Local secretary for the I.W.W. describes the harassment and brutality meted out to its organizers in the already huge, and growing, agricultural industry of California’s Imperial Valley and appeals for out of work wobblies to come join them in the fight.

‘Some I.W.W. Experiences in Imperial Valley’ by Henry Kubow from Solidarity. Vol. 6 No. 281. May 29, 1915.

Authorities Plot to Drive Out Organization From That Section of California. An Appeal for Assistance.

(Special to Solidarity) Brawley, Calif. In the latter part of February the constable of Brawley township was killed. On the following fore noon a posse came to the I.W.W. headquarters and arrested every man who was there at the time, some 17 in number, took them to jail and brought them before, the city recorder. They were charged with no crime, but nevertheless were given the alternative of taking 60 days! on the chain gang or leaving town; all except four left town, but returned, some of them before the posse that escorted them out, the other four remaining in jail two days when they were released.

A week or so later they arrested another member, Smith by name, and gave him a sentence of 30 days on the chain gang. The next morning they took him out to work, but he refused; the marshal then chained him to a log and beat him, later taking back to the jail and chaining him to a cell with his hands above his head, and putting him on a diet of bread and water.

Right after this occurred, a member found out that the detectives who were working (pardon the term) on the murder case, were going to try to fasten the murder on some member of the I.W.W., it made no difference whom, just so he was a member of the organization.

Knowing the financial condition of most of the members owing to the industrial depression, the members of this local decided to send a call’ to some of the locals in this state for men, thinking that by concentrating those who were out of work and making a display of our strength at this point, we could avoid a legal fight and its consequent expenses.

The day the telegrams and letters were sent out, a stool pigeon was beaten up, this same stool had been at the hall the day before and told some of the members to start something in behalf of Smith, thinking no doubt that we would try to fill their filthy jail. But to their surprise we did start something. Casey, a jeweler, and a former organizer for the Socialist Party, had Miles, the marshal arrested on a charge of inhuman treatment of a minor, the minor being Smith, thus forcing the district attorney of this county to prosecute Miles.

The night following the beating of the stool pigeon, the writer was arrested, at 12:15 a.m., by Miles, with the assistance of seven detectives, taken to jail and given the third degree for three hours, being questioned about the beating of the stool and murder of the constable, then put in solitary confinement for a day and released the next morning. Upon being released the marshal told the writer that the detective, Marston, of Los Angeles, who had me arrested, had left town, but I found out later that he had been arrested on a felony charge.

The morning after the writer was arrested they arrested another fellow worker, charging him in conjunction with another, member who had been previously arrested, with felonious assault. At their hearing their trial was set for a week later. When the trial came up the stool had left town and the witnesses for the state could not be found. Then the trial was again put off for a week. When the trial was due the second time, neither the attorney for the prosecution or for the defense. put in an appearance until 6 p.m., when the attorney for the defense came to the hall and told us if we would drop the charge against Miles, the district attorney would release, Smith and drop the charge against the other two.

It may seem strange to the reader that we could force the powers that be to release our members with just that one charge against Miles, but we had other evidence of a more serious nature against him, and enough witnesses to convict him, so the district attorney said. Owing to the circumstances that one of our members in question was facing trial on a charge for which if convicted he could receive a sentence of six months and he having a wife and three babies to support, we let the case drop; but the marshal was forced to resign two days later.

Three weeks ago a young member of this organization was framed up on and sentenced to 30 days without being given a jury trial when he asked for it; consequently he gave the judge his opinion on the courts in general, and was given an additional 30 days for contempt of court. A week later two more members were picked up on the streets of El Centro and charged with “suspicion of marking a signboard.” Who ever before heard of such a charge.

A few days ago the sheriff of this county, with Officer McFadden, of El Centro, and two more, visited the camp some of the members had established at El Centro, flashed their guns on the boys, searched them and told them to leave the county, saying if he ever caught them on this side of the county he would murder them.

Now, all you members who are out of work, the members of this local need your assistance to help organize this valley so the powers that be will never again be able to frame up on any member of this organization. A vigilance committee has been formed in nearly every town in this county. I get this statement from a pretty reliable source. The newspapers throughout the county are carrying on a systematic campaign against the I.W.W., accusing the I.W.W. of burning canteloupe sheds, haystacks and the like. The Brawley News comes out, with an editorial advocating driving the I.W.W. out of the valley before the canteloupe season. Why before the canteloupe season? The El Centro Progress informs us that the authorities of that town have arranged a riot call of five taps of the fire bell, thinking the I.W.W. will repeat the San Diego affair.

One thing this state of affairs has done: it has driven most of the floaters out of the valley. Some of the ranchers are already kicking about the authorities driving “their help” away from here. Now are you members who are idle going to take advantage of this state of affairs? Are you going to help us build up a strong local or locals in this valley by getting job control? Or are you going to do as you have done in some cases in the past–pass it up to Tom, Dick and Harry? We, the members of Local 439, appeal to you to take advantage of the state of affairs here, for your advantage, for this local’s advantage, and for the advantage of the general organization; for on the job lies our strength, off the job our power is greatly diminished.

If you do get on the job don’t forget that Ford and Suhr are still in the penitentiary.

HERMAN KUBOW Cor. Sec’y Local 439.