Georgia Kotsch on the arrest of her comrades, Partido Liberal Mexicano leaders Enrique and Ricardo Magon in Los Angeles and the suppression of their newspaper El Regeneracion. Ricardo Magon would dies in U.S. prison under ‘disputed’ circumstances in 1922.

‘Arrest of the Magons’ by Georgia Kotsch from Solidarity. Vol. 7 No. 322. March 11, 1916.

February 18th those fearless champions of the Mexican peon and loyal comrades in the class struggle International, Ricardo and Enrique Flores Magon, were again arrested and thrown into prison. Since their release from McNeil’s Island, some three years ago, they have with the greatest self-sacrifice kept up the publication of their revolutionary paper, El Regeneracion, at their little printing plant at Edendale, a suburb of Los Angeles. In sickness and poverty they have toiled for a living on the little ranch by Silver Lake and devoted time needed for rest to the propaganda of the principles for which they have suffered so much.

It does not take particularly sharp eyesight to see a connection between the anarchist scare being thrown by the flunkey press of the country, the suppression of a paper at Chicago, the use of the postal laws to silence Margaret Sanger and Emma Goldman, and all these in their relation to the preparedness program.

We may not agree with the propaganda of the Magons, but we cannot afford to acquiesce in these attacks upon free speech and a free press. Who knows who will be squelched next?

We who know the Magons personally know they are not “bad men,” as luridly set forth by the Los Angeles papers. We know them as martyrs to the principles in which they believe, as men of strong integrity, loyal at all times to the working class, faithful friends and courteous gentlemen. They won the profound respect of the officers who took them to McNeil’s Island. Indeed, one of these officers had lived as a next door neighbor to them in Los Angeles and ha nothing but praise for them as gentlemen. And yet, an armed crew was sent out to arrest them this time and treated them with shameful violence, as a result of which it was necessary to take Enrique to the emergency hospital. Both of the men are in very poor physical condition, due to the hardships of the if they have lived. Enrique has been suffering for months with acute stomach trouble. These are the men who have been captured like dangerous criminals and their ball fixed at an exorbitant figure. Los Angeles friends are trying to secure bail.

On the 26th an International Workingmen’s Defense League was organized in Los Angeles, with the following officers: President, Luke North, editor of Everyman Magazine; Vice Presidents, Sam Atkinson, National Lecturer Rationalist Association, and R.B. Garcia; General Secretary, Edgeumb Pinchon; Assistant Secretary, Lucile Norman; Recording Secretary, Georgia Kotsch; Treasurer, Dr. T. Perceval Gerson; Financial Secretary, P.D. Noel.

This league at once retained Attorneys Harriman, Ryckman and Kirk to take charge of the Magon case.

Wm. C. Owen, editor of the English page of Regeneracion, who is also indicted, has not been arrested. The indictment, which Judge Ryckman pronounces most flimsy, is for using the mails to incite murder, arson and treason.

This I.W.D. League is organized as a permanent body and its members intend to devote their services) free to assisting those who are prosecuted for activity in the class struggle. The league’s address is 621 American Bank Building, Los Angeles, California. Funds are needed to take care of the Magon case, which is at the same time taking care of your own liberties, such as you have, of speech and press.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/solidarity-iww/1916/v7-w322-mar-11-1916-solidarity.pdf