Haywood reporting on nationally important events for the organization in his role as General Secretary of the I.W.W. during the summer of 1917. Then rising worker militancy, as represented by a series of war-time strikes in the west in important industries, met the opening of the first Red Scare as the federal government went to war against the left and radical labor. Haywood himself, with much of the I.W.W. leadership, would be arrested shortly after this notice, on September 5, 1917.

‘Notes from the General Office’ by William D. Haywood from Solidarity. Vol. 8 No. 394. July 28, 1917.

In the strike zone the “Black Hundreds” of the masters have excelled themselves in their campaign of “frightfulness.” In Arizona the greatest, and most brutal deportation of workers and their friends was staged and enacted by the hirelings of the Copper Trust, openly led by high officials of the mining companies. A startling example of the “Democracy” we are supposed to be saving for the rest of the world, was given by a private army of the Copper Barons, armed with machine guns, when they deported over 2,000 striking miners and all those who refused to scab. These people were deported from Bisbee, Ariz., to Hermanas, N.M., packed in filthy cattle cars, across a burning, waterless desert, and unloaded in a little wayside station and left without food or water. They stayed without food for thirty-six hours, and then the Federal authorities took charge of the situation, rushed food to them, and transported them to Columbus, N.M., where, although they are supposed not to be prisoner, they are corralled in a wire enclosure, and their wives and friends only allowed to talk to them through the wire meshing. Steps have been taken to get these men and women returned to their homes in Bisbee, Fred H. Moore has been sent to Columbus to look after the legal rights of the men. It is most imperative at this time that all members of the I.W.W. and all members of the working class rally to the rescue of these miners in Arizona. Funds are urgently needed right now. We must do something for the wives and children of these deported men, and for the wives and children of the other thousands of miners on strike in Arizona. Latest news from Arizona is to the effect that the companies are trying new tactics. They are arresting the strikers by the wholesale and putting them in jail on charges of inciting to riot. These men must be defended. Never in the entire history of labor was the need more pressing than now. If the Copper Kings of Arizona can crush this strike with their terroristic methods, and the workers stand supinely by and let them do it, then Fellow Workers, your turn will be next. DO YOUR BIT TO HELP THE EXILES OF BISBEE AND THEIR STRIKING FELLOW WORKERS.

***

In the Northwest states of Idaho, Montana and Washington, the “Great Drive” of the organized Lumber Workers’ for the eight-hour day is in full swing.

Here the Lumber Trust has resorted to the most ruthless methods of forcing the men back to work. The halls in Ellensburg, Cle Elum, Pasco, Walla Walla, St. Maries and other places, have been closed, supplies confiscated and destroyed, members arrested by the scores, and in some places, herded together in stockades, guarded by militiamen. The governors of the states of Idaho and Washington have held conferences to devise ways and means to curb the I.W.W.

Also the State Council of National Defense, upon which are bankers, lawyers, bosses and A. F. of L, labor leaders, have recommended that Federal troops be sent to suppress the I.W.W. and break the strike. The sponsor of this humane plan is one Mr. Marsh, president of the Washington State Federation of Labor a so-called friend of labor, advocating that Federal troops be sent to break the strike: This is the type of labor leaders that the A. F. of L. develops. But in spite of all their threats, their hired Hessians, their militiamen, and all the authorities of so-called law and order, which are arrayed against the striking Lumber Workers, the strike is spreading.

From all indications, there will soon be a complete tie-up of the lumber industry west of the Mississippi. The Pacific Coast District is out now, and the strike is spreading down through Oregon and may reach California. This strike can be won in short order and the eight-hour day established in the lumber industry permanently if every member will do his share and help support the strike. Funds are most urgently needed to keep the wives and children of the married men who are on strike from being hungry and destitute. The single men are not asking for anything. They are able and willing to take care of themselves.

Remember the enormous effect for good this strike, “if won, will have upon the entire working class. Other downtrodden slaves will see the light.

***

“OUTRAGE IS IDENTICAL WITH OR SIMILAR TO THAT WHICH LAY BEHIND THE FORMER ACTS OF THESE PEOPLE, WE SHALL STILL FEEL JUSTIFIED IN ASKING THE JURY TO BRING IN A VERDICT OF GUILTY AS CHARGED.”

This confession of the Chamber of Commerce that it can’t prove anything pertaining to the crime that Rena, Mooney is charged with, but demands that she be murdered any way, is the most cold-blooded avowal they have made as yet.

The fact that Rena Mooney did her share in defending Moyer, Haywood, Pettibone, Ettor, Ford, Suhr, John Lawson and all the other victims of the labor war, is depended upon to “hang her by the neck until she is dead.”

If Organized Labor stands by idly and allows the industrial pirates of the United States to establish such a precedent, then half the timber of the United States wouldn’t be enough to start making the necessary gibbets. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? and will recognize that the One Big Union points the way to Industrial Freedom, so therefore, Fellow Workers, GIVE FREELY AND QUICKLY

Send all funds direct to James Rowan, 424 Lindelle Block, Spokane, Wash, or Wm. D. Haywood, 1001 West Madison street, Chicago, Ill.

***

At Rockford, Ill, over 150 men, members of the I.W.W. and Socialists, gave themselves up voluntarily to the authorities for evading the Registration Act. They were treated with unusual brutality. When they objected to being isolated in groups in other jails, and determined to stand together, they were clubbed unmercifully by the sheriff of the Rockford Jall and his deputies. When their trial came, they were taken before a judge who is notoriously unfair, a judge who in a recent speech before the trials took place, had made the statement that “He was sorry he could not go to the war to fight, but since he could not go, he could at least stay at home and fight the men who were fighting the soldiers here.” This judge, Kenesaw Mountain Landis by name, has a son in the army, so one can imagine how fair he would be to men who were op posed to registration and did not believe in wars or armies. As was expected, the “honorable” (save the mark) judge simply kangarooed the boys, giving all but a few the limit, and in order to make their sentence harder, sentenced them to the Bridewell in Chicago, where, as be said, “The work is much harder than in the Federal prison.” He also took advantage of their helplessness to deliver an insulting speech to them in which he called them cowards and “whining, belly-aching puppies” because they would not register to fight for Morgan and his loans.

***

At Duluth, under the new law, passed by the Public Safety Commission, a body composed of members of the Supreme Court of Minnesota, John Lind, bankers, lawyers and business men, the hall was raided, books and supplies confiscated, and scores of members arrested on vagrancy charges, including several women members, among them, Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, who was on her way to Virginia to speak at the Miners picnic. A.W. Throne, the secretary, was given 85 days in the workhouse on this charge. Other members were given a Hike sentence. The women were released. Fred H. Moore was sent there, and succeeded in getting all the other cases dismissed.

***

At Buffalo, the hall was raided by Federal “dicks,” several members arrested and supplies confiscated. Among the members arrested at Niagara Falls was Fellow Worker Manuel Ray. Spanish organizer, who has been most active in organizing the Marine Transport Workers. He was held practically incommunicado, and according to the latest reports, has been indicted by the grand jury, has already been sentenced to serve five days in jail and then to be deported back to Spain. Steps have been taken to prevent this deportation.

***

In the Pennsylvania coal fields, Secretary-Treasurer Prashner of No. 900, together with Organizers John Baldazzi and Joseph Graber, were arrested by the powers that be, charged with sedition, treason, and a few more light offenses. Fred H. Moore and local counsel secured their release. Civil suits will be taken against the authorities in these cases. Later on, Fellow Worker Joseph Graber was arrested by the Federal authorities at the instigation of the Coal Barons, on a charge of being a “German spy.” When it is known that Fellow Worker Graber was deported from Germany to Russia for conspiring against the German government, it can be seen how absurd this charge is. His case is being taken up with the Russian ambassador.

WM. D. HAYWOOD, General Secretary Treasurer.

The most widely read of I.W.W. newspapers, Solidarity was published by the Industrial Workers of the World from 1909 until 1917. First produced in New Castle, Pennsylvania, and born during the McKees Rocks strike, Solidarity later moved to Cleveland, Ohio until 1917 then spent its last months in Chicago. With a circulation of around 12,000 and a readership many times that, Solidarity was instrumental in defining the Wobbly world-view at the height of their influence in the working class. It was edited over its life by A.M. Stirton, H.A. Goff, Ben H. Williams, Ralph Chaplin who also provided much of the paper’s color, and others. Like nearly all the left press it fell victim to federal repression in 1917.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/solidarity-iww/1917/v8-w394-jul-28-1917-solidarity.pdf