Matilda Rabinowitz arrested in Detroit attempting to organize Studebaker auto workers into the I.W.W. One month after this was written, on June 17, 1913, thousands of workers walked out of the Studebaker plant, joined by the Timken Axle plant workers led by Rabinowitz. The first auto strike in Detroit had begun.

‘Nine Arrested in Detroit’ from Industrial Worker. Vol. 5 No. 8. May 15, 1913.

“I am going to speak to, the motor car workers of Detroit if I rot in jail for it” was the bold declaration of I.W.W. Organizer Matilda Rabinowitz to Justice (?) Merlque when arraigned in court to answer charges of obstructing traffic by holding a street meeting in front of the Ford motor works at Highland Park, a village Just outside the city limits of Detroit, Mich. The judge Imposed a fine of $5.00, which was paid under protest pending an appeal. Fines were also imposed upon John Fisher, John Walsh and Martin Healy, each of whom had endeavored to speak directly following the arrest of Miss Rabinowitz.

Later John Zinco, editor of a New York Socialist paper and A. Lieberman were arrested for distributing literature. Three others were also taken up on the same charge. All were handcuffed and Lieberman was badly beaten by the police. When arraigned in court all refused to take the oath. They amused themselves by singing revolutionary songs and making fun of hizzoner, severely disturbing the majesty of that dignitary, who renders verdicts by auto-suggestion.

After her release Fellow Worker Rablnowitz returned to the Ford works and addressed the employes from a nearby vacant lot. Four members of an aggregation known as Dannie’s Deluded Disciples” arrived on the scene to inform Police Chief Hoagland that the arrested persons did not represent the real I.W.W., but “their object was to preach anarchy and stir up hatred among the workers against their employers.” How uncivilized! Automobile Workers’ Union No. 16, I.W.W., is growing and in the near future expects to have enough workers organized to present a very serious problem to Ford, Studebaker and Company, exploiters of the working class.

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.”

PDF of original issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/industrialworker/iw/v5n08-w216-may-15-1913-IW.pdf