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Hellraisers Journal – Thursday March 20, 1919
Eugene V. Debs Issues Statement Regarding U. S. Supreme Court Decision
From The Ohio Socialist of March 19, 1919:
Tag: The Ohio Socialist
Hellraisers Journal: From The Ohio Socialist: “Debs Goes to Prison,” the Class Character of the Supreme Court Decision
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Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday March 12, 1919
“The machinery of capitalism has completed its work…Debs must go to prison.”
From The Ohio Socialist of March 12, 1919:
DEBS GOES TO PRISON
The machinery of capitalism has completed its work and ground out the decision that Eugene V. Debs must go to prison.
No one who has studied the class character of the governmental institutions of this country expected a different verdict than that which has just been rendered by the United States Supreme Court.
It was inconceivable that the Supreme Curt would declare the Espionage law unconstitutional.
The interpretation of the constitution follows the needs of the ruling class. Only unsophisticated persons with a ludicrously naive belief in the “democracy” of modern capitalist government could imagine such a contingency as the Supreme cCourt declaring a law in the interest of the capitalist class unconstitutional in the hour of capitalism’s greatest need.
But if there was no hope for Debs, even though, as many people believe, the Espionage law violates clearly expressed provisions of the national constitution in regard to the right of free speech and free press, it did seem that the selfish interests of the ruling class of this country might save Debs from prison.
Capitalism in this country is resting upon a slumbering volcano-the volcano of a suppressed, oppressed and exploited working class.
In Russia and Germany the volcano has burst and is flinging the debris of capitalism to the four winds.
In England, France and Italy the rumbling which forecasts a similar activity can be distinctly heard.
Even here the warning signals are not wanting. Unemployment, strikes, discontent, Seattle’s [General Strike] and Lawrence’s [Textile Strike], all suggest a growing bitterness that is the sign of a coming eruption.
Well might the ruling class hesitate before adding another grievance, a grievance that will deepen and make more bitter the hatred of the working class of the system that holds them under its iron heel.
That is what the sending of Eugene V. Debs will mean to the ruling class of this country.
Hellraisers Journal: From The Ohio Socialist: “Side Lights on The Seattle Strike” by An Observer
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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: From Ohio Socialist: Eastern City Fathers Pass Ordinances to Ban Red Flag, But Cannot Yet Ban Ties
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Hellraisers Journal – Thursday December 19, 1918
New York, Youngstown, Cleveland, Etc., Seek to Ban Red Flag
From The Ohio Socialist of December 18, 1918:
“THE RED FLAG ROAD”
We stole the caption because it sounded good. And now listen to our story.
You’ve heard of the Red Flag. You may never have seen one but we are sure you have heard about it. A Red Flag is a piece of cotton, wool or silk that’s been dyed red and in appropriate size is then hoisted to enjoy the breezes that blow.
There is a certain class of people in this land that go mad at sight of the Red Flag just as a bull does at sight of a red rag, and they chase it around with mouthings and ordinances.
The sport began in New York some weeks ago and seems to be traveling westward. The city fathers of Youngstown, Cleveland, Detroit and other cities have seen red and with heroic mien are chasing the Red Flag around and around.
We feel sorry for the Red Flag, folks. Poor, inanimate thing! Can neither talk back nor defend itself while it’s being banished and disgustingly discussed by those whom people have deemed wise enough to run cities.
Passing ordinances that the Red Flag shall fly no more is acting much like the fellow who cut off his little finger to make his hand quit stealing. The Red Fag is only an appendage. The real stuff is a matter of brains. And when brains accept the Red Flag as the insignia for Industrial Democracy then, whether the Red Fag flies or not, the trick is done.
Hellraisers Journal: From The Ohio Socialist: A Poem for the “Mothers of Men” by Ida Crouch Hazlett
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Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday December 10, 1918
Poem by Ida Crouch Hazlett: “And woman shall yet be free.”
From The Ohio Socialist of November 27, 1918:
Hellraisers Journal: From Ohio Socialist: O’Hare Headed to Prison; Ruthenberg Wagenknecht, & Baker Released
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Hellraisers Journal – Saturday December 7, 1918
Canton, Ohio – Ohio Socialist Released, O’Hare Schedule to Speak
The town of Canton was the scene of joyous celebration on December 2nd when Comrades Ruthenberg, Wagenknecht, and Baker were released from the Stark County Workhouse. On hand to greet them was none other than Eugene V. Debs, along with several prominent Ohio Socialists.
Canton will be visited on December 9th by Kate Richards O’Hare who is expected to begin serving her prison term shortly thereafter.
From The Ohio Socialist of December 4, 1918:
FREE THE
POLITICAL PRISONERSWithin the walls of American prisons are held many of the noblest men and women of this land. Many others, men and women with the highest attributes, which characterize true and noble manhood and womanhood, are under indictment and facing charges as political offenders. Men and women with the highest ideals which human beings are endowed are today rotting in American prisons.
For expressing an OPINION at variance with that which the law stated may be expressed these men and women are paying a penalty out of all proportion to their offenses. The espionage law has produced a crop of jail sentences in America absolutely undreamed of even in Germany under the rule of the junkers and their kaiser. Compare the four-year sentence of Liebknecht for “high treason” to that of ten years for Debs, for Kate O’Hare and Rose Pastor Stokes.
If we have been able to surmise correctly the reason (or excuse) for the passage of the espionage law, if punishment was not the purpose of the law then the further confinement of our political prisoners is an atrocity.
If to silence opposition to the war was the purpose of this law, there is now no longer any necessity for their confinement. The war is over. Liberties under which we formerly thrived should be returned to us.
Those in power today have nothing to gain by longer jailing political offenders. On the contrary they stand to lose considerable. This is no time to preach the gospel of hate nor to practice it. It is a false gospel at all times. Now that peace has come its teachings and practices are criminal.
The movement to free our political prisoners is gaining momentum. The great mass of the people, as well as liberal minds among the bourgeoisie, favor it. Those who oppose an early liberation of political offenders are of a class and character with those whom the workers of Europe have lately shorn of power. Let every worker’s voice rise in protest against the longer confinement of political prisoners.
Hellraisers Journal: Debs Case on Appeal Before Supreme Court to be Hurried at Request of Federal Prosecutors
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Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday November 26, 1918
Case Against Comrade Debs to Be Hurried Before Supreme Court
From the Ohio Socialist of November 20, 1918:
Debs Case To Be Hurried
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The daily press carries the report that the case against Comrade Debs on appeal before the Supreme Court is to be hurried, the government prosecutors having asked the Supreme Court to advance the case.
Why this unseemly haste one may ask? Is it feared that with the coming of peace the policy of continuing the jailing of prominent Socialists may meet with the disapproval of the common herd who are learning so fast these days? Do the government prosecutors fear to have an American Liebknecht free in the land? This leads to another question: Isn’t it possible that Debs in prison will become a more potent power against the capitalist system than Debs in freedom?
Liebknecht in prison or Liebknecht free the revolution came just the same to Germany. Take your choice gentlemen, for whether Debs goes to prison or remains free the capitalist system of production is doomed, and all the courts of all governments can not give it one breath of life.
[Photograph added.]
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Hellraisers Journal: Poem by Anise: “Fighting with One Fist,” on Action, Political & Industrial-The Ohio Socialist
As long as the BOSS
Uses BOTH fists
And pays detectives to do it,
I don’t see the sense
Of TYING UP
One of OUR ARMS.
-Anise
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Hellraisers Journal – Thursday November 21, 1918
“Fighting with One Fist”-Poem by Anise
From The Ohio Socialist of November 20, 1918:
Hellraisers Journal: From The Ohio Socialist: Eugene V. Debs Sends Out Hearty Hail to All Workers of the World
Debs is a SOCIALIST and a
REVOLUTIONARY SOCIALIST at that.
Prepare to do your share in his defense!
-The Ohio Socialist
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Hellraisers Journal, Friday August 30, 1918
Eugene V. Debs: “I proudly march to Victory or Death!”
From The Ohio Socialist of August 28, 1918:
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Hellraisers Journal: “A Letter to All Reds” by A. S. Embree, Acting Secretary I. W. W. General Defense Committee
Don’t worry, Fellow Worker,
all we’re going to need
from now on is guts.
-Frank Little
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Hellraisers Journal, Thursday August 29, 1918
From the Cook County Jail: “Hold the Fort! We have nothing to regret.”
From The Ohio Socialist of August 28, 1918:
A Letter To All Reds
After 4 1-2 months of the most bitterly fought legal battle in the history of American labor, the prosecution scored an initial victory in the trial of one hundred of our fellow workers in Chicago.
A masterly defense was provided by Attorney George F. Vanderveer, assisted by William B. Cleary of Arizona, Otto Christensen of Chicago and Miss Caroline A.Lowe of Seattle. It is not too much to say that everything seemed to point to an acquittal, even the charge to the jury by Judge Landis, who, we gladly admit, proved himself to be impartial in all respects. The verdict of “Guilty” came as a shock, a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
The jury was out fifty-five minutes. It may have been only a formality that they left their seats to go to the jury room. A Chicago paper states it is evident that only one ballot was taken.
Motion for a new trial will be filed immediately and if necessary, appeal will be taken. All defendants are now in Cook County Jail. A word of cheer from the fellow workers in the field will be appreciated by them.
Fellow Worker Haywood gave out the following:
[Said Haywood, at the county jail:]
I have no fault to find with Judge Landis, and none of the rest of us have. He was fair to us, absolutely square throughout the whole trial. His instructions were fair, I thought, and certainly he treated us excellently while the trial was in progress.
