IWW Yearbook 1920

This is a database of campaigns, strikes, and labor related events as recorded in the Industrial Worker during 1920. It was researched by Arianne Hermida. Start by reading her highlights report. Below that is the database.

Highlights 1920 by Arianne Hermida

In 1920, the Industrial Worker was published in Seattle weekly, except the first three weeks of March when it was published bi-weekly. Each issue cost five cents, or one could subscribe for $2.00 per year or $1.00 per six months. That year, the publication was dominated by three major topics: The Centralia Tragedy and subsequent trials, arrests and persecution of IWW members, and labor strikes.

The Centralia Tragedy

Following a series of raids on their meeting halls, Wobblies suspected that an Armistice Day Parade by American Legion veterans planned for November 11,1919 in Centralia, WA, might lead to another assault. On the advice of a local lawyer and friend of the union, Elmer Smith, IWW members gathered arms to guard their hall. As Legionnaires marched passed the IWW hall, a number rushed the building and forced open its door. Armed Wobblies fired at the intruders, killing four Legionnaires. Enraged veterans then overwhelmed the defenders, taking them to the Centralia jail. That night a mob entered the jail and kidnapped Wesley Everest, who was hustled to the Chehalis River Bridge and hanged.[1]

The Industrial Worker in the early months of 1920 focused heavily on reporting the innocence of the Wobblies. It printed testimonies from Centralia Legionnaires claiming shots were fired only after men breached the hall,[2] an important and disputed factor in the case. It also noted the only people injured or killed during the incident were inside or just in front of the building[3]. A later testimony asserted two of the Legionnaires were carrying a rope, one of whom was reportedly involved in the reinstatement of the death penalty and hanging law in 1919.[4]

[read full report/close report]

The newspaper consistently spoke of the unfairness of the trial. George Vanderveer, the lawyer known for defending the IWW, was arrested the week before he was to appear in the Montesano court that would determine the verdict of the Centralia shooters. “He is arrested the week before he is to handle a big murder trial, the Industrial Worker reported. “Arrested for talking to his clients! It sounds like a joke!”.[5] More bluntly, the next issue ran the article, “Seek to Prevent Fair Trials in Centralia Cases”[6] and in March printed the headline, “Montesano Prosecution's Case Revealed As Farcical Theatrical Play.”[7] In Spokane, the Industrial Worker reported four men were arrested without charge while distributing pamphlets about the incident and attempting to raise money for their defense.[8] On February 20th, the building used as the IWW's meeting place in Centralia was burned down, which the Industrial Worker calls “a new attempt to destroy evidence against those who repeatedly raided the IWW and those whose warfare finally culminated in the Armistice Day tragedy.”[9]

Reporting on the Centralia trial faded after April when the Montesano jury convicted seven IWW members of second degree murder[10] and the judge sentenced them to between 25 and 40 years in state prison.[11] However, each issue of the paper for the next several months featured large advertisements for “The Centralia Conspiracy,” a pamphlet about the massacre written by IWW leader Ralph Chaplin.[12]

Arrests and Persecution

The late 1910s saw the introduction of several anti-radical laws at the federal, state, and local level. At the start of World War I, Congress passed the Immigration Act of 1917. Since many members of the IWW were immigrants, they were subject to the anti-radical clause that stated:

Any alien who at any time after entry shall be found advocating or teaching the unlawful destruction of property, or advocating or teaching anarchy or the overthrow by force or violence of the Government of the United States or of all forms of law or the assassination of public officials... shall, upon warrant of the Secretary of Labor, be taken into custody and deported[13].

Russian workers and radicals were especially targeted by this statute. At the time, Seattle had a branch of the police department focused on infiltrating and dismantling radical political groups. Nicknamed the Red Squad, their primary targets were Russian immigrants believed to be affiliated with the Bolshevik (Communist) movement.[14] One hundred twenty law enforcement officials raided south Seattle restaurants, pool halls, and hotels one night in January 1920 in search of Russian immigrants. Their raids resulted in, the Industrial Worker reports, “Three hundred and sixteen Russians [being] convinced... that this is the greatest, freest country in the world.” Of those 316, twenty-seven were held for deportation[15]. Thirty people from that night's raid or similar ones were deported, nine put on parole[16].

Another anti-radical law came at the state level in 1919 when the Washington Legislature passed a law banning acts of criminal syndicalism and sedition. The act defines criminal syndicalism as promoting, “crime, sedition, violence, intimidation, or injury as a means of way of effecting or resisting any industrial, economic, or political change.”[17]

At the start of 1920, 71 suspected Wobblies were held in the Tacoma city jail on charges of criminal syndicalism. Twenty-one of those were soon released after federal investigation.[18] Other workers were not so fortunate; over 100 people in Spokane were serving thirty day sentences and given $100 fines for their suspected involvement in banned “employee organizations.”[19] By the end of January, all 39 counties in the state of Washington had pending criminal syndicalism cases.[20]

Another legal blow came to the IWW with the introduction of a permanent injunction against them in Washington State. A Spokane judge forbid “'advocating, advising, teaching or promulgating' the doctrines of the IWW from circulating in any manner....” The majority of the 67 alleged Wobblies directly involved in this case were already in jail on charges of criminal syndicalism at the time the injunction was granted[21].

Labor Strikes

Longshoremen and truckers of Seattle declared strike in early April in retaliation for companies' new policies. The points of contention were the “American plan,” which would force unionized workers to work with non-unionized workers, and a change from per day to per month pay scale that was expected to reduce monthly wages by $26.40[22]. That strike was called off about five weeks later,[23] but it was not the last longshoremen strike of the year. In Philadelphia, longshoremen called a strike in demand of a twenty cent per hour wage increase. The stevedoring companies refused, suggesting they simply “work harder.” The strikers, however, held their ranks and were reported to have stopped all shipping to and from the Philadelphia port[24]. The shipping companies turned to non-unionized workers, one of whom shot and murdered an unarmed striker.[25] That strike ended after one month when the shipping companies promised a one dollar per day wage increase.[26]

Railroad yard workers and operators went on strike in early April. Railroad construction was also stalled when 175 builders struck to win a five dollar minimum and the removal of hospital fees.[27]Between the rail and transport strikes, the manager of the Traffic Bureau of Merchants estimated $1,000,000 was lost daily.[28] Unfortunately, other transit and rail strikes had more harrowing results. The Denver Tramway Company's workers' strike tragically ended in a riot instigated by armed strikebreakers. The riot led to the death of one striker and the injury of 40 to 50 others.[29] And in Chicago, 41 railroad workers were indicted on charges of violating the Lever Act and the Sherman Anti-Trust law with their strikes.[30]

With the transportation and shipping strikes, miners around the country followed their lead. Copper miners in Butte, MT unanimously voted to strike to win the wage-related issues of the six hour day, seven dollar minimum, and the elimination of contract bonuses and the more politically-minded goal of the release of all “class war prisoners.”[31] In response, the Anaconda Copper Mining Company declared they would not employ any Wobblies. After a month of striking without reaching their objective, the miners turned their off-the-job strike into an on-the-job strike, meaning they returned to work but drastically reduced their efficiency.[32] In Utah, miners threatened their company with a similar strike in demand of higher wages, better conditions, and, again, the release of all “class war prisoners.”[33]Those Bingham County copper miners fulfilled their threat by the next month when the Industrial Worker reported the companies were short-staffed as the “slaves” refused to work.[34]

[1] “The Truth about Centralia,” Industrial Worker, March 2, 1920. p. 4.

[2] “Centralia Affair Stirs Labor Venom,” Industrial Worker, January 3, 1920 p. 1.

[3] “The Truth about Centralia,” Industrial Worker, March 2, 1920. p. 4.

[4] “Witnesses for Defense Testify That Rope Was Carried by the Paraders,” Industrial Worker, March 12, 1920. p. 1.

[5] “Vanderveer's Arrest,” Industrial Worker, January 10, 1920 p. 4.

[6] “Seek to Prevent Fair Trials in Centralia Cases,” Industrial Worker, January 17, 1920 p. 1.

[7] “Montesano Prosecution's Case Revealed As Farcical Theatrical Play,” Industrial Worker, March 6, 1920 p. 1.

[8] “Move to Suppress Efforts of Centralia Defense,” Industrial Worker, January 10, 1920 p. 1.

[9] “Government Is Sending Troopers to Montesano,” Industrial Worker, March 2, 1920 p. 1.

[10] “Second Degree Murder Is Montesano Jury's Verdict,” Industrial Worker, March 19, 1920 p. 1.

[11] “Montesano Trial Farce Comes To Fitting Conclusion,” Industrial Worker, April 9, 1920 p. 1.

[12] No title. Industrial Worker, October 16, 1920 p. 4.

[13] Preston, op. cit.,p.83; U.S. Statues at Large, XXXIX, Public Laws, 1917, p. 889.

[14] Industrial Worker, 1920. Passim.

[15] “Workers Rounded Up In Wholesale Arrests,” Industrial Worker, January 31, 1920 p. 1.

[16] Thirty Russians Due to Be Sent to Ellis Island,” Industrial Worker, July 24, 1920 p. 1.

[17] Sessions Laws of the State of Washington, Sixteenth Session, Jan. 13, 1919 to Mar. 13, 1919, pp. 518-519.

[18] “Twentyone IWW Freed at Tacoma: 50 Are Held,” Industrial Worker, January 10, 1920 p. 1.

[19] “Spokane Court Presses IWW Injunction Case.” Industrial Worker, January 10, 1920 p. 1.

[20] “Present Status of IWW Persecutions,” Industrial Worker, January 24, 1920 p. 1.

[21] “Spokane Court Presses IWW Injunction Case,” Industrial Worker, January 10, 1920 p. 1.

[22] “Seattle Longshoremen Strike,” Industrial Worker, April 16, 1920 p. 1.

[23] “Seattle Longshoremen Call Off Strike,” Industrial Worker, May 22, 1920 p. 1.

[24] “Stevedores Stop All East Coast Shipping,” Industrial Worker, June 19, 1920 p. 1.

[25] “Scab Commits Murder In Stevedore Strike,” Industrial Worker, June 19, 1920 p. 1.

[26] “Philadelphia Strike Has been Called Off,” Industrial Worker, July 24, 1920 p. 1.

[27] “Railroad Construction Camps Closed,” Industrial Worker, August 21, 1920 p. 1.

[28] “Rail and Transport Strike Cause Daily Loss of $1,000,000,” May 15, 1920 p. 3.

[29] “Mob Violence Occurs in Several Places,” Industrial Worker, August 14, 1920 p. 1.

[30] “Outlaw Workers Are Indicted,” Industrial Worker, August 14, 1920 p. 1.

[31] “Butte Miners Strike – Demand Release of Prisoners,” Industrial Worker, April 23, 1920 p. 1.

[32] “Butte Strike Is Now Transferred to Job,” Industrial Worker, May 22, 1920 p. 1.

[33] “Copper Miners Threaten Strike,” Industrial Worker, June 5, 1920 p. 1.

[34] “Utah Miners Striking on the Job,” Industrial Worker, July 10, 1920 p. 1.

Dates are either the reported date of the incident or the date the article appeared in the newspaper.

Date	Title	Place	State	Description
1/10/1920	Move to Suppress Efforts of Centralia Defense	Spokane	WA	Charles Butts, Sam Crane, Stephen Indahl and one other arrested without "the pretense of filing charges against them" while carrying several pamphlets outlining the IWW's perspective on the events at Centralia.
1/10/1920	Vanderveer's Arrest	Vancouver	WA	George Vanderveer, lawyer chosen to represent IWW workers in the Montesano case, arrested for talking to prisoners in the county jail without permission.
1/17/1920	Missoula Authorities Take IWW Secretary	Missoula	MT	Secretary of the IWW, Frank Jarvis, arrested and jailed. Authorities seized 100 pounds of IWW pamphlets about the Centralia Massacre.
1/24/1920	Present Status of the I.W.W Persecutions	Spokane	WA	Temporary injunction again the IWW made permanent.
1/31/1920	Hayes Escapes from Pen	Panama Canal Zone	N/A	James Hayes, IWW sentenced to two years for an alleged mutiny, escaped from the Gamboa Stockade in the Canal Zone of Panama.
3/2/1920	Fellow Workers at Montesano Strike for Better Treatment	Montesano	WA	Six of the eleven IWW defendants in the Montesano trial went on hunger strike in protest of poor treatment while detained.
3/2/1920	Statement of Workers Held in The Jails Throughout The North-Western District	Montesano (WA), Seattle (WA), Yakima (WA), Bremerton (WA), Eureka (CA), Ritzville (WA), Vancouver (WA), Walla Walla (WA), Chehalis (WA), Olympia (WA), Port Angeles (WA), Newport (WA), LaGrande (OR), Condon (OR), Pasco (WA), Ellensburg (WA), Tillamook (OR), Centralia (WA), Port Townsend (WA), Prosser (WA), Wenatchee (WA), Everett (WA), Tacoma (WA), South Bend (WA), Portland (WA), Spokane (WA)	WA, OR, CA	This article lists the more than 200 IWW members arrested in Washington, Oregon, and California primarily on charges of criminal syndicalism since November 1919.
3/6/1920	Northwest Defense Bulletin	Sandpoint, Seattle, Chehalis	WA, ID,	Sixteen IWW members arrested on charges of criminal syndicalism
3/6/1920	Walkout on Pasco Ditch	Pasco	WA	IWW members ditch workers walk out after being denied a raise from of 60 cents, from $4.40 to $5.00.
3/12/1920	Mass Meeting for the Montesano Defense	Seattle	WA	IWW called for meeting in support of the IWW defendants in the Montesano trial.
3/19/1920	Second Degree Murder Is Montesano Jury's Verdict	Montesano	WA	Mike Sheehan and Elmer Smith acquitted of having a connection to the death of Warren O. Grimm at Centralia. Loren Roberts was adjudicated mentally insane. Britt Smith, Bert Bland, Commodore Bland, Ray Becker, James McInerney, Eugene Barnett, and John Lamb all convicted of second degree murder
3/26/1920	Meeting at Snohomish Lumber Camp	Snohomish	WA	IWW members In the Snohomish Lumber Company camp unanimously passed a motion to slow down their work in protest of poor conditions.
4/2/1920	Centralia IWW Hall Burned by Unknown parties	Centralia	WA	The IWW hall famous for the Armistice Day massacre burned down by unidentified arsonists.
4/9/1920	N.W. Defense Bulletin	Seattle, Newport	WA	Eight IWW members arrested on charges of criminal syndicalism. Seven held for federal investigation.
4/16/1920	Switchmen Sidetrack Corrupt Labor Fakirs	Port Jervis	NY	IWW crew operating the Chicago Express carrying milk, mail, and 250 passengers pulled into a siding and abandon their train to attend IWW-aligned railroad workers' meeting. Upon their return, the crew took only the milk and mail cars, leaving the passenger cars in the siding.
4/16/1920	Seattle Longshoremen Strike	Seattle	WA	Over 500 longshoremen and truckers declared strike against all port commission work in protest to the port commission's recent plan to force union and non-union employees to work together and to reduce monthly pay by $26.40.
4/16/1920	N.W. Defense Bulletin	Seattle, Everett	WA	Eight IWW members arrested on charges of criminal syndicalism.
4/23/1920	Butte Miners Strike -- Demand Release of Prisoners	Butte	MT	Miners unanimously voted to strike in demand of 6 hour day and seven dollar minimum, two men per machine, the elimination contract bonuses, and the release of all "class war political prisoners."
4/23/1920	N.W. Defense Bulletin	Seattle, Vancouver	WA	Nine IWW members arrested on charges of criminal syndicalism.
4/23/1920	Picketing Unlawful	Jefferson City	MI	Missouri Supreme Court ruled picketing outside of places of business is unlawful.
5/1/1920	I.W.I.U. No. 500 Seattle Dist. Office Swooped Down Upon	Seattle	WA	Police raided IWIU office, seize a directory of 12000 IWW members in the Northwest, and arrested W. E. Spear, Ed. Burns, and Alice Rose on open charges.
5/1/1920	N.W. Defense Bulletin	Ritzville, Ellensburg, Seattle	WA	Four IWW arrested on charges of criminal syndicalism
5/1/1920	Solidarity Be Damned	Providence	RI	IWW member and textile factory worker Louis Serrotti fired for distributing pro-labor pamphlets
5/8/1920	Many Thousands Attend Picnic at Renton Junction	Renton	WA	Seattle IWW chapter drew thousands for picnic in celebration of May Day in Renton Junction with George Vanderveer as principal speaker.
5/8/1920	Northwest Defense Bulletin	Pasco, Wallace (ID), Seattle	WA, ID	Sixteen IWW members arrested: fifteen on charges of criminal syndicalism, one charge unknown.
5/8/1920	IWW Turns Europe Labor Against U.S.			Bill Haywood sent thousands of letters to workers in Western Europe calling for: A campaign against workers coming to US to "deprive] American capitalists of labor power," a strike against commercial vessels from the US bearing goods, a strike against serving American tourists, and a boycott of all American-made products
5/15/1920	Danger Ahead! Lookout!	Seattle	WA	Northwest District Defense Committee of the IWW called for boycott against The Puget Sound Hotel because one hotel worker had acted in conjunction with the "Red Squad," leading to the arrest of over twenty workers in their rooms.
5/15/1920	Northwest Defense Bulletin	Portland, Everett, Seattle	OR, WA	Forty-one IWW members arrested on charges of criminal syndicalism.
5/15/1920	Rail and Transport Strike Cause Daily Loss of 1,000,000			Manager of the Traffic Bureau of the Merchants'' Association estimates $1,000,000 was lost every day due to the rail and transport strike that began seven weeks before the publication of this article.
5/15/1920	Great Falls Labor Swamps Jail	Great Falls	MT	Police arrest several of the 5,000 marchers in a parade protesting the recent deaths in Butte. Following their arrest, fellow marchers trailed them to the police station, demanding they also be arrested, leading to the release of all arrested paraders.
5/22/1920	Drastic Syndicalism Law for Kentucky	Frankfort	KY	The governor of Kentucky signed a criminal syndicalism law providing the imprisonment of 21 years or a $10,000 fine, or both, for those convicted of criminal syndicalism.
5/22/1920	Butte Strike Is Now Transferred to Job	Butte	MT	A mass meeting of striking miners voted to make the "off-the-job" strike enacted on 04/12/1920 an "on-the-job" strike, meaning the workers vow to purposefully and drastically reduce efficiency.
5/22/1920	Seattle Longshoremen Call Off Strike	Seattle	WA	Longshoremen call off strike, one of a series beginning on 04/09/1920
5/22/1920	Northwest Defense Bulletin	Coeur D'Alene (ID), Seattle	ID, WA	Fourteen IWW members arrested on charges of criminal syndicalism.
5/29/1920	Kansas Miners Ignore Anti-Strike Law		KS	Miners in Kansas held a strike in protest of new explosives being used and wage-related issues.
5/29/1920	Northwest Defense Bulletin	Everett, Aberdeen	WA	Three IWW members arrested on charges of criminal syndicalism.
6/5/1920	High Lights of the Chicago Convention	Chicago	IL	At the recent 12th convention of the IWW, many important decision were made, including: Increasing monthly dues from 50 cents to 1 dollar, the IWW will not support violence or sabotage, and cooperation with the Shop Stewards' and Workers' Committee in Great Britain.
6/5/1920	Copper Miners Threaten Strike		UT	Copper miners threatened their employers with a strike unless they are granted higher wages, better living conditions, and the release of all "class war" prisoners.
6/12/1920	Longshoremen of Philadelphia Tie Up Shipping	Philadelphia	PA	Members of the Marine Transport Workers Industrial Union went on strike for higher wages to counteract the increased cost of living.
6/12/1920	Grand 4th of July Picnic	Renton	WA	IWW published an invitation for their annual Independence Day picnic.
6/19/1920	Stevedores Stop All East Coast Shipping	Philadelphia	PA	All cargo on the East Coast was reported to have stopped shipment due to the continued strike of the longshoremen, who are asking for a 20c/hour increase in wage.
6/1/1920	Five Workers Guilty Says Jury at Yakima	Yakima	WA	Five IWW members convicted of criminal syndicalism.
6/26/1920	Scab Commits Murder In Stevedore Strike	Philadelphia	PA	A non-union worker hired by a shipping company during the continued longshoremen strike shot and killed an unarmed striker before fleeing the scene and shooting at least three others
7/3/1920	Northwest Defense Bulletin	Seattle, Port Townsend	WA	Two IWW members arrested on charges of criminal syndicalism.
7/10/1920	Spokane's Autocrats Bar Red Sandwiches	Spokane	WA	Police force assembled at IWW Independence Day Picnic in Spokane to forbid the distribution of ice cream and sandwiches without a health certificate.
7/10/1920	Bellingham Gag Rule Arouses Opposition	Bellingham	WA	Bellingham Chief of Police prevented Elmer Smith, lawyer and IWW-sympathizer, from speaking freely about Centralia in public debates.
7/10/1920	Vanderveer Arrested in Astoria, Oregon	Astoria	OR	George Vanderveer, lawyer for the IWW members in the Centralia Massacre trial, arrested in Astoria on charges of resisting an officer.
7/10/1920	Northwest Defense Bulletin	Seattle, Everett, Chehalis, Boise, Portland, Condon, Tillamook	WA, ID, OR	Six IWW member released from jail and their charges of criminal syndicalism dropped. Five awaiting trial. One found not guilty. Four convicted. Thirty-one indicted.
7/10/1920	Utah Miners Striking on the Job	Bingham County	UT	Utah Miners joined the IWW and held a strike until their demands (unspecified) were to be met.
7/24/1920	Philadelphia Strike Has Been Called Off	Philadelphia	PA	Longshoremen and related workers returned to work after winning pay increase of one dollar per day.
7/24/1920	Police Cannot Control Lawless Legion	Astoria	OR	Famed IWW lawyer George Vanderveer fined $10 at the conclusion of his trial for resisting a police officer at a July 4th demonstration.
7/31/1920	Railroad Commission's Award made Public	Chicago	IL	United States Railway Board decided to raise the average railroad worker's pay 20-27%.
7/31/1920	Northwest Defense Bulletin	Seattle, Centralia	WA	Four IWW members convicted of criminal syndicalism. One arrested on charges of disorderly conduct.
7/31/1920	Spokane Defense Bulletin	Spokane	WA	Four IWW convicted of violating the injunction against the IWW. Three convicted of vagrancy.
8/14/1920	Masters of Industry To Blacklist Radicals	Butte	MT	Copper mining companies begun to require all employees of their corporations to fill out a questionnaire, which includes "Are you a member of the IWW?" and "Do you believe in the purposes or methods of the IWW (Yes or No)?"
8/14/1920	Mob Violence Occurs in Several Places	Denver	CO	A riot in Denver was instigated by armed strikebreakers attempting to operate railroad cars despite the weeklong strike by the employees of the Denver Tramway Company. The riot ended in the death of one striker and the injury of forty to fifty other people.
8/14/1920	Outlaw Workers Are Indicted	Chicago	IL	Forty-one railroad workers were indicted on charges of violating the Lever Act and the Siberman Anti-Trust law with their strikes.
8/21/1920	Organization Expels Traitorous Members	Philadelphia	PA	The General Executive Board of the IWW voted to banish the IWW branch in Philadelphia for their involvement in taking up arms against Russian revolutionaries.
8/21/1920	Railroad Construction Camps Closed	Portland and surrounding area	OR	Work camps shut down as their 175 IWW-aligned workers strike in demand of $5 minimum wage and a removal of hospital fees.
9/4/1920	Northwest District Defense News	Seattle	WA	Six IWW members charged with criminal syndicalism.
9/11/1920	Spokane Police Get Information	Spokane	WA	Suspected IWW activities leader was arrested on charges of city vagrancy and was also alleged to be distributing IWW literature.
9/11/1920	Men Walk Out.	Chitwood	OR	Half of all workers at an Oregon construction site walked out in protest of unsanitary conditions.
10/16/1920	Attention, Workers!	Eagle Gorge	WA	Due a strike in reaction to hostile management, IWW called for a boycott against the Page Lumber Company.
10/23/1920	IWW Murdered by Corporation Gunman	Hannaford	ND	Joe Bagley, a reportedly well-know member of the IWW, was shot and killed by Special Agent Nolan of the Great Northern railway.
10/23/1920	New IWW Paper at New York	New York	NY	New York branch of IWW reported their beginning to publish a new radical paper, The Industrial Unionist.
10/23/1920	Kansas Persecuting Member of the IWW	Eldorado	KS	Kansas passed a temporary injunction against the IWW, specifically restraining the "teaching and putting into practice any of the doctrines of the organization."
10/30/1920	Balk at Police Chief's Illegal Activities	Seattle	WA	Seattle Police Chief W.H. Searing attempted to ban the IWW dance scheduled for 10/22/1920. His attempt proved unsuccessful due to the ruling of a judge, but the IWW claimed the popularity and attendance of the dance was hindered due to the police involvement.
10/30/1920	Arrested for Selling IWW Literature	Hoquiam	WA	Waino Aho, active IWW in western Washington, was arrested on charges of selling radical literature. He was found guilty and fined a total of $43.29
11/13/1920	Stops Seizure of "The Industrial Worker"	Seattle	WA	Judge Everett Smith of the King County Superior Court issued a restraining order against Police Chief W. H. Searing protecting the Industrial Worker.
11/27/1920	Officials of Portland Persecuting Workers	Portland	OR	Public officials in Portland resumed their plans to oppose radical elements in Portland. Since mills and lumber camps closed in the area surrounding Portland, unemployed workers have entered the city in droves, which, the article explains, was likely the cause of the re-concentration of police on radicals.
12/4/1920	Strong Demands of Labor Workers	Superior	WI	A lumber workers' faction of the IWW voted to demand the follow of their employers: Eight hour day, minimum pay of $100/month, bi-monthly pay periods, good food served on white dishware, proper heating and ventilation in camp, hot and cold water in tubs and showers, abolition of doctor and hospital fees, the release of class-war prisoners, and the right to free speech, assemblage, and press.
12/4/1920	Walter Smith Is Now on Trial at Everett	Everett	WA	Walter Smith went on trial for criminal syndicalism. Another IWW, Pat Cantwell, was convicted of the same days before the beginning of Smith's trial
12/11/1920	Walter Smith Is Acquitted at Everett; Not Guilty of Criminal Syndicalism	Everett	WA	After thirteen hours of deliberation, the jury of Smith's case found him not guilty of criminal syndicalism.
12/11/1920	City Law Unconstitutional; Six IWW Are Released	Kansas City	MI	The city vagrancy law that led to the arrest and conviction of six IWW members was declared unconstitutional by the Missouri Supreme Court.

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Highlights 1920 by Arianne Hermida