The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-08-17
HilISborO Prisoner
Writes of Fascist
Terror in Illinois

WRITES OF TUSCLSL
Terror in Illinois
The following letter was re-
ceived from John Adams, one of
the workers in Jail in HiIIsbOrO,
I'LL. for unemployed activities
Editors Note.
County Jail,
Hillsboro, nj.
Dear comrades:
I have assembled instances of
working class solidarity in Mont
gomery County in connection with
our cases. You have to consider
that the Party is less than a year
old in here and that the best
trained leadership of the workers
was in jail when these events oc-
Cured.
At this time, we are all striving
for unity with our socialist COM
rsdes. The s. P. executive of Illi-
nois has organized committee ito
restore constitutional rights in Illi-
nois." This committee, launched in
July, Is to meet sometime in Au-
gust to map out plans to combat
fascism in some parts of Illinois"
This has familiar stencil, hasn't
IL? Many of the worker home
owners who are trying to go our
bond are S. P. members. Funds for
our defense have come from So
eialists. What might have hap
pened to us II our socialist com
rades had waited until sometime
in August?
The NokomiS local Of the PIMA.
is one Of the larger locals Of that
organization. 1t has no Commu-
mist members, but is affiliated to the
LID. After our arrests the repre-
sentatives of the Percy leadership
Of the PIMA. tried to get the local
to break It's affliation. The local
drove two reactionary members out
Of the meeting when they brought
this up. The local voted an assess
ment for our defense.
Tom McKenna, A.CLU. repre-
sentative, went to Audubon town
ship, south of Nokomis, to speak.
There is an organization there of
poor farmers, whose membership is
also in the Unemployment Council
Permit me to digress. These farm
ers always demand first place in
unemployed demonstrations Many
Of them insisted on having their
preacher assure them that relief
which they would win was mot the
mark Of the beast" There will
come a time when every man can
not sell nor buy unless he has the
mark of the beast" was the way
one Of them explained it. The
preacher needed the goods OF the
world and OK'd the council. They
couldn't understand why the work
ers insisted on work, however.
Didn't they work from sun-up to
shutdown? But they saw that "ca-
pit-a-lism" was the root of their
troubles.
Their action the night of Nc
Kenna's speech must be credited to
diligent reading of Party literature
donated them by miners and their
own shrewdness. Some OF their boys
were puzzled at the arrests, but felt
that we had no right to Overthrow
the government" To clearly expose
the frane-up they arranged for
fascist speaker to present the au-
thorities, version. They neglected to
tell him that McKenna was going
to be there!
When the fascist crowd saw they
had been triclSed they communi-
Gated with Nokomis. The fire siren
in Nokomis blew three times and
about 100 vigilantes swarined to-
wards Audubon to|attack McKenna.
But they forgot that the workers
can hear the siren! At the meet
ing place, an isolated town hall, on
the edge Of corn field, the poor
farmers surrounded McKenna and
defied the fascists. Everybody spoke
and the fascists lost the support of
the doubters Maybe you wonder
why the fascists didn't carry
through their attack? Just recall
that the miners, too. had heard the
siren and there was a cornfield!
This is a great squirrel hunting re-
gion.
Here's one for Norman Thomas to
answer. He spoke In Hillsboro May
az. The Chamber Of Commerce gave
him dinner. You can imagine how
the socialist workers here felt about
this.
1t Is our opinion that these gem
tlemen desired to learn how to COM
bat the revolutionary organizations.
One town, Taylor Springs, is I'M
der Workers Board. The U. C.
are mass organizations, PIMA. To-
Gals have voted financial and or
ganizational support to the U. C.
At all events, when Hall ques-
toned me, not knowing about Nor
man Thomas, I thought his probe
smacked Of S. D. police chief.
Since we are in, Hall has spoken
before two U. G. and his appeal
for reorganization was social
democrat to the last phrase. There
were no Communists at these meet
ines, but Halls eloquence failed and
the U. g. voted confidence and