Ben Boloff was a sewer digger and lumber worker in Portland, Oregon. An immigrant, and a Communist he was sentenced to 10 years prison by that state’s Criminal Syndicalism laws, with his copy of the Communist Manifesto presented as evidence of his guilt. In jail he contracted tuberculosis and was refused treatment. An outcry led to appeals and release, however he was already seriously ill. Comrade Boloff died at Multnomah County TB Farm at age 38 on October 13, 1932.

‘Hundreds Attend Bollof Funeral March Despite Ban’ from Western Worker. Vol. 1 No. 22. October 31, 1932.

BEN BOLLOFF C.S. VICTIM MURDERED BY PRISON DOCTORS

Denied He Was Sick When in Advance Stages of Tuberculosis

PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 12. Ben Boloff, militant worker now on his death bed at the Multnomah County Poor Farm Tuberculosis Hospital, made the following statement to visiting comrades this morning:

“Tell the workers I fought a little too much with them–but I did it for the benefit of all the working class. I know I will die in the next few days, but my principle is the same. Thank the comrades for me for their attention and care during my illness. And when I die, don’t leave my body in the county morgue. I WANT THE WORKERS TO BURY ME. I am very well satisfied with the attention from all the workers in Portland, and I thank them and say to them to carry on the class struggle. Especially do I want to thank Comrade Bill Hayiff for his attentions and regular visits to me here.”

He was one of thirteen workers arrested under Oregon’s vicious criminal syndicalism law two years ago. He was the first to be tried. Judge William Ekwall, Legionaire and persecutor of workers, gave him the maximum sentence–ten years in the penitentiary.

In good health when arrested, Ben Boloff contracted tuberculosis of the lungs and throat while waiting in prison and jail for the outcome of the workers’ fight for his freedom. The county physicians, hired by the bosses to “administer medical aid” to the prisoners in the county jail, ignored his requests and the demands of the workers for medical attention. As late as January of this year these doctors made affidavits swearing that they had examined Boloff and found nothing wrong with him. At that time Comrade Boloff was in an advanced stage of tuberculosis, his throat inflamed with the disease and his lungs badly infected.

The workers of Portland are determined to grant their dying comrade’s request and give him a worker’s burial.

They are determined to “CARRY ON THE CLASS STRUGGLE” in which Ben Boloff has fallen!

HUNDREDS ATTEND BOLOFF FUNERAL MARCH DESPITE BAN

Three Arrested Distributing Leaflets on Boloff

PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 17. Hundreds of Portland Workers thronged to the last rites for Comrade Boloff, who died as a result of contracting tuberculosis while serving a ten year sentence under the criminal syndicalism law.

Fred Walker, Communist candidate for governor of Washington, spoke, reviewing the events that led to Comrade Boloff’s death. Comrade Walker was one of the comrades arrested with Boloff, and was the next one to be tried after him.

Dirke De Jonge, of the Unemployed Councils, followed.

The Workers Ex-Servicemen’s League took charge of the parade which took place despite the refusal on the part of the police to grant a permit. The workers marched under the banner of the Communist Party, ignoring the police who stood ready to use any excuse for interference.

Irvin Goodman, the I.L.D. attorney who defended Boloff, also spoke.

The casket was draped with the Hammer and Sickle banner of the Communist Party. This was the first workers funeral held in Portland.

THREE ARRESTED

Three workers were arrested for distributing leaflets advertising the protest march and funeral for Ben Boloff. The workers were defended by Emil Lenden, the I.L.D. section organizer, and fined $5 each. However the court permitted the three to attend the funeral of their comrade before serving out the fine.

Western Worker was the publication of the Communist Party in the western United States, focused on the Pacific Coast, from 1933 until 1937. Originally published twice monthly in San Francisco, it grew to a weekly, then a twice-weekly and then merged with the Party’s Daily Worker on the West Coast to form the People’s Daily World which published until 1957. Its issues contain a wealth of information on Communist activity and cultural events in the west of those years.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/westernworker/1932/v1n22-oct-31-1932.pdf