Spreading from Hoquiam into Aberdeen and beyond, a lumber strike brings sympathy struggles from longshore and other workers with both the A.F.L. and the I.W.W. involved in a major confrontation in Gray’s Harbor, Washington. A wobbly organizer on the ground with the details.
‘The Gray’s Harbor Strike’ by J.S. Biscay from Industrial Worker. Vol. 4 No. 2. April 4, 1912.
This struggle is no longer a Hoquiam strike, but a general tie-up of the Gray’s Harbor. lumber industry. It’s catching and the longer it lasts the farther it spreads.
Since last Monday the strike spread into Aberdeen and day after day the mills were pulled out of activity in threes and fours until practically every mill in this community is tied up. Of course there are a few mills, which yet run the whistle, but we expect that as soon as we have the strike completely organized, the bosses won’t even be able to run the whistle. At present writing the situation is as follows:
Eureka mill, Hoquiam, closed. North Western mill, Hoquiam, closed. Lytel’s mills, Hoquiam, closed. Federal mills, Aberdeen, closed. Western mill, Aberdeen, closed. Slade mill, Aberdeen, tight. American mill, Aberdeen, closed. Michigan mill, Aberdeen, closed. Aberdeen mill, Aberdeen, closed. Wilson mill, Aberdeen, closed. West mill, Aberdeen, closed. Union mill, Aberdeen, closed. Donnavan mill, Aberdeen, closed. Western Cooperage Co., Aberdeen, closed. Anderson & Middleton, Aberdeen, crippled (whistle operating). Cosmopolis mill, crippled. National box, Hoquiam, tight.
Longshoremen of both towns are out on strike in sympathy with the mill and lumber workers and boats are idle, whether loaded or empty. In some of the mills where the bosses held out bravely, even the whistle had to shut down after the fuel ran out. Of course, the mill owners are not admitting that they are closing down no account of any shortage of men-not at all. They are closing down because many needed and long forgotten repairs have to be made. Other mills shut down because there is no profit in running a mill anyway and still another closed down so the employees would be spared the embarrassment of working while the strike lasts. Finally to top it all off the mill owners in their meeting decided to keep the mills closed while the strike lasts. Who says that the world has no sense of humor? Anyone else would be able to guess that the mills will stay closed until the strike is over, but the bosses seem to just have discovered that fact. It came too unexpected for the mill owners. Necessarily they are up in the air.
When the strike started in Hoquiam, one of the servile slimy editors of an Aberdeen rag, opined that it served Hoquiam right. “It should have helped to drive the I.W.W. out of town during the last free speech fight here.” Even while this rag was going to press the workers were deserting the mills in Aberdeen and in a few days the town was practically tight.
The strikers went from mill to mill in great bodies and pulled out their fellow workers despite all efforts of the bosses. In many instances as soon as the news arrived at the mill that the strike was on in Aberdeen, some of the men rushed into the engine room and pulled the whistle cord which was the signal to drop everything. The only violence that has occurred so far has come from the side of the bosses, as usual. At the Coates mill one of the slave drivers by the name of Lewis pulled a revolver on the swarm of strikers. The flunkey press has landed Lewis to the sky as a hero who checked the I.W.W. As a matter of fact the flunkey was so scared that his knees shook and his hand trembled and shook violently that he could hardly hold to the gun. He then took both hands to steady the weapon and finding that insufficient, pressed the revolver against his body, but the body, too, shook so hard that beads of perspiration stood out on the would–be hero’s face. The boys only joked with him while another detachment entered the mill from another source and blew the whistle. This is the mill which the Shingle Weavers had fought in the past. The employers have some scabs there yet. These stood behind the heroic gun man and proclaimed their satisfaction in the low wages and miserable conditions and begged the right to work. What can you expect of a scab anyway?
Several striking Greek fellow workers were arrested and at first fined $5 in the Hoquiam dispensary. But public opinion was so strong that the judge was forced to grant an appeal and the jury acquitted them.
One of the foremen of a Hoquiam mill hit a striker with a brick. The justice (?) dispensary in the person of Callahan, refused to issue a warrant for the arrest of this loyal slave driver. Upon hearing this the Hoquiam Trades Council has demanded the discharge of flunkey Callahan and if this is not done, the commissioners are to be recalled. The council as well as the Shingle Weavers are backing the strikers in every way. The socialists of both towns are co-operating in every way in this strike. Insomuch as there is a municipal election pending in Aberdeen, the Socialists will undoubtedly win their whole ticket hands down.
The mill owners are hiring sluggers to guard the entry into the mills. Lytle has improved upon this method with an 8 foot fence with a barbed wire overhead, thus inclosing his slave dump and making a bull pen for scabs. If he thinks that a flimsy fence or wire will keep out men who should wish to take a peep into this establishment of scab conditions, he is badly mistaken. Thus he has a right to the well earned name of “bull pen Lytle.” At the notorious Cosmopolis slave pen, the bosses have stretched a rope fence and stationed 100 sluggers on guard. Incidentally the wages are raised 10 cents in order to keep a few at work so the whistle can be operated. This is the place to which the employment sharks up and down the coast have been sending men to work for $26 a month and board. The belongings of the unfortunate are taken away upon arrival and until their fares are earned they have no change of clothes or even blankets to sleep on. It has been the rule to keep three crews to operate this plant. One working, one leaving and another coming. There is some talk now of stretching live wires around this plant in order to electrocute any one who dares to approach. The bosses claim that this is a free country. Probably that is the reason they pretend to have even the liberty to electrocute unfortunate working men.
The strikers who were at first unorganized, are coming into the I.W.W. at the rate of from 125 to 150 daily, in Aberdeen alone. At Hoquiam these figures are being duplicated. Meetings are being held in both towns afternoon and evenings with standing room at a premium. There are four regular meetings and often as many as six daily. The greatest of enthusiasm prevails among the striking workers who have baffled every attempt of the mill owners to divide them. Some of the bosses have offered to pay the scale demanded if some of the foreign element can be excluded, but, the workers WILL NOT BE DIVIDED. There will be no settlement until all are taken back with no discrimination. The workers are conscious of their power and will use it to gain better conditions for all.
Lytle at Hoquiam has sent his hirelings round the streets in an effort to get men to sign an agreement to return to work. The men are so incensed over this that they are signing a pledge to stick by one another until ALL gain what they are striving for.
One of our fellow workers was arrested on the street for refusing to scab. If the authorities expect to feed the strikers at the expense of the city, we will have no objection. There are so many that they will have to draw straws to see who is the lucky one.
Even the servile press admits that the strikers have been orderly. Too orderly, to suit the employers. This standing with folded arms while the plants are closed, is not to their liking.
As a last resort the mill owners have brought pressure to bear upon the dealers to refuse credit to those on strike. This is now being done. Nearly all of the workers are settled and with families. While all these dealers will be attended to in their order, yet at this time outside help is needed at once. Kitchens are being established in both towns to feed the strikers and to dispense food to the needy. Since the slack winter, the majority are not in a position to live long on their own resources. In this struggle there are trade unionists, socialists, industrials and unorganized working hand in hand for a common interest. Even girls and children are striking. Help is necessary. We must win this struggle. There is no back down and we expect the people on the outside to do their part towards helping us win.
Don’t put off your help. Don’t let women and children suffer. Don’t let the lumber barons squeeze the hearts of the brave men by starving their loved ones. Don’t allow the system in its greed for more profit to cause misery to the defenseless ones. It’s your duty to take part in this exhibition of class solidarity, which has never been duplicated in the west before. Don’t be a quitter when the workers are carrying on such a heroic battle here. Don’t help the plutes by your inactivity. Concentrate all your energy here and let the capitalists see that this struggle is not the concern of a few, but that every person with red blood in his or her veins is going to take a hand and for the first time put a check to the monstrous extortion of the dominant class. Let us be real men and women and show the employers that when they try to starve little children WE WILL NOT STAND FOR IT. Collect relief funds at once and forward them. to F.H. ALLISON, 211 Occidental ave. (rear) Seattle.
Get busy each and every one of you. Stand with us now. Don’t lay down. DON’T BE A QUITTER.
***
SOLIDARITY SHOWN IN MILL STRIKE
THE GREAT MILL STRIKE SPREADING–THE MILLS IN RAYMOND AND SOUTH BEND CLOSED DOWN IN SYMPATHY WITH ABERDEEN AND HOQUIAM–BOATS TIED UP.
The strike situation in the Gray’s Harbor district is all to the advantage of the workers. Practically every saw mill in Aberdeen, Hoquiam, Raymond and South Bend is closed down. The longshoremen of these four cities are out in sympathy with the mill workers and have tied up the shipping of lumber. Boats arriving in California harbor from the strike district here find that union men will not unload the lumber.
A STRIKE DEMONSTRATION was held by the workers of Hoquiam and Aberdeen in a park mid-way between the two cities. The strikers marched in fine order. headed with bands from each town and met at the park. The parades were about half mile long each. Even the wives and children of the strikers turned out. It was then found that there was not seating capacity sufficient in the ball park to accommodate the mass of 8,000 strikers and sympathizers. Many stood near the large box from which the speakers addressed the huge audience. There were speakers in many different languages, in fact more speakers than time would permit to hear. Among those whom spoke were organizers and representatives of the I.W.W., A. F. of L. and Socialist organizations, which are jointly conducting this strike. The crowd was so enthusiastic with its applause that often the speaker lost much time waiting for the crowd to settle down. It was certainly an awe-inspiring spectacle to see the enthusiasm which this monster gathering showed when a declaration that the strikers would never surrender was made.
Following this meeting last Sunday the warried employers decided to change their tactics and try overawing the strikers by USING VIOLENCE AGAINST WORKERS.
The first week of the strike ending with the monster demonstration was so orderly that even the police commented upon it. On Monday morning sluggers were stationed at the various mills and an attempt was made to bring scabs into the mills. Even school boys were brought to the mills to scab against the grown men. Some boys in knee breeches were given revolvers and told to shoot any one who tried to speak to them. At the Anderson & Middleton mill one of the owners, Anderson, led the charge of the municipal and private sluggers against the inoffensive pickets. Mill owner Anderson, swinging a heavy club and brandishing a revolver, urged his thugs to shoot down the workers. They fired into the air and clubbed many. A few hard pressed retaliated and retreated as soon as they could get away. “Shoot the d-n sons of b-s” yelled Anderson as he flourished his gun.
At noon a large crowd collected at this same mill. Again the same violence was repeated. Anderson becoming enraged at his thugs not murdering any one, fired a shot and brought down a bystander. He had shot a workingman who had come after his pay and who was leaving the vicinity of violence. Shot from behind. He may recover.
POLICE DISORDERLY.
The police at once began to assist the employers in their dirty work. Men were beaten and arrested on the streets. Any one who wore shabby clothes was unsafe in the city. Since the strikers had not been disorderly the hirelings of the employers supplied this deficiency. In the evening men were knocked down in plain sight on the main streets of Aberdeen and one big burly chased an undersized man down the street flourishing a club and gun.
MORE SLUGGERS CALLED.
It is understood that the mayor then called upon the city laborers to act as deputies, the Aberdeen Mfg. Co. began to turn out truck loads of heavy clubs. Some of the strikers learned this and marched to this factory and took possession of these weapons. Many of the laborers quit rather than be used as tools for such dirty work.
MORE DIRTY WORK.
While during the first week there were no complaints against the strikers and only one arrest, the second week began with wholesale arrests. When brought up in police court most of the workers were fined. Evidently the object is to force the workers to pay in fines the wages of the sluggers. However they refuse to furnish money thus and are determined to fill the jail rather than help the lumber barons support the sluggers.
POLICE BEAT PRISONERS IN JAIL.
Several of the workers awaiting trial have been kicked and beaten in the city jail. Joe Solowski told on the witness stand how he was struck on the head by officer No. 4 and kicked while awaiting trial. There have been other complaints of like nature. Yet nothing has been done except to hush the matter up as much as possible.
CHIEF MANHANDLES PRISONER.
Iva Berglund testified in the police court Wednesday that he was beaten and kicked by Officer Searles and the Chief of Police while awaiting trial. Several charges were placed against Berglund and finally he was landed upon a charge of running away from an officer. No doubt he did run as much as the cell would allow when the chief and his assistant started the dirty work. However he has decided to pay no fine though the judge wanted $15 and costs.
ANOTHER PARADE
was held in Aberdeen Wednesday morning, headed by the Finnish band. The workers marched through the city about 1,200 strong cheering and keeping step to the revolutionary music. Another greater demonstration will be pulled off with both cities acting next Sunday.
THUGS BEAT PROPRIETOR.
The thugs and gun men in this city have become a menace to the citizens. A person is not safe even on his own premises. Last Tuesday evening a pair of these cheap sluggers walked into the Moonshine Bar looking for someone to beat up. Trouble would have started had not the proprietor forced them to leave at the point of the gun. The enraged deputies then walked into the Hefron and attacked the proprietor, who was asleep in a chair. The bartender came to the assistance of his employer and also received a beating. When the foul work was completed a policeman came in response to the call and placed the deputies and bartender under arrest.
Citizens are complaining that it is unsafe to go home in the suburbs on account of the vicious deputies who attack citizens in the dark. Some are forced to room down town.
RELIEF NEEDED.
The many workers who are now struggling for a slight increase in wages have had a hard winter and are mostly in debt. The employers have caused the merchants to refuse credit. That means that many will go hungry unless there is prompt relief from the outside. A committee is out getting funds and merchandise from the friendly merchants. But this is only a drop in the bucket. Kitchens and commissary departments have been established in both cities and relief is doled out as fast as we are able to give it. As yet there has been very little help from the outside. Every person who does not wish to see the lumber barons crush the little defenseless children with pangs of hunger should get busy at once. This is a fight of Socialists, Industrialists and Crafts acting jointly against a common enemy. Relief funds should be sent to F.H. ALLISON, 211 Occidental (rear) Seattle. The mill owners at Cosmopolis have armed thugs with rifles and threaten to murder any one who dares to attempt to raise the wages above the $30 a month which they are paying. Are you going to see the workers struggle against such odds and have on your conscience the suffering and crying of the little ones who will cry for bread?
DO SOMETHING AT ONCE.
J. S. BISCAY.
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.” A victim of finances and internal disputes, the IW ceased publication in 1913, only to be revived in 1916 and surviving as a weekly, sometimes more, until 1931. Easily among the most important working class newspapers in U.S. history and an essential resource on the wobbly, and larger radical labor experience.
PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/industrialworker/iw/v4n02-w158-apr-04-1912-IW.pdf
