Delightful vignettes of committed Chicago comrades raising money for the McKees Rocks strikers by selling the Industrial Worker at the city’s 1909 Labor Day events, where James Connolly spoke.

‘The Chicago Propaganda League’ from Industrial Worker. Vol. 1 No. 27. September 16, 1909.

At the request of McKees Rocks strike committee I am sending you the following report and picture for publication.

In obedience to our motto, “An Injury to One is an Injury to All,” or “Money Talks,” the faithful few proposed to raise some coin for our striking fellow workers at McKees Rocks, Pa.

Five hundred Industrial Workers were ordered by wire and received in due time on Monday morning.

Fellow Workers Mrs. Meyers, Mrs. Blair, Carl Rathje aus Ham-burgh, Pete Allerd the big Swede, Wilcox the snake charmer, and E.S. Nelson from Portland, formerly star tenor of the famous Overall Brigade, composed the strike relief committee.

At 2 p.m. it assembled in front of the I.W.W. hall to have a picture taken by Butch, I.W.W. staff (read starved) photo-grafter.

After removing the dead ones and injured resulting from the shot, the live ones caught a passing “direct to the Park” flyer on the fly. Riverview Park, the place; Labor Day (?) picnic, the attraction; three hours, the time.

Net result: 350 Industrial Workers sold at 5 cents per and $7.00 collected on strike list. Over $20.00 will be sent on with more to follow.

A few incidents: Fellow Worker Price, the most painstaking treasurer we ever had, was exempt from duty. He sold 80 I.W. at the Swedish S.L.P. picnic on Sunday.

Fellow Worker Nelson, who only a few days ago had several fingers smashed while grinding out compensation for the riches that capital takes, insisted upon going along and doing his share. He did the spieling, while Allerd handled the list.

Mrs. Blair got $1.00 from some street car men on the way to the hall, while the irrepressible Carl told the passengers on the flyer all about the great strike in Pennsylvania, inducing several of them to buy a I.W. A friend who doesn’t care to have his name in type donated 15 copies of the Socialist Review, September issue, which were sold by Wilcox.

James Connolly, the main speaker, delivered the Labor Day address. Said he, amongst other good things: Our forefathers fought like hell for the right to elect their own president, etc.; fought for political freedom: how much more is it imperative for you working men to battle for economic freedom–the power to elect your own foreman, etc.; to enforce working conditions for your own liking. The industrial field is the battle ground. Organize and do it right. (Great applause.)

Barney Berlyn then spoke and at the finish delivered himself thusly: The real Labor Day is election day! (Like hell it is.) Three pair of hands attempted to make a noise. A sign of the times.

The speaking over, the hustlers dug in and sold the I.W. first, and argued afterwards. Fellow workers, go forth and do likewise: combine agitation with the raising of money for this strike, or any other for that matter,

With best wishes we remain yours for the earth and the fullness thereof. (14 chapter, one-eyed John.)

“Butch” Bohlman and Otto Justh, Committee.

The Industrial Union Bulletin, and the Industrial Worker were newspapers published by the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) from 1907 until 1913. First printed in Joliet, Illinois, IUB incorporated The Voice of Labor, the newspaper of the American Labor Union which had joined the IWW, and another IWW affiliate, International Metal Worker.The Trautmann-DeLeon faction issued its weekly from March 1907. Soon after, De Leon would be expelled and Trautmann would continue IUB until March 1909. It was edited by A. S. Edwards. 1909, production moved to Spokane, Washington and became The Industrial Worker, “the voice of revolutionary industrial unionism.”

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/industrialworker/iw/v1n27-sep-16-1909-IW.pdf