Bloor describes their last hours of freedom as the convicted staff of the Kansas City Socialist Party’s ‘Workers World’ newspaper, including future C.P. leader Earl Browder and his brothers, journeys to Leavenworth federal prison for their opposition to World War One. James P. Cannon would take over editing the proto-Communist paper which would be a founding constituent of the Communist Labor Party later that summer.

‘World Staff to Leavenworth’ by Ella Reeve Bloor from Workers World. Vol. 1 No. 15. July 18, 1919.

Seven Kansas City Socialists Who Opposed War and Conscription, Go Up for Two Year Term

The Journey to The Federal Prison of Our Seven Socialist Americans

“Come, I will make the continent indissoluble.
I will make the most splendid race the sun ever yet shone upon;
I will make divine Magnetic lands, with the love of comrades,
With the life-long love of Comrades.”

Whitman’s Song of Democracy.

This song rang through my soul today, as I looked in the faces of the seven comrades gathered for the last time in the office of “The Workers’ World”. Here, with brave hearts, their wives and sisters said their “good-byes”. Somehow, we all felt the sacredness of that hour–consecrated to the very Spirit of Democracy and to the principle of True Internationalism, believing that we, the workers of all the world, are all of one blood, these seven upstanding Americans went to prison with cheerful words on their lips–but we, who know the deep sorrow of their hearts wonder at the ignorance and stupidity of the workers who blindly support the autocracy, that has killed all democratic rights, to think, speak or write one’s true convictions. Their courage their willingness to stand the supreme test for their ideals–American ideals by the way, ideals of the great. American, Lincoln, and the truest prophet of Democracy, Walt Whitman. This courage and faithfulness will influence thousands of workers inside and outside prison walls–to go forward by their side in the great crusade for justice. We, Jim Cannon, Leonora Moore, her mother, the baby Moore, 22 months old, Warren Doyle and Mother Bloor accompanied them on every lap of the journey to the prison. From the Workers’ World office, we walked to the Federal Building, where their bondsman, Comrade Snyder, delivered them to the Marshall.

We were amazed by the announcement on our arrival there, that Leonora must go to jail for thirty days, as she was unable to pay One Thousand Dollars. Mr. Wilson, the prosecuting attorney showed his great loyalty and patriotic devotion to American principles by telling Leonora that if she couldn’t leave her baby, the Platte County jail would be quite comfortable for “a woman with a baby.” Of course this absolutely outrageous procedure was [word missing] indignant protest of all present; and when Caroline Lowe arrived with her forceful, determined attitude, demanding a stay of proceedings while she investigated the records, the stay was granted until five o’clock. The records had already been investigated hours before by Mr. Wilson and he knew there was nothing in the mandate about a prison sentence when he was prating about Platte County jail being a pleasant place to take “American babies to.” And when he found that Caroline Lowe would soon discover that there was not the slightest legal right to hold Leonora–he himself suddenly “discovered” “a mistake in the record.” How astonished our European friends, and our English brothers would be to learn the real situation of political prisoners in America. While in all other countries they are releasing all political prisoners, even those guilty of treason, here in America with a Constitution granting the perpetual right of free speech, etc., our political prisoners have not been released, many like our boys are just being imprisoned and in Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. of America, they even placidly contemplated sending a baby twenty-two months old to Platte County jail with its mother! Shades of “New Freedom!” “Making the world a safe place for children!”

When we finally got away from the Federal building at 12 o’clock, we had an opportunity to talk to our boys again on the car and when we arrived at Leavenworth, our “personal conductors” very kindly allowed us all a last meal together in the restaurant. Here we said our “last words”–not “last” for we shall see our boys as often as possible, but there were messages, like Egan’s for instance. He said—”this is a happy day for me–I’ve always thought, because I was not very able to speak or write, I couldn’t do much for our cause, now I’ve been given a chance and when come out I can do so much more.” The Browder brothers, as usual, were full of ideas and suggestions for their beloved child, “The Workers’ World” and Rob Sullivan was cheering up Jim Cannon by telling him to buck up, he could easily do three men’s work on the paper. Harry Doyle and his brother talked earnestly every minute they could be together and Ray Moore held his baby, felt thankful he didn’t have to leave it in jail.

When we arrived at the Prison our last parade together up the broad walk was a characteristic Socialist Parade. The boys wore red buttons with Gene Deb’s picture on. Ray still carried the baby, and we walked all together to the very door of the inner prison, where our conductor announced “the U.S. Marshall bringing seven prisoners.” Again we clasped hands with the dear love of comrades, and with the same cheerful courage they marched away from us inside the prison walls. We on the outside must now work together harder than ever, not only to free these seven boys so near our hearts, but for the organization of all lovers of freedom, organization to free all humanity from the fear, oppression and autocracy of Capitalism.

July 14th, 1919.

***

A FINAL APPEAL

Dear Comrade:

July 14, 1919.

From the time we left the Platte County Jail, last October, until today, we have been giving our best thought and energy to the establishment of the Workers’ World. We have been doing this because we know that Socialism will never be realized except when it has a voice, an instrument of publicity, which will place Socialism before the workers in season and out as the only road toward a greater freedom and a saner society. The Socialist press is the only hope for our country and our class.

Today we are forced to drop this work to begin a two-year sentence in Leavenworth penitentiary for our opposition to an imperialistic war. The work that we have been doing should not be allowed to stop for one moment.

We are asking you to do something to take our place in this work during our enforced vacation. If you cannot give the personal work, you can at least give financial assistance. You should sign an Endowment Fund pledge, to donate a certain amount each week to the paper;–and then see that the pledge is promptly met.

Can we not expect your help in this work? Do your part in keeping the Worker’s World in the field as a weapon for revolutionary Socialism.

Yours for the Workers’ World,

Earl R. Browder
William Browder
T.R. Sullivan.

The Workers World, published weekly in Kansas City, Missouri during much of 1919 was a mix of regional and national working class news, international socialist events, and the growing fights within the Socialist Party. It was one of many left-wing Socialist Party journals inspired by the Russian Revolution to emerge. Edited alternatively by future Communist Party leaders James P Cannon and Earl Browder, The Workers World ceased publication in November, 1919 as writers and readers moved on to build the Communist movement and its early parties.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/workersworld/n15x-jul-18-1919-workers-world-G.pdf