‘Activities of Wisconsin Quarry Men’ from Solidarity. Vol. 7. No. 337. June 24, 1916.

Lohrville, Wisconsin, Result In Good I.W.W. Growth and Progress.

The Quarry Workers’ Industrial Union No. 364 of the I.W.W., have to report that their membership is. increasing very rapidly, having something like four hundred members at the present writing: The A.F. of L, which was so, active here a few weeks ago seem to have given it up as a bad job, as the workers are getting wise, and want something more up to date, and so the increase membership of No. 364.

FLYNN MEETINGS

On the 27th and 28th of May, Fellow Worker Flynn held two very successful meetings in Lohrville and Red Granite, the attendance at each meeting was more than a thousand. Receipts for both meetings totaled $56.10. One of the things which made the boss take notice, was that on both occasions the band was out, and by the way the band is composed mostly of members of No. 364. They played revolutionary pieces on the street in both places, until a crowd of over a thousand had gathered around, and then adjourned into the hall.

After the meeting quite a few members were lined up. And I have no doubt that the result of her meetings will mean the adding of a hundred or more members to the ranks) of the quarry workers local 364.

On Sunday night just as Fellow Worker Flynn had been in bed for little while, about twenty pieces began to play in front of the house. They continued to play until everyone in the place had gotten up, and the house was thrown open, and then a real old Italian serenade. Such is the sentiment of the quarry workers of Wisconsin.

There is a branch which was established last month, called Marblehead branch of No 364 of the I.W.W. This branch had 46 members. No doubt in the near future the I.W.W. will be a power to be felt throughout all the quarries of Wisconsin. Let all of us get into the fight. Let us take advantage of the  opportunities now prevailing to line up the workers in the I.W.W., H.E. McGUCKIN..

THE UNIVERSAL STRIKE COMPANY’S

We are writing you concerning the strike here on the Universal Granite Company’s job.

In the first place a blacksmith got fired (unjustly), who is a member of the Quarry Workers’ Union, but in bad standing. He is also a member of the I.W.W., and in good standing. Now, the members of the Quarry Workers’ Union called the men of that organization on the job together and, decided to work no more until the man was reinstated. This the company’s representative refused to do. Then the Paving Cutters, Drillers and Laborers (all the workers on the job), held a joint meeting and decided to not return to work until he was put back to work and the boss (whom none of the men like) removed.

Now the strange part of it is that the Quarry Workers’ Union. (craft union) held a special meeting and repudiated the action of their members on the job, and went as far as to send an apology to the superintendent of the company for the action of their members on the job.

The job is at a standstill, and quite a number of the men have gotten jobs in the other quarries in this district, and quite a few have not.

Now as this is a young local we have very little funds, and as the Paving Cutters’ Union, nor the other craft union regard it as a strike, we can get no financial support from that source. We ask you to make an appeal to all locals, and in what-ever way you think best, to aid us -in our first strike.

A little financial aid at this time would have great results, as it would hold the members we have, and bring in lots more.

Make moneys orders payable to Txel Anderson, Box 97, Lohrville, Wisconsin.

The most widely read of I.W.W. newspapers, Solidarity was published by the Industrial Workers of the World from 1909 until 1917. First produced in New Castle, Pennsylvania, and born during the McKees Rocks strike, Solidarity later moved to Cleveland, Ohio until 1917 then spent its last months in Chicago. With a circulation of around 12,000 and a readership many times that, Solidarity was instrumental in defining the Wobbly world-view at the height of their influence in the working class. It was edited over its life by A.M. Stirton, H.A. Goff, Ben H. Williams, Ralph Chaplin who also provided much of the paper’s color, and others. Like nearly all the left press it fell victim to federal repression in 1917.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/solidarity-iww/1916/v7-w337-jun-24-1916-solidarity.pdf