davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16
An Embarrassment
OF Numbers

Not only was new kind Of military
offender created but this new offender
came to the barracks in such numbers that
nobody knew what to do with him. On
April I, 1918, the population of the Fort
Leavenworth barracks was 1903. By No
vember it was 3,O05-exactly double. To-
day it is $500. Men are doubled up in
cells, feet by 8, intended for single oc-
cupants; beds are placed in corridors that
are meant to be empty, improvised build
ings are used for sleeping quarters, mess
hall seating 1,400 has to be used in three
shifts for every meal; every discomfort
of overcrowding has to be borne as we'll
as the human mind can bear it. All of this
created an unprecedented atmosphere of
tension, rebellion and protest.
From the point Of view of administration,
the situation was further complicated by
the sending to the barracks of {. largo
number of conscientious objectors. These
men obstnately refused for the most part
to regard themselves as criminals, even
In the military sense. For the first time
in the history of the barracks, large num-
bers of men refused to work. This brought
about increased use of the solitary cells
and increased tension between the object
ors and the guards. A few individuals
were beaten up for following what they
believed to be the dictates of their con-
sciences.
Thus the morale of the whole prison
became unsettled Officers lost touch with
the inmates. Life became hectic, uncertain
and escaped control.
'ho
Men at once began to ask what effect this
would have on military offenders. Would
ciemency be shown to any of them?
Would sentences be reduced? Individuals,
through the influence of friends and the
discovery of errors in courts martial, be-
gan to be released. This demonstrated the
power of organized appeal
Then, en- January 25, came the order for
the release of 113 conscientious directors.
Nobody resented the release Of these men.
1t is doubtful if any prisoner ever re-
sented the discharge of fellow inmate.
He doubtless envied it. The attitude of the
men confined at Fort Leavenworth was one
Of envy, and of resentment that SO many
of their fellows should go forth while they
themselves remained. Their quarrel was
with the authorities, not with the men re-
leased.
Before the discharge of these men moth
ing had happened to reveal the full
strength and nature Of the mems sulenness.
The embers of discomfort were there; the
officers felt them, the prisoners felt them.
Only a spark was needed to set them off.
That spark came on the afternoon Of Sat-
urday, January %, when a negro who was
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16

gave leash to their race prejudice and
Northerners we'll, strung to high ten
sion by the conditions described, joined in
the melees. Any activity that gave vent to
passion seemed welcome. Men went mad,
and within three days fifteen negroes lay in
the hospital, beaten or disabled
Every negro in the prison feared for his
life. The number of guards on duty was
Increased, and, SO far as possible, negroes
went about under the protection of those
guards Nevertheless, individual attacks
occurred, and tho hospital sheets do not
reveal the full extent of injuries inflicted
The sight of a negro going about with
bandaged arm or g swollen jaw or a patched
head, or even with fresh blood oozing from
new wound, was not uncommon.
How these race riots formed the opening
OF strike that quickly showed no inherent
connection with them will remain one of
the mysteries of that week. A dozen or
more white men who had taken part in the
attacks were placed in solitary confinement,
and this undoubtedly had the effect of add
ing to the discomfort and heightening the
tension.
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16
Face TO Face
With Then,

Colonel Rice told them that measures
were being taken for their safety and left
them with strong plea that they continue
to perform their duties
From there we went to the sixth wing,
where it was understood that several hun
dred prisoners were especially vocal in
stating their grievances. This wing. like all
the others, has eight tiers of cells Its oc-
cupants gathered about the colonel on the
main floor and hung to the ratings of the
lower tiers. Colenel Rice thus faced an au-
dlence that packed in close around him and
rose half way to the ceiling.
81 want to talk with the men here who
think they have grievances" he said There
was no response.
"What, nobody here thinks he has a
grievance?"
Two or three shouted, az have" or put
up their hands and started forward Colonel
Rice offered to talk to them one at time.
A man stepped forward and complained
that he and several others had been trans
ferred from open cell to closed cell
without justification. Colonel Rice asked
the executive officer to take the mans num-
ber and to report to him the reason for the
mans transfer
"Now, where's the man who said the food
was bad?" he asked
A ruddy checked fellow of medium height.
1.-the frame and clear eyes stepped forward.
receiving a round of applause from some of
the prisoners. He placed himself in front
of Colonel Rice, folded his arms and said:
"The food, sir, in this place is rotten"
"Whats rotten about ?" asked the Colo
mel,
"Why, it's rotten. 1t amt fit to eat A
man can't work on it. man can't keep
himself fit it. He becomes a wreck, sir"
as the bread rotten?"
"No, sir, the bread is the only thing
that's good"
us the meat rotten"
"Yes, sir; the meat is no good whatever.
A man cant eat it,"
"How do you know he can't?"
Because l can't, SIR
"You know, don't you that the meat you
get is the same meat that soldiers eat? You
know, don't you, we buy our meat from the
government, that the government is allowed
to buy only the best parts of the beef, and
that the meat that comes into this institu-
ton is government inspected? You are cat
ing the same meat that the soldiers all over
this country are eating" (
How about those sinking old sausages z"
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16

be punished for coming out and speaking
to me here. I know you have leaders, and
I want those leaders to come forth and
speak to me, man to man.
No one moved. Two thousand prisoners
stood with their arms folded, motionless
except for the occasional shouting of indi-
viduals. In their ill-itting coats and shape
less trousers, with white numbers two and
a half inches high sewed above each knee
and across their backs, they looked like
what, in the eyes of the law, they were-a
herd of branded criminals. Yet one knew
that, among them were many men of char
acter and attainments many ignorant
youths who had got into trouble through
sheer carelessness, many men who had
committed offences for which any civil
court would punish them. What could
such a conglomerate group have in COM
mon?
1--WE want to go home!" shouted some
1--WE want better food" shouted othere
One man brought laugh by bawling st
the top Of his lungs, "Give US liberty -
give US DEATH"
Colonel Rice walked up and down now
addressing several sentences at a time to
thesmen now begging individuals to coms
forth. Yet no one wanted to reveal him
self leader in the presence of half a
dozen prison officers.
Few smiled, for, though they were sud
denly realizing the proportions of their
own mass movement, they did not know
how to control it or give it direction.
Suddenly the ranks opened and small
prisoner with closely shaven head and
wearing long, ugly raincoat, pushed
through his fellows. With his intent X
preston he had somewhat the appearance
of a franciscan monk. had seen him at
the Atlantic branch of the Disciplinary
Barracks at Fort Jay and knew him to be
the close friend and legal ward of man
long prominent in social work. An officer
called. Here is speaker, sir" There was
a. quick hush. Beginning in a low voice,
the prisoner said:
"Sir, have been here only few davs
was transferred four days ago from the
Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Jay. am In
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16

general hostility toward the four hundred
objectors still in prison. That night he
went to his cell bed resolved to do what he
could to make the strike a general demand
for something more than extra tobacco and
better food. Forty eight hours later he was
the acknowledged spokesman of the strk-
ers His name was II. Austin Simons.
This was the night, also, of the fire in
the quartermaster's warehouse The flames
were discovered at about o'clock in the
evening, and soon bore every appearance of
getting beyond control From my perch
on window ledge in the adjutant's office,
where my presence was barely tolerated
(twce had to show my pass to be allowed
to stay, ] saw the whole panorama of the
prison yard. Two conflicts were going on
the effort to control the fire and the effort
to prevent trouble among the prisoners
These were securely locked in their cell
wings two hundred yards from the fire, but
600 men (the number in some of the
wings) can make short work of locks if they
go about it in the right way.
Soldiers from the 49th Infantry regiment
temporarily stationed at the post, had been
called out to assist in the emergency.
Squad after squad of ten men each ran into
the prison yard and disappeared in the di-
rection of the cell wings One could only
guess what use it might be necessary to
put them to. Two guards, bearing a limp
form, came from the direction of the quar-
termaster's warehouse and entered the hos
ptal door. They were quickly followed by
two more, and then by four carrying
stretcher with q body OH it. In all, eleven
men we're taken into the hospital that eve
ming overcome by smoke or fatigue Nine
of these prisoners, trusted inmates
who had been allowed to help fight the
flames.
Sparks flew the hospital building
and settled upon its roof. Heavy rolls of
smoke poured through it's screened porches
and doors. One sighed with relief as he
noted that it was built of stone, but quickly
became alarmed at the recollection that its
annex containing many patients, was made
of wood
An officer came running. 81 want ten men
quick!" he yelled "Men who know how to
handle guns" The description seemed su-
perf1uous, and the men were off in an in
stant.
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16

vldual prisoners, but I stayed away from
the cell wings, where the men were dis
cussng their plans. 1t was easy enough
to keep in touch with the main current of
events, and | had no wish to be an inter
loper.
AT 10 o'clock Thursday morning Colo
mel Rice said to me: This /. w. w.
trouble that we have been fearing has
started with some of the men. am going
down to about it. Will you come with
me ?" ! accompanied him and several Off
GERS to the boiler room, where about thirty
prisoners were gathered together, talking to
a lieutenant from the excavation office.
Colonel Rice pushed himself to the centre
and faced the men. lie is large man
whose military bearing is none the less i'm
pressive for being free and easy. To me,
who have never been a prisoner under him,
his face is generous and kindly. He has
no shred of pomposity or domineerng He
asked what the trouble was, and in reply
the spokesman said that the prisoners there
gathered were not striking. They had no
desire to strike All they wanted was pro-
lection in keeping the boiler plant going
That morning, he said, the men had been
called sneahs and scabs by other prisoners
they did not stop working. This naturally
frightened them and they had Joined in
request for protection.
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16
he Strike of 1900 Prisoners at Fort Leavenwortl
A Prison Revolt That Escaped Blood
shed by Dramatically
Narrow Margin

bore at times the attitude of a patient
overtred father toward his children. In
his reference to the force at his command.
felt that he was making this threat
more from sense of duty and in the hope
that it would have the desired effect, rather
than because he gloried in his opportunity
to use it. Yet every man there knew that
he could use it, and that snis military tradi-
tions and training undoubtedly prompted
him to that solution.
One felt another thing: IF only Colonel
Rice would really take these men into his
confidence | knew that month before
he had made recommendations to the War
Department that would, if approved, 20 far
to remove the causes of this present dis
turbance. He had limited at these in his
remarks to the men in the sixth wing. But
he could not bring himself to make the full
confession-to prisoners.
That noon the men were lined up in the
yard as usual to be marched out to work.
This was to be the final test Would the
prisoners acknowledge their obligations, or
would-one shuddered as he filled in the
alternative, with the nfantrymen waiting
outside.
an OlINtI Cd4tu OuL Tic gangs. flr6b
gang!" he shouted. and waited for it to
form in line Nosone stirred.
There amt no first gang came voice
from the ranks. Second gangl" shouted
the officer "There amt no second gang"
came another voice
"To hell with work We want to 20
home!" shouted prisoner
Third gang" called the officer. "There
amt no third gang" came from another
quarter The officer folded his sheet, and,
turning to Colonel Rice, remarked that the
prisoners of the United States Disciplinary
Barracks seemed to Big on strike.
Colonel Rice stepped forward. He raised
his voice and asked the men to tell him
why they refused to work. Again he
pleaded for individuals to come out and
tell him what was the trouble. "T want
your point of view," he said. mo one will
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16

Having violated these rules he was sent,
If court martialled and found guilty, to the
Disciplinary Barracks He came there with
Wartime sentences hanging over his head.
He may have quilted his post for five
minutes, he may have been absent without
leave for a week, he may have Intentionally
deserted his sentence was not likely to be
less than five years and was very likely to
be twenty-five. Hundreds of men now in
the barracks, who never committed Of
fences or served penal terms before in
their lives, now face fifteen, twenty, twen-
ty-hve and even thirty years of prison ex-
istence, which to many of them might as
we'll be confinement for life.
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16
Feeling Out
Opinion

ny own opportunities for observing this
asair were unusual For several days be-
iore the strike occurred I had gone among
vac prisoners at will, trying to learn ex-
sSay what sort Of place the disciplinary
'srracks was. bore note of introduction
70 sas commandant, Colonel Sedgwick Rice,
'iom the Third Assistant Secretary of War,
sao pass from the commandant allowing
ae 70 go anywhere inside the prison at any
Aao' had talked to prisoners alone, had
'"Ised them at work and in their cells at
"ssn.' had played checkers and sat at mess
.'sn them, and had made friends with
aem and the officers. / wanted picture
tae prison under normal conditions, and
."a0ogh l succeeded in getting this before
.s' alter the strike, got also picture
- 'ns OF the most dramatic and cxtraor-
saay events in penal history
=" understand the origin Of so battling
snug IA prison strike, one must know
,ssa'ny OF the events that led UP to
saa the conditions that produced IT,
20 =. years ago the Disciplinary Barracks
Sors Leavenworth was a place for con-
Ss oncers and enlisted men Of the army
"asins corps who had been sentenced
s"uss-martial Or other military tri-
saAis' With the entrance OF the United
Ss INTO the war, new kind Of soldier
te. teassd Upon the horizon. In private
snis new soldier had been a clerk, a
t.san'e, day laborer, a politician, a
,asss ,.-s man. He knew nothing Of mill
IA. method, etiquette, procedure, discI-
,.ss as ne was civilian transported to a
- .s'sdiction, new milieu, and sub.
II. 70 new code Of criminal ethics.
49, '1'iafsA rules Of conduct that he had
III ( ~ weeks or months 10 understand,
IL. ~ npnishments for which he did not
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16

from another, in spite Of barred doors and
double guards, they held mass meetings
and discussed their grievances. In the
Mysterious fashion in which news travels
through prison brick and stone, they in
tosmed one another OF their thoughts and
Planned course Of action. They elected
representatives to meet with their superior
omeers and voted on whether they would re-
surn to work. And they did this while one
: thousand armed soldiers of the 49th In
iantry regiment waited outside the prison
walls, ready to enter and shoot at com
mand
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16
First Signs
Of Trouble

On Wednesday afternoon, January 29 the
"frst gang" composed of about 15O prison.
ers working outside the walls, quit on their
jobs. They were excavating for a new
building, and they simply threw down their
shovels and spent the afternoon talking,
joking and loafing. The guards in charge
made only a nominal effort to induce them
to resume work. Even the guards had been
on duty for long hours during the days of
the race riots and we're themselves dis
satisfied with their lot. At the usual quit
ting time the members of the gang marched
back to the prison and went to their cells.
This was the first overt act Of the strike
In that mysterious fashion in which news
travels through walls and barred doors in
prison, the whole place was soon humming
with the exciting news that the "frst gang"
had struck. What did it mean? What were
they striking for? How far did they intend
to go? What was to be their method
violence and attempt" to overpower the
prison authorities, the quiet method Of
simply refusing to work? Would they try
to get others to join them?
One of the members of the "frst gang"
was conscientious objector. In civilian
life he had been a newspaper reporter and
poet; he was known as radical" That
night he held a conference with friends in
his wing. He told them that he had no de-
sire to participate in a strike for such
petty objects as the men of the FIRST gang"
were then considering. No one had for1nu-
lated that afternoon any statement of what
was wanted. One prisoner wanted more
tobacco; another wanted better food; an
other resented the treatment of negroes
on an equality with whites; fourth felt
bitter because he wasn't getting his letters
from home; fifth wanted the privilege Of
writing more letters himself. This absorp-
tion in small desires, and utter disagree
ment Of one man with another, character
lied the early stages of the strike. Every
one was dscontented, many were surly, but
only by chance did any two agree upon the
causes of their dissatisfaction.
The prisoner in question told his friends
that If he did not join the strike with the
other members of his gang, his own safety
might be endangered. Local Kansas City
newspapers, notably "The STAR had for
week past been publishing wholly untrue
stories Of the bitterness existing among
the prisoners toward conscientious objec-
tors. Realizing that these stories were not
true, this prisoner nevertheless feared that
their very publication (they were, of course,
read by many prisoners) might produce tho
antagonism described. single unfortu-
nate accident might turn against the OBJ
jectors the very passions that had already
been aroused against the blacks. II he, an
objector, incurred the cnmity Of his fellows
by refusing to Join the strike, he might bel
the unwilling means Of bringing about
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16

"HE strike of prisoners at the United
States Disciplinary Barracks at Fort
Leavenworth, Kan week before last
was no ordinary prison mutiny. 1t
presented many of the characteristics of
typical labor disturbance in the world
outside. True, it originated in the vague
unrest that occasionally sezes prison
populations the world over, but it soon
crystaIlized about well-defined demands
and took form in definite organization.
That it occurred in military prison is
one of the strangest things about this
strange affair; yet, from the very nature
Of the demands that gave it force, it
could not have occurred elsewhere. The
1900 men who took part in it were still
units in the military machine, with the
exception Of 400 conscientious objectors;
they had once been soldiers. They were
subject to military discipline. Their Off
GERS were leutenants, captains, majors
and colonels. They stood at attention or
saluted when these officers passed An un~
questioning obedience was expected Of
them that is not expected of men in civil
prisons. Some of them, in the ordinary
course Of events. will be restored to mill
tsry service. Yet they organized them
selves in the approved labor union way and
presented their demands just as if they
had the full power of collective bargain
ing. In spite of walls separating one group
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16

shouted q prisoner from the upper tier, to
the great amusement of the others.
What are you here ~ asked the colo
mel, ignoring the remark.
"Disobedence, SIR
You're a conscientious objector, aren't
you?"
"Yes, sir"
"Are you an I. W. W."
"No sir, l never belonged to that organi-
zaton."
You're Socialist, aren't you?"
yes, sir, I'm Socialist"
"And in addition to being conscientious
objector, you're constitutional objector,
aren't you?"
a don't know exactly what you mean,
SIR
81 mean you object to all forms of gov
ernment and order"
"No, sir, do not"
"Well, most Socialists do"
II beg your PARDON" shouted prisoner
from an upper tier. but said no more.
New-York tribune., 1919-02-16
A Case of
InCendiariSn1

AS an organic part of the strike, the fire
had no significance. In two hours it was
practically extinguished, without loss of life,
but with the loss of approximately $780,
600 worth Of clothing and supplies. It's
occurrence, however, due, as it was, to the
work of two or three prisoners who later
confessed, was evidence of the spirit of un-
rest Men were bent upon any measure
that gave an outlet to their passions
The strain Of it must have been very
great on the $500 men locked in their cells.
The fire screwed the tension to a higher
pitch, and left both officers and prisoners
with raw nerves.
Next morning occurred the first blunder
of the administration. Without consulting
Colonel Rice, the executive officer ordered
that the prisoners be marched back to their
wings Immediately after breakfast and that
they remain there for the morning. This
did two things: it told the men that the
officials were afraid that something might
happen if they went to work, and it gave
them further opportunity to discuss their
grievances.
During all of this time my own rela-
tions with the men had been friendly and
cordial. 1t was known to them that l was
on good terms with the officers and the
commandant. This fact, and the circum-
stance that some of the prisoners were sure
to regard me with suspicion if | went too
freely back and forth from Office to cell
while such momentous events were on foot
induced me to hold myself somewhat aloof
during the next two days / still went
freely about the yard and talked with indi-