The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-10-12

Under the above title, CHARLES ed"
ward Russell contributes a striking
article to "Appleton's Magazine for
October. Mr.. Russell was reporter
in Chicago before and during tho trial
of tho man charged with being respon-
sibIe for tho Haymarket bomb throw.
ing and no writes Of the events Of that
critical time from his personal knowl-
edge and observation. The intention
of the article is avowedly to do tardy
Justice to mon who were made a sacri-
flee to public sentiment nurtured by
capitalist newspapers and fed by
demagogues and politicians. In view
of the attempt Of the Western Mine:
Owners to repeat that performance in
the case Of Meyer, Haywood and Pct
tibone, this statement Of Mr.. Russell is
nificance.
We are able only to quote less than
half Of the article, which is also illus.
trated in tho magazine. Mr.. Russell
begins with recital Of tho events
leading up to the tragedy, speaking
not entirely from the workers. stand
point, and describes tho methods used
to break up the strikes.
l have never seen such conditions as
existed in Chicago at this time ade-
quately described in any literature,
and yet they are the pivot on which
the whole story turns. Without the
long and seated resentment of the
workers and the accumulated fears Of
the rest Of the population any such
drama would have been impossible.
Around the world, Chicago, because of
these things, bore many years after
wards an unjust measure Of reproach
as a lawless community; and yet, in
the same peculiar conditions and OPP
pressed with the same misapprehen-
sions, I think there is no great city
in which some outbreak would not
have climaxed the trouble making.
The tension was too great. And those
that think lightly of class divisions in
a republic might probably study the
record of this modern instance. The
letters are red and smeared, but they
are still sufficiently legible, and the
first thing they tell is of what may
come when men will not make the
least effort to understand nor the
least allowance for one another"
Following upon this came the eight
hour movement of 1886, which, Mr..
Russell says, many things combined
to make extremely repugnant to the
orderly and native citizen" This be-
cause of it's foreign origin" and Of
it's misconception in the public mind.
He describes the strike at the McCor-
mick harvester and reaper works, the
ensuing riots, the intense feeling
aroused among both workmen and
police, and the resentment among the
workers toward the capitalist press.
Then came the meeting at the reaper
works on May which resulted in the
police shooting strikers, who, Mr.. Rus
sell says, were part of a mob attack
ing the works.
Tho Fatal Meeting.
- Meetings to denounce the police
were called for the next night, May 4.
"Of these the most important was to
be held in Desplaines street between
Lake and Randolph. Rather
oddly, the meeting that was to pass
had nothing to do with the Hay
| market, which is around corner and
two and three hundred feet away.
Half a block straight to the south was
| the Desplaines street police station,
| over which presided Inspector John
| Bonfeld."
! The meeting is described. About
fifteen hundred people gathered. Spies,
Parsons, and Fielden were speakers.
Mayor Harrison was present.
| "The mayor heard what they said
and seems to have detected nothing
formidable in the utterances. Parsons
had made an end, Fielder was clos
ing, when a storm was seen to be ap-
preaching. The people began to dis
perse; The mayor started Tor home.
At that moment Inspector Bonf1eld
marched the reserves out of the sta
| ton, and advanced up the street, him.
| self at the head, ordering the people
! to dispense. Just as the front of the
platoon reached the alley intersection
a spark blew through the air either
from the roof Of building or from
| behind the crowd. There was tre-
mendous and binding explosion, a
roar that was plainly heard in news
paper offices a. mile away. and many
policemen fell, dreadfully mangled
Their comrades, With conspicuous
courage, did not falter. They closed
up their ranks, drew their revolvers
and began to fire upon the dumb
founded people, who fled in all direc-
tiOns."
The Police Panic.
THAT was the memorable bomb
At the news Of it all Chicago was
shaken with rage Here at last was
the dynamite that had been threatened
the revolution in full swing, the reign
Of violence begun. Sixty-eight police
men were wounded by that terrible
thing, some in ways too dreadful tt
be described. Seven died of thei,
hurts; many were MANNED for life
It was no wonder that before an event
so appalling even good men forgo,
reason and clamored for revenge
Upon the police commanders the
effect was of temporary defea
wrought treacherously by a malignan
and long-detested enemy. A kind o.
cold fury possessed them; Instant,