Hellraisers Journal: Calumet, Michigan-Gunthugs Shoot into Strikers’ Parade; Thousands Attend Funeral for Manerich

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Quote Mother Jones, Powers of Privilege ed, Ab Chp III—————

Hellraisers Journal – Saturday October 18, 1913
Copper Country, Michigan – Strikers Ruled by Deputized Company Gunthugs

From the Chicago Day Book of October 13, 1913:

HdLn Calumet MI, Gunmen Shoot into Strikers Parade, Day Book p6, Oct 13, 1913

From the Miners’ Magazine of October 9, 1913:

HdLn MI Government by Gunthugs, Mnrs Mag p7, Oct 9, 1913

Partial transcript:

In Houghton county, Michigan, where the copper miners are on strike, the sheriff hired imported gunmen from the Waddell-Mahon agency of New York and swore them in as deputy sheriffs, arming them with guns and official stars.

Sheriff Cruse told me he had 1,2000 of them on duty, and that 400 of them were “company” men-that is, gunmen sworn in as deputy sheriffs, but on the payroll and working under the direction of the mining companies.

James A. Waddell told Walter B. Palmer, government statistician, that he had 108 men on duty in the county and that the Burns Detective Agency had twelve “detectives.”

At the time I was there the state of Michigan had about 650 militiamen on duty. They were armed, of course.

While Waddell was not a citizen of Michigan and Sheriff Cruse had been elected by the people, Waddell was to all intents and purposes the actual sheriff and directed the work of the gunmen.

And the mine managers directed the work of Waddell. He was on their payroll.

[Emphasis added.]

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Calumet, Michigan-Gunthugs Shoot into Strikers’ Parade; Thousands Attend Funeral for Manerich”

Hellraisers Journal: Miners’ Magazine: “Fourteen Cents for a Girl’s Life”-Triangle Fire’s Blanck Fined $20 for Locked Door

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Rose Schneiderman Quote, Life So Cheap, NY Met Opera Hse, Apr 2, Survey p84, Apr 8, 1911—————

Hellraisers Journal – Friday October 17, 1913
Max Blanck, of Triangle Fire Infamy, Fined $20 for Locking Up Yet Another Firetrap

From the Miners’ Magazine of October 16, 1913:

Triangle Girls Life Worth 14 Cents, Mnrs Mag p5, Oct 16, 1913

From Collier’s Magazine of May 7, 1913:

Triangle Fire Rotten Risk by AE McFarlane, Beat Upon Locked Door, Colliers p8, May 17, 1913

From the Chicago Day Book of September 26, 1913:

Triangle Girls Life 14 Cents, Day Book p7, Sept 26, 1913

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Miners’ Magazine: “Fourteen Cents for a Girl’s Life”-Triangle Fire’s Blanck Fined $20 for Locked Door”

Hellraisers Journal: Vincent St. John Speaks on Behalf of the Wheatland Hop Pickers Now Confined in the Sacramento Jail

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Quote Shall We Still Be Slaves by ES Nelson, LRSB 1919—————

Hellraisers Journal – Thursday October 16, 1913
Chicago, Illinois – Vincent St. John Speaks on Behalf of Wheatland Hop Pickers

From Solidarity of October 11, 1913:

Wheatland Hop Pickers, Speech by St John 1, Sol p1, Oct 11, 1913Wheatland Hop Pickers, Speech by St John 2, Sol p1, Oct 11, 1913

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Vincent St. John Speaks on Behalf of the Wheatland Hop Pickers Now Confined in the Sacramento Jail”

Hellraisers Journal: Chicago Day Book: Don MacGregor at Ludlow: “Gunmen Always Ready to Open War on Families of Miners”

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The Exodus from Coal Camps to Ludlow, Don MacGregor, Dnv Exp Sept 24, 1913 per Beshoar p—————

Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday October 15, 1913
Ludlow Tent Colony, Colorado, Sunday September 28th
-Don MacGregor Visits Miner’s Tent, Describes Conditions

From the Chicago Day Book of October 4, 1913:

Don MacGregor re Ludlow and Gunthugs, Day Book p1, Oct Don MacGregor re Ludlow and Gunthugs 2, Day Book p1, Oct Don MacGregor re Ludlow and Gunthugs 3, Day Book p1, Oct

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Hellraisers Journal: Ludlow Tent Colony Attacked by Gunthugs; Mack Powell Shot Off His Horse at Strikers Baseball Game

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Quote Mother Jones, Rise Up and Strike, UMW D15 Conv Sept 16 Trinidad CO, Dnv Exp Sept 17, 1913—————

Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday October 14, 1913
Ludlow Colony, Colorado – Gunthugs Attack Strikers’ Tent Village 

Ludlow Tent Colony, CO Coal Field War ProjectThe Ludlow Tent Colony

Wednesday October 8, 1913
Ludlow Tent Colony – Gunthugs fire into tents, miners rally to defend the camp.

Several striking miners walked up to Hastings from Ludlow yesterday attempting to collect their mail from the U. S. Post Office there. When mine guards refused them their mail, they argued briefly, but then headed back toward Ludlow. The guards laughed and fired shots over their heads as they walked away.

A short while later, Walter Belk and George Belcher, the same Baldwin-Felts gunthugs who were involved in the murder of Brother Lippiatt, drove near to Ludlow and let loose with a volley of shots into the tents. When miners came running to defend the Colony, more guards began shooting. The miners took up their guns and returned fire.

Women and children ran from the tents and gathered at the fence on the west side of the camp. Seeing that they were exposed to fire, John Lawson ran along the fence urging the women and children back to the tents. As the miners forced the guards to retreat, the women and children, singing union songs, returned to camp.

There are reports that shots were fired at the camp again this morning. John Lawson urged the miners not to leave the camp in pursuit of the guards, but to stay close by:

While you fellows run down there a mile or so the Hastings guards will come down and take the tent colony.

The miners are taking Lawson’s advice. They remain in the camp with their rifles close at hand.

———-

Friday October 10, 1913
Ludlow Tent Colony – Gunthugs fire on baseball field, kill Mack Powell.

Yesterday morning gunthugs from Hastings fired upon the baseball field at the edge of the camp. Striking miners had been enjoying a friendly game, but, as bullets hit the dirt around them, they quickly ran for their rifles. They were able to drive the guards away from the camp. Mack Powell was sitting on his horse and watching from a distance when he was struck by a bullet and killed. Guards were later heard to brag that they had killed a miner.

Mack Powell was a union miner who had taken work as a cowboy on the near-by Green Ranch. Mack was married, and lived with his wife and his wife’s grandmother.

———-

Sunday October 12, 1913
Southern Coalfield – Operators ship in machine guns; Union prepares.

Should any American citizen believe that, surely, those mine guards who shot up the Ludlow Tent Colony and killed Mack Powell have been arrested, let them be, here and now, disabused of that naive notion of equal justice. In fact, the guards have not been arrested; they have had four machine guns added to their supply of weapons with which to continue their attacks on the tent colonies.

Vice President Hayes of the United Mine Workers of America said recently to John Lawson, “But they can’t conduct a war against us with machine guns. They wouldn’t turn machine guns on defenseless people.”

John Lawson believes that the operators are just that ruthless, and said, “We’ve got to protect the women and children at all costs.”

The colonies have been directed to put up breastworks and to dig pits under the tents. The women and children will be able to shelter there whenever the colonies are attacked. At this time, the Ludlow colony is the particular focus of the gunthugs, but all of the 20 or more colonies are considered to be at risk.

———-

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Ludlow Tent Colony Attacked by Gunthugs; Mack Powell Shot Off His Horse at Strikers Baseball Game”

Hellraisers Journal: Emma F. Langdon Reports on Cripple Creek Strike: Military Despotism, the Bullpen at Camp Goldfield

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Quote Emma F Langdon, Miners Are My Brothers, EFL p244, 1904—————

Hellraisers Journal – Monday October 12, 1903
Cripple Creek District, Colorado – The Military Bullpen at Camp Goldfield

Report of Emma F. Langdon of Victor, Colorado:

[The Military Bullpen]

Victor Daily Record Staff in Bull Pen, EFL p153, 1904

Now I will invite the reader to take a trip to the military prison and see how fared the Record prisoners. 

These prisoners were marched unceremoniously to the bull pen. Armed thugs forced them into a filthy and squalid little tent, absolutely barren of furniture or bedding, where they were told to stay under penalty of having their heads blown off if they appeared an inch outside of the entrance.

The night was bitterly cold and on that frigid mountain side, under the intimidating guard of a horde of armed assassins, the working force of the Victor Record passed a night of torture equal to anything ever devised by the Spanish inquisitors. The entire force will bear testimony that the treatment accorded them was so inhuman and revolting as to surpass the belief of American citizens.

The “bull” tent had just been vacated by a number of drunken soldier prisoners, who had vomited all over the interior. The stench was sickening, but there they were forced to lay, without even so much as a gunny sack to protect them from the cold. Shortly after sunrise they were told to come to “breakfast.” Emerging from the filthy kennel they were escorted to the mess table a short distance away. A dozen guards kept them covered with guns loaded with riot ammunition while two grimy negro cooks dished out a little slop on tin plates and told them to eat. There were no knives, forks or spoons at hand. “Use your fingers,” said the head negro when remonstrance was made.

Beneath the table were a number of wash boilers and buckets filled with the accumulated garbage of several days and the stench arising therefrom was nauseating enough to insult the gizzard of a buzzard. It is quite needless to state that they had no appetite.

They returned to the tent hungrier and more distressed than ever. The day was raw and cold and they were chilled to the marrow. Faint and sick Mr. Richmond approached the captain of the guard and implored him for God’s sake to obtain some blankets. His appeal was cut short with an oath from that dignitary.

A little later a murderous looking gatling gun was drawn up, trained on the prisoner’s tent, and they were subjected to the nerve rending ordeal of posing as targets. The excitement attending this outrageous intimidation completely unnerved some of them. 

Attorney Tully Scott, formerly of Kansas, succeeded in getting them liberated through some legal procedure and after unwinding a few miles of military red tape the commanding general turned them over to Sheriff Robertson of Teller county, when for the first time they learned that they were defendants in a libel case. 

It was a deliberate plot to suppress a paper for telling the truth about the uniformed hirelings who were guilty of the outrages above mentioned.

The excuse for the taking of the Record force was that in the issue of the day before, there was an article of about six lines which referred to two tools of the mine owners as ex-convicts. It was learned that in the case of Vannick it was true, but Scanlon, with all his faults, had not, as yet worn the stripes. However, there was a correction coming out the following morning. The whole truth of the matter was that the military was watching every movement of the Record for a chance to raid the office. The real reason of the military raiding the office at that hour, was to suppress the official organ of the Western Federation of Miners. The district had only the one paper that stood up for the cause, and of course the enemy did not have a very warm feeling of friendship for the Record. The reader will at once realize that even had the editor been guilty of criminal libel the operators or the mechanical force could not legally be held responsible. But when the military endeavored to suppress the Record they reckoned without their host. Again the writer will quote: “The best laid plans o’ mice,” etc. The writer would advise the warrior Chase, when he again undertakes to suppress the press, to not only arrest the force at work, but every living printer in the county—and it wouldn’t be a bad idea to carefully guard the cemeteries, for the press is a hard game to beat—even by a warrior of the ability of Chase, as he has doubtless discovered.

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Emma F. Langdon Reports on Cripple Creek Strike: Military Despotism, the Bullpen at Camp Goldfield”

Hellraisers Journal: Emma F. Langdon Reports on Cripple Creek Strike: Force of Victor Daily Record Kidnapped by Military

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Quote Emma F Langdon, Miners Are My Brothers, EFL p244, 1904—————

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday October 11, 1903
Cripple Creek District, Colorado – Victor Daily Record Kidnapped

Report of Emma F. Langdon of Victor, Colorado:

The Victor Daily Record Kidnapped.

George Kyner, EFL p148, 1904

Tuesday night Sept. 29, at 11:05, the busiest hour on a morning paper, the Victor Daily Record, which had espoused the cause of the striking miners, was raided by the militia, and the entire force at work was “captured.” The linotypes were humming, ‘‘catching the elevator” on every line, the foreman was fuming and “rushing,” proofs, for “first side down” and first “forms” must go to “press” at 11:30. Suddenly the door of the composing room flew open and in stalked Tom McClelland with the air of a “conquering hero,” followed by a file of yaping yokels dressed in the garb of soldiers and armed to the teeth. “Halt!” yelled the fierce Tom. “Ground arms!” “Fix bayonets!” “guard the entrances!”

“What the h——!” says the foreman, “having a fit?”

The operators merely shifted quids, “brought down” a period and ‘‘sent in” the line. 

“Private——— step forward!” roared “Thomas of the shining tin,” “identify the force!’’ A long, lank specimen of the genius homo, red headed, with a scraggly, three week’s growth of red fuzz that might have developed into red whiskers, had the soil from which they sprouted been fertile, shuffled from the ranks and in a hang-dog manner pointed his grimy finger at the foreman and the two linotype operators. This aforesaid specimen had been in the office the night before and had claimed to be a printer; and from his conversation he might have been at some time a janitor in a “print shop” or roller washer in a press room—but printer—oh, no. He was informed in plain, understandable English that if he had business to make it known, if not, conversation was a waste of time. He left and the “force’’ all said, “we’re spotted for the ‘bull pen’ sure.”

“You’re all prisoners of war!” bellowed Thomas, but the “mills” kept “turning over.” ‘Get up!” hissed the major of majestic mein.

“Who the —— are you?” calmly gurgled one of the operators.

“I’m Major Thomas E. McClelland, of the Colorado National guard!”

“Oh, my! does it hurt so very much?” In pitying accents from the operator, my husband [Charles G. Langdon].

“Sergeant seize that man!” gasped Thomas of the guard.

The “sergeant” pushed a wicked looking bayonet towards the operator’s neck and he had to “send in” a “short line.”

Mr. Kyner, the managing editor, then stepped into the composing room and asked what was wanted. McClelland stated that he had arrested the “force” and wanted him, too. ‘‘All right,’ said Mr. Kyner, “I guess you have me.”

“Me too.” said Mr. Sweet, the circulator.

That’s all,” said the “genius homo.”

“Well, it’s a clean sweep,” said Mr. Kyner, “May I telephone my wife?”

“You’ll have to hurry,” quoth pompous Mac.

“Who’ll get out the paper?” asked Richmond, the foreman.

“McClelland laughed and said, ‘“‘We’ll send printers down from the camp and get it out for you.”

“Oh no you won’t,” said Richmond, “It takes printers, and printers don’t bunch in your corral.”

With that the Record force was marched to the “bull pen” under an “honorary” guard of two companies of infantry, two troops of cavalry and, perhaps, the gatling gun, (late of Wyoming.)

At that time I was at home in bed and Mrs. Kyner came to my home and rapped at the door. I opened the door and she asked me if I had heard the latest. I replied that I evidently had not, and she informed me of the arrest of the Record force, and asked, “What shall we do?”

“Do!” said I, “get out the paper of course.” “Just the thing,” said plucky Mrs. Kyner. “I’ll notify Mr. Miller,” and away she flew in the darkness. We realized instantly that a strong effort had been made to suppress the liberty of the press, and determined forthwith that the entire military force of Colorado should not keep the Record from making its appearance as usual.

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Emma F. Langdon Reports on Cripple Creek Strike: Force of Victor Daily Record Kidnapped by Military”

Hellraisers Journal: From The Day Book: Heroine Annie Clemenc by N. D. Cochran-American Joan of Arc in Fight for Liberty

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Quote Annie Clemenc, Die Behind Flag, Mnrs Bltn, Sept 16, 1913—————

Hellraisers Journal – Friday October 10, 1913
Calumet, Michigan – Annie Clemenc, Leader of Women and Strike Sympathizers

From The Day Book of October 8, 1913:

Heroine Annie Clemenc, Day Book p1, Oct 8, 1913

Annie Clemenc with Flag, Day Book p3, Oct 8, 1913

The news dispatches tell of the arrest of Annie Clemenc, leader of the women strike sympathizers at Calumet, Michigan-the woman who has carried the American flag at the head of the striking miners daily parade.

But that doesn’t tell very much. It doesn’t tell the story of Annie Clemenc. The name means nothing to you who read the mere statement that Annie Clemenc was arrested.

But I have met Annie Clemenc. I have talked with her. I have seen her marching along the middle of the street, carrying that great American flag. It is a silk flag. The staff must be fully two inches thick.

When I read that Annie Clemenc has been arrested I think of the dirty little jail in Calumet. And I think of Joan of Arc and the Goddess of Liberty. Then I think of the notable women I have seen in New York, in San Francisco, in Chicago and in Washington.

Early one morning I trudged along the road, walking at one side with Moyer, president of the Western Federation of Miners, as the parade went from Red Jacket to Laurium and back. Women were in the front-miners’ wives, miners’ daughters-and Annie Clemenc, heroine, marched with them and carried the flag.

Annie Clemenc is a miner’s wife. A Croatian [Slovenian], she was born in this county and educated in the schools of Calumet. If she were dressed in the fashion people would turn to look at her if she walked down State street or Fifth avenue. Even in her plain dress she is a striking figure. Strong, with firm but supple muscles, fearless, ready to die for a cause, this woman is the kind all red-blooded men could take their hats off to.

A militia officer said to me at Calumet: “If McNaughton could only buy Big Annie he could break this strike.”

I suppose Annie Clemenc knows what it is to go hungry, but I don’t believe all the millions of dividends ever taken out of the Calumet & Hecla mine could buy her.

The day when the soldiers rode down the flag Annie Clemenc stood holding the staff of that big flag in front of her, horizontally. She faced cavalrymen with drawn sabers, infantrymen with bayonetted guns. They ordered her back. She didn’t move an inch. She defied the soldiers. She was struck on her right wrist with a bayonet, and over the right bosom and shoulder with a deputy’s club.

[She said:]

Kill me. Run your bayonets and sabers through this flag and kill me, but I wont go back. If this flag will not protect me, then I will die with it.

And she didn’t go back. Miners rushed up, took the flag and got her back for fear she might be killed.

After the parade one morning Annie Clemenc came up to the curb where President Moyer was standing. I was there.

Looking up at him she said:

It’s hard to keep one’s hands off the scabs.

I asked her if the big flag wasn’t heavy.

[She said:]

I get used to it. I carried it ten miles one morning. The men wouldn’t let me carry it back. I love to carry it.

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: From The Day Book: Heroine Annie Clemenc by N. D. Cochran-American Joan of Arc in Fight for Liberty”

Hellraisers Journal: 500 School Children Are Now Striking in Sympathy with the Ongoing Michigan Copper Miners’ Strike

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Quote Mother Jones, Stick Together, MI Mnrs Bltn p1, Aug 14, 1913—————

Hellraisers Journal – Thursday October 9, 1913
Keweenaw County, Michigan – School Children on Strike in Copper Country

From The Calumet News of October 7, 1913
-School Children on Strike; Annie Clemenc Convicted:

Michigan Copper Country School Strike, Calumet Ns p1, Oct 7, 1913[…..]
Michigan Copper Country School Strike, Calumet Ns 2 p1, Oct 7, 1913Michigan Copper Country School Strike 3, Calumet Ns p1, Oct 7, 1913[…..]
Michigan Copper Country School Strike 3, Calumet Ns p1, Oct 7, 1913

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Hellraisers Journal: “We’re Coming, Colorado, We’re Coming All the Way, Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom.”

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Quote Coming Colorado Strike Song, Dnv ULB p1, Sept 27, 1913—————

Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday October 8, 1913
“Colorado Strike Song”-Sung to the Tune of “The Battle Cry of Freedom.”

From the Denver United Labor Bulletin of September 27, 1913:

Colorado Strike Song, Dnv ULB p1, Sept 27, 1913

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: “We’re Coming, Colorado, We’re Coming All the Way, Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom.””