The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1929-07-24
BY vERN SMITH.

The Wheatland hopfields case
started out as just the usual frame
Up: group of the employers gun
men, most of them only very thinly
disguised as officers of the law, at
tackled a crowd of workers with
force and arms; some workers
struck back in self defense, officers
were killed; there were many ar
rests; prisoners were tortured; most
Of them were finally released, and
those thought to be the chief leaders
were tried in a prejudicd court in
an atmosphere flaming with the
bosses propaganda, and part of
them convicted. This is the most
ordinary type of frame-up from the
period Of the Haymarket to that of
Gastonia. Some times it fails, and
some times it succeeds.
But the thing that particularly
distinguishes the Wheatland case,
and the most striking lesson to the
workers there, is the second trial of
Ford, the principal defendant, IL
years after he was paroled from the
life term he got at the first trial.
And the thing to learn from this is
the employing class is absolutely
merciless completely murderous. The
bosses legal bloodhounds never vol
unfairly quit the trial of a labor
leader they are set upon.
Greed Rampant.
In August, 1918, the burst
Brothers, of Wheatland, California,
owners of large hop plantation
("ranch" they call it there) had by
false and lying promises caused g.
800 migratory workers, some of
them bringing their families, to as
semble to pick hops. They were
called to the ranch before the hops
were ready; twice as many were
called as could get jobs; the wages
were lower than represented; the
vines were trained on high poles and
no men provided to take them down,
and sanitary conditions, though
simply indescribably bad, are chiefly
known to labor history by certain
main grievances connected with
them.
There is never a cloud in the sky
Of the Sacramento valley of Cali
fornia in August, and the sun blazes
down with an unholy glare. Tenn
peratures go every day we'll above
hundred. a hundred and twenty
in the shade has been known. And
the hop vines on their poles threw
nc shade; they only broke whatever
breeze might blow. In this kind Of
open air inferno, burst had thought
fully removed every possibility of
the pickers getting drinking water.
Not drop was allowed you in the
field, unless you also bought meal
from bursts concessionaire. Why?
To make good business for nephew
Of the bursts who had from them a
concession to sell poisonous, citric
acid, artificial lemonade to the work
ers. There were no toilets in the
field, and only two for $500 people
at the camping ground. The place
was filthy.
Slapped In the Face.
Richard ("Blackie") Ford was
elected chairman Of a workers COM
.nittee to present demands to the
bursts for more wages and better
conditions. Ralph burst told them
TO come back later, and meanwhile
called up the constable, and brought
him to the ranch. When Ford came
back for the answer, Ralph burst
was standing with a heavy pair of
riding gauntlets held in his hand,
and the constable stood close behind
him with his gun. burst testified
later that he "just flicked Ford
across the face with the gloves"
There's your answer, now get off
the place." XII
The glove IN the face! The ancient
formula of challenged!
And The workers took Up tha ehala.