Well-old War-Hoss-I want to thank you for what you have done for me,
and hoping that you will live to see the final "cave-in"
when the rotten props of capitalism will go from under
and the working class will rule the World, I remain
Yours for Industrial Freedom.
-Joe Hill
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Sunday August 8, 1915
From the International Socialist Review: Haywood Urges Quick Action to Save Joe Hill
In this month's edition of the Review, Big Bill Haywood, General Secretary-Treasurer of the Industrial Workers of the World, urges all fellow workers to immediately join in the campaign to save the life of Joe Hill.
SENTENCED TO BE SHOT—ACT QUICK!
Fellow Workers:
The exploiting class of Utah are determined that Joe Hill shall be executed. Our fellow-worker has made himself obnoxious to them. His message of solidarity resounds in their ears.
The Supreme Court of Utah has affirmed the action of the district court and Joe Hill will soon again be sentenced to death.
The decision says in part:
Thus, on review of the record we are satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to support the verdict; that the record is free from error, and that the defendant had a fair and impartial trial, in which he was granted every right and privilege vouchsafed by the law. Hence does it follow that the judgment of the court below must be affirmed. Such is the-order.
This was rendered after Judge Hilton's appeal to the court wherein he shows that the state failed to establish a case against Joe Hill; the prosecution failed to show a motive for the crime; the defendant was not identified by any witnesses; he was convicted on the flimsiest kind of circumstantial evidence.
During the course of the trial Joe Hill discharged the attorneys that had been appointed for him, but the judge retained them, thus refusing the man counsel and denying him the privilege of conducting his own defense.
As a result of these methods of the court he was convicted and sentenced to death. The state of Utah is the one state in the Union that gives a condemned man the choice of either being shot or hanged. Fellow-Worker Hill chose to be shot. His case was then appealed. The decision of the higher court has now been rendered. The case will be taken to the United States Supreme Court. But in the interim action is necessary. The fellow-workers of Joe Hill, his friends and sympathizers, should direct their demands to the board of pardons of Utah. Letters, telegrams, petitions and protests should be sent to that board.
Do not neglect to write to Governor Spry of the board of pardons as each appeal for clemency will have its weight.
Your letters should be forceful and convincing, couched in earnest language, but not threatening, as that may do more harm than good. Economic pressure will be used wherever possible. Get up a petition.
Do something to save the life of Joe Hill. Send funds to George Child, treasurer Joe Hill Defense Fund, 215 East First South street, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Wm. D. Haywood,
General Secretary-Treasurer,
Industrial Workers of the World.
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SOURCE
The International Socialist Review, Volume 16
-ed by Algie Martin Simons, Charles H. Kerr
Charles H. Kerr & Company, 1915
https://books.google.com/...
ISR Aug 1915
https://books.google.com/...
"SENTENCED TO BE SHOT—ACT QUICK!" by Wm. D. Haywood
(Also source for photo of Joe Hill.)
https://books.google.com/...
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