturdy men, clad in the high, spiked shoes of the logger, heavy short flannel shirts and mackinaws; these are the human material which the lumber barons use for their enrichment.

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