The Commonwealth. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1911-1914, 1913-10-16
Five Men Dead and Eleven Dangerously
III Five Dollars Would Have Saved Them
Solidarity Wins In Seattle

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There seems to be some uncertain.
ty as to the exact status of the free
speech fight in Seattle Happening to
be in Everett last Monday / found an
impression prevailing there that the
Seattle comrades had beaten the con-
tempt of court procedure, but were
still bound by the injunction against
street speaking in a certain block
Please let me clear up this matter for
the readers of the Commonwealth.
The Seattle Socialists have won a
complete victory-a sweeping victory
"a record-breaking victory-up to
date. The story of last weeks events
is without any precedent in this
country. Forty Socialists, sticking to-
gether for principle, fearless of con-
sequences, defied the power of a SUI
perior court, and in one week after
they were sent to jail, broke the
power of the judge-made law of con-
structive contempt so that it probably
never will be resurrected in this state
But that is not all that was done.
Another result is the howl that has
gone up from every standpat news
paper in the state for recall of judges
law. Oh, you journalistic prostitutes!
Do you remember your specious argu-
ments against that same law when it
was before the last legislature? But
that the Socialists were not
sent to Jail for violating the injunc-
ton. The judge had enjoined speak
iIsg in n certain hlpek. hl.t ann2ur ced
at the same time that he would grant
to every business man
that asked for one.
Now, in a free speech fight waged
by direct methods it is desirable to
have public sentiment on your side.
We knew we would have a stronger
case before the court of public opin-
ion if we waited till other injunctions
we're issued.
While we waited, the Judge, intoxi-
Gated by the commotion he was Gre
ating, suddenly cited two of our men,
bers for contempt for talking about
him. Then the fight was on, with the
results that you know.
The S. E. c. put Comrade Giles in
command. He prepared call for
funds, and for volunteers to fill the
jail. Then he went and warned the
acting mayor of what would happen.
Things moved rapidly after that.
The women in Jail were offered their
freedom. Hats off to them, They an
swered mot until the men are free"
Some had been sentenced for a few
days, some for nearly a year. From
tank to tank the word was passed,
Everybody sticks until all are free"
The situation was too much for the
local authorities to solve. They tele-
to the governor. He came
down post-haste, and the Jail doors
opened by Humphries' orders, for he
saw his game was up.
The newspapers had announced that
the governor would probably insist on
the injunction being dissolved. So to
give him a chance, and also because
of the popular excitement and the GER
tainty of blocking traffic on the night
Of our release, we announced that we
would not break the Injunction that
night.
The next night, however, we held
short meeting in the rain in the en-
Joined district, Comrade L. w. Buck
doing the speaking. Since then Com
rades Kate Sadler and Joe Jervis have
held MEETINGS at the same place.
There is a rumor that they will be
arrested But l think they will not
be molested. I believe the fight is
over may be wrong however. So,
comrades Of the state, stand ready to
back us up and hold what we have
won. Solidarity will do it,