Tag: Spokane Industrial Worker

Hellraisers Journal: How the Sacred Constitution Is Upheld Against Fellow Workers in Aberdeen, Washington

Janet RayeFree Speech Fights
Share

IW Nov 30, 1911———————-

Hellraisers Journal – Saturday December 30, 1911
Aberdeen, Washington – The Constitution as Upheld for  Fellow Workers 

From the Spokane Industrial Worker of December 28, 1911:

IW p1, Dec 28, 1911

——-

WAKE UP GOVERNOR HAY.
—————

Tacoma, Wash, Dec. 17, 1911.

Honorable Marion E. Hay,
Governor of the State of Washington,
Olympia, Wash.

Sir:-

We, the undersigned, do hereby respectfully call your attention to the lawlessness which, as we are informed, now exists and for some time past existed in Aberdeen, Chehalis county, in this state.

We herewith enclose affidavits to show that workingmen who have been charged with no crime whatever have been compelled to leave said city by an irresponsible mob of brutal men armed with guns and cubs-a proceeding for which we are advised, there is no authority in law and which, we submit, is to a marked degree, against the peace and dignity of our state.

Our laws, as we are informed, provide that persons charged with a crime may be arrested and after being found guilty in the manner prescribed by law, may be punished. Such punishments, we are informed, may be fine, imprisonment, the infliction of death penalty upon the offender, and in certain cases the performance of an operation to prevent procreation.

There is no law providing that persons, guilty or innocent, desirable or undesirable may be run out or town.

Trusting that you may, in the exercise of your authority as chief executive of our state, see your way clear to suppress all lawlessness and assuring you of our ability and willingness to furnish much or evidence of the character herewith enclosed, we beg to remain, respectfully yours,

ED GILBERT.
A. J. AMOLSCH.
MANS BECKER.

[Emphasis added.]

———-

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: How the Sacred Constitution Is Upheld Against Fellow Workers in Aberdeen, Washington” →

Hellraisers Journal: 700 Thugs Organized by Mayor Parks to Stop IWW Free Speech Fight in Aberdeen, Washington

Janet RayeFree Speech Fights
Share

IW Nov 30, 1911————————

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday December 10, 1911
“FREE SPEECH must be established in Aberdeen! ON TO ABERDEEN!!”

From the Spokane Industrial Worker of December 7, 1911:

IW p1, Dec 7, 1911
We will now sing that touching hymn entitled
“Throw a Little Dough Upon the Drum.”

——-

ABERDEEN FULL OF THUGS
—————

A LULL IN THE STORM
-700 AUTHORIZED THUGS TO STOP 
FREEDOM OF SPEECH
-MAYOR PARKS THREATENS TO MURDER.
—————

ABERDEEN, Wash., Dec. 1.-Aberdeen is quiet after the storm. The I. W. W.’s have left, and can’t come back now if they want to. In fact, they did petition the mayor for permission to return peaceably, and were refused. So say the citizens.

Sympathizers with the organization, however, say guardedly that the “woods are full” of I. W. W.’s waiting for the proper time to strike a second blow against the town which, they say, has denied them the right of free speech.

The bustling lumber town is in a hubbub of excitement. The recent “invasion” is the topic of conversation on every street corner. Every one is aroused. “Aberdeen for law and order,” is the motto.

The 700 citizen police are still in authority and have their hickory ax handles and stout wagon wheel spokes handy in case they are needed again. The town is unnaturally quiet-like the calm before a storm. Serious men realize that the war may not yet be ended, and are waiting.

When the first skirmish took place five men mounted soap boxes on prominent street corners and demanded the right to preach their doctrine wherever they pleased. They were arrested. The next night 150 men wearing red tags made a demonstration before the city jail in favor of their imprisoned comrades. City officials ordered out the fire department and the crowd of I. W. W.’s and many bystanders were soaked with water. Several arrests followed. Friday Mayor Parks gave the oath to 500 special police. The number has since been swelled to 700. The I. W. W.’s attempted to hold a meeting in the Empire theater and the hardest struggle of the week took place. Citizen police patrolled all streets in squads and arrested every man they could find wearing the red tag of the I. W. W.’s. The meeting was dispersed.

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: 700 Thugs Organized by Mayor Parks to Stop IWW Free Speech Fight in Aberdeen, Washington” →

Hellraisers Journal: From the Spokane Industrial Worker: “To Aberdeen or Bust” IWW Men Leaving for Free Speech Fight

Janet RayeFree Speech Fights
Share

———————-

Hellraisers Journal – Friday December 1, 1911
I. W. W. Free Speech Fight On in Aberdeen, Washington

From the Spokane Industrial Worker of November 30, 1911:

The Spokane local of the Industrial Workers of the World is to rush 100 of its members to Aberdeen, Wash., to fill the jails of that town. They will help in a street speaking agitation now being waged there.

A telegram from Aberdeen Wednesday to the local secretary, W. A. Douglass, stated the fight was on and urged that all available men in Spokane start immediately. The communication stated the organizer and secretary of the Aberdeen local were already in jail for street speaking. 

Reports from Portland, Ore., tell of an outbreak of “soap box orators” in that city. In conference Wednesday the chief of police and Commissioner Coffey decided to jail all speakers creating street demonstrations. The Spokane local says men will be rushed to the Rose city immediately, if necessary.-Spokane “Chronicle.”

———————-

Reinforcements From Vancouver.

VANCOUVER, B. C., Nov. 24.-At the local headquarters of the I. W. W. it was declared tonight that 368 men are going from here to Aberdeen, Wash., to participate in the free speech fight there.-“Spokesman-Review.”

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: From the Spokane Industrial Worker: “To Aberdeen or Bust” IWW Men Leaving for Free Speech Fight” →

Hellraisers Journal: I. W. W. Calls for Convention to Form National Industrial Union of Lumber and Forest Workers

Janet RayeFrank Little
Share

Quote Ralph Chaplin, IWW Centralia n Lumber Barons, OBU Mly p19, May 1920———————-

Hellraisers Journal – Friday November 24, 1911
Recently Installed G. E. B. of I. W. W. Calls for Convention of Lumber Workers

From the Spokane Industrial Worker of November 23, 1911:

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: I. W. W. Calls for Convention to Form National Industrial Union of Lumber and Forest Workers” →

Hellraisers Journal: Industrial Workers of the World Declares Great Victory in the Kansas City Free Speech Fight

Janet RayeFree Speech Fights
Share

Quote EGF, re Spk FSF, ISR p618, Jan 1910———————-

Hellraisers Journal – Saturday November 11, 1911
Kansas City, Missouri – Walker C. Smith Describe I. W. W. Victory

From the Spokane Industrial Worker of November 9, 1911:

KC FSF HdLn, Victory, IW p1, Nov 9, 1911KC FSF Victory, IW p1, Nov 9, 1911

KANSAS CITY HAS BEEN PLACED ON THE MAP
—————

(Walker C. Smith)

Kansas City is built on a bluff, but they can’t bluff the I. W. W.

The I. W. W. has succeeded in putting K. C. on the map and today in that hilly village the principal topic of conversation in the One Big Fighting Union of the working class. It is conceded that the authorities had to back down and they made quite a neat job of it. Chief of Police Griffin, Judge Burney and Clark, together with the public persecutor, saved their face through the medium of the Board of Public Welfare. The board consists of well meaning, old fossils, recently retired from the cockroach strata of society, who spend their time and the “dear public’s” money in sprinkling cologne on the dunghills of capitalism or in poulticing boils on the body politic. With the threat of “ONE THOUSAND MEN FOR THANKSGIVING DINNER AT LEED’S FARM” haunting them like a specter, these souphouse reformers went straight up in the air, Kansas City under normal conditions cannot care for its “unfortunates” and the present business depression, coupled with threatened I. W. W. invasion made these sentimental gentlemen throw up their lily white hands in holy horror.

On Wednesday night with six arrests, the “hobo agitators” numbered two dozen. These boys were kangarooed to the tune of $500 each for which they thanked the judge in sarcastic terms. One of them, charged with speaking on the street so as to blockade traffic, stutters so it took him several minutes to tell his name and occupation. 

Trifles like this, however, never block the road of capitalist justice. This last haul filled all available space at the municipal farm and since then no further arrests have been made although the meetings are being held exactly as heretofore. On Friday night the speaking started at Sixth and Main, as usual, and the box was moved up to 12th and Grand. This is the busiest section and the crowd that had followed the speakers and singers, together with those who quickly gathered, became so large as to block traffic for the first time. Coyle, Saunders, Lyons and myself were the speakers and the cop on the beat-well, he beat it accompanied by the jeers of the crowd. Saturday was spent in putting out “Bulletin No 1,” which was a statement of the position of the I. W. W.

On Saturday morning G. E. B. member Tom Halero and I, went to the board to get permit to see the boys on Sunday. We were told to return at 3 p. m. and upon doing so were taken down to the office of the chief of police. Some of the members of the board were there and they endeavored to maneuver it into a conference with Halero and myself protesting that we had no power to take action and telling them that the men in jail were the only ones who could settle the fight. Not withstanding this the conference continued for three hours and assumed the appearance of a treaty council between equal powers. It conclusively demonstrated the tremendous power of organized might and clearly showed that we are building the new society within the shell of the old. We are gaining general recognition as a fighting force disputing control with the powers that be…..

———————-

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Industrial Workers of the World Declares Great Victory in the Kansas City Free Speech Fight” →

Hellraisers Journal: From the Spokane Industrial Worker: “Free Speech Fight Is on in Kansas City” by G. H. Perry

Janet RayeFrank Little
Share

KC FSF, Telegram re FL Arrested, Oct 14, IW p1, Oct 19, 1911—————

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday October 29, 1911
Kansas City, Missouri – Fellow Worker Frank Little Sent to County Farm 

From the Spokane Industrial Worker of October 26, 1911:

KC FSF by G. H. Perry, IW p1, Oct 26, 1911

The long threatened fight with the city authorities is on in real earnest. On Saturday, October 14th [Saturday], the blue coated minions of “law and order” came up to our open air meeting at Missouri and Main streets and without giving any warning arrested the speaker, F. H. Little. The then turned to other members and asked if they were leaders,. When they were informed that we had no leaders in the crowd they stated that being a member of the I. W. W. was enough, and so they arrested all who admitted membership. After laying in jail over Sunday the the seven I. W. W. men who were arrested were treated to a burlesque show in the shape of a kangaroo court presided over by Judge Burning. “His honor” listened to a cockroach business man telling that the thought that we were unfair (how horrible Archie) in our statements…

Fellow Worker Little asked for a jury trial which was denied. The “kangaroo” said, “I know what you men want and I don’t want to be bothered with you this winter and I am not going to stand for any stump speeches.” Little told the court why we were organized and the reason he wished a jury trial was so he could be tried in a real court….

Little then went on explaining to the judge the purposes of the I. W. W. and in the middle of a sentence the judge cut him off with “You are fined $25.00 and rest $10.00 each.” Little and the writer were the only ones allowed to say a word in our own defense. Fellow Workers [Albert V.] Roe, [J.] McGuire, [H. D.] Montgomery, [G. W.] Reeder and [Carl] Strobach were kangarooed without saying a word in their own defense…..

After we had gone back to the jail a delegation from the local saw his honor and after telling im that we intended to have free speech he decided to reconsider his former action and he discharged us all but Fellow Worker Little. …

Little left for county farm this morning…This attempt to do away with the selling of I. W. W. literature and street speaking must be met with determined opposition. Men are needed. We are sure they will be found.

———-

[Emphasis added.]

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: From the Spokane Industrial Worker: “Free Speech Fight Is on in Kansas City” by G. H. Perry” →

Hellraisers Journal: Industrial Worker: “Union Scabs Working on Harriman Lines; 30,000 Shop Men on Strike”

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
Share

Quote Joe Hill, General Strike, Workers Awaken, LRSB Oct 1919—————

Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday October 17, 1911
30,000 Shopmen on Strike on Harriman Lines; Union Scabs Continue Working

From the Spokane Industrial Worker of October 12, 1911:

Harriman Strike, HdLn Union Scabs, IW p1, Oct 12, 1911

It is estimated that there are 30,000 shop men, members of the Federated Shopmen’s Union, now on strike on the Harriman lines. The strikers comprise four crafts, which includes the blacksmiths, carmen, machinists and boilermakers. Up to the present time the men remain firm in their demands and few desertions are recorded, if any. Much of our news has come through the capitalist press and therefore we are forced to read between the lines. That there has been an earnest effort on the part of the strikers to keep the professional scabs from going to work in many places is certain. We have not heard of any bricks being thrown at the switchmen, who are also members of the A. F. of L., neither has many firemen, who are firing the coal into the engines that pull scabs around the country, had their heads knocked off.

There is some hope expressed that the strike may extend. We hope so. We hope that every craft now employed on the Harriman system will discover the fact that they are also employes of the Harriman management and have interests in common with the strikers and so long as they continue to work when four crafts are battling for better conditions, that they are scabbing. If the strike goes the way of many strikes it cannot be said that it was LOST. It will be of some benefit to the workers, as it will point the way to a more solid organization. It will demonstrate that it was not the so-called professional scabs that caused the temporary defeat, but was caused directly by the union scabs who stayed and helped the master whip those who were battling for better conditions. Until all the slaves working for the one industry and all the slaves working for all the industries recognize that “an injury to one is an injury to all” it will be a case of recording defeat after defeat. Not a train has been bottled up so far on the Harriman system and it would be absurd to say that the object in a strike is not to bottle up a railroad or other industry and FORCE the boss to come to terms. To FORCE concessions is the object of any strike, then why not have enough FORCE?

Is it creditable to go into an affray knowing that you have not enough FORCE to be victorious? Is it creditable to be always getting whipped? We hope the federated crafts will win their strike. We hope all strikes could be won. It is our one desire to not only win the little strikes known as skirmishes, but to win the BIG STRIKE when the boss will be FORCED to do his share of the work of the world instead of living off the toil of labor. If the strikers will only discover the fact that there are other scabs than professional scabs and will treat other scabs in the same way and with the same contempt as they are those who are directly taking their places or attempting to, the strike will be of short duration. Bottle up the railroad. Make the other crafts strike or forever damn them as the lowest scabs on earth. Make them fight to help you if possible. Send back their resolutions of sympathy and call a spade a spade. Call a scab a scab. Let every railroader on the Harriman lines lay down his tools or be condemned as a traitor to the working class. It’s a skirmish in the great class struggle, then fight it on class lines.

—————

[Emphasis and paragraph break added.]

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Industrial Worker: “Union Scabs Working on Harriman Lines; 30,000 Shop Men on Strike”” →

Hellraisers Journal: From the Spokane Industrial Worker: Elizabeth Gurley Flynn Speaks to Detroit Auto Workers

Janet RayeElizabeth Gurley Flynn
Share

Quote EGF, Heaven n Hell, ISR p617, Jan 1910—————

Hellraisers Journal – Monday October 16, 1911
Elizabeth Gurley Flynn Speaks to Detroit Auto Workers

From the Spokane Industrial Worker of October 12, 1911:

GURLY FLYNN IN DETROIT
———-

ELIZABETH GURLEY FLYNN
-DAUGHTER OF INTERNATIONAL REVOLUTION
-DELIVERS THE GOODS IN DETROIT
-GOOD CROWD PRESENT.
———-

EGF, ISR p606, Apr 1911

Local No. 16, Automobile Workers, I. W. W., engaged Turner Hall for a lecture to be held in the afternoon of September 24. On account of the train being late three hours that was to bring the speaker from Cleveland the meeting had to be postponed until 7:30 p. m. Money for tickets was refunded at the door to those who thought of spending the evening some other place. Later on it rained to beat the band, but many came anyhow. No use in giving an account of her lecture. Let the workers go and hear her message of hope to the toilers, her masterful arraignment of the futility of craft unionism, her logical , convincing and comprehensive explanation of industrial unionism as a bonafide expression of industrial or shop solidarity. The I. W. W. de facto and not the “ism” as an ideal to the exclusion of the real, was emphasized at every opportune time. Only “ism” propounders should take notice. It’s the goods that count every time and the I. W. W. is the means to get the goods.

No questions were asked except on the position of the I. W. W. toward politics. And one “Sabotage” was “recognized.” Ha!ha! Recognized! by whom? By the desk revolutionists that never worked in a shop but want to be “it” in every respect in the labor movement, of course. Answer, brilliant. Go and ask that question at her meeting and get it first hand. We also took up a collection to continue the propaganda-nearly $10; some “subs” taken and literature sold. If not for the rain a full house would have listened to her. As it was the crowd was full-of enthusiasm.

An incident worth mentioning took place in the afternoon in front of the hall. Section sidewalk of the S. L. P. was busy distributing some of their labor “savioring” dope. “A Mutt” cam along, ordering them away from the entrance to the hall. Well, they went away and never came back in the evening to put their questions.

“A. MUTT.”

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: From the Spokane Industrial Worker: Elizabeth Gurley Flynn Speaks to Detroit Auto Workers” →

Hellraisers Journal: From the Spokane Industrial Worker: Baby Born Sentenced to Life of Child Slavery and Poverty

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
Share

Mother Jones Quote, Child Labor Man of Six Snuff Sniffer—————

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday October 1, 1911
Behold: Babies Born into Child Slavery and Poverty in America

From the Spokane Industrial Worker of September 28, 1911:

CRTN Child Labor, Baby Sentenced to Life, IW p1, Sept 28, 1911

There is little hope for the child of today, born of working parents, but a life of unceasing toil in the master’s profit-grinding hell pens. The child has supplanted the mother and father, because it works cheaper. Child slavery in America is openly carried on and many thousands of little tots are wearing their little lives away in order to make wealth for a fat profit-monger. If nothing else would rouse the great army of men toilers to action, the very thought of the thousands of little children working in the mills, should stir them to action. Child slavery is a greater blot on civilization than prostitution, as it is a forerunner of prostitution, disease and misery. Let us unite industrially and free every child from the greedy grasp of the gold-crazed glutton that fattens from their toil. Ninety percent of the child slaves of the cotton factories of the south are absolutely illiterate. Be a man and fight. Organize and save he children and then yourselves.

[Emphasis added.]

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: From the Spokane Industrial Worker: Baby Born Sentenced to Life of Child Slavery and Poverty” →

Hellraisers Journal: From the Spokane Industrial Worker: P. L. M. Junta Arrested at Behest of Mexican Government

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
Share

Quote Freedom Ricardo Flores Magon, Speech re Prisoners of Texas, May 31, 1914—————

Hellraisers Journal – Friday July 14, 1911
Members of P. L. M. Junta Arrested in Los Angeles

From the Spokane Industrial Worker of July 13, 1911:

Magon Junta Arrested, IW p3, July 13, 1911

SAN DIEGO, Cal., June 28.-Already Madero the Dictator, has shown “the claw and the fang.” He has, through his Governor Vega of Lower California, demanded the return of the Liberals to Mexico, and warrants have been issued by the United States calling for the arrest of every man who participated in the capture of Tijuana on May 9. The charges are “murder and arson.” The charge is merely a pretext to get them into the power of Madero., where unarmed they will be slaughtered like lambs.

It will be impossibles to arrest the privates as they can’t be identified, but the officers have been arrested and the Mexican government has commenced extradition proceedings. It is now up to every revolutionist to let the government know that if these men are turned over to Mexico, we will have OUR INNING. We must not permit this deal to come off.

The men now arrested are: C. R. Pryce, former commander at Tijuana; J. R. Mosby, J. B. Laflin, Jos, Reed, and two Mexicans. These six men are arrested in San Diego, and as IMMEDIATE ACTION WAS IMPERATIVE, E. E. Kirk, a radical attorney, has been engaged by us to defend them.

Besides this, through Madero’s orders, four members of the Los Angeles Liberal Junta have been arrested, and the capitalist class will try to put them in prison again, where they have already served several years for being Mexican revolutionists. The case the Junta members is being handled by a Los Angeles lawyer. Kirk is a San Diego attorney and as we are without funds to defend our fellow workers, we appeal to every “RED”  to remit what he can. If you cannot afford to send us a dollar or fifty cents or more, send it as a loan. Send the money to E. E. Kirk, Union Building, San Diego, Cal., who will issue a receipt for it. These receipts will be treated as notes if you so desire and we will repay them later, as soon as we can.

Remember, we must not let our fellow workers be returned to Mexico to be shot. Stir up public sentiment about this. Get busy. These men fought like men, on the deserts of Mexico. YOU do your part of a man. Yours in the Perpetual Revolution.

STANLEY M. GUE.

—————

[Emphasis added.]

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: From the Spokane Industrial Worker: P. L. M. Junta Arrested at Behest of Mexican Government” →