The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-12-09

viz l. W. W. hail III SSHCId ana w doil-
ington, on November II, 1919, by q
gang of armed hoodlums under the
direction of the lumber barons is told
by Ray Becker, one of those now
serving life terms in Walla Walla
penitentiary for defending themselves
against murderous assault of the
thugs of the lumber magnates.
The story is in the form of letter
to an anti-militarist organization in
Washington with a request that a
protest be made against the terrible
conspiracy that is keeping several
workers locked up in a penitentiary
for daring to defend themselves in
their own headquarters.
This letter, which we publish below,
should help to revive activity in be-
half of the release of those workers
in Walla Walla and of scores of
Others, some less we'll known who are
pining away in the penitentiaries of
the country. Those who have expert
enced the terrible monotony of prison
life even for a few short weeks
should feel keenly for those who are
doomed to pass away their lives be-
hind those gray walls unless the
workers arouse themselves to compel
the authorities to free them.
Here is Ray Becker's letter:
Seeks Motion Picture Man.
"Since my attention has been called
to you, and need the help of lovers
of Truth and Justice who will serve
as connecting link between me and
the outside world | appeal to you to
aid in securing the rights which l am
entitled to under the law.
"If l could find the Pathe motion
picture photographer who, with a
camera stationed across the street
from the Inflated union hall in Cen
tralia, Washington, made a pictorial
record of the attack on that hall by
the American Legion catspaws of the
timber barons of the Pacific North
west, he could be of assistance.
Pictures Destroyed.
Because the pictures were as I'M
desirable to the lumber interests as the
pictures were truthful, they togeth-
Ell with the camera, were destroyed
The camera man, however, is re-
ported as having later expressed will
ingness to bear witness to what he
and his camera saw. Can you visu-
alize the effect in winning support
for my cause making public the facts
that camera man could proclaim,
would have? The facts in his possess
sion are of the most transcendent in
terest and Importance. Why has evil
dence 50 strong been suppressed?
Truth is on my side, and my day
must come. My day will come But
not by wishing will it be attained
Good wishes are not enough.
Parade Passed Hall.
with other worl5ingmen who had
has as good right to be in that hall
as a member of the chamber of COM
merce has to be in his clubrooms. |
was in the fore part of the afternoon
of November IL, 1919, in the Cen
tralia hall Of the Industrial Workers
Of the World That hall was passed
by parade which went beyond the
usual point of march of parades in
Centralia, and the hall was repassed
by the marchers, except those form
ing the tail end of that parade.
"These made a quarter-turn and
yelling Come on! Let's get 'em"
dash for that hall. Their leader
kicked in front door, yanked out a
gun from his left armpit and fired
shot which slanted rather high. Be-
fore he could fire a second time he
was shot by Wesley Everest, who was
in a straight line with, and less than
ten feet from that door, and so near
to me that l could have placed my
hand on his other shoulder.
Leader Is Hit.
Hit by bullet from 40 caliber
colt, large calibered gun fired at
so short distance, the leader of that
assault swayed backwards and was
kept from falling& by the crush of
those he lead in the attack, which was
answered by shots from men who only
a few moments before almost felt
sure that it would not be attacked in
broad day light.
AS soon as the shooting started
the front part of the hall began to
be filled with smoke. From here,
with three other fellows, l retreated
into big disused ice box on the back
porch. All the shooting lasted hardly