In 1911, the wobblies held their first May Day parade in Seattle.

‘Seattle Has Big May Day Parade’ from Industrial Worker. Vol. 3 No. 8. May 18, 1911.

SEATTLE CELEBRATES MAY DAY.

1500 in March-Easter Willie Gets Educated.

For the first time in the history of the I.W.W. in Seattle we celebrated May 1st, Industrial Labor Day, by holding a parade. Hitherto we had been content in merely giving a lecture on that date. A large number had their misgivings as to the possible success of the venture, which was further intensified by a drizzling rain starting in a few hours before the appointed time; but all doubts were quickly dispelled when one sized up the crowd which congregated at our headquarters a short time before the march was to begin.

Despite the fact that we had but a few days for preparation, and no advertising of any kind having been done, we had a large turnout. The papers placed the number in line at a thousand, but those who witnessed the parade state that twelve hundred would be a conservative estimate and that the number would approach closer to fifteen hundred. This is a big showing, especially as no other organization outside the Russian workingmen’s Union participated. There was but one thing lacking, and that, a red flag. True, we had several red banners and the sanguinary hue was much in evidence in all directions–red ribbons in the buttonholes of the marchers and on the numerous, small banners bearing inscriptions and epitomes of what the I.W.W. is striving and struggling for. Altogether we made an excellent appearance as we marched four abreast and with steps quickened to the time of the band which had been employed for the occasion. We covered the principle thoroughfares of the city, and as we entered Second avenue and the band ahead struck up the Marseillaise a cheer thrilled out all through the ranks. Having covered the line of march and returned to the entrance to our hall we were roundly cheered by a large crowd of onlookers and sympathizers who had congregated to watch our return.

The parade finished, we assembled in our hall where an excellent program had been arranged. It was not long before the hall, though a large one, was filled and many hundreds turned away. The meeting was opened by the singing of the red flag, and as it was concluded and on the Fellow Workers raising the red banner a loud cheer rang out from those assembled. The Russian Workingmen’s Union next rendered a selection in their native tongue and the remarkable unity and harmony with which they sang showed the excellent training which they had received, and though most of the audience were unable to understand the words each one instinctively felt his pulse quicken as the strains of the Marseillaise broke forth. A selection given by several Swedish Fellow Workers was also well received and they were roundly applauded. Nor was the singing brigade of the I.W.W. behind the time, though they showed their lack of preliminary training and were far outdistanced in point of technique by our Foreign fellow workers.

Fellow Worker Foss of Tacoma, visiting Seattle, acted as chairman of the evening and introduced as speaker our able comrade Floyd Hyde, who was fully equal to the occasion. His remarks upon the kidnapping of the McNamara’s and what the I.W.W. would do under similar circumstances if they had the numbers which the A.F.L. has, brought forth a storm of applause. It seemed that on this night every one present seemed to be in a state of enthusiasm and the Fellow Worker’s address was frequently punctuated by long and loud applause as he traced the forces at work to divide the working class, picturing in glowing words the abject poverty and misery which is the portion of most of the world’s workers, how the lives of women and children are being ground into dollars, and concluding by picturing what the future had in store for the workers if they but act together and cast off of their backs the leeches of society–the capitalist class.

Enthusiasm ran high this evening as each one seemed to breath inspiration from the other. Here, assembled under one roof were to be found representatives of almost all nations, yet no room for any race or national prejudice. But one spirit animated the entire assemblage and that the spirit of CLASS SOLIDARITY. It is times like these that raise men’s thoughts away from the sordid details of the everyday struggle and place them in a vantage point from which one may look off into the future and see that gladsome time when at last labor shall reap its full reward; when freedom and enlightenment shall be the heritage of all.

And so Seattle has for the first time celebrated May Day in a befitting manner. It is but right to assume that further celebrations will far outdo the past one.

This article would not be complete without recording an incident which occurred as we were about to set out on the line of march, especially as it has furnished a considerable amount of amusement for the boys here. It is not told because we glory or take pride in the act, but merely as on indication of the sentiment for the I.W.W. existing among the assembled on lookers. We had just left our headquarters and were marshalling our forces on a side street when some wise guy dressed in his nobby Easter suit walked over from the opposite side of the street and said: “They are nothing but a bunch of anarchists; they wouldn’t work anyway.” No more had the words passed his lips than that part of his physiognomy suddenly collided with a big bunch of knuckles and Nobby Willie found himself sprawling in the gutter. He picked himself up and amid cries from the crowd, “soak ’em again,” he “beat it” down the street. And so ends Seattle’s first May Day celebration. All members are highly elated over the success, especially as it was purely an I.W.W. affair. The sentiment expressed by the onlookers for the union was surprising; the one task before the I.W.W. is to crystalize this sentiment. It is a hard task I admit. Let us but rise equal to the occasion and the future is ours. So vamoose you cynic; 23 for knockers. Back to your hole you skeptic. Industrialism is a growing vital issue.

SEATTLEITE.

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 full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/industrialworker/iw/v3n08-w112-may-18-1911-IW.pdf