Hellraisers Journal: From the Union Record: “In Retrospect,” an Editorial on the End of the Seattle General Strike

Share

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

Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday February 12, 1919
Seattle, Washington – An Editorial on the End of the General Strike

From the Seattle Union Record of February 11, 1919:

Seattle General Strike, Shipyard Strike Continues, SUR p1, Feb 11, 1919Seattle General Strike, Solidarity by I Swenson, SUR p1, Feb 11, 1919

—–

In Retrospect

The first general strike in the history of the American labor movement has come to an end.

Perhaps it would not be amiss to stop just a moment and take a slant at what happened-a post mortem , as it were . It sometimes happens that much can be learned from a careful analysis of events that have transpired and, perhaps, learn how to avoid mistakes of both omission and commission.

Four things stand out above all others like a mountain in the center of a plain. These are:

First-The splendid solidarity evidenced by the 100 per cent response to the strike call.

Second-The absolute orderliness of the workers on strike and the resolute refusal to be aggravated into any action that could in the least measure be interpreted as riotous conduct.

Third-The hysterical bombast and sometimes guttersnipe comment on events that emanated from the Mayor’s office down at the City-County building, and then retailed through the Seventh avenue “friend of labor” [The Seattle Star] that has at last been unmasked.

Fourth-The desperate efforts at “playing to the gallery” that was indulged in by the Star in an effort to curry favor with big business after the management had finally come to understand that its true character was known to the workers of the community.

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: From the Union Record: “In Retrospect,” an Editorial on the End of the Seattle General Strike”

Hellraisers Journal: From the Union Record: “Seattle Still Tied Up Tight!” The Great City-Wide General Strike Continues

Share

Quote Anna Louise Strong, NO ONE KNOWS WHERE, SUR p1, Feb 4, 1919—–

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday February 9, 1919
Seattle, Washington – City-Wide General Strike Continues

From the Seattle Union Record of February 8, 1919:

Seattle General Strike, Tied Up Tight, SUR p1, Feb 8, 1919

“The Broken Record”

Seattle General Strike, Broken Record, SUR p1, Feb 8, 1919

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: From the Union Record: “Seattle Still Tied Up Tight!” The Great City-Wide General Strike Continues”

Hellraisers Journal: Eye-Witness Account from Sacramento Courtroom: Fellow Workers “Were Led Back to Jail Singing”

Share

Quote Frank Little re Guts, Wobbly by RC p208, Chg July 1917—–

Hellraisers Journal – Friday February 7, 1919
Sacramento, California – Fellow Workers Sang Their Way Back to Jail

From The Butte Daily Bulletin of February 3, 1919:

43 I.W.W. RECEIVE THEIR SENTENCE
WITH A LAUGH

The Defiant Stand of Unionists in Sacramento Trial
Told in Eye-Witnesses’ Account.

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

An eye-witness’ account of the courtroom scene when 43 members of the I. W. W. were sentenced in Sacramento 10 days ago, after having maintained a “silence strike against capitalist justice” during the trial, has just been published by the New York defense committee, 27 East Fourth street, New York City. After being out only 70 minutes the jury brought in a verdict of “guilty as charged” against all of the defendants, showing that the case of each had been dispatched in a minute and a half.

The men seemed rather glad to have it over with, it is reported. There never had been any doubt in their minds as to what the verdict would be. As they were led out of the courtroom they sang “Solidarity Forever!”

The next morning, Jan. 17. the 43 “silent defendants” were brought in for sentence. The three who had refused to join in their decision to put up no defense were absent. “Have any of the defendants anything to say before I pass sentence?” asked Judge Frank H. Rudkin.

They had, indeed. Their pledge of silence, “in contempt of court,” was to last only until they had been convicted. Their tongues were now loosed. Eleven of them spoke, occupying the entire morning, during which time the 43 stood shoulder to shoulder before the court and delivered probably as scathing an arraignment of capitalist justice as has ever been voiced by workingmen.

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Eye-Witness Account from Sacramento Courtroom: Fellow Workers “Were Led Back to Jail Singing””

Hellraisers Journal: “The Hour Has Struck!” & “Wheels Stop Turning” -Seattle General Strike Begins at 10 A. M.

Share

Quote Anna Louise Strong, NO ONE KNOWS WHERE, SUR p1, Feb 4, 1919—–

Hellraisers Journal – Thursday February 6, 1919
Seattle, Washington – General Strike Begins at 10 A. M.

From the Seattle Union Record of February 6, 1919:

Seattle General Strike, Wheels Stop Turning, SUR p1, Feb 6, 1919

“NOW SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO”

Seattle General Strike, Now See, SUR p2, Feb 6, 1919

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: “The Hour Has Struck!” & “Wheels Stop Turning” -Seattle General Strike Begins at 10 A. M.”

Hellraisers Journal: 110 Seattle Unions Call for General Strike to Begin Thursday at 10 A. M.; 60,000 Workers Will Join Walk-Out

Share

Seattle General Strike, Set for Thursday, SUR p1, Feb 3, 1919—–

Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday February 4, 1919
Seattle, Washington – General Strike of 60,000 Workers Set for Thursday

Seattle General Strike, All Unions To Go Out, SUR p1, Feb 3, 1919

Seattle General Strike, Announcement Delaney, SUR p1, Feb 3, 1919

At 10 o’clock next Thursday morning 60,000 organized workers in the city of Seattle will stand shoulder to shoulder in the first general strike that has ever been successfully inaugurated in the history of this country. Insolently and contemptuously Mr. Charles Piez and his labor-snubbing shipping board threw down the defiant gauntlet which has now been taken up with a firmness of resolution and a solidarity unmatched in the annals of the American Labor movement.

The workers of the northwest believe that they have been flouted and fooled by Piez and his fellow labor-baiters, that they have been deceived and betrayed by the politicians, both state and federal, and they have resolutely grasped the only weapon over which they have any direct control, determined to make a fight that will demonstrate whether or not they have the power to secure the justice that has been denied them by industrial barons and bureaucratic despots.

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: 110 Seattle Unions Call for General Strike to Begin Thursday at 10 A. M.; 60,000 Workers Will Join Walk-Out”

Hellraisers Journal: Seattle Union Record: “More Unions Favor Strike”-Electrical Workers’ Union Votes to Endorse

Share

Quote John McKelvey re Stt GS Shipyards, SUR p1, Jan 27, 1919—–

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday February 2, 1919
Seattle, Washington – City Braces for General Strike

From the Seattle Union Record of January 31, 1919:

Seattle General Strike, More Unions Favor and Electrical, SUR, Jan 31, 1919

With every vote in the affirmative, Electrical Workers’ Union No. 16 went down the line for the General sympathetic strike Thursday night.

“We propose to stand by the Metal Trades Council because the Metal Trades Council is right,” said William Delaney, speaking for the union following the meeting, “and because we recognize that this is a class struggle.”

Other unions which last night went on record for the general strike were the sheet metal workers and the lady barbers, the latter by a unanimous vote. The cigarmakers endorsed the strike with the same unanimity.

The street car men at meetings held Thursday afternoon and Thursday evening voted to hold referendums at the various car barns all day Saturday.

———-

[Emphasis added.]

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Seattle Union Record: “More Unions Favor Strike”-Electrical Workers’ Union Votes to Endorse”

Hellraisers Journal: From The Liberator: “The Silent Defense in Sacramento” by Jean Sterling (Silent Except for Coughing)

Share

Quote Jean Sterling, Silent Defense, Liberator, Feb 1919—–

Hellraisers Journal – Saturday February 1, 1919
Sacramento, California – I. W. W. Defendants Silent Except for the Coughing

From The Liberator of February 1919:

The Silent Defense in Sacramento

By Jean Sterling

Sacramento IWW, Silent Defense, Dec 1918 to Jan 1919
Silent Defenders

—–

“Do the defendants, not represented by attorneys, wish to interrogate the talesman?”

The court reporter held his pencil suspended. The forty-three defendants faced with mocking eyes and closed lips their jailers, prosecutors and the presiding judge.

“Do they wish to exercise the right of challenge?”

For a tense second the inexorable wheels of justice stopped turning. Some one had thrown a felt slipper in the cogs. The defendants gave the prospective juror not so much as a glance. They had read and yawned and gazed vacantly out of the high windows while the attorneys for the prosecution had been probing the talesman’s soul for any humane or modern ideas on the subject of labor.

Then, after a decorous silence, such as is observed in court procedures and funeral rites, the Judge said quietly, “If, then, there are no objections to the talesman, he may take his seat in the jury box.”

And so the juryman, an ancient rancher, the prophesy of the type to follow, took his seat.

And in this manner did the forty-three defendants, I. W. W.’s, now being tried in Sacramento, California, on charges of conspiracy, under the Espionage Act, open their “silent defense.”

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: From The Liberator: “The Silent Defense in Sacramento” by Jean Sterling (Silent Except for Coughing)”