The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-03-06
Never Had a Day in School
But Tom Tracy Now Has
Eyes of Country on Him


lie bore IL very modestly. be Il
said In all Justice. Broad.shoulder.
cd. stocky. blue.shlrted and red
nee killed.. with I. W. W. button we'll
TO the fore on his coat lapel. no ga,
and slowed away pork chops and
/ puffed At a cigar. and used his op.
portunity conHcientiously not TO ad
vertise Tom Tracy. but TO set forth
l. W W. principles and the |. W
W. side OF the Verona" episode.
You've probably heard" he said.
that tho I. W. W. believes in de.
siruction OF property. and beating
up Heaha and 80 on. Yes,
No Aid From Morgan
\ reporter admitted that some
people did say such things.
Well. now" explained Tracy.
drawing a straight line on the Ia.
bic cloth with his fork. ITS like
this
Direct action Amt violence It's
the workers struggling for their
rights. They no longer expect any.
thing nom anybody but their own
class. WHY. who's helping mo In
this case OF mine, u aint any
Rocksfsllers or Morgans or GuE.
genheimers, Is IT. ia my own
class.
II We 60 out on strike wlthou,
giving no warning or no chance TO
head us off. that would b. direct
action. or II va was 10 10 back to
work all at once when ve got
ready. that would b. direct action
Il Joined the I. w. w. because !
saw from my own work the need
OF organization.
For Free Speech
Now there's different kinds In
the !. W W. same as anywhere
There's some that's intelligent. and
there's some that amt. same "a my.
self. There's some that mightn't
Ike me and some ! miEhtn't like.
but 1t amt a matter OF liking: it's
Just that we've all got the same
interests.
We Of the ! W. W. that went on
the Verona wasn't going for no
violence. We was going to uphold
the right OF free speech. and We
didn't expect no reception like We
got +"
That was the story Tracy wanted
the reporters 10 send out TO the
world.
but there was another story.
drawn from him bit by biz and in.
completely--lt really IL embar
RAISING To have deputy sheriff
listening 10 everything you say
the story OF how Fate had led Tom
Tracy. itinerant worker. To the III.
tie restaurant and the listening re
porters.
Pieced together from his brief
answers. as he herded crumbs
thoughtfus with his fork. Il was
about like this
Born In Nebraska
lie was born I'm Nebraska. 80
years ago. His father was some
times n railroad worker. and some
times a farmer. and could not make
enough AZ either 10 keep his big
family. So one by one. the children
went out into the world TO seek
better fortunes. and 10 tighten the
burdens ri home.
Tom left when he was only II.
lie got 20 Colorado somehow--he
does not state specifically how. ex.
cept that he paid HIS way.
II ain't never tried the side-door
lfstt sAtf L. t.t,t \
don't hold nothing against them
that does. and I don't know when
may have Ia"
No Schooling
In Colorado he got work on
ranch. He has never been 10
school day in his life. that he re
members. He picked up the ability
TO read a little. after he left home.
or late years. he says. he has been
a "flend for H.
From state 10 state he went,
ieaming. Tutoring. sometimes doing
little prospecting, going wher-
ever the work was.
Holds Center OF Stage
And then. in Seattle. eight or
nine months ago. he Joined the |.
W. w.
On November he was with the
bunch" on the Verona"
And now. four months later. he
sits In the crowded curtroom. with
a deputy sheriff at his elbow. the
center of the biggest fight between
two sets OF American ideas that
has yet been staged.