Tag: Portland OR

Hellraisers Journal: Mayor of Portland, Oregon, Complains that IWW Members Get Free Rides on Freight Trains with Red Card

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote EGF, Compliment IWW, IW p1, Nov 17, 1909—————

Hellraisers Journal – Thursday November 30, 1922
Portland, Oregon – Mayor Unhappy about Free Rides with Red Cards

From the Duluth Labor World of November 25, 1922:

SAYS I. W. W. MEMBERS GET
FREE RIDES ON RED CARD

IWW Membership Card

Many railroad men on roads leading into Portland are recognizing I. W. W. membership cards and giving free rides on freight trains, George L. Baker, mayor of Portland, declared before the tax regulating and conservation commission, in explaining the water front strike situation.

“We have evidence that in many cases I. W. W. cards served as tickets to Portland,” he asserted. “Some of the trainmen will not allow ordinary tramps to ride, but those who carry red cards are given, free transportation. As a result many I. W. W. have come to Portland, who could not have come had they been required to pay their way.”

The mayor asserted that in some cases groups of I. W. W. had compelled train crews to permit them to ride.

[Photograph and emphasis added.]

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Hellraisers Journal: From the Spokane Industrial Worker: IWW Army on the Road to Join Fresno Free Speech Fight

Janet RayeFrank Little
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Quote Frank Little, in Fresno Jail, IW p3, Mar 2, 1911———-

Hellraisers Journal – Monday March 6, 1911
I. W. W. Army Hikes Over Siskiyou Pass on Way to Fresno

From the Spokane Industrial Worker of March 2, 1911:

Fresno FSF, IWW Army on the Road, IW p1, Mar 1911

Hornbrook, Cal., February 19.

Fellow Worker [Thomas] Whitehead:

I guess by this time that our “doings” have been given publication to some extent in the capitalist press. We were 150 strong when we left Portland. Now the capitalist papers say that we held up a train, WHICH IS A D–N LIE. All we did was to get into an empty box-car, just as any ordinary stiff, but it was so well managed that no railroad bull or police knew we were in the yards at Portland, until we were well away.

We were met by the police at Albany, Ore., whom we talked to. Told them where we were going, and what we were going to do. One big fellow, mayor, or something, sent the first news to the press of the armed-mob, etc., WHICH WAS ALSO A LIE, as we are all searched every day by our own police. When we got to Junction City (put it on the map) we were met by a mob of respectable citizens, who were armed with guns, pitchforks, cleavers, etc. They boarded the train, and told us not to get off the train, and with the guns pointed in our faces, we just laughed at them. Told them what we were and what we were going to do, using the top of a box-car for a soap box, which made them look very small indeed.

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Hellraisers Journal: From the Industrial Worker: “Another Victim of the Uniformed Thugs” by Fellow Worker Joe Hill

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Joe Hill, Murderers Slaughter Our Class, IW p3, Aug 27, 1910———-

Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday August 30, 1910
Pendleton, Oregon – FW Joe Hill, “on the road,” finds victim of gunthug. 

From the Spokane Industrial Worker of August 27, 1910:

ANOTHER VICTIM OF THE
UNIFORMED THUGS.

On the Road, August 11th, 1910

Migratory Workers, The Blanket Stiff, ISR p830, Apr 1909

While strolling through the yards at Pendleton, Ore…I saw a fellow sitting on a tie pile. He had his left hand all bandaged up and hanging useless by his side, and the expression on his face was the most hopeless I ever saw. Seeing that he was one of my class I went up and asked him how it happened, and he told me a tale that made the blood boil in my veins. Like many others, he floated into Roseville Junction, Cal., a town noted for murders and bloodshed. He had a few cents and did not have to beg, but the bull of that worthy town did not like the way he parted his hair, I guess, so he told him to make himself scarce around there. After a bit a train pulled out and he tried to obey the orders, but that upholder of law and justice saw him and habitually took a shot at him. His intentions were, of course, the very best, but being a poor shot he only succeeded in crushing the man’s hand.

The poor fellow might starve to death though, so that blood-thirsty hyena may not get so badly disappointed after all. Not being satisfied with disabling the man for life, he struck him several blows on the head and face with a “sapper” (rubber host with chunks of lead in the end). Then he threw him in the “task” without any medical aid whatever, although the hand was bleeding badly. The next morning about 5 o’clock he got a couple of kicks for breakfast and told that if he dared to show his face around there again it would be the grave yard for his. He told me he could not sleep much because the hand was aching all the time and he wished he could get it cut off, because it was no good anyway. Now, fellow workers, how long are those hired murders, whose chief delight it is to see human blood flowing in streams, going to slaughter and maim our class. There is only one way to stop it-only one remedy-to unite on the industrial field, Yours,

JOE HILL,
Portland Local, No. 92.

[Drawing and emphasis added]

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Hellraisers Journal: Comrade Tom Lewis Reports from Portland: Proletarian Army Heads to Spokane to Fight for Free Speech

Janet RayeFree Speech Fights
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Quote EGF, Compliment IWW, IW p1, Nov 17, 1909———-

Hellraisers Journal – Saturday December 4, 1909
Portland, Oregon – Proletarian Army Heads to Spokane to Fight for Free Speech

From the International Socialist Review of December 1909:

The Free Speech Fight at Spokane
—–

[Part II-Report from Portland, Oregon, by Comrade Tom Lewis]

IWW FSF On Road to Spk, ISR p489, Dec 1909

And now, from almost every state in the union, socialists are on the way to help their comrades in Spokane. Comrade Tom Lewis writes us from Portland, Oregon, that in response to the telegrams sent out by the I. W. W. and Socialist Party headquarters calling for men, the Portland friends arranged a meeting to call for volunteers.

At that meeting forty men lined up. A collection was taken and handed to the little band to be used for “Coffee-and-” [coffee and a donut] while the men were enroute. At this time the rainy season is on and it requires men of the real stuff to volunteer to go, especially since nearly all of them will have to make their way jumping freights. Where would we be without such material!

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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 Spokane Free Speech Fight: Jail Crowded with IWWs, Socialists and Miners of WFM

Janet RayeFree Speech Fights
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Quote, FSF Com Only Begun the Fight, Spk Prs p2, Nov 3, 1909———-

Hellraisers Journal – Thursday November 4, 1909
Spokane, Washington – I. W. W. Determined to Carry on Free Speech Fight

From The Spokane Press of November 3, 1909:

Spk FSF, Jail Crowded w IWWs, ed, Spk Prs p1, Nov 3, 1909

[…..]

Spk FSF, IWW Notices, Spk Prs p1, Nov 3, 1909That 75 socialists are mingled with the scores of revolutionists arrested here yesterday and this morning for speaking on the streets in violation of the city’s ordinance, is an assertion made to The Press this morning by leading members of the Industrial Workers of the World.

[…..]

In Court

Profound interest settles about the trials of the revolutionists in the police court this afternoon. Judge Mann’s decision of these cases means mush. Should he decide the men guilty and uphold the city ordinance, which is almost identical to the one that he declared invalid yesterday morning, the fight will continue with renewed vigor and determination; while, should his decision be a dismissal of the cases, the street meetings will be continued under the regulation of the police.

In a statement made yesterday in the police court, Attorney Fred H. Moore, for the Industrial Workers of the World, said that that order was willing that the street meetings should be regulated by the police after a reasonable manner, but that the city could not prohibit them.

War against Spokane’s street speaking prohibition has begun today with renewed vigor and with more determination than ever by the Industrial Workers of the World. The revolutionists’ fight was cheeked for a few hours last night because of the arrest of their executive committee, which, from the seclusion of headquarters, was directing the fight outside.

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Hellraisers Journal: Fellow Worker J. H. Walsh Completes Tale of the Overall Brigade’s Journey to IWW Convention

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote JH Walsh Overall Brigade, IUB p1, Oct 24, 1908~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hellraisers Journal – Monday November 2, 1908
The Overall Brigade “Abroad the Nation” from Missoula to Chicago

IWW Gen Adm Emblem, IUB, Mar 14, 1908

In the Industrial Union Bulletin of September 19th, J. H. Walsh described the journey of the Overall Brigade, riding the rails from Portland, Oregon, to the I. W. W. Convention in Chicago. He ended his account with the Brigade encamped near Missoula, Montana. The Brigade was bent on making it to Chicago by September 21st, the first day of the Convention. The story of the journey to Chicago is found completed in the latest edition of the Bulletin.

From The Industrial Union Bulletin of October 24, 1908:

ABROAD THE NATION

By J. H. WALSH.

The “Overall Brigade,” en route from Portland, Ore., to Chicago to the Fourth Annual Convention of the Industrial Workers of the World at this point, has finished another successful propaganda meeting at Missoula, Mont. This makes three successful meetings in this city. Literature sales have been the best here of any place so far on our route, while the song sales have doubled, running as high as $10 or $12 per meeting. The collections have been in the same proportion. In fact, it is the first place where the audience has thrown dollars into the crowd at the feet of the singers, as well as many smaller pieces of change that came jingling along at the same time. One collection in the hat was $14.25. This all tells one story in brief-and that is the growing sentiment toward Industrial Unionism.

It is plain to see that the lumbermen’s union, which was generally understood to be a part of the W. F. of M., will soon be a part of the I. W. W. But with all the favorable conditions and enthusiasm, and a thousand invitations for the “bunch” to return, we are off again for the railroad yards to continue our journey to the city of Butte-the noted mining camp.

Our special car is found. It goes in our direction as far as Garrison Junction. It is not a long ride, and we are now spinning along at passenger speed. The long blast of the whistle which sounds and resounds through the mountain tops and valleys on this cold morning, announces that we are approaching the junction. We are there, unloaded and off for the jungles. The cook and a delegate are on their way to the store for supplies, while the rest and the “bunch” is shivering around the camp fire.

Soon the fire is burning bright, the breakfast is cooking and the sun is making its appearance above the horizon, which adds some comfort to our condition on these cold mornings in the Rocky Mountain country. The delicious breakfast is ready and the “bunch” is congregated to partake of the passover.

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Hellraisers Journal: From Appeal to Reason: Debs Special Paints the Coast Red-California, Oregon and Washington

Janet RayeEugene Victor Debs
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Quote EVD Nature's Bounty, Girard, May 16, 1908
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday October 7, 1908
The Red Special Paints a Crimson Streak Up the Pacific Coast States

From the Appeal to Reason of September 26, 1908:

EVD re Red Special West Coast, AtR p4, Sept 26, 1908

—–

San Bernardino.

T, AtR p4, Sept 26, 1908HE first evening meeting after the crimson flyer left Salt Lake City was held at San Bernardino, California, September 8. For the purpose a large park pavilion had been secured and the largest attendance at any political gathering in the history of the city greeted the speakers from the train and the veteran Comrade N. A. Richardson, well known wherever the Appeal is read as the author of that mighty little pamphlet, “The Introduction to Socialism.”

Excursion trains were run in from neighboring points; and, after 4,000 people had crowded the great auditorium, hundreds were turned away because it was physically impossible to find room for one more. Although the train arrived a half hour ahead of time several hundred were at the station to meet it and listen to the concert by the band which pleased even those benighted brethren whose minds were yet befogged with capitalistic teaching.

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Hellraisers Journal: From The Industrial Union Bulletin: J. H. Walsh with Hobo Army Riding the Rails to Chicago

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote J H Walsh, Revolution in the Streets, IUB, Sept 19, 1908
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hellraisers Journal, Wednesday September 23, 1908
Adventures of the Overall Brigade Enroute to Chicago

From The Industrial Union Bulletin of September 19, 1908:

IWW, Overalls Brigade HdLn, IUB, Sept 19, 1908

[J. H. Walsh on the I.W.W’s Red Special, Part II of II.]

IWW, re Organizing UE, IUB, Sept 19, 1908

In Seattle we held several good meetings and then departed for the east. We met a very nice train crew apparently, out of Seattle. They claimed to all be union men, but they proved to be cheap dogs of the railroad. Fearing such a large bunch, they telegraphed ahead to Auburn Junction for a force to take us off. When we arrived at the junction we were surrounded by a band of railroad officials-the papers stated there were 25-when we were covered by guns and told to unload. We were marched to jail and held over night. In the morning the writer was separated from the bunch, but finally we were all turned loose. Being separated, we did not learn until evening where each and all were. However, all except the writer had gotten back to Seattle, and secured the services of Attorney Brown, to take up the case, should it become necessary. It was not necessary. The boys held a street meeting in Seattle, and part started from there for Spokane, over one road, and the rest over another road.

We continued our work of propaganda without missing a single date, and all re-united at Spokane, where we held several good meetings. Leaving Spokane, we took in Sandpoint, Idaho, and then rambled into Missoula, Montana, where we had some of the best meetings of all the places along the route.

We put the “Starvation Army” on the bum, and packed the streets from one side to the other. The literature sales were good, the collections good, and the red cards containing the songs sold like hot cakes.

At Missoula, Mont., we have completed two full week’s work on the road. We left Portland with 20 members. We lost 4 of them, but we picked up one at Seattle, and two at Spokane, so our industrial band is practically the same as when we started.

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Hellraisers Journal: John Reed Returns to USA to Face Federal Charges of Conspiracy to Obstruct the Draft Law

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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The speculators, the employers,
the plutocracy…with lies and sophistries
they will whip up our blood until we are savage-
and then we’ll fight and die for them.
-Jack Reed

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hellraisers Journal, Friday May 3, 1918
New York, New York – John Reed Facing Federal Charges

From Portland’s Oregon Daily Journal of April 29, 1918:

John Reed, Ogden Standard p12, Feb 19, 1918

John Reed, Writer For
“Masses,” Held
—–

An American [Atlantic] Port, April 29.-(I. N. S.)-John Reed, an American writer, bearing credentials from the Bolsheviki as consul general at New York, was detained aboard a Scandinavian steamer upon his arrival here Sunday.

Reed was one of the contributors to “The Masses” who were indicted by a federal grand jury for alleged conspiracy to defeat the draft law. He appeared in the federal court today and pleaded not guilty to the charge of conspiracy to obstruct the draft law.

—–

John Reed is a former Portland man, son of Mrs. Charles J. Reed.

———-

[Photograph added.]

From The Liberator of May 1918:
John Reed located and series on “Red Russia” continues-

John Reed Found, Liberator p3, May 1918

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