United Mine Workers ought to call a nation-wide general strike.
No coal to the United States till the prison doors open for Lawson.
-Big Bill Haywood
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Sunday July 18, 1915
From the Chicago Day Book - Protests Mount Against Murder Conviction of Lawson
A storm of protest is gathering across the nation against the unjust murder conviction and life sentence of John R. Lawson, hero of the Colorado Coalfield Strike. Today Hellraisers offers a sampling of that protest from various sources.
From The Day Book of July 13, 1915:
THE LAWSON CASE
Comment in Chicago on life sentence of John R. Lawson in Colorado:
Frank P. Walsh, chairman U. S. industrial com'n: "Lawson's crime was defiance of the Rockefellers. He was eight miles from the scene at the time of the murder for which he is sentenced. It is a mockery of justice, a threat to the republic."
Ed Nockels, sec'y Chicago Federation of Labor: "A Rockefeller lawyer especially appointed to try strike cases as a judge, did the dirty work. American justice-bah!"
John C. Kennedy, alderman of 27the ward: "This is the stuff that breeds violence. It breaks the faith of men in peaceful methods."
W. D. Haywood, sec'y I. W. W.: "United Mine Workers ought to call a nation-wide general strike. No coal to the United States till the prison doors open for Lawson."
From the Indianapolis Star of July 13, 1915:
"MOTHER" JONES PROTESTS.
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Addresses Union Men at Lawson Meeting
in Terre Haute.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind., July 12.-"You're a bunch of moral cowards; you haven't any manhood," shouted "Mother" Jones here tonight when addressing union men gathered to protest against the life sentence imposed upon John R. Lawson, Colorado labor leader, for alleged criminal actions during the Ludlow strike.
"If ever this nation goes upon the breakers, our judicial pirates will be responsible, she continued. "The judiciary of this country is an insult to civilization. It is always the working man who goes to the prison. I believe the time is here to stop it and we're going to stop it. If you men are too cowardly to stop it, go home and we women will do it."
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From The Day Book of July 14, 1915:
DENUNCIATORY RESOLUTIONS PASSED
IN LAWSON CASE
Wilkesbarre, Pa., July 14.-Declaring that John R. Lawson, convicted of killing Mine Guard John Nimmo during Colorado Mine strike, was victim of a conspiracy, denunciatory resolutions were adopted by Parson local, United Mine workers of America. John P. White, national president of the union, personally dictated the testimonial and presented it to the miners, by whom it was unanimously adopted. The resolution will be acted upon by the 150,000 anthracite mine workers.
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From The Day Book of July 16, 1915
From the Duluth Labor World of July 17, 1915:
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SOURCES
The Day Book
(Chicago, Illinois)
-July 13, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/...
-July 14, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/...
-July 16, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/...
Indianapolis Star
(Indianapolis, Indiana)
-July 13, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/...
The Labor World
(Duluth, Minnesota)
-July 17, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/...
IMAGES
John R Lawson, 1915
http://www.loc.gov/...
John Lawson & Mother Jones,
Wichita Beacon, Kansas, Apr 22, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/...
John P White
http://www.umwa.org/...
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Working Class Hero - John Lennon
Yes , A Working Class Hero is something to be
If you want to be a hero well just follow me
If you want to be a hero well just follow me
-John Lennon
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