Hellraisers Journal – Sunday December 14, 1919
Seattle, Washington – Union Record, Confiscated and Returned
From The Nation of December 13, 1919:
A Newspaper Confiscated—And Returned
By ANNA LOUISE STRONG
[Part I of II.]
SEATTLE has a way of making labor history. The third week in November saw not only the confiscation and later the return of the property of The Seattle Union Record, the mouthpiece of organized labor in that city, but produced as by-products several actions new in the history of unionism. The newspaper’s plant was seized without warning by the United States Attorney, held throughout a week’s time through various court delays, and at last returned on order of the court, which stated that it was illegally held. The mailing of the paper was held up for over a week by the local postmaster on the ground that he was “in doubt” concerning its mailability.
The Seattle Star of November 13, 1919
Meantime, the labor movement of the city, which was obviously expected by the authorities to indicate its anger in some storm or upheaval, remained calm and self-controlled, and began voting a day’s pay per member for “a bigger, better Union Record.” Several unions displayed spontaneously the extent to which solidarity of feeling has transcended in Seattle the actual craft lines of organization. The union teamsters, sent to The Union Record office to haul away the confiscated files, records, and papers, obstinately refused to handle them until the marshal appealed to the secretary of The Union Record’s board of control, whom he had just arrested. Mr. Rust then went out and told the teamsters “It’s all right, boys; go ahead.” And they went ahead.
Hellraisers Journal – Saturday March 29, 1919
The History of the Seattle General Strike: Organization
From The Ohio Socialist of March 26, 1919:
THE SEATTLE GENERAL STRIKE
(HERE IS THE HISTORY OF THE SEATTLE GENERAL STRIKE
AS APPEARED IN THE SEATTLE UNION RECORD)
—–
Four days before the strike actually took place, the meetings of the General Strike Committee began. With their first session on Sunday, Feb. 2, 1919, authority over the strike passed from the Central Labor Council, which had sent out the call, and from the Metal Trades Council which had asked it, and was centered in a committee of over 300 members, elected from 110 local unions and the Central Labor Council, for the express purpose of managing the strike.
The first meeting was called in order at 8:35 in the morning and continued is session until 9:30 that evening, with short intermissions for meals. From this time on until the close of the strike, there were meetings daily and at almost all hours of day and night, of either this General Strike Committee, or of the Executive Committee of fifteen which it delegated some of its authority. The volume of business transacted was tremendous; practically every aspect of the city’s life came before the strike committee for some decision.
A general strike was seen, almost at once, to differ profoundly from any of the particular strikes with which the workers of Seattle were familiar. It was not enough, as some of the hasty enthusiasts declared, to “just walk out.” The strikers were at once brought face to face with the way in which the whole community, including their own families, is inextricably tied together. If life was not to be made unbearable for the strikers themselves, problems of management of selection and exemption had to take the place of the mush simpler problem of keeping everyone out of work.
Hellraisers Journal – Thursday February 20, 1919
Notes on the Seattle General Strike from an Observer
From The Ohio Socialist of February 19, 1919:
Side Lights on Seattle Strike
By An Observer
The five-day general strike of 70,000 Seattle workmen and working women brought about by the refusal of General Mgr. Piez of the Emergency Fleet Corporation to allow ship yard workers to negotiate directly with their employers and threatening to cut off the supply of steel to the local yards if they negotiated directly with the workers, was the most complete walkout that has ever occurred in America. At the same time it was the most peaceful.
The week’s mail has brought us some strike bulletins issued by the strike committee of the workers, and a personal letter from which we quote below. The whole tone of the bulletin is against any interference of the processes of the law or violence of any kind. It repeatedly advises the workers to “keep cool” and to visit the public libraries. The A. F. of L. takes entire responsibility for the strike though of course the I. W. W. and the Socialist Party were active participants.
Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday February 12, 1919
Seattle, Washington – An Editorial on the End of the General Strike
From the Seattle Union Record of February 11, 1919:
—–
In Retrospect
The first general strike in the history of the American labor movement has come to an end.
Perhaps it would not be amiss to stop just a moment and take a slant at what happened-a post mortem , as it were . It sometimes happens that much can be learned from a careful analysis of events that have transpired and, perhaps, learn how to avoid mistakes of both omission and commission.
Four things stand out above all others like a mountain in the center of a plain. These are:
First-The splendid solidarity evidenced by the 100 per cent response to the strike call.
Second-The absolute orderliness of the workers on strike and the resolute refusal to be aggravated into any action that could in the least measure be interpreted as riotous conduct.
Third-The hysterical bombast and sometimes guttersnipe comment on events that emanated from the Mayor’s office down at the City-County building, and then retailed through the Seventh avenue “friend of labor” [The Seattle Star] that has at last been unmasked.
Fourth-The desperate efforts at “playing to the gallery” that was indulged in by the Star in an effort to curry favor with big business after the management had finally come to understand that its true character was known to the workers of the community.
Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday February 4, 1919
Seattle, Washington – General Strike of 60,000 Workers Set for Thursday
At 10 o’clock next Thursday morning 60,000 organized workers in the city of Seattle will stand shoulder to shoulder in the first general strike that has ever been successfully inaugurated in the history of this country. Insolently and contemptuously Mr. Charles Piez and his labor-snubbing shipping board threw down the defiant gauntlet which has now been taken up with a firmness of resolution and a solidarity unmatched in the annals of the American Labor movement.
The workers of the northwest believe that they have been flouted and fooled by Piez and his fellow labor-baiters, that they have been deceived and betrayed by the politicians, both state and federal, and they have resolutely grasped the only weapon over which they have any direct control, determined to make a fight that will demonstrate whether or not they have the power to secure the justice that has been denied them by industrial barons and bureaucratic despots.
Hellraisers Journal – Sunday February 2, 1919
Seattle, Washington – City Braces for General Strike
From the Seattle Union Record of January 31, 1919:
With every vote in the affirmative, Electrical Workers’ Union No. 16 went down the line for the General sympathetic strike Thursday night.
“We propose to stand by the Metal Trades Council because the Metal Trades Council is right,” said William Delaney, speaking for the union following the meeting, “and because we recognize that this is a class struggle.”
Other unions which last night went on record for the general strike were the sheet metal workers and the lady barbers, the latter by a unanimous vote. The cigarmakers endorsed the strike with the same unanimity.
The street car men at meetings held Thursday afternoon and Thursday evening voted to hold referendums at the various car barns all day Saturday.
Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday January 28, 1919
Seattle, Washington – “Mass Meeting Endorses Big Strike”
From the Seattle Union Record of January 27, 1919:
SHIPWORKERS ARE IN FIGHT TO WIN
—–
Jamming the big Hippodrome to its doors with cheering thousands on Sunday afternoon [January 26th], the Boilermakers, Iron Shipbuilders and Helpers held what was probably the largest and most enthusiastic meeting of organized labor which has been held in the Northwest.
The last doubt, if one still existed, that the big union stood behind the industrial battle as one man was dispelled by the meeting. Impressed not only with what it meant to them, but what it means to all of labor, a motion to endorse the strike was carried by a unanimous standing vote and three rousing cheers.
Jack Duschack, business agent of the union, was the first to speak. He told the story of the endeavor of the Metal Trades Council to secure living wages for the workers.
———-
—–
—–
—–