Williams reports on May Day 1906 celebrations in the hardscrabble metal mining town of Globe, Arizona addressed by, among others, Frank Little.

‘Globe Miners Celebrate May Day—Their Oppressors Startled’ by B.H. Williams from The Weekly People. Vol. 16 No. 7. May 12, 1906.

Sound Clear Note of Protest Against the Capitalist System and the Moyer-Haywood Outrages–Significant Transparencies and Speeches–Two Sessions Held.

Globe, Arizona, May 2. International Labor Day was observed for the first time in Globe yesterday and various comments were heard during the day and since, revealed universal satisfaction on the part of the workers and a like universal, though under-the-breath, indignation and surprise on the part of the masters and petty skinners of labor And well may these latter have been surprised; for the Globe workers yesterday sounded a loud and clear note of protest against the capitalist system in general and against the particular outrages perpetrated by the Mine Owners’ Association upon the Western Federation of Miners and its leaders. Everything was characterized by seriousness and soberness on the part of the workers, more than one remark being heard to the effect that saloons were running short of customers that day.

The day’s experiences began with a parade at 10.30 a.m., participated in by all the labor organizations in the camp except the Laundry Workers, an Industrial Workers of the World Local recently formed and composed almost entirely of women. Nearly 1,100 men were in line, representing the barbers, printers, carpenters, miners, clerks, and bartenders–the last three being I.W.W. organizations. Globe Miners’ Union No. 60, Western Federation of Miners, formed the bulk of the parading workers, being placed in the rear to represent the stronger union backing up the weaker organizations. Various red and white banners and transparencies were distributed through the parade, bearing, among others, the following inscriptions: “Labor Produces All Wealth”; “Labor Is Entitled to All It Produces”; “Our Union the I.W.W.–Our Country the World”; “Remember Boise, Idaho”; “We Will Defend the Right, If Our Blood Is the Price”: “If Moyer and Haywood Die, 20,000,000 Workingmen Will Know the Reason Why.” This last was borne by the A.F. of L. Barbers, who are rapidly imbibing the I.W.W. spirit so manifest in this camp. The stars and stripes were conspicuous by their absence. This was explained later by one of the speakers, who said the national flag was all right but it was in the hands of the enemy. However, the red flag of universal brotherhood floated from the speakers stand throughout the day.

Both in the afternoon and evening practically the whole town came out to listen to the music and speeches. Fred C. White of Globe Miners’ Union was chairman of the day and at the afternoon meeting introduced as speakers B.H. Williams, of Butte, Mont., and Jos. D. Cannon, recently of Bisbee, Arizona. Williams reviewed the events leading up to and including the illegal kidnapping of Moyer, Haywood and Pettibone, and urged that the protest against this outrage now going up all over the country be made louder and more determined to the end. Cannon confined his speech mainly to a review of recent events in Bisbee, where the mine owners and their allies, the business men, lawyers, preachers, editors and slum element, united to prevent an organization of the W.F. of M. from being formed. The speaker elicited hearty applause from the vast audience as he prophesied that inside of a year or two in W.F. of M. conventions delegates from Globe Miners’ Union will be clasping fraternal hands with delegates from Bisbee Miners’ Union, J.R. Rees sang the Marseillaise and the Globe band rendered other good music.

F.H. Little opened the evening’s exercises by reciting an original poem, “Good Old Summer Time,” showing what the capitalist class might expect should it attempt to illegally hang Moyer and Haywood. President Wm. Hubbell of Globe Miners’ Union made a short pointed address, followed by another speaker, who described graphically and in detail the plan of organization of the I.W.W. which is so alarming the capitalists throughout the country; and also reviewed the evidence in the conspiracy of the Mine Owners’ Association against Moyer. Haywood and Pettibone particularly the alleged “confessions” of Harry Orchard and Steve Adams. A collection

followed, netting $55 for the defense fund.

B. H. Williams, National Organizer I.W.W. and S.L.P.

New York Labor News Company was the publishing house of the Socialist Labor Party and their paper The People. The People was the official paper of the Socialist Labor Party of America (SLP), established in New York City in 1891 as a weekly. The New York SLP, and The People, were dominated Daniel De Leon and his supporters, the dominant ideological leader of the SLP from the 1890s until the time of his death. The People became a daily in 1900. It’s first editor was the French socialist Lucien Sanial who was quickly replaced by De Leon who held the position until his death in 1914. Morris Hillquit and Henry Slobodin, future leaders of the Socialist Party of America were writers before their split from the SLP in 1899. For a while there were two SLPs and two Peoples, requiring a legal case to determine ownership. Eventual the anti-De Leonist produced what would become the New York Call and became the Social Democratic, later Socialist, Party. The De Leonist The People continued publishing until 2008.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/the-people-slp/060512-weeklypeople-v16n07.pdf