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Hellraisers Journal – Friday July 18, 1919
Mother Jones News for June 1919
-Found Speaking at Memorial for Coal Miners of Herrin, Illinois
From Springfield [Massachusetts] Republican of June 1, 1919:
Mother Jones has participated in many a successful strike. During the war she is reported to have said to miners: “Let us lick the kaiser first, then we can lick the operators.”
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Hellraisers Journal – Friday June 27, 1919
Winnipeg, Manitoba – General Strike Called Off
From The Butte Daily Bulletin of June 25, 1919:
WINNIPEG STRIKE ENDS
—–
Strike Committee After All Night Session Decides
to Let Government Commission Investigate.
—–
(Special to The Bulletin.)
Winnipeg. June 25.-The general strike which has lasted more than 40 days, will end Thursday at 11 o’clock. This announcement was made after an all-night session of the general strike committee. Sympathetic strikes in other cities will end at the same hour.
The decision of the strike committee, which ends a struggle that will have been exactly six weeks in effect at 11 o’clock Thursday, follows a conference of the delegates of the strike committee with Premier Norris and members of the provincial government yesterday.
The men forward the proposition that if the government would appoint a commission to investigate the strike and settle all disputes they would call off the general strike. The reply of the government was that the general strike must be called off first.
If that were done, then a commission, headed by H. A. Robertson [Hugh Amos Robson], would be appointed. It has been intimated that it had been the intention of the government for some weeks to appoint a commission, but action by the strike committee was awaited in regard to calling off the strike.
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[Newsclip added from Winnipeg Evening Tribune of June 26, 1919. Emphasis added.]
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Blooday Saturday
The Western Labor News, Special Strike Edition No. 32, of June 23, 1919 described events of Saturday, June 21st:One is dead and a number injured, probably thirty or more, as result of the forcible prevention of the “silent parade” which had been planned by returned men to start at 2.30 o’clock last Saturday afternoon…..
On Saturday, about 2.30 p.m., just the time when the parade was scheduled to start, some 50 mounted men swinging baseball bats rode down Main Street. Half were red-coated R.N.W.M.P., the others wore khaki. They quickened pace as they passed the Union Bank. The crowd opened, let them through and closed in behind them. They turned and charged through the crowd again, greeted by hisses, boos, and some stones. There were two riderless horses with the squad when it emerged and galloped up Main Street. The men in khaki disappeared at this juncture, but the red-coats reined their horses and reformed opposite the old post office.
Shooting to Kill
Then, with revolvers drawn, they galloped down Main Street, turned, and charged right into the crowd on William Avenue, firing as they charged. One man, standing on the sidewalk, thought the mounties were firing blank cartridges until a spectator standing beside him dropped with a bullet through his breast. Another standing nearby was shot through the head. We have no exact information about the total number of casualties, but there were not less than thirty. The crowd dispersed as quickly as possible when the shooting began.
From “Winipeg General Strike…Two Ukrainians Killed”
-by Peter J. Manastyrsky:
Mike Sokolowski (AKA: Sokolowiski) was killed in front of City Hall on what came to be known as Bloody Saturday, shot by the Royal Canadian Northwest Mounted Police during the fighting. Sokolowski was the only person killed in the riot and buried at Winnipeg’s Brookside Cemetery (section 45, plot 450). Mike Sokolowski’s grave was unmarked for over 80 years until June 20, 2003. As part of the Brookside Cemetery’s 125th Anniversary, a donation was made to purchase a headstone for Mike Sokolowski.
On the other hand, Steve Szczerbanowicz (AKA: Sheebaubucz, Schezerbanowicz, Schezerbanowes) after being shot through both legs by a police officer during the Winnipeg General Strike on June 23rd, died due to a gangrene infection. For 96 years Steve Szczerbanowicz was buried at an unmarked grave at Brookside Cemetery but on June 20th, 2015 funds were raised to cover the cost of a gravestone in memory of Steve Szczerbanowicz (section 80, plot 7) victim of the six-week Winnipeg General Strike.
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Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday June 25, 1919
Peace in Europe and Preparing Future Cannon Fodder
From The Butte Daily Bulletin of June 24, 1919:
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Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday June 24, 1919
Winnipeg General Strike News: Mounties and Specials Attack “Silent Parade”
From Western Labor News Special Strike Edition No. 32 of June 23, 1919:
BLOODY SATURDAY
R.N.W.M.P. Make Gory Debut
-Peaceful Citizens Shot Without Warning
-City Under Military Control
-Returned Men Incensed
-Strikers More Determined.
One is dead and a number injured, probably thirty or more, as result of the forcible prevention of the “silent parade” which had been planned by returned men to start at 2.30 o’clock last Saturday afternoon. Apparently the bloody business was carefully planned, for Mayor Gray issued a proclamation in the morning stating that “Any women taking part in a parade do so at their own risk.” Nevertheless a vast crowd of men, women and children assembled to witness the “silent parade.”
The Soldiers’ Committee, which had been interviewing Senator Robertson, had not returned to their comrades when the latter commenced to line up on Main Street, near the city hall.
No attempt was made to use the special city police to prevent the parade. On a previous occasion a dozen of the old regular city police had persuaded the returned men to abandon a parade which had commenced to move.
On Saturday, about 2.30 p.m., just the time when the parade was scheduled to start, some 50 mounted men swinging baseball bats rode down Main Street. Half were red-coated R.N.W.M.P., the others wore khaki. They quickened pace as they passed the Union Bank. The crowd opened, let them through and closed in behind them. They turned and charged through the crowd again, greeted by hisses, boos, and some stones. There were two riderless horses with the squad when it emerged and galloped up Main Street. The men in khaki disappeared at this juncture, but the red-coats reined their horses and reformed opposite the old post office.
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Hellraisers Journal – Monday June 23, 1919
Kansas County Jails – I. W. W. Members Languish in Hell Holes
From the Kansas City Workers’ World of June 20, 1919:
TO THE READERS OF THE WORKERS’ WORLD
There are now, in three Kansas jails-Topeka, Lawrence and Ottawa-twenty-three members of the Oil Workers’ Industrial Union No. 450, I. W. W. who have been held for nineteen months under indictment in U. S. district court, second Kansas division.
Two indictments have already been returned against these men, but both were flimsy, and the defense attorneys were successful in having both of them quashed; the last one on June 7th in Judge John Pollocks court at Wichita, Kansas. But Fred Robertson, U. S. district attorney succeed in having a third one returned, also on June 7th.
The fact that two indictments were quashed plainly shows that these men are innocent of the charges brought against them; yet the prosecution seems determined to “rail-road” them to prison.
Since these men were jailed three of their number have gone insane and one has died; this as the result of the persecution to which they have been subjected.
These men who, as said, are innocent, yet who have been forced to be in jail for nineteen months, are anxious to secure bail and are taking this opportunity to appeal to all lovers of liberty to come forward and give whatever assistance you can.
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Hellraisers Journal – Saturday June 21, 1919
Winnipeg, Manitoba – News from the General Strike
From The Butte Daily Bulletin of June 18, 1919:
—–
(Special United Press Wire.)
Winnipeg, June 18.-As a result of the sensational raid made here by federal officials, 10 labor leaders are prisoners and are being held incommunicado in Stony Mountain penitentiary, with the northwest mounted police guarding the labor temple. No person is permitted within 100 yards of the building. Warrants were issued for four others.
Military intelligence officers and other government officers have been planning the raid for a week, but had deferred action until the government could supply the powerful weapon desired in the drastic deportation act. Under this law all aliens and “British-born trouble makers” can be deported.
Charge Inciting Police Force.
The arrests were based on warrants charging “inciting the police force to neglect of duty” and responsibility for publication in the strike bulletin last Wednesday of a special article containing “false and libelous statements.” The story was headed, “Police Replaced by Thugs,” and vigorously attacked the special constables. Civic authorities were assailed for dismissing the regular police force.
The 10 men in prison are Aldermen John Queen and A. C. Capps [A. A. Heaps], the Rev. William Ivens, George Armstrong, R. [B]. Russell, R. E. Bray, [M.] Charitonoff, Moses Almazoff, Mike Berentozuk [Verenchuck] and A. C. Schoppelreidk [S. Choppelrei].
The police also raided the labor temple, Ukrainian hall and Liberty hall, where a vast quantity of literature was seized. The utmost secrecy surrounded the plans for the arrests. Every man arrested submitted quietly on being shown the official warrant.
Of the four men for whom warrants were issued, Sam Blumenberg is reported to have crossed the border into the United States. W. A. Pritchard, a prominent Vancouver labor leader, is said to be on his way to the Pacific coast; R. J. Johns, local labor leader, is in Montreal, and B. Devyatkin, a Russian, cannot be located.
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Hellraisers Journal – Friday June 20, 1919
Mother Jones News for May 1919
-Found Speaking to Coal Miners in Watson, West Virginia
From the Fairmont West Virginian of May 31, 1919:
Organized labor paid its tribute to the returned soldier boys yesterday when a parade was held in the morning between Fairmont and Watson under the auspices of United Mine Workers’ local union 4005, of Watson which closed with an open air meeting at the grove at Watson. Two thousand United Mine Workers participated in the parade.
The parade started at Fairmont avenue and Twelfth street and was escorted by Chief of Police Harr and a cordon of police. W. M. Rogers, Fairmont, president of the State Federation of Labor lead off the procession.
The Moose band, of Fairmont, was next in line, wearing their new uniforms, which are composed of a pretty blue with appropriate trimmings. The band rendered a fine program of march music. Thirty-five service men who reside near Watson, were in line. There were 200 members of local 4005, United Mine Workers, in line. One hundred and twenty-five members of local 4006, Kingmont, were in line and local 4017, Norway, had 55 men in line. Local union 4021, of Dakota, had 58 men in line and local 4027, of Barnstown had 120.
Local 4006, Rivesvllle, had 50 men, while local 2358 Rivesville, had 56 men. United Mine Workers, local 4048, Carolina, had 41 men. Then came the largest delegation in the parade that of local 1643 Monongah, which had 500 United Mine Workers in line. The next largest delegation was from local 4047, Grant Town, which had 400 men.
Mother Jones occupied a seat in an auto that led off the parade. R. E. Fitzhugh, of Watson, was marshal of the parade, which was a great success.
After the parade the column moved to Crawford’s Grove Watson, where meeting was held in the presence of 3,000 United Mine Workers and their families. W. M. Rogers, Fairmont, president of the State Federation of Labor, introduced the speaker in well chosen words.
“Mother Jones” was the first speaker. She urged all of the United Mine Workers to remain loyal to their organization. Later she paid a high tribute to the returned soldiers, many of whom appeared in uniform at the meeting. She praised the democracy of America.
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Hellraisers Journal – Monday June 16, 1919
General Strike, the Key to Freedom for Our Class-War Prisoners
From The Butte Daily Bulletin of June 11, 1919:
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Hellraisers Journal – Sunday June 15, 1919
Atlanta, Georgia – Comrade Debs Now an Inmate at Federal Penitentiary
From The West Virginian of June 14, 1919:
DEBS IS MOVED FROM MOUNDSVILLE
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Marshall Ned Smith Took Famous Prisoner
to Federal Prison at Atlanta.
—–(By Associated Press.)
WHEELING, W. Va., June 14.-Eugene V. Debs, former Socialist candidate for President, who was placed in the Moundsville penitentiary two months ago on being sentenced to a term of ten years for violation of the Federal Espionage law, this morning is an inmate of the Federal prison at Atlanta, Ga.
Debs, who was taken by surprise by the action, was removed from the penitentiary yesterday morning, it was learned today, by United States Marshal Ned Smith and deputies and brought to Wheeling where he was placed on a train for Atlanta by way of Cincinnati.
Up to early today the reasons for Debs’ removal had not been stated officially but it was reported that the greater safety of the Southern prison had something to do with the move.
While in Wheeling and on the train en route to Cincinnati every effort was made by the officers to keep the identity of their prisoner a secret.
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