There are no limits to which
powers of privilege will not go
to keep the workers in slavery.
-Mother Jones
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hellraisers Journal, Thursday August 27, 1908
George Pettibone, Tried and True Friend of Labor
From the Appeal to Reason of August 15, 1908:
George A. Pettibone, Martyr.
—–
Mr. and Mrs. George Pettibone
The death of the tried and true friend of labor occasions deep sadness but no surprise. For some time-indeed, ever since his incarceration at Boise, his health has been gradually failing, and it has long been know to his intimates that death was but a question of time.
There are few, if any, more tragic chapters in labor history than the life and death of George Pettibone. We shall not now attempt a comprehensive sketch of his career, but only state its salient features as a fitting prelude to an estimate of the service he rendered organized labor, and of the tribute he deserves as one of its bravest champions.
Pettibone first became prominently identified with organized labor at the time of the Couer d’Alene strikes, which were broken up by the intervention of federal troops. As one of the leaders he was arrested and sentenced to jail, serving several months. From this time forward he was actively engaged in organizing the Western Federation of Miners, of which he was one of the pioneers and an honored member up to the time of his death.
The kidnaping of Pettibone in February 1906, along with Moyer and Haywood is still fresh in the memory of all. It was this brutal assault upon him and the horrors and sufferings incident to it which shattered his health and left him an easy prey to death. Through it all, Pettibone never once wavered. He bore even this terrible ordeal with the serene philosophy of a stoic. No more infamous outrage was ever perpetrated upon any citizen of this country, and although Pettibone felt it keenly he bore up bravely through it all. When others were downcast he was in good cheer, and when even his closest associates were troubled over the outlook he wore his never-failing smile.
George Pettibone never lost courage,
never despaired,
never lost hope in the working class.
-Industrial Union Bulletin
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hellraisers Journal, Wednesday August 26, 1908
George Pettibone, Miners’ Hero, Never Lost Courage
From The Industrial Union Bulletin of August 8, 1908:
There are no limits to which
powers of privilege will not go
to keep the workers in slavery.
-Mother Jones
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hellraisers Journal, Sunday January 12, 1908
Los Angeles, California – Pettibone On Labor Spies and Frame-Ups
From the Los Angeles Herald of January 11, 1908:
PETTIBONE TELLS STORY
——
NOW IN CITY AND MAY RESIDE HERE
—–
Man Accused of Complicity in Assassination
of Former Governor Steunenberg Gives
Interesting Opinions
—–
Weak from long confinement in the jail at Boise, Idaho, where he was held a prisoner on a charge of complicity in the assassination oE former Governor Steunenberg, George A. Pettibone has arrived in Los Angeles and is staying at the Touraine apartments, 447 South Hope street.
In company with his wife, Mr. Pettibone contemplates making Los Angeles his permanent home. His trial attracted attention wherever the words “labor union” are known.
He spoke heatedly of the efforts which were made to connect him with the murder of Steunenberg.
[He said:]
False testimony concocted by Pinkerton agents was responsible for the arrest of William D. Haywood, Charles H. Moyer and myself and the sole purpose of their efforts was to give them an opening wedge so that they could retain their official position as agents of the Mine Owners’ association.
There are no limits to which
powers of privilege will not go
to keep the workers in slavery.
-Mother Jones
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hellraisers Journal, Monday March 26, 1906
An Introduction to George Pettibone, Miners’ Hero
From The Miners’ Magazine of November 1901:
From the archives of The Miners’ Magazine, official organ of the Western Federation of Miners, we came across the following introduction to George Pettibone, who now stands accused, along with Charles Moyer and Bill Haywood, of the murder of the ex-governor of Idaho:
