May Day, 1919 was a watershed one for the U.S. left. While the bloodshed in Cleveland is best remembered today, many cities and towns in Ohio–ground zero of the Socialist Party’s Left Wing–saw demonstrations that day. Here are reports from Akron, Mt. Vernon, Youngstown, Conneaut, Ashtabula, and Columbus.

‘Stories of May Day in Ohio’ from Ohio Socialist. No. 69. May 21, 1919.

MONSTER MAY DAY PARADE IN AKRON.

A big demonstration was held here on May Day. The Machinists union and the Molders union, each had a committee of five to make arrangements for a mass meeting. The Socialists were invited by members of these two committees to join with them in a big celebration.

The Socialists accepted and joined in and helped to make the demonstration one of the largest and best that has been held in Akron for many years. The Socialists hired the Barberton Ladies’ band for the occasion. The German branch brought along its own band, composed of its own members. When the ladies band saw this volunteer band in line, they dropped out and disappeared from the scene. It was not good unionism for them to march and play with a band that was not paid for its services. Then to cap the climax the molders committee refused to march in the parade because the Socialists were there, with banners which demanded free speech, free press, free assemblage, etc. But what got the goat of the committee of the molders was a banner which read as follows: “We demand amnesty for all political prisoners.”

Tom Mooney is a member of the molders’ union. but the committee balked at marching with this banner displayed. The Machinists’ delegates stood loyally by and showed that this particular union is one of the most militant and progressive unions in existence. They said, go on with the parade and let the molders do what they please,

So away went the parade, down Main, up Howard to Exchange and thence to Perkins Square where over five thousand people gathered to listen to speakers from the Machinists’ union and the Socialist Party.

Everything passed off peaceably, but it would only have taken some such fool action as happened in Cleveland on that day to have had the same results in Akron as happened in Cleveland.

During the meeting a declaration of the stand of the Akron workers regarding political and industrial prisoners was adopted by unanimous vote and ordered forwarded to the president of the United States. The resolutions are enclosed and I ask you to publish them to show our readers that Akron workers are alive to the conditions which confront us and stand ready to do their best in the efforts to free those men and women who have been taken from our ranks and lodged behind prison bars.

The Akron local is alive and doing business all the time. We have been somewhat unfortunate in the matter of having a regular correspondent for the Ohio Socialist, so the news of the activity of Akron Socialists has not appeared regularly for some time past.

I can now say that the Socialists of Akron are on the job and hold propaganda meetings every Friday night regular, and many other meetings from time to time. Regular meetings are held on each Friday at 50 South Howard street and all visiting Socialists are cordially invited to look up the place and see what we are doing.

JOHN C. CHASE.

P.B. STROBEL BRAVES OPPOSITION AT MAY DAY DEMONSTRATION IN MT. VERNON.

After repeated refusals by Mt. Vernon papers to publish announcements of the May Day meeting, which was to be addressed by Jos. W. Sharts of Dayton; after the city authorities refused to issue a permit for a meeting on the square, a small audience managed to gather in one of Mt. Vernon’s halls to listen to the speaker of the day.

Police were stationed at the hall doors and so far as we can learn, kept many persons who had come to take part in the meeting from entering the hall.

When those who attended the meeting left for home they were egged by a small party of rowdies, encouraged in this action by the business men of the town. P.B. Strobel was compelled to kiss the flag, just what for he does not know, but suspects it was because thousands of new millionaires had been created since the war started. On his way home a number of these rowdies assaulted Comrade Strobel.

“I have heard from, a number of people since this affair and learn that it has raised much resentment in the hearts of the average man and woman,” writes Comrade Strobel. “The effect of this rowdyism will be to unite the radical forces of Mt. Vernon and this means a stronger and larger local for this city. Three other citizens were made to kiss the flag and were in other ways abused. This will all react to our benefit.”

POLICE CAPITULATE IN YOUNGSTOWN MAY DAY DEMONSTRATION.

A few of the following bits of information may interest the readers of the O.S. At about 1 p.m. 350 of our Russian comrades left East Youngstown and marched over four miles to Youngstown, where they were met by mounted police and told they could not parade “without a permit.” All afternoon the Public Square surged with an immense throng, fully 60 per cent being in sympathy with our movement. The balance of the people assembled were armed A.P.L., secret service men, police, soldiers and curiosity seekers. All day and evening the mounted “Cossacks” rode into the people on the Square and even onto the sidewalks. The “protectors of the people,” the city police, were busy violating the law by pulling off red ribbons, red roses, red ties, from the persons that happened to be wearing them. Women were encouraged by the police to assault the persons of our women comrades just because they wore crimson waists or ties. Assurance was given through the papers by the police department that the demonstration would not be molested if we carried no red flags, several days before. We carried no flags of any kind but wore ribbons bearing the following words: “Free the Industrial and Political Prisoners.” The chief of police ruled that the ribbons we wore were “red” flags.” At 7:30 p.m. over 10,000 met on the Square, some to hear the speakers, others, perhaps, to oppose the “Bolsheviki,” as the papers gave our meeting front page advertisements, regarding the carrying of “red flags” and the “Bolsheviki parade.

The newspapers here seem to regret the well behaved demonstration on our part and are denouncing us as “one-cylinder Bolsheviki.” Anyway the meeting on the Square was broken up by the city authorities, “who violate the law at will.” Comrade Abroms, our city organizer, and Comrade Chas. Baker spoke to the people from a third story fire escape to the surging throng in the Square, and great was the chagrin of the tools of the Chamber of Commerce.” The chief, worsted by this successful ruse, called loudly to Comrade Baker, “Get in there! I’ll let ’em in.” And 1,200 people rushed into Diamond hall, making it a dramatic occasion. Over 4,000 comrades were left outside sorely disappointed.

Our large halls have been taken away from us by police orders now, but if they imagine they can suppress our complaining voices they are sadly mistaken. “Sooner or later the lid will fly off.”

Youngstown has now a stronger radical movement than is generally known in our party circles.

Newspaper stories state that the foreigners were deluded as to why they were asked to quit work on May day and join in the parade. Some foreigners were said to have become incensed at finding out “It was no Liberty bond” parade, etc.

In fact, every reason was given for the behavior of the “foreigners” except the truthful one.

We feel all the stronger in this valley for our May day demonstration, which was our first general celebration. We look with confidence into the needs of the future and we will respond to the support of our principles at instant notice. Yours,

F. J. CATLIN.

CONNEAUT SOCIALISTS STAND THEIR GROUND.

Our May day celebration here terminated in being the biggest victory that the workers of this city ever won. For three days previous to the meeting the local capitalist papers contained inflaming articles trying to incite people to riot against the meeting. On April 30th the mayor issued a proclamation, suppressing the meeting, immediately we informed the mayor that the meeting would be held in spite of his proclamation.

The meeting was held as per schedule. Thos. Devine was our speaker. The whole police force, sheriff and about 12 or 15 deputies were there. No trouble occurred and we collected $10.66 defense fund, which will be forwarded to National Office.

HOWARD G. EISAMAN.

ASHTABULA CELEBRATES.

Will you be able to publish a notice in the O.S. to the effect that the May Day and amnesty meeting held under the auspices of the City Central committee Ashtabula Socialist Party, was a decided success.

A few features of the meeting were the fine music furnished by the Finnish Comrades band, the singing by the ladies’ quartet and the gymnastics performed by the Athletic club of the Finnish branch.

The speaker, T.J. Lewis, gave the audience a very humorous conception of the trials of the Henry Dubb under Capitalism. His talk was highly appreciated as it was very instructive and many expressed the desire to hear him again.

The collection, sale of books and applications for membership shows that Ashtabula is waking up.

E. J. HEWIT.

MAY DAY MEETING AT COLUMBUS.

Local Columbus’ May Day meeting was held May 5th, with Comrade Scott Nearing as the speaker. Owing to the free advertising in the capitalist press, owing to the unusual difficulties we had to contend with before the meeting, a good audience was on hand.

The meeting was advertised in one paper as a Debs’ protest meeting. Both the other daily papers came out with the statement that the Socialists were disloyal and that the authorities would not allow the meeting to be held. We came back at them Sunday morning in the Journal with Nearing’s picture and a statement that he would speak on economics. In order to ward off trouble, admittance to the meeting was by tickets only. These were sold by our local members.

Monday the public was again informed by our capitalist press that Safety Director Thatcher had given orders that the meeting was not to be allowed. Nevertheless, we proceeded to gather at the hall on schedule time and when the opening time came the crowd was on hand. When the meeting was about to open, in comes Policeman Gump, who asked for a private interview with those in charge. Comrade Bachman, Nearing and the writer, during the ensuing interview, were told by this strong arm of the law that he would not stand for any berating of the flag nor any abusing of the officials of the government. We assured him that that was not our mission. We stated that if the profiteers of the country cared half as much for the flag as the Socialists did, we would have better times than we have and invited our friend I Gump to stay and hear the speech. He did so and acted like a little gentleman, but that was understood before we invited him, so you see he is not what his name would indicate. Comrade Nearing gave one of the best lectures I ever heard and made it plain that owning a man’s job and taking part of what he earns because he owns the job is the same in principle as chattel slavery and the divine right to govern, because one inherits the ownership of the 5 natural resources. He made it so plain that even a Gump could understand it.

The papers were filled with explanations and excuses the following day as to why the meeting was permitted. One reason given was that on account of the fact that tickets were sold, no law could be found to prevent it, as no law was violated. Director Thatcher apparently did not know that, but he is a Democrat and might be excused on these grounds. But Chief Carter is not a Democrat, so might be expected to know something, and he permitted the meeting to be held.

Anyway, the Socialists got a lot of free advertising through the ignorance of someone who is supposed to know something and does not.

The Ohio Socialist, published by the Left Wing-dominated Socialist Party of Ohio in Cleveland from January, 1917 to November, 1919. It was edited by Alfred Wagenknecht Wagenknecht spent most of 1918 in jail for “violation of the Conscription Act.” The paper grew from a monthly to a semi-monthly and then to a weekly in July, 1918 and eventually a press run of over 20,000. The Ohio Socialist Party’s endorsement of the Left Wing Manifesto led to it suspension at the undemocratic, packed Socialist Party Convention in 1919. As a recognized voice of the Left Wing, the paper carried the odd geographical subheading, “Official Organ of the Socialist Parties of Ohio and Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia and New Mexico” by 1919’s start. In November of that year the paper changed to the “labor organ” of the Communist Labor Party and its offices moved to New York City and its name changed to The Toiler, a precursor to the Daily Worker. There the paper was edited by James P. Cannon for a time.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/ohio-socialist/069-may-21-1919-ohio-soc-nypl-mf.pdf