Pray for the dead and
fight like hell for the living.
-Mother Jones
Continue reading “WE NEVER FORGET: The Martyrs of the Mesabi Iron Range Strike of 1916”
Fellow Workers, sit back and relax. It’s time to honor the memory of Joe Hill by enjoying the songs that he left to us. Over the next few days, WE NEVER FORGET, The Labor Martyrs Project, will feature FW Hill’s musical and lyrical legacy by presenting his songs in the order in which they were first published in the Little Red Songbooks of the Industrial Workers of the World. Today we offer Part 1 of this series.
Continue reading “WE NEVER FORGET: Joe Hill-Songs from the Little Red Songbook, Part One”
Friday November 19, 1915
Salt Lake City, Utah-
Fellow Worker Joe Hill Executed by Utah Firing Squad
At 7:40 a. m. in the prison yard of the Utah Sate Prison, Fellow Worker Joe Hill was shot to death by firing squad. Ed Rowan and other friends and fellow workers whom Hill had invited to attend the execution were not allowed to enter the prison. According to Rowan, they stood at the gate and heard the shots ring out “like musketry in battle,” a sound, says Rowan, that is still ringing in his head.
WE NEVER FORGET
Fellow Worker Roy J Horton-29
President of IWW Local 69
Salt Lake City, Utah
Fellow Worker Roy J Horton, 1886-1915
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In Salt Lake City, shortly after midnight on October 31, 1915, Fellow Worker Roy Joseph Horton, President of I. W. W. Local 69, was shot down by “Major” Howell P. Myton, gunthug and lawman.
Fellow Worker Horton, 29, was talking with friends in front of a downtown bar when he asserted, “Any man who would pack a star is a dirty—–.” This remark was overheard by Myton who then confronted Horton, “What do you mean by those insinuations?”
“That is meant for you or any other —– who will wear a star,” Horton replied. Whereupon Myton pulled out his gun, stated “I’ll kill you for that,” and fired three shots at Horton. Two of the shots hit Horton as he staggered away with his back to Myton.
Fellow Worker Roy Horton died there on the sidewalk. Myton was soon thereafter arrested and taken to jail.
On Sunday afternoon, November 7th, Local 69 of the Industrial Workers of the World bid good-bye to their friend and fellow worker, Roy Horton. Ed Rowan and Mrs. Virginia Snow Stephen were among those who gave eulogies for the slain union leader. Continue reading “WE NEVER FORGET: Fellow Worker Roy J Horton, President IWW Local 69 of Salt Lake City, Utah”
