The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-11-14


Parsons Engels and the other leading Internaionasts
addressed eighthour meetings and helped in the
ganizaton of new unions. On the Sunday preceding
the first they held great meeting of $4,000
on the lake front, and visiting German pronounced 1t
more imposing than anything the sort he had seen
Paris or Berlin London
By this time employers were panic-stricken The
market was shaken, stocks declining Calculations
were published to show that the reduction Of hours
would mean the loss Of hundreds OF millions Of dollars
Of profits Desperate measures were being planned to
smash the movement.
"A short and easy way to settle it." wrote the New
York Herald, sis urged in quarters, which is to
indio for conspiracy every man who strikes and sum-
marily lock him up. This method would undoubtedly
strike wholesome terror INTO the hearts of the work
ing class Another way suggested is to pick out the
leaders and make such example of them as would
scare others into submission"
Extensive military preparations were made as May
approached Hundreds Of Pinkerton stoolpigeons and
sluggers were hired by the concerns where large
number of men were expected to go out.
"The die is cast" wrote Spies in editorial in the
ATbeier zeitung. "The first Of May whose historical
significance Will be understood and appreciated only
in later years is here" Then, after reviewing the
growth of the movement from passive pleading to
ton, he continued:
THAT the workngmen would proceed in all earn
estness to introduce the eighthour system was never
anticipated by the confidence men; that the working
men would develop such tremendous power this they
never dreamed of. In short, today when an attempt is
made to realize a reform long strven for when the
exploiters are reminded of their promises and pledges
of the past has this that to give as an
excuse. The workers should be contented and conde
in their wellmeaning expoiters, and sometime between
now and Doomsday, everything would be satisfactorily
arranged.
"Workngmen warn you! You have been deuded
time and time again. You must not be led astray this
time. 4ae ~7as-e ~. s.Is...
Judging from present appearances events may not
take very smooth Many of the expoiters
most of Them resolved to sarve those to rea
son. who refuse to submit their arbitrary Dictates
lie. to force them back into the yoke of hunger The
question arses-wil the workmen allow themselves to
be slowly starved into submission will they inocu-
late some modern ideas into their murders heads"
May Day and Police Violence.
With May Day came the greatest display of labor
solidarity America has witnessed. BY May srd
the strike had become general Some 100000 were out
throughout the country Cat conservative capitalist
estimate). In Chicago alone, 10000 Spies address
ing meeting of 10000 striking lumber-shovers
at 22nd St and Blue Island Ave that afternoon sud
denly heard number Of patrol wagons coming down
the street and then Yolleys direction of the
| Mccormick Harvester Works some quarter of mile
to the SOUTH fastening the works Spies found
the police firing voIley after volley into fleeing crowd
of men, women and children.
The Mccormick Harvester Works had long been a
storm center in Chicago In the spring of 1885 several
men had been killed there by Pinkertons while striking
against wage cuts. In Feb 1885, another strike broke
! out when the mems demands for the dismissal of
scab moulder was CONTEMPORARY refused The plant
reopened with scabs and 800 armed Pinkertons were
hired to protect them The situation was extremely
tense and the day of the reopening of the plant
Tribune had appeared with headline will blood be
shed?"
On his return to the Arbeiter zeitung Office filed
with the horror of what he had SEEN Spies drew up
circular with short description of the slaughter Of
the workers. and advising workers in the future to
appear armed and ready for selfdefense
The Mccormick shooting had been isolated in