IWW Yearbook 1909

This is a database of campaigns, strikes, and labor related events as recorded in the Industrial Worker. It was researched by Oliver Janders. Start by reading his highlights report. Below that is the database.

Highlights 1909 by Oliver Janders

The Industrial Union Bulletin had not yet become the Industrial Worker as 1909 started. Indeed the Bulletin was in financial trouble and failed to produce an issue from December 12, 1908 until February 20, 1909. In January, the IWW launched the Bulletin Sustaining League to rescue the paper. The problem, said the editors, was both “a lack of participation in the IWW” and “uncertainty as to the appearance of the paper.” [1] The Sustaining League eventually collected the funds needed to continue printing the paper by stressing its key role in expanding membership of the organization and delivering support where it was needed most during strikes. [2] In March, the paper appeared under its new name, the Industrial Worker, edited by James Wilson and based in Spokane, Washington.

The paper began publishing articles that contained fiery rhetoric in order to try and persuade workers to join the IWW. and get involved with the fight against capitalism. The newspaper also covered the activities of the IWW, including strikes, meetings, and campaigns against unscrupulous employment agencies and contractors, derisively called “sharks.” This summary highlights four major campaigns that received extensive coverage in the Industrial Worker while many other events are also listed in the accompanying database.

Employment Sharks vs. the IWW

The months of March and April, 1909, were filled with news of battles against employment sharks across the region. On March 28 Frank Smith and three fellow workers were discharged from the Union Iron Works in Spokane when the foreman disapproved of them attending IWW meetings. [3]

[read full report/close report]

This and other previous discriminatory practices against the IWW members sparked outrage in Spokane, Seattle and Portland. In all three of the cities, Wobblies began protesting against private employment agencies, which the Industrial Worker called “sharks.” The label referred to the practice of charging job seekers exorbitant fees to join a contract crew harvesting crops or cutting timber. The IWW claimed that the employment sharks cheated the men in various ways, including providing kickbacks to unscrupulous employers who would fire a crew after only a few days of work and then collect fees from another group of men.

As Wobblies organized street demonstrations in front of the employment agencies in Denver, Portland, and other cities, police often moved in and arrested them. The IWW took up the challenge, turning what had been campaigns against unscrupulous employment agencies into a fight for freedom of speech. In Seattle a judge validated IWW had first amendment rights. The prosecution withdrew the charges after the IWW mounted a vigorous court defense claiming the right to speak while charging that the police and prosecutors were corrupt. The trial proved that this was indeed the case, as a police officer admitted to being bribed by the employment sharks to arrest IWW men. [4]

Elsewhere the battle with the sharks had different outcomes. In Portland a group of employers sought a court injunction to block the IWW and prohibit the distribution of the Industrial Worker, but the judge refused. [5] But in Spokane the police began enforcing a tough new law enacted by the city council that made public speaking on the streets of Spokane was a crime. That struggle will be detailed below.

The Montana Strikes

Starting in early May, the IWW helped instigate a wave of strikes in western Montana. Conditions had gotten so bad in some locales that the IWW had joined forces with the A.F. of L. to fight for better working conditions. The first strike started at the Kalispell Brewing Co., with workers demanding 10 cent wage increases and a six day week with reduced (six hour) Saturday schedules. The Industrial Worker also claimed that workers refused to be represented by craft unions. [6] The brewery workers called for a boycott, asking IWW men and workers in other cities to stop purchasing Kalispell Company beer. Word began to spread through Flathead County of the strike at the brewery and began inspiring men to follow in their footsteps.

The river drivers in Fortine responded. These timber workers moved logs down rivers. The Fortine men remained in their cabins and refused to come out until working conditions and wages improved, calling it the “sitting duck tactic”. [7] Logs began to pile up so high in the river that it began to flood some of the surrounding area, forcing the company boss to make the 13 mile trek to see his superior in Eureka, MT. According to the IW, the striking workers knew that the inexperienced scabs brought into clear the jams would not suffice, and expected their demands to be met soon after the boss returned.

Following the two strikes in Fortine and Kalispell, the workers at Somers Saw Mill gathered for a large group meeting. By-standers claimed the town hall was “crowded for the first time in several months.” The group voted to go on strike on May 20 in order to have their wages raised to the union levels that men are receiving on the Flathead river which was .50 cents more per day. [8]

All three strikes gained momentum in the following months, with a help coming from the Industrial Worker. The new newspapers proved its worth by helping to mobilize support. The paper also allowed for others across the country to stay informed about the fight by fellow workers, prompting them to donate to the strike. At Somers, mill owner Jim Hill, began purchasing the houses workers were living in, in an attempt to get rid of all the IWW on strike in the camp. Hill then lowered wages even further for the scabs that were still working to prove that he was unwilling to negotiate with IWW men. As the strike dragged on for weeks, thousands of dollars in profits were being lost every day. Eventually, the foreman of the mill asked to make negotiations with the IWW, but Hill refused to make negotiations with “those” men. [9]

Ultimately, the strikes seemed to have failed in Montana. Negotiations were conducted at the Brewery, but owners backed out on the deal hours before it was to be signed. [10] At the saw mills, workers were encouraged to stay away at all costs. It was deemed the “nearest approach to hell on earth” by IWW worker F.W. Heselwood. [11] By the end of July the strike was fading in Somers. Mill box Jim Hill owned everything around Somers. This included the water, docks, sawmills, county roads, all of the land and even the post offices. He could buy out any judge or lawyer and would hire thugs when needed to attack IWW members. [12] The strike was ultimately lost because no IWW man could physically make in back into the Somers area without being beaten or arrested.

Pressed Steel Car Strike

The strike against the Pressed Steel Car Company in McKees Rocks, PA was in response to some of the worst working conditions in the country, along with some of the most unfair pay scales. Before the strike began on July 23rd, Charles McKeever, an electrical engineer at the plant, knew that he had been “booked for discharge.” For over a week, Mckeever had been organizing and devising a plan with sorters, machinists, electrical engineers and other workers in the plant. The plan was that if any man in the plant be discharged because of his interest in unionism or his resentment at working with strikebreakers, then the whistle will be blown and everyone walks out. On the 23rd, Master Mechanic Bryson handed McKeever his time card and right away the whistle was blown. Workers were eager to walk out. Some left so quickly that they forgot to shut down some of the steam engines, causing fires to break out in the plant. The strike was officially on. [13]

Soon after, the Industrial Worker published a plea for help written by Charles McKeever. He stated that the strike would have actually been won already, but so many workers had to go back to the mill to make enough money to feed their families. [14] Bosses and owners knew how to exploit this problem, and assumed that the strikers would give up. It is for this reason that the IWW continued to stress the word “solidarity” and their motto “an injury to one is an injury to all” to try and ensure that strikers stay strong and refuse to cross strike lines. One of the key factors that union leaders identified in winning this strike was the “working class unity of action and solidarity that exerted itself in this struggle” [15]

Soon after McKeever had walked out, the entire Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers had declared a strike on the United States Steel Corporation. Foreman began calling in strikebreakers from Chicago, Philadelphia and New York to try and keep the mills going, resulting in brawls every day between the two sides. On August 16 W.E. Trautmann, a general organizer of the IWW, gave a speech to over 8,000 mill workers, urging them to “remain firm and demand their rights, designating this strike as one of the most important in labor history.” [16] Other meetings were held every day; many were matched with arrest made by police.

However, on August 22nd the scuffles between strike breakers and union men escalated into serious violence. A militia unit that had been sent to the mill opened fire on the strikers. Ten union men were killed along with 4 militia men who were believed to have been killed by friendly fire. The paper called the action a horrible massacre. In the aftermath, strike solidarity increased as workers pulled together to avoid any such action from happening in the future. [17]

Following the massacre, massive donations began pouring in from across the country. A relief station was set up to support those who were in need most as the strike continued on. Based on the support the IWW had been giving to the Tin Workers Union during the strike, it was expected that Industrial Union No. 296, the IWW at McKees Rocks, would grow greatly in numbers. A meeting was set on October 1 between the organizations to try and create a National Industrial Union of the IWW at the mill. Already, 500 men had joined the No. 296 and applications were coming in every day. [18]

By early September, news of the massacre had spread across the country. The Industrial Worker gave quotes from numerous different sources including governors, ministers and even employment agencies, all of whom were outraged at the actions of the strikebreakers. It hadn’t been since the Homestead Steel Strike that this many people had been killed. The paper and the IWW rightly took full advantage of this situation to denounce unfair, unequal and inhumane treatment of employees by employers. By September 9 strikebreakers had left the scene. The Pressed Steel Car Company offered to grant the demands of the men and stop persecuting strikers and IWW men. [19]

The result of the strike brought great success to the IWW in terms of growth, recognition and most importantly the conditions of the workers. Men returned to the mill and were greeted with respect even from police. Scabs were asked to “move over there” while returning strikers were greeted with “right this way gentlemen.” [20] In terms of membership, over 6,000 applications were received by the IWW from workers in the car shops, with 2,000 being accepted (the other 4,000 did not have enough money to join yet). A month later, on October 10 a district convention was called in Pittsburgh. 20 delegates from seven different local IWW chapters attended. There were various topics of discussions regarding organization and structure due to the growth they had experienced in the past month. One of the most important decisions of the meeting was the establishment of a local newspaper for the area that would be called Solidarity. [21] This paper would serve the same purpose as the Industrial Worker, but would cover the eastern United States.

Free Speech Fights of Spokane

The free speech fight started in 1909, and first appeared in the Industrial Worker in March. It began when IWW men started speaking out against employment shark agencies for discriminating against unions. The agencies promptly countered by pressuring the city council to pass an ordinance disallowing street speaking. The IWW reluctantly obeyed the regulation until October, when Spokane religious groups, who also consistently used the streets to speak, were granted a new regulation exempting them from the street-speaking ordinance. Angered by the discriminatory city ordinance, the IWW decided to resist. The first IWW man, James P. Thompson, was arrested on October 25 setting off yet another mass campaign. [22]

After the Thompson trial resulted in a guilty verdict, with a $100 fine and 30 days in jail, outrage was sparked across the region. Headlines of the Industrial Worker read “Wanted – Men to Fill the Jails of Spokane.” In the first two weeks of the fight, over 100 men were arrested. The tactic of the IWW was to fill the prisons to their maximum capacity over and over again. By doing so, the city would not be able to keep paying for food and run out of room to house the inmates. The tactic worked, but came at the cost of very miserable conditions inside the jail. At the end of just 20 days, over 400 men had been put into jail. The overflowing prisoners were stuffed in the Franklin School. The IWW's "rebel girl," Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, delayed her arrest by chaining herself to a lamppost. She later accused the police of using the women's section of the jail as a brothel, with police soliciting customers. [23] When that story was printed in the Industrial Worker on December 10, the police attempted to destroy every copy that was printed.

Public sympathy began to favor the strikers. A crowd of 2000 lined the streets on November 24 containing both IWW members and public supporters, handing out sandwiched and fruit to the prisoners as they marched from the jail to the school. [24] Local cities began to show support as well, such as in Missoula, Montana where the entire city voted to boycott all goods bought and sold in Spokane.

However, the free speech fight took a toll on the IWW as an organization. Not only were over 450 men jailed during the strike, but many leaders were arrested too. In November, the Defense Fund Headquarters was moved to Coeur D’Alene, Idaho out of concern that the Spokane police might seize money and records. In December, following the article about brothels in the jail, the Industrial Worker printing presses were seized by the police. However, the strike had grown so large at the point, bringing with it much support and donations, that the Industrial Worker was quickly re-established in Seattle just two weeks later. [25]

[1] “To Readers of the Bulletin.” The Industrial Union Bulletin. February 20, 1909, p. 2.

[2] “To Readers of the Bulletin.” The Industrial Union Bulletin. February 20, 1909, p. 2.

[3] “Bosses Fear the I.W.W.” Industrial Worker. March 28, 1909, p. 1.

[4] “I.W.W. in Seattle Wins Free Speech.” Industrial Worker. April 1, 1909, p. 1.

[5] “Portland Reds Can Now Talk Again,” Industrial Worker. April 8, 1909, p. 1.

[6] “Strike On.” Industrial Worker. May 3rd, 1909, p.1

[7] “Strike in Montana by the Lumberjacks.” Industrial Worker. May 13, 1909, p. 1.

[8] “The Big Strike Grows in Montana.” Industrial Worker. May 20, 1909, p. 1.

[9] “Strikers on the Fortine River.” Industrial Worker. July 1, 1909, p. 1.

[10] “Kalispell Brewery Workers Still on Strike.” Industrial Worker. May 27, 1909, p. 1.

[11] “The Somers Strike.” Industrial Worker. July 27, 1909, p. 1.

[12] “The Somers Strike.” Industrial Worker. July 27, 1909, p. 1.

[13] “Big I.W.W. Strike in Pennsylvania.” Industrial Worker. August 5, 1909, p. 1.

[14] “Industrial War in Pennsylvania.” Industrial Worker. August 26, 1909, p. 1.

[15] “From Tin Mill Workers.” Industrial Worker. August 28, 1909, p. 1.

[16] “Hold Big Meeting.” Industrial Worker. August 28, 1909, p. 1.

[17] “Massacre of Working People” Industrial Worker. August 28, 1909, p. 2.

[18] “New Castle Strike I.W.W. is Growing.” Industrial Worker. September 9, 1909, p. 1.

[19] “The I.W.W. Wins Out McKees Rocks Strike.” Industrial Worker. September 9, 1909, p. 1.

[20] “Industrial Union No. 296, I.W.W.” Industrial Worker. September 16, 1909, p. 1.

[21] “District I.W.W. Convention.” Industrial Worker. October 20, 1909, p. 4.

[22] “Free Speech Fight in Spokane.” Industrial Worker. October 27, 1909, p. 1.

[23] “E. Gurley Flynn and Others Pinched.” Industrial Worker. December 1, 1909, p. 1.

[24] “News of the Farce; Evidence of Nose-Rings.” Industrial Worker. November 24, 1909, p. 1.

[25] “News of Spokane Free Speech Fight.” Industrial Worker. December 10, 1909, p. 1.

The articles referenced in the database can be found in the online copies of Industrial Worker digitized by Marty Goodman of the Riazanov Library Project at marxists.org.

Date	Title	Place	State	event description
2/20/1909	TO READERS OF THE BULLETIN			The IWW has failed to raise enough funds for the past two months to run the newspaper. They have recently called on all members and unions across the nation to make donations so people can stay up to date on actions of the I.W.W.
2/20/1909	WAR IN MONTANA	Western Montana	MT	The I.W.W. and AFL are working at a combined union effort to fight against Lumber Companies for better pay. Additionally, the government told Indians not to allow any timber men that were apart of a union on to their property, and if so, call the US government.
2/27/1909	EMPLOYMENT "SHARKS"	Denver	CO	The unions in Denver have taken matters into their own hands after failed pleas to bring about correction of the methods of the broken employment shark agencies. They have vowed to force all the sharks out of town until they are gone.
3/6/1909	THE FOURTH ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE I.W.W.	Seattle	WA	The 4th annual convention of the I.W.W. took place, bringing many changes to the organization with it. One of which included changing the name of The Industrial Union Bulletin to the Industrial Worker. The second major change was making multiple amendments to the constitution of the I.W.W.
3/13/1909	No paper published, The Industrial Union Bulletin switches name to Industrial Worker	Spokane	WA
3/18/1909	FLATHEAD INDIANS; FLATHEAD WHTIES	Flathead Reservation	MT	Even for the Flathead Tribe in Montana, times are getting tough and the cost of living is rising substantially. They are not surviving on their current living conditions and 1000 of them have now joined the IWW.
4/1/1909	I.W.W. IN SEATTLE WINS FREE SPEECH	Seattle	WA	A court case regarding an I.W.W. worker that was arrested for talking negatively about employment sharks was finally brought to court. They ruled that it was out of their jurisdiction and they has no power to abridge the 1st amendment right of the constitution.
4/1/1909	IT’S A LONG LANE THAT HAS NO TURN	Spokane	WA	An employment shark assaulted an I.W.W. worker that was selling I.W. newspapers on a street managed by the Employment Shark Association. The man got away but continued to escalate the violence between employment sharks and the I.W.W.
4/1/1909	BOSSES FEAR THE I.W.W.	Spokane	WA	Four workers were discharged from the Union Iron Works in Spokane because they were attending I.W.W. meetings. The bosses did not approve of these actions, and the I.W.W. claim that this is evidence of how fearful bosses are of the I.W/W.
4/8/1909	PORTLAND "REDS" CAN NOW TALK AGAIN	Portland	OR	The I.W.W. recently won their free speech battle in Oregon against the state and Employment Sharks. They were arrested for denouncing the Sharks while refusing to move off the street, which apparently is crime in Oregon. The judge ruled this statue unconstitutional but still fined the I.W.W. $2.
4/8/1909	SPOKANE GROWS FAMOUS FOR GAG LAW	Spokane	WA	The free speech fight has now reached Spokane as multiple I.W.W. workers were arrested for protesting. The I.W.W. had made it clear that they will continue to fight against the authorities to make sure the workers First Amendment rights are not infringed.
4/15/1909	LOGGERS ORGANIZE ON PUGET SOUND	Seattle	WA	Loggers in the Puget Sound have decided to begin striking in order to better their living conditions in the mountains, where they live amongst rats, fleas and sleep 10 in a small shack.
4/22/1909	W.F. of M. Stirs "Our" Mayor Moore	Spokane	WA	Wallace Miners' Union No. 17 passed resolutions condemning the Spokane "gag" law and began protesting against it, as well as the arrest of I.W.W. men. However, the Mayor of the city, Herbert C. Moore, sent out a notice stating that the local government had approved the law and the Regional Supreme Court would make the final decision on it.
4/22/1909	MANIAC STARTS RIOT IN PORTLAND	Portland	OR	I.W.W. organizer and speaker, E.J. Foote, was tackled off the stage during a weekly I.W.W. rally held on the streets of Portland. It was initially believed it was an employment shark but turned out a town hooligan.
4/22/1909	SILLY RACE PREJIDUCE	Spokane	WA	The A. F. of L. has began devising plans to remove Japanese from the work force. The I.W.W. has vowed to rally against this because no worker should be discriminated against.
4/22/1909	NEW VAGRANCY LAWS	N/A	WA	Washington state recently passed new vagrancy laws in order to try to put down unions. The laws force workers who are unemployed to go back to work if there is work available.
4/29/1909	GROWTH OF THE I.W.W. IN SPOKANE	Spokane	WA	The size of the I.W.W. in Spokane has grown substantially over the years, moving from a 7'x11" shack to a massive building that costs $125 a month to rent. The building has an editorial room that is responsible for publishing the first issue of the Industrial Worker, primarily due to the ban on public street gatherings.
5/6/1909	LUMBERJACKS ARE ORGANIZAING	Seattle	WA	The Loggers of Labor Union 432 are growing in great numbers around the Puget Sound. There continues to be a call to action from the IWW for others to help the union grow and stress the importance of getting better conditions.
5/6/1909	COAL MINERS GETTING WISE	N/A	WA	The local coal miner unions, #92 and #141 have elected executive committees. This collective work to rally miners is drawing 8-10 new workingmen for each rally.
5/6/1909	THE HEART OF A CROCODILE	Spokane	WA	During a rally for the free speech fight in Spokane, an I.W.W. member was kicked by a policeman. The I.W.W. member, Albert Roe, was still charged $25 for "blocking the street" despite being assaulted by the policeman.
5/6/1909	STRIKE ON	Kalispell	MT	The brewery workers of Kalispell have gone on strike to stop the plans to divide Industrial Union into specific crafts. Additionally, they are calling for 6 hour days on Saturday and 10 cent wage increases. They encourage all I.W.W. members to cease consuming Kalispell beer and for saloons to stop purchasing it.
5/13/1909	VANCOUVER GAG LAW AND THE I.W.W.	Vancouver	WA	An I.W.W. rally took place last week on a street corner in Vancouver. The speaker was fined $5 for refusing to step down from the box he was standing on and stop speaking. I.W.W. members from Seattle have traveled down to help fight the matter in court.
5/13/1909	STRIKE IN MONTANA BY THE LUMBERJACKS	Fortine	MT	River drivers and bush cutters have ceased working along the river in Fortine in order to gain better working conditions. Workers have kept to their cabins as logs have pilled up high in the river. They expect a quick victory!
5/20/1909	THE PRINCE RUPERT I.W.W. ON STRIKE	Prince Rupert	B.C.	Railroad workers of the I.W.W. in British Columbia have gone on strike against rotten grub and miserable living/working conditions.
5/20/1909	STRIKERS APPEAL FOR STRIKE FUNDS	Kalispell	MT	Members of the I.W.W. in Flathead valley that are striking or wanting to strike, are seeking funds to support the strike. Prices of food, clothes, etc. have gone up in the area and the reduced wages are making striking very difficult in the region.
5/20/1909	THE BIG STRIKE GROWS IN MONTANA	Somers	MT	There was a large meeting at the Somers saw mill on the 16th, as men voted to go on strike on the 20th, joining the trend of set by the river drivers and brewers.
5/27/1909	STRIKES OF THE I.W.W. ARE IN FULL SWING	Fortine/Flathead	MT	The strikes by the log-drivers are in full swing. The river has began flooding and mill owners are beginning to see the power of the I.W.W. Men are encouraged to continue to donate to this strike and help them achieve victory.
5/27/1909	KALISPELL BREWERY WORKERS STILL ON STRIKE	Kalispell	MT	The brewers at Kalispell were supposed to sign an agreement with brewery owners agreeing to the workers demands, but they instead opted out at the last minute. They continued to insist that saloons don’t purchase their beer.
6/3/1909	STRIKE IN MONTANA IS GETTING WARMER	Somers/Kalispell	MT	The scabs have left the mills officially ceasing their operations. The Flathead County Hangman is threating to arrest them for destruction of property because of the flooding and has even choked an I.W.W. man to death. However, the men still have confidence that the owners will fold over and give into union demands.
6/10/1909	THINGS IN WALLA WALLA	Walla Walla	WA	I.W.W. numbers are very weak in Walla Walla, making their strike for better wages in the fields very difficult. Ranchers are being stingy with wages and workers are going hungry.
6/10/1909	SEATTLE'S I.W.W. ON THE MOVE	Seattle/Aberdeen	WA	There is a new strike in Aberdeen known as the "Anti-Employment Office League".
6/10/1909	THE GENERAL STRIKE	N/A	WA	Talks of conducting a general strike of all working people is being discussed. The I.W.W. is working on ways to carry the strike out, but has confidence it will be a success.
6/10/1909	SEATTLE LOGGERS ARE 600 STRONG	Seattle	WA	The Loggers Local Union 432 has grown to 600 in size and is starting to grow in Portland as well. They continue to seek larger numbers in membership in order to strike for better conditions.
6/10/1909	THE MONTANA STRIKE IS THE REAL THING	Fortine	MT	The strike in Montana is doing better than ever. Workers have continued on with their efforts to protest and all the logs jammed in the river have flowed into the lake, making them a total loss to the company.
6/17/1909	PRINCE RUPERT MOVING	Prince Rupert	B.C.	125 more men have walked away from the rail line at Prince Rupert. Many are joining the I.W.W. and their will be an open meeting tomorrow for all union members to try and rally a larger membership.
6/17/1909	THE MONTANA STRIKE	Flathead County	MT	The situation in the area has remained the same. Some arrest have been made against I.W.W. members, but owners are continuing to lose profits as timber continues to be lost.
6/24/1909	FROM SEATTLE WA	Seattle	WA	Orders of the Industrial Worker have increased dramatically in the city and the I.W.W. is growing strong. The Dishwashers Union has been very successful in its efforts and have achieved very high wages.
6/24/1909	400 MEMBERS IN PRINCE RUPERT	Prince Rupert	B.C.	Owners have now been hiring workers that are willing to work at the lowest wages, prompting more to leave. Those who have stayed have opted to join the I.W.W., growing its number to 400 and hopefully 1000 by winter.
6/24/1909	FREE SPEECH FIGHT IN VANCOUVER, B.C.	Vancouver	B.C.	Many different people rallied in the streets of Vancouver to protest against restrictions on free speech rights. The police quickly, and aggressively broke up the fight, targeting members of the I.W.W. and arresting them.
7/1/1909	THE FLATHEAD STRIKE INDUSTRIAL WARFARE	Flathead Valley	MT	Two injunctions were signed by a district court judge that forbid members of the I.W.W. from going on any of the companies land, as well as government post offices and highways. This essentially made it illegal for them to go anywhere, and has prompted even more police brutality against the workers.
7/1/1909	ORGANIZERS FOOTE IN SLEEPY PORTLAND	Portland	OR	Rallies to spark membership in the I.W.W. have continued in Portland, primarily talking down employment sharks. Numbers there are growing and hope to reach 2000 by December. The union has mapped out a system of camp delegate work similar to that vogue in Seattle, providing information regarding wage rates, membership numbers, new jobs and more.
7/1/1909	STRIKERS ON THE FORTINE RIVER	Fortine	MT	Logs continue to pile up and stay high and dry for some time. The boss at the mill wants to negotiate with the I.W.W. but the Somers Lumber Company has forbidden him from doing so. The workers will continue to strike until their demands are met.
7/8/1909	STRIKE AT WENATCHEE	Wenatchee	WA	I.W.W. men on a construction job in Wenatchee performed a walk out after employers refused to raise their working wages.
7/15/1909	ANOTHER VICTIM	Spokane	WA	The wife an I.W.W. worker was run over by a mall wagon during a protest. The driver did not stop to see if she was okay, making it appear as if the action was intentional.
7/15/1909	CONDITIONS AT FLATHEAD VALLEY	Somers	MT	I.W.W. members continue to strike for better wages. However, they are running low on money and the cost of living in the area continues to go up. Mill owners are buying up the shacks they live in on the mill, trying to get rid of all the I.W.W. workers there.
7/22/1909	FROM PRINCE RUPERT NO. 326	Prince Rupert	B.C.	The strike at Price Rupert has been partially successful. At some points along the track where work has stagnated, the government began hiring workers to finish the building of sewers, sidewalks, etc. that were a part of the planned building of the railroad. However, at other places along the track, the railway company continues to pay at the lower wages.
7/22/1909	CONDITIONS AT FLATHEAD VALLEY	Flathead Valley/Somers	MT	Conditions are worse than ever. People continue to come to the city and work for horrible wages. Conditions at Somers continue to stay stagnant because of the poor work quality of the scabs.
7/29/1909	PORTLAND I.W.W. FIGHTS JOB SHARKS	Portland	OR	After growing numbers of I.W.W. membership in Portland, the Job Sharks have now sought an injunction against the I.W.W. This injunction would prohibit I.W.W. members from working at these companies as well as ban the sale of the Industrial Worker.
7/29/1909	THE SOMERS STRIKE	Somers	MT	Workers are encouraged to stay away from Somers. The owner of the mill, Jim Hill, owns all the land, roads, post offices, etc. in the area and is terrorizing I.W.W. workers.
8/5/1909	BIG I.W.W. STRIKE IN PENNSYLVANIA	Shenango	PA	After one engineer was fired at the Shenango Tin Plant, all workers walked out to strike. Workers left steam engines on part of the plant went up in flames. They expect I.W.W. membership to grow to 450.
8/5/1909	STRIKE ON GOVERNMENT JOB	Conconully	WA	All working men, except carpenters, have gone on strike for better wages on the construction of the Dam in Conconully. They are demanding a 50 cent wage increase despite being offered a 25 cent increase.
8/19/1909	WAKE UP LOGGERS	Puget Sound	WA	The I.W.W. has selected an organizer to improve the organization of loggers in the Puget Sound region.
8/26/1909	INDUSTRIAL WAR IN PENNSYLVANIA	New Castle	PA	The Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel and Tin workers have all gone on strike in Pennsylvania against the United States Steel Corporation. They are asking for funds to help support the strike.
8/26/1909	HOLD BIG MEETING	Indian Mountain	PA	8000 workers gathered yesterday to listen to W.E. Trautmann, a general organizer of the I.W.W., give a speech encouraging the men to continue to fight for better rights, conditions and pay. It is intended that these strikers will organize into an I.W.W. chapter in the near future.
8/26/1909	FROM PITTSBURG POST.	Schoenville	PA	300 strikebreakers were brought in from Chicago and Philadelphia by rail car to keep the steel mills going in Schoenville. They were met by union strikers and got into a huge brawl, preventing any strike breaker from getting in. They are continuing to do this every day.
8/26/1909	MASSACRE OF WORKING PEOPLE	New Castle	PA	10 strikers were killed after the local militia opened fire on them during a protest at the Pressed Steel Plant. Four officers were also killed during the clash.
9/2/1909	APPEAL FOR HELP FROM C.G.T. and I.W.W.	N/A	Sweden	300,000 workers have gone on strike in Sweden and the I.W.W. is looking for support from members to help with donations. This general strike has been one of the ultimate goals of the I.W.W..
9/2/1909	NEXT CONVENTION AND REFERENDUM			The annual I.W.W. convention has been postponed until May 10, 1910 due to a lack of funds. The I.W.W. is calling for everyone to try and donate all the can to continue the fight.
9/9/1909	NEW CASTLE STRIKE I.W.W. IS GROWING	Shenango	PA	The Tin Workers Union No. 296 (I.W.W.) has grown to 450 strong. The I.W.W. has set up relief stations in the area for those who need it, and continue to receive applications everyday. The strike in general has grown to 3500 men at the plant, and both the I,.W.W. and the A.A. Tin Workers have agreed that no deal will be made with the company unless the demands of both groups are met.
9/9/1909	THE I.W.W. WINS OUT McKEES ROCKS STRIKE	Schoenville	PA	The work of the I.W.W. has paid off and strikebreakers have not been able to get through to the factory and have given up completely. With the yards tied up, the Pressed Steel Car Company has offered to meet the demands of the I.W.W. men in order to re-open the factories.
9/9/1909	FROM B.H. WILLLIAMS	Nationally	USA	I.W.W. men, B.H. Williams and Frank Morris, are traveling around the country trying to get more men to buy the Industrial Worker and help grow the I.W.W.
9/16/1909	I.W.W. AGITATION IN MISSOULA, MONT.	Missoula	MT	The city of Missoula has rendered a notice to all property owners to put in concrete sidewalks to stop the dust problems in the city, causing them to hike up the rent prices of workers. The I.W.W. knows this is just an attempt to try and rid union men from the city, and has sent numerous organizers to sell newspapers, song books and set up a stand to rally members.
9/16/1909	LOGGERS OF PUGET SOUND	Seattle	WA	This is another article discussing how rare it is that they elected someone to come and help the loggers organize, but that it was so necessary.
9/30/1909	PORTLAND EMPLOYMENT SHARKS AT IT AGAIN	Portland	OR	I.W.W. members continue to battle with the courts against the employment sharks and the police for discrimination against I.W.W. men. They are also calling for a 5000 I.W.W. member rally in Portland next year to raise wages to $3.00 for 8 hours work.
9/30/1909	FROM CORAM	Coram	CA	Western Federation of Miners and I.W.W. miners and smelters are starting together, hopefully to create one union (I.W.W.) by next year at 1000 strong.
9/30/1909	Industrial Struggle Rages in Sweden	N/A	Sweden	The strike in Sweden has reached its 8th week against the capitalists of Europe. A delegate from Sweden is coming out in three weeks to speak at an I.W.W. rally informing I.W.W. members of the status of the strike there.
9/30/1909	FREE SPEECH BATTLE; FIGHT OR BE CHOKED	Missoula	MT	Two I.W.W. members were arrested in Missoula when trying to rally timber workers to ban together for better working conditions. The I.W.W. encourages every I.W.W. man to go there and speak out against this, even filling the jails if necessary.
10/7/1909	I.W.W. DEFIES LAW BUSY BULLS IN MISSOULA	Missoula	MT	The Missoula police have continued to assault and make arrest of I.W.W. members. They are continuing to protest every day and workers from across the country have come to join.
10/14/1909				Paper canceled due to lack of funds. Will now be published on Wednesdays.
10/20/1909	I.W.W. ORGANIZATION No. 296, McKEES ROCKS	Schoenville	PA	The I.W.W. of McKees Rocks has grown to 4000 members as a result of the strike.
10/20/1909	DELEGATE JOHN SANDGREN'S MEETING IN PORTLAND	Portland	OR	There was a large meeting in Portland, with the main speaker being John Sandgren from Sweden. He talked to 2000 I.W.W. members about the strikes, followed by a parade through the city.
10/20/1909	DISTRICT I.W.W. CONVENTION	Pittsburgh	PA	There was a district convention on the east coast, consisting of 7 locals brining 20 delegates. They voted to mobilize the Industrial Council in Pittsburgh.
10/20/1909	FREE SPEECH IS WON IN MISSOULA, MONT	Missoula	MT	After 40 I.W.W. members were arrested, the police have finally given up the fight. There are too many I.W.W. members in Missoula who are willing to be arrested, and the cost of trials and jailing the men is becoming too high. Members are now freely speaking on the streets and selling newspapers hassle free of police.
10/27/1909	FREE SPEECH IN SPOKANE	Spokane	WA	An I.W.W. worker was arrested for speaking on behalf of the organization in the streets. His court date is on the 2nd, followed by street meeting that day regardless of the decision. 500 people are expected.
10/27/1909	GIRL OF SEVENTEEN TELLS HOW TO STRIKE	New York	NY	5,000 members of the Neckwear Workers' Union marched on the streets of New York demanding higher wages. It was led by a 17 year old girl who invited by the I.W.W. to come to Spokane to speak for the free speech fight occurring there.
10/27/1909	PITTSBURGH STRIKE STANDAR MFG. CO.	Pittsburgh	PA	The three factories in the US that manufacture bathtubs, water closet implements, etc. have joined together to form a price monopoly .The workers have retaliated and gone out on strike to protest for safer conditions in the plant and to have Sundays off.
10/27/1909	FROM NO. 326, PRINCE RUPERT, B.C.	Prince Rupert	B.C.	8 men were arrested for refusing to work unless their wages were raised to 50 cents an hour. After the police were challenged as to why these men were arrested they were released. The next day they were paid the wage of 50 cents an hour. This has been the first major win in Prince Rupert for the I.W.W.
11/3/1909	FREE SPEECH FIGHT IS ON IN SPOKANE	Spokane	WA	The court ruled against James P. Thompson, sparking an outrage by the I.W.W. in Spokane. A mass organization has taken place across the city and many police are out trying to get people out of the streets.
11/3/1909	PROTEST MEETING IN NEW YORK	New York	NY	The I.W.W. rallied off a street corner in New York to protest the murder of fellow member in Spain, as well as the illegal detention of I.W.W. members in Missoula.
11/10/1909	STORY OF THE FIGHT IN SPOKANE	Spokane	WA	Protests have continued in Spokane as I.W.W. members flood in from across the country. 100 have been arrested on charges of criminal conspiracy, but every street corner contains a union member speaking out freely.
11/10/1909	NEWS FROM McKEES ROCKS	New Castle	PA	A strike continues on in the steel industry of Pennsylvania, controlled by members of the I.W.W.
11/17/1909	NEWS FROM THE FRONT; FREE SPEECH VS. LAW	Spokane	WA	There was a town hall meeting held in the city of Spokane to try and resolve the free speech fight. The A F of L and Socialist party stated that they supported the principle the I.W.W. was arguing. The court cases against the other victims are to take place soon, and a highly skilled lawyer from Chicago has been brought out to represent the men in court.
11/17/1909	SPECIAL NOTICE	Spokane	WA	The Defense Fund Headquarters of the I.W.W. has been moved to Coeur D'Alene until further notice due to the high risk of arrest in Spokane.
11/17/1909	RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY LOGGERS L.U. NO. 432	Seattle	WA	The loggers union of Seattle that is now 1000 strong has come together to collectively support the free speech fights in Spokane and have pledged their full support, donations and men to the cause until its over.
11/24/1909	COEUR D"ALENE BOYCOTTS SPOKEANE BEER	Coeur D'Alene	ID	I.W.W. members have rallied to get the city of Coeur D'Alene to boycott all beer purchased from Spokane to protest the free speech fight.
11/24/1909	NEWS OF THE FARCE; EVIDENCE OF NOSE-RINGS	Spokane	WA	A crowd of 2000 lined the streets as I.W.W. men who have been arrested during the free speech fights marched from jail to a local school for showers. As the men marched, fiery rhetoric was spoken and the crowd tried to give the men fruit, sandwiches and more. More I.W.W. men continue to pour in from around the country and arrests continue to be made.
11/24/1909	RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED AS READ	Missoula	MT	The I.W.W. of Missoula had a mass meeting on Tuesday and decided to boycott all goods from Spokane to support the free speech fight.
11/24/1909	SOLIDARITY	New Castle	PA	The I.W.W. of New Castle, PA, will be starting to publish a weekly paper called Solidarity. This paper will be just like the Industrial Worker.
12/1/1909	SPOKANE SWITCHMEN TIE UP FREIGHT YARDS	Spokane	WA	2500 union men walked out last night at the train yard demanding higher wages, shorter hours and abolishment of a physical examination test. The train yard has begun scabbing for other workers to come fill their place rather than compromise with their demands.
12/1/1909	E. GURLEY FLYNN AND OTHERS PINCHED	Spokane	WA	The courts have made it almost impossible for spectators to enter the court room for trials against those accused in the free speech fights. The judge has continued to sentence men to 30 days with $100 fines. Protests continue every day with many arrests.
12/8/1909	Not published as headquarters move to Seattle	Seattle	WA	N/A
12/15/1909	FIVE MORE POUNCED UPON BY THE GUM-SHOE BRIGADE OF SPOKANE	Spokane	WA	Five more leaders of the I.W.W. were arrested on conspiracy charges at a town hall meeting on Tuesday. Other members have stepped up to take their positions.
12/15/1909	STORY OF MY ARREST AND IMPRISONMENT	Spokane	WA	Rebel girl Elizabeth Gurley Flynn tells her story of being arrested during the strikes. She claims that a brothel was set up in the prison where she was being held.
12/15/1909	END OF THE SWEDISH STRIKE	N/A	Sweden	The general strike of Sweden has finally come to an end. A compromise was developed between both parties and workers have got back to work.
12/25/1909	NEWS OF SPOKANE FREE SPEECH FIGHT	Spokane	WA	The Industrial Worker printing presses were seized by Spokane police. The police also sent out a notice to all printing establishments that they would be fined if they printed any copies of the Industrial Worker. The paper will now be published in Seattle.
12/25/1909	SPOKANE FREE SPEECH DEFENSE	Spokane	WA	The Spokesman-Review (Spokane's official newspaper) ran an article stating that the I.W.W. surrendered and will abide by the court. This article is false, but has caused decreased participation in rallies and those willing to go to jail for the cause.
12/25/1909	THE WAIST WORKERS' STRIKE	New York	NY	15,000 waist workers went on strike in New York, all of them girls. It did not take long for bosses to meet the union demands of better wages. They then celebrated by parading through the streets.
12/25/1909	THE SWITCHMENS STRIKE	Spokane	WA	The Switchmens' strike has continued on, effecting about 65,000 workers tied to this industry. It has compelled most of these men to go on strike as well until these men get their demands.

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See yearbook list (1906-1924)

Highlights 1909 by Oliver Janders