Hellraisers Journal: Winthrop D. Lane for The Survey: “Uncle Sam: Jailer” – IWWs Locked Up in the Hell Holes of Kansas

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Quote Ralph Chaplin, When we claim our Mother Earth, Leaves 1917———-

Hellraisers Journal – Monday September 8, 1919
I. W. W.’s Languish in Kansas Hell Holes, Part I of Series by W. D. Lane

From The Survey of September 6, 1919:

IWW KS, Uncle Sam Jailer by WD Lane, Survey p806, Sept 6, 1919
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IWW KS, Investigation by WD Lane, Survey p806, Sept 6, 1919
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[Part I of VI.]

I

EARLY this summer, a dozen lines in an eastern news paper conveyed the news that a hundred members of the I. W. W., migratory workers in the oil fields and wheat belt of Kansas, had been locked up in the jails of that state, and that more would be locked up as soon as they came out of the “jungle” into the towns and cities. This information was significant for reasons not appearing on the surface. It meant, if the experience of other members of the I. W. W. during the two years preceding was any guide, that these men faced an indefinite confinement in Kansas jails awaiting trial; that they would be kept in semi-dark and disease-breeding cells; that they would be fed insufficiently; that they would live with rats and vermin; that they would be crowded into quarters too small for them and would spend their days within smell of their own excreta; that they would be kept absolutely idle and that their faculties would suffer from disuse; that at times their only protection against physical abuse would be the strength of their own numbers; that for months at a stretch they would not see the real light of day, much less be allowed out-of-doors; and that some of their number would in all probability go insane or attempt suicide or die.

That is what it is to live in many Kansas jails today.

The evidence for these statements is to be found in the conditions under which other members of the I. W. W. have lived in Kansas jails for two years past. I went to these jails last January and saw the conditions under which these men lived with my own eyes. My purpose was not to befriend the I. W. W., with the philosophy or tactics of which I had no personal concern, but to answer the question: What kind of jailer is Uncle Sam?

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Hellraisers Journal: West Virginia Miners Declare They Will March on Logan County to Help Their Brothers Organize

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Quote Mother Jones, Kaisers here at home, Peoria IL Apr 6, 1919———-

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday September 7, 1919
4,000 Armed Miners Gather Near Marmet to March on Logan County

From the The West Virginian of September 6, 1919:

WV UMW, Armed Miners March, WVgn p1, Sept 6, 1919WV UMW, Armed Miners March Logan ed, WVgn p1, Sept 6, 1919

(By Associated Press)

CHARLESTON, Sept. 6-According to information received from a local operator who refused to be quoted the coal operators of the Guyan field yesterday unloaded a car load of machine guns at different places in Logan county as a means of preparation to meet the hosts of invading miners from the Kanawha and Coal river fields.

The five hundred armed miners who left Oak Grove this morning on the march across the hills to Coal river with the Guyan field of Logan county their object was to be joined at Racine and Little Coal River by about 3,000 more armed men according to information received here by coal operators.

The additional armed forces were said to be assembled at Racine and on Little Coal river early this forenoon awaiting the crowd from Oak Grove.

W. M. Petry, vice president of District No. 17 United Mine Workers of America said there were 4,000 armed miners on the march this morning to the Guyan fields, but disclosed no information regarding their whereabouts at that time.

Petry said the men absolutely refused to listen to the appeal of Governor Cornwell and the orders of the union officials. They refused to listen to any of us, Mr. Petry said and declared their intention of marching into Logan county to help their brothers organize.

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