‘Rebels Pinched in Utah Strike’ from the Industrial Worker. Vol. 5 No. 13. June 19, 1913.

Tucker, Utah, June 9.—Over 500 slaves, under the banner of the I.W.W., have revolted against the unbearable conditions existing in the camps of the Utah Construction Co. and their sub-contractors in the vicinity of Tucker, Utah. These men have put up with the abuse, poor food and unsanitary conditions in the camps for the past year and now have turned their heads toward the I.W.W. as the only means for bettering their conditions. In the past these men had sought to improve their conditions individually but realizing that nothing could be gained that way they Joined the I.W.W. and are now on strike with the following demands: A minimum wage of $2.50 for nine hours’ work; abolition of the $1.00 hospital fee; better food and sanitary conditions; also the abolition of the discounting of their time-checks. We need assistance to carry on this fight to a successful end and ask that all who can do so contribute liberally. Realizing that Paterson and other strikes in industrial centers should have first call for aid, we ask that you do not neglect them for our sakes. —J. F. Morgan, Organizer.

Tucker. Utah, June 11, 1913. —The strike is still on and the boys are showing fine solidarity. The camps are tied up tight from Summit to Tucker. Fellow worker Morgan and four others were pinched and taken to Provo for no reason whatever. As usual the dirty pimps of the capitalist class have taken the law in their own hands and arrested without warrants. When Morgan demanded to see the warrant, two gunmen from Provo or some other scissor-bill town pulled two guns and said, “this is the warrant.” Well these brutes thought that the rest would scatter and the strike would be a fizzle, but they were badly disappointed, for a number of as took the box and cheer after cheer went up as we bawled these gum shoe pimps out. The men are with us and we are doing good work signing them up in the One Big Union. What we are badly in need of is funds with which to feed the strikers and some good speakers and organizers. Some of the men are leaving and we can use any number of rebels to help win the fight. The deputies took Morgan’s valise which contained the literature and due books. They also took about $10 worth of food which we had just bought to take to the jungles to feed the strikers. They took it with them to Provo thinking that the city would get out of feeding the men while they are in jail. Come on, fellow workers, and help us educate this bunch. Those of you who can’t come, send funds. —Lee Pratt, Camp Delegate.

Provo County Jail. Utah, June 12, 1913. —At last in the “Mormon” state of Utah. In Utah county, the minions of the law are once more leading an uncalled for attack upon the fellow workers in this vicinity. This attack was brought forth by the members (the active ones I mean) of Local 69. Salt Lake, causing a strike on the construction work that was going on between Tucker and Soldiers Summit. The slaves between the points designated have been treated in such an unmentionable manner, called for the only hope of the working class (the I.W.W.), Fellow Workers Rice. Ridgway and Pratt immediately went to the scene of activities, and upon their arrival, they were met by hundreds howling for membership cards in the One Big Union. Immediately after receiving their cards, the above mentioned fellow workers went from camp to camp explaining the methods of the organization to the slaves who were unacquainted as to what the I.W.W. meant to the working class, and signed up all those who were anxiously waiting for a chance to become members. They also realized that there was about to be an explosion in the minds of the slaves, which only showed that a strike was imminent They at once communicated to Salt Lake City and Fellow Worker Rowan and myself were immediately dispatched to the scene of activities. On arrival we found that a strike was the only thing that would satisfy the minds of the slaves employed in the various camps. At 6 p.m. June 9, the entire body working on the grade went out to a man. Realizing that quick action was necessary, fellow Workers Ridgway. Rice, Pratt, Rowan and myself got together, formed ourselves into a committee to consult the strikers as to their demands. After receiving their demands, we immediately communicated with Local No. 69, that the strike was on. The Utah Construction Co. with the sub-contractors, realizing that defeat stared them in the face, grasped the only straw left, which they thought would save them, and had the following fellow workers arrested on trumped-up charges: Ridgway, Rice, Weaver, Rowan, F. Rice, Eubanks, McCue, and myself. We have been charged with the following: intimidating workers, threats to use violence and dynamite, also destruction of machinery. Fellow Worker Ridgway is also charged separately with the horrible crime of refusing to allow Hamilton & Gleason’s walking boss, to beat him up with a pick handle. In this state, there is a law stating it is a crime to tell workers that their only hope to gain better conditions is to strike and demand It. Of course, fellow workers; you know how much truth there is to the charges preferred against us, and hope you will look upon them, as one big joke sprung by the Mormons. On the night of the 11th, 20 deputy sheriffs, armed with drawn revolvers, deported two coach loads of fellow workers to Salt Lake City, 80 miles distant. All this occurred in the “uncivilized” but “Christianized” state of Utah, whose citizens have a look on their face that appears as wise as an owl but with the intelligence of a washtub. All those follow workers who desire a good home flock to Tucker, Utah.

J. F. MORGAN, Organizer.

The Industrial Union Bulletin, and the Industrial Worker were newspapers published by the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) from 1907 until 1913. First printed in Joliet, Illinois, IUB incorporated The Voice of Labor, the newspaper of the American Labor Union which had joined the IWW, and another IWW affiliate, International Metal Worker.The Trautmann-DeLeon faction issued its weekly from March 1907. Soon after, De Leon would be expelled and Trautmann would continue IUB until March 1909. It was edited by A. S. Edwards. 1909, production moved to Spokane, Washington and became The Industrial Worker, “the voice of revolutionary industrial unionism.”

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