There are no limits to which powers of privilege will not go to keep the workers in slavery.
-Mother Jones
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Monday November 1, 1915
Salt Lake City, Utah - Roy J. Horton, Local I. W. W. President Shot Down in Street
Fellow Worker Roy Joseph Horton, President of the I. W. W. Local 69 in Salt Lake City was murdered by a gunthug on a downtown street shortly after midnight yesterday, October 31st.
The Nevada State Journal gave the following account:
I. W. W. LEADER KILLED BY
SALT LAKE OFFICER
-----
SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 31.-Major H. H. Myton, a former deputy sheriff, shot and killed Roy Horton, said to be an I. W. W. leader following a dispute on west Second street south, shortly after midnight. Horton, it is said, attacked Myton and knocked him down, when Myton drew an automatic pistol from his pocket and fired three shots into Horton's body. It is said that the dispute started over the Hillstrom case.
-----
A source from Salt Lake City provides a very different story:
Fellow Worker Horton, 29, was talking with friends in front of a downtown bar just after midnight on October 31st when he asserted, "Any man who would pack a star is a dirty-----." This remark was overheard by Major Howell P. Myton, old gunfighter and lawman, who then confronted Horton, "What do you mean by those insinuations?"
"That is meant for you or any other ----- who will wear a star," Horton replied. Whereupon Myton pulled out his gun, stated "I'll kill you for that," and fired three shots at Horton. Two of the shots hit Horton as he staggered away with his back to Myton.
Fellow Worker Roy Horton died there on the sidewalk. Myton was soon thereafter arrested and taken to jail.
~~~~~~~~~~
SOURCES
Nevada State Journal
(Reno, Nevada)
-Oct 31, 1915
https://www.newspapers.com/...
The Man Who Never Died: The Life, Times, and Legacy
of Joe Hill, American Labor Icon
-by William M. Adler
Bloomsbury Publishing USA, Aug 30, 2011
https://books.google.com/...
Find A Grave: for full name and age of Horton.
http://www.findagrave.com/...
IMAGE
IWW Logo on Local 69 banner,
Deseret Evening News, Aug 13, 1913
https://books.google.com/...
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Letter from Joe Hill to Orrin N. Hilton
Utah State Prison,
October 27, 1915
O. N. Hilton
Denver, Colorado,
Dear Judge:
Received your letter of October 23, and in reply will say that I made a mistake in that telegram. I left out the word "I" and that accounts for the misunderstanding. I did not know how the Board had decided until the Judge told me in court. When I found out that it was another death sentence, I stood up and asked for permission to make a statement, but was taken out, and what I had to say was never said, and never will be. Well Judge, I guess the legal part of the case is done now, and I am glad of it. I've had a lawful trial, they say, and as I dont think there is much danger of anybody accepting your challenge, we might well consider the case closed. Now there is only one more thing I'll ask you to do. I know it will be done right when you do it. I would like to have all records of the case sent to Chicago Headquarters, to be kept on file for future references--a copy of the preliminary records; a copy of the District Court records; the two to be kept for comparison; the original of my statement (not copy--Mr. Christensen has the originals). I think Ed Rowan has a copy of the preliminary records, but am not sure of it. I have made some quotations in my statement from the preliminary records, and I wish to see if I made any mistake. If so, you might correct it, and have it typewritten. Now that's all I want done, Judge--you have always kept every promise you made to me, and that's why I want you to do this. In case someone, in the future, should want to learn the details of my case, from beginning to end, I would like to have it all together, and as you are my Attorney, I wish to have it sent from your office. With Best wishes for your Health and Welfare, I remain Respectfully your Client.
Joe Hill
~~~~~~~~~~
SOURCE
The Letters of Joe Hill
-ed by Philip S Foner
Oak Publications, 1965
https://books.google.com/...
IMAGE
Appeal State of Utah vs Joseph Hillstrom
http://www.joehill.org/...
See also:
Barrie Stavis on disappearance of trial records:
https://books.google.com/...
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Information from Archie Green via Gibbs Smith:
The Industrial Worker of March 6, 1913 announced that the new edition of the I. W. W. songbook (Little Red Songbook) would include eleven new songs. That edition of the songbook was designated as the Fifth Edition on the front cover. Nine of the eleven new songs were by Joe Hill, including "There Is Power In A Union" on page 27.
There Is Power In A Union - Utah Phillips
THERE IS POWER IN A UNION
By Joe Hill
(Tune: "There Is Power in the Blood")
Would you have freedom from wage slavery,
Then join in the grand Industrial band;
Would you from mis'ry and hunger be free,
Then come! Do your share, like a man.
CHORUS
There is pow'r, there is pow'r
In a band of workingmen,
When they stand hand in hand,
That's a pow'r, that's a pow'r
That must rule in every land-
One Industrial Union Grand.
Would you have mansions of gold in the sky,
And live in a shack, way in the back?
Would you have wings up in heaven to fly,
And starve here with rags on your back?
If you've had "nuff" of "the blood of the lamb,"
Then join in the grand Industrial band;
If, for a change, you would have eggs and ham,
Then come, do your share, like a man.
If you like sluggers to beat off your head,
Then don't organize, all unions despise,
If you want nothing before you are dead,
Shake hands with your boss and look wise.
Come, all ye workers, from every land,
Come, join in the grand Industrial band,
Then we our share of this earth shall demand.
Come on! Do your share, like a man.