oland H. Hartley and others of Everett,
Wash., the police and business men of that city have attempted to
ruthlessly and lawlessly suppress all street speaking and
demonstrations by labor organizations, and that unarmed men have
been brutally beaten and terrorized, and
Whereas, This policy culminated in a bloody battle on Sunday,
November 5, resulting in the death of seven or more men and the
wounding of many more, and
Whereas, A fair inquest should be held to fix responsibility for
this crime, and it appears that this has not been done, but that
only witnesses favorable to the bosses have been heard;
Therefore, we demand another inquest, free from control by the
forces opposed to labor, and a change of venue, if that be
necessary."
Capitalism stood forth in all its hideous nakedness on that day of red
madness, and public opinion was such that the striking shingle weavers
had but to persistently press their point in order to win. A conference
of prominent men, held in Everett on Monday, decided that the situation
could be relieved only by a settlement of the strike. The mill men, when
called in, abruptly refused to grant a single demand so long as the men
were still out, an attitude they could not have maintained for long.
Listening to the false advice of "friends of labor" and "labor leaders"
the shingle weavers, albeit grudgingly, returned to their slavery,
unconditional surrender being the price they were forced to pay for the
doubtful privilege of "relieving the social tension." But with the pay
envelopes that could not be stretched to cover the increased cost of
living, the weavers, discouraged to an extent and lacking their former
solidarity, were forced to down tools again within a few weeks by the
greatest of all strike agitators--Hunger.
[Illustration: MAYOR GILL SAYS I. W. W. DID NOT START RIOT
Seattle Executive Places Blame for Sunday Tragedy on Citizens of
Everett--Gives Prisoners Tobacco.
Providing the I. W. W.'s. whose attempted armed invasion of Everett last
Sunday resulted in seven deaths and injuries to forty-nine persons, with
every comfort possible. Mayor H. C. Gill yesterday afternoon personally
directed the carrying of 300 warm blankets and an assortment of tobacco
to the 250 prisoners now held in the city jail.
In this manner Gilt replied to criticism in Seattle and Everett for not
having stopped the I. W. W's from
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