Tag: November 1909

Hellraisers Journal: William Z. Foster Reports from Spokane Free Speech Fight for Seattle Workingman’s Paper

Janet RayeElizabeth Gurley Flynn
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Quote EGF, Compliment IWW, IW p1, Nov 17, 1909———-

Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday November 24, 1909
Spokane, Washington – Fellow Workers Jailed Under Horrible Conditions

From Seattle Workingman’s Paper of November 20, 1909:

IWW Spk FSF, HdLn, ed, Stt Socialist Workingmans Paper p1, Nov 20, 1909

SPECIAL SPOKANE DESPATCHES
———-

Discipline Excellent
—–
[-by William Z. Foster]

Spokane, Sunday, Nov. 14.-The one distinctive feature of this fight, which impresses me at first glance is the calm, business like determination of the men and the excellent discipline pervading throughout their ranks.

Things are quiet today. No street speaking is the order for Sunday. Tomorrow street speaking will be resumed. The plan is to send out a sacrifice squad daily. Many men are arriving. Two hundred and eighty are in jail, living on bread and water. Eighty of these are in Fort Wright, seventy-five in the abandoned Franklin school house and one hundred and twenty-five in the city jail. Two meetings will be held tonight , one in the city court room and one at I. W. W. headquarters. Elizabeth Gurley Flynn and John M. Work are speakers for both meetings, relieving each other.

WM. Z. FOSTER

———-

Horrible Conditions
—–

SPOKANE, Monday, Nov. 15.-Ten speakers arrested today. Police handled them roughly and were jeered by the bystanders.

Conditions in jails are horrible. In the [Franklin] school house bucket is used for toilet. The place is alive with vermin. The prisoners are refused water to boil their clothes. Windows are broken. No visitors are allowed. No place to sleep except floor. No blankets. Half loaf bread daily. All are suffering with cramps in stomach. Doctor gives them castor oil. Many are very sick, but they are ordered to work on rock pile. Only two so far have accepted this means of release.

Today a six day striker was released, afflicted with bleeding piles. Blood was running down his legs. At first they ordered him to rock pile, then told him to go. He could hardly walk and was refused admission to hospital. He was penniless, but authorities refused to return thirty cents taken from his person when he was arrested, on the plea that he owed for costs.

Socialists have declared boycott on Apple show.

Public sentiment is strong for strikers.

W. Z. FOSTER.

———-

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Hellraisers Journal: Agnes Thecla Fair, Dangerous Character, Jailed and Assaulted in Spokane Free Speech Fight

Janet RayeFree Speech Fights
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Quote Agnes Thecla Fair, Revolutionary Women, Stt Sc Wkgmn p4, Nov 20, 1909———-

Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday November 23, 1909
Spokane, Washington – Letter from Agnes Thecla Fair Describes Jail Horrors

From Seattle Workingman’s Paper of November 20, 1909:

IWW Spk FSF, HdLn, ed, Stt Socialist Workingmans Paper p1, Nov 20, 1909

THE SHAME OF SPOKANE
—–

We publish the following letter without the consent of its author. We believe the interests of truth demand its publication. When we first read it we could not believe it. Even now it seems impossible that such cowardly and brutal treatment could be accorded a helpless woman, even among savages. Yet we know the capitalist system has developed far lower moral types than savagery or barbarism ever knew. We know, too that daily revelations are made of jail horrors almost as bad as this. Read what Mrs. [Bessy] Fiset tells in her department, “The Woman,” in this paper [page 4].

Those who know Agnes Thecla Fair will not hesitate to credit what she testifies to. She is a quiet, frail, unassuming little woman, some 25 years old, who is publishing a book called “The Sourdoughs’ Bible.” She was drawn into the Spokane Free Speech Fight because she happened to be in that city soliciting for her book, and wherever she is she cannot refrain from taking the side of the under dog….

———-

MISS FAIR’S LETTER
—–

Spokane, Wash., Nov. 11, ’09

Dr. Hermon Titus and Mrs. Titus.
Dear Comrades and Friends:

Well, to put it mildly, Mrs. Titus came very near getting that copyright. I am now labeled by police as a DANGEROUS CHARACTER. My offense was mixing in free speech fight and behaving so different from other women arrested.

I made four jumps, as the box filled with dry goods, standing at Howard and Riverside in front of the White House was a high one. I talked for ten minutes and had a large crowd, when a detective came up and took me down from my high pedestal. He wanted me to walk to the station, but as I had never rode in a hurry-up wagon I asked to ride.

While waiting for a private automobile the crowd grew to thousands. Taking out a red handkerchief as I entered the wagon, I stood up and waved it at the crowd. Cheers went up for Free Speech.

Little did I dream of what was coming after in this enlightened age. You will pardon language used to get at facts, as I never heard anything so vile. They put me in a cell with a fallen woman and left. They were gone but a few minutes when two officers returned and (although the other woman was not to go until Monday, she told me), they told her to get ready in two minutes and get out.

When she was gone they put me in a dark cell, and about ten big burly brutes came in and began to question me about our union. I was so scared I could not talk. One said, “We’ll make her talk” Another said, “She’ll talk before we get through with her.”

Another said,”F–k her and she’ll talk.” Just then one started to unbutton my waist, and I went into spasms which I never recovered from until evening.

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Hellraisers Journal: W. F. Little Learns His Brother Is Doing 30 Days in Spokane for Reading Declaration of Independence

Janet RayeFrank Little
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Quote re Frank Little Ready for IWW Spk FSF, Wenatchee Dly Wld p2, Nov 2, 1909———-

Hellraisers Journal – Monday November 22, 1909
Fresno, California – Telegram from Spokane Tells of Free Speech Fight

From The Fresno Morning Republican of November 16, 1909:

TELLS OF SPOKANE INDUSTRIAL FIGHT
—–
W. F. Little Learns That His Brother Is
Doing 30 Days for Reading
Declaration of Independence.

Spk FSF, IWW Notices, Spk Prs p2, Nov 3, 1909

W. F. [“Fred”] Little, of the local union of Industrial Workers of the World, received an official communication from the Spokane local yesterday reciting the treatment of members of the order in Spokane in their fight with the city authorities. The letter gives this bit of personal news.

I understand that you are a brother of F. H. [“Frank”] Little, the hobo agitator, in jail in Spokane with 200 more as a result of the free speech fight. He was reading the Declaration of Independence on the street corner. He was sentenced to thirty days for this terrible crime.

The letter describes some of the Third Degree methods pursued by the police and jailors. It is related that the men are crowded into stuffy cells, without creature conveniences and the steam temperature was kept on one occasion at 100 degrees for a period of thirty-six hours in an effort to “break” the men.

Mr. Little yesterday took up a private collection among the local “Industrial Workers” to aid their brothers in their Spokane fight.

———-

[Insert added from Spokane Press of November 3, 1909.]

Fellow Worker Frank Little was also jailed during the Missoula Free Speech Fight, and described that experience for Industrial Worker of October 27th:

THE BEATING OF JONES BY
THE MISSOULA SHERIFF.

[-by F. H. Little]

On September 30th Fellow Workers Jones, Appleby [George Applebee], Tuchs [Herman Tucker] and myself were sentenced to 15 days each in the county jail. That night five more of the boys were arrested. The morning of October 1st, after breakfast, the prisoners called for a speech. We moved the table to the southwest corner of the jail. Jones got up and made a talk on Industrial Union. The sheriff sent in word not to talk so loud. So Jones lowered his voice. He talked for about five minutes, then we started to sing the “Red Flag.”

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Hellraisers Journal: News from the Spokane Free Speech Fight by Elizabeth Gurley Flynn for the Industrial Worker

Janet RayeElizabeth Gurley Flynn
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Quote EGF, Compliment IWW, IW p1, Nov 17, 1909———-

Hellraisers Journal – Friday November 19, 1909
Spokane, Washington – Employment Sharks Compliment I. W. W.

From the Spokane Industrial Worker of November 17, 1909:

News From Spokane

Spk FSF, Leaders n Editors, IW p1, Nov 17, 1909

NEWS FROM THE FRONT;
-FREE SPEECH VS. LAW
—–

[-by Elizabeth Gurley Flynn]

[…..]

Outside fellow workers may realize the seriousness of the situation in Spokane when a railroad official of Portland is quoted as saying that the authorities there are watching with great interest the Spokane fight on the I. W. W. and calling attention to the fact that if we are defeated in Spokane, then a similar campaign will be started against us in Portland. The capitalist class of the northwest are out to annihilate us. We have only the powers of our numbers, organized and disciplined for action.

Two employment agents in town, Walker and Macho, are quoted as saying that they will employ no I. W. W. men. Like the fable of the sour grapes there is a very good reason-they never get any to employ. They say that the I. W. W. man is trouble breeder, that he advises others not to work so hard, to howl for better grub and better bunkhouses and more wages. That is about one of the finest compliments that the I. W. W. has ever received.

On Sunday night two splendid meetings were held in the cause of free speech, one at the I. W. W. hall and the other by the Socialist party in the municipal courtroom. From the same forum that Judge Mann delivers his decree of thirty days on bread and water the I. W. W. defiance of the “law and order” element rang forth. The walls echoed and re-echoed with the strains of the “Red Flag,” and resolutions were passed boycotting the apple show. Altogether, over a hundred dollars was received for the free speech defense fund and a dozen or more new members were added to the ranks of the I. W. W. But we must not let our enthusiasm abate one iota. We want volunteers to go to jail. We want to advertise Spokane during the National Apple Show. Boost for her as a city where the constitution is dead and the police make the laws. Get into Spokane and do your part in this great battle for the rights of labor.

ELIZABETH GURLEY FLYNN.

———-

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Hellraisers Journal: “Catastrophe at Cherry One of Worst in History of Mining in Illinois” -Nurses Arrive from Chicago

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Mother Jones, Pray for dead, Ab Chp 6, 1925———-

Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday November 17, 1909
Cherry, Illinois – Nurses Arrive from Chicago to Bring Comfort

From The Rock Island Argus of November 15, 1909:

Cherry Mine Disaster of Nov 13, Rock Isl Arg p1, Nov 15, 1909

[…..]

Thousands Come to Scene.

Thousands of people came to the mine this morning. Special trains bearing weeping relatives summoned by telegraph arrived at the station and heart-rending scenes were enacted as they met other relatives and were told the worst, which appears to be the only possible outcome of the disaster.

[…..]

Nurses Comfort Bereaved Ones.

A party of nurses from Chicago, who arrived last night, today were turned into comforters of the families probably bereft. Throughout the hamlet were scattered cottages in various stages of completion. It seems likely many cottages never will be finished…..

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Hellraisers Journal: Cherry Mine Disaster: “screaming women, weeping children and frantic..men crowded about the place.”

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Mother Jones, Pray for dead, Ab Chp 6, 1925———-

Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday November 16, 1909
Cherry, Illinois – Horror, Heroism and Heartbreak at Scene of Great Disaster.

Heartbreaking Scene at Cherry Mine Fire.

Cherry Mine Disaster, Crowd on Nov 13, FP Buck p49, 1910

At the entrance of the shaft a scene was enacted such as is witnessed only at a disaster of this kind. Hundreds of screaming women, weeping children and frantic but helpless men crowded about the place.

A few survivors were surrounded by groups of the women, and the answers of these men to the shrieked inquiries only added to the terror of the women. Almost to a man the survivors declared that there was no hope for those still in the mine. Nearly two hundred of the men imprisoned, they declared, were in the third vein, the only entrance to which was from the second vein, almost five hundred feet from the main shaft of the pit.

[Photograph added.]

From the New York Tribune of November 14, 1909:

Cherry Mine Disaster of Nov 13, NY Tb p1, Nov 14, 1909

—–

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Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts and Doings of Mother Jones for October 1909, Part II: Reports Found of Mysterious Disappearance in San Antonio

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Mother Jones Save Our Mexican Comrades, AtR p3, Feb 20, 1909———-

Hellraisers Journal – Monday November 15, 1909
Mother Jones News Round-Up for October 1909, Part II:
-Reports Found of Mother’s Mysterious Disappearance in San Antonio, Texas

From The Buffalo Enquirer of October 18, 1909
-the following story was reported by newspapers from coast to coast:

SECRET SERVICE MEN ARE ACTIVE
—–

SOCIALISTS AND ANARCHISTS APPREHENDED IN
ADVANCE OF PRESIDENT TAFT’S ARRIVAL
-MOTHER JONES GONE.
—–

(By the American News.)

Mother Jones, Elkhart IN Dly Rv p2, Crpd, July 19, 1909

San Antonio, Oct. 18.-The failure of a half dozen or more Socialists in this city to show up at their homes and a search instituted by local newspaper men, revealed the fact that the Secret Service authorities had taken into custody quietly a number of Socialists and Anarchists just before the visit of President Taft to this city.

Mother Jones, the friend of the miners, who was in the city Sunday it has been learned to day, also mysteriously disappeared. Friends of Mother Jones assert that she too was taken into custody and her whereabouts kept secret until after the departure of President Taft.

Activity among Anarchists and Socialists in this vicinity is thought to have been the cause for the arrests.

———-

[Photograph added.]

From the Shenandoah (Pennsylvania) Evening Herald of October 21, 1909:

“Mother” Jones Heard From.

Charles Gildea, a national organizer of the United Mine Workers at Hazleton, has received a letter from “Mother” Jones, who took a prominent part in miners’ strikes here, that she intends to be at the meeting between President Taft, of the United States, and President Diaz, of Mexico, near El Paso, Texas. Whether she was among those present or not has not yet been learned, as the letter was posted before the time of the meeting.

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Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts and Doings of Mother Jones for October 1909, Part I: Found in Girard & Texarkana

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Poem for Mother Jones, SL Hld p4, Apr 25, 1904———-

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday November 14, 1909
Mother Jones News Round-Up for October 1909, Part I:
-Found in Girard, Kansas and Texarkana, Texas

From Pittsburg [Kansas] Daily Headlight of October 9, 1909:

Mr. Debs Entertains.

Mother Jones, Elkhart IN Dly Rv p2, Crpd, July 19, 1909

Eugene V. Debs entertained a few friends last evening [in Girard] at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Fred D. Warren, giving some of his fine readings, which were highly appreciated. The following named guests were present, others invited not being able to attend on account of the rain: G. H. Shoaf and daughters, Dr. J. T. Alexander, Mr. and Mrs. E. N. Richardson, Mr. and Mrs. L. J. Tubbs, Mrs. Josephone Kaneko [Josephine Conger-Kaneko], Miss Pearl Busby, Mrs. Helen Unterman, of Idaho, S. Barrett, J. S. Cassin, Mother Jones, Mrs. Molkey, Mrs. S. P. Nichols and children, Charles and Gladys, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. D. Brewer, J. E. Snyder, Mr. and Mrs. F. H. Fuller and son Floyd, Miss Maud Swan and Miss Margaret Simpson….

[Photograph added.]

From the Appeal to Reason of October 9, 1909:

AtR p3, SW Edition TX, Oct 9, 1909

[…..]

Mother Jones will be filling appointments in Texas before you read this unless she again fails us by being called to some strike center or to the rescue of some imprisoned comrade, and you will then have the opportunity of hearing this great soul. Comrades and locals are asked to write state headquarters and renew their calls for Mother.

———-

From The Shreveport Times of October 13, 1909:

[Mother Jones in Texarkana]

Mother Jones, the most beloved woman in the United States among laboring men, spent yesterday in Texarkana, leaving last night for Dallas and Fort Worth, from where she will go to Del Rio, In connection with the recent arrest and detention there of a number of Mexican political refugees. Mother Jones is not interested in the case of the refugees as it applies to the political matters involved, but is deeply concerned over the labor questions involved and from which it is said the real cause of their arrest sprang.

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Hellraisers Journal: Elizabeth Gurley Flynn for the Spokane Industrial Worker: “Call to Action…Free Speech Fight Is On”

Janet RayeElizabeth Gurley Flynn
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Quote Who Edits God Knows, Spk FSF, IW p2, Nov 10, 1909———-

Hellraisers Journal – Thursday November 11, 1909
Spokane, Washington – “Call to Action…Free Speech Fight Is On”

From the Spokane Industrial Worker of November 10, 1909:

CALL TO ACTION BY GURLEY FLYNN
—–

EGF, ISR p466, Nov 1909

The free speech fight is on in Spokane. Over 100 men are in jail. More are going every hour. Some are sentenced to 30 days, others to 30 days and $100 fine and costs.

Five I. W. W. men are charged with criminal conspiracy. They are Wilson, Thompson, Foote, Filigno and Cousins. Five women are awaiting trial. Foote was taken out of the lawyer’s office, the others from the I. W. W. hall. Our office has been raided and ransacked by Chief Sullivan and his gang, and this paper is now being made up in secret.

This fight is serious. It must be won. Remember, “an injury to one is an injury to all.” We must never give up. We have just begun to fight. The men in jail have refused to work on the rock pile. They are starving rather than eat the dry bread flung to them. These men are brave, loyal supporters of a great cause. They are heroes in the battle of labor.

Can you afford to be a coward?

Don’t be a quitter. Don’t “sympathize” with free speech.

Go to jail for it!

Sympathy won’t stop the police from striking our women.

Sympathy won’t stop the police putting old men and young boys in the sweat-box.

Sympathy won’t choke the lies down the throats of the miserable capitalist press, now doing its worst to alienate public feeling.

Sympathy won’t pile up expenses on the city government till the taxpayers cry “quits.”

Sympathy won’t prevent our five fellow workers from being railroaded to the penitentiary for five years.

Sympathy won’t win this fight.

Only going to jail by the hundreds will do that.

If you have a family, if you are too far away to come at once-dig up money.

You locals that owe the “Industrial Worker” for bundles, it is your imperative duty to pay up now. Then if there is still coin in the treasury send that for a contribution.

Remember that printers’ bills go on just the same. Order more bundles of this edition and help advertise Spokane, where the constitution is dead.

The “Boosters’ Club” will be “de-light-ed.”

Send donations to help defend the so-called “conspirators.” Now is the opportune time.

It’s now or never, boys!

Get busy! Hurry up!

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Hellraisers Journal: “Francisco Ferrer Spanish Martyr” -Miners Magazine on Execution of Gentle Professor

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Ferrer, Aim Well, per Avrich Modern School Mv p32———-

Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday November 9, 1909
Western Federation of Miners Reports Execution of Prof. Ferrer

From The Miners Magazine of October 21, 1909:

Francisco Ferrer Spanish Martyr.

Francisco Ferrer, Cronaca Sovversiva p1, Oct 23, 1909

America gave a gasp of horror this morning when it read that Spain had condemned Francisco Ferrer to be shot for the crime of spreading intelligence in that country, says the Chicago Socialist.

“That would be going back ten centuries in the progress of civilization,” declared Dean Albion W. Small of the Chicago University graduate school and head of its department of sociology, when told of the death sentence that had been passed on Ferrer. “To execute a man of Ferrer‘s character and position would be a reversion to the dark ages,” he continued. “It would be a blot on the page of progress of today. I certainly do protest against it. I will join in any general protest that is made.”

“I also wish to join in any protest that is being made to save Ferrer from the sentence of execution that has been passed upon him. It is the duty of every man to protest,” said Dr. Herbert F. Fisk, head of the department of education at Northwestern University.

Numerous other educators of Chicago were equally emphatic in their denunciation of the tactics pursued by the Spanish government in seeking the death of one who is doing so much for the enlightenment of the human race. They were unanimous in their protest against a government so backward as to desire the destruction of one of its greatest intellectual leaders.

The feeling with which the death sentence that had been passed on Ferrer was received was akin to horror. It was known that Ferrer was in prison, the climax of several years of persecution by the church and government officials of Spain. It was known that his death was desired by many. It was not believed, however, that they would go so far as to make Ferrer a martyr in the face of the combined protest of civilized Europe.

Ferrer is looked upon in this country as the John Dewey of Spain. As Prof. Dewey of Columbia University urged his ideas in education in this country, so Ferrer has introduced modern education into Spain. It is considered that Spain is now in a position where the United States would be if it sought Dewey’s life because of his ideas on the education of children.

Since the execution of Ferrer there has been rioting in many cities in Spain, France, Italy, Belgium and other continental countries; Spaniards have had to bear the brunt of assaults by the enraged populace, and soldiers have with difficulty dispersed angry multitudes. It is feared that the martyrdom will result in further violence, loss of life and destruction of property.

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