Riot, Revolution, Repression in the Iron Range Strike of 1916

Home , Iron Range, Mesabi Range

Mr. Betten, author of "Strike on the Mesabi —1907" which appeared in the Fall, 1967, issue of Minnesota History, is on the faculty of Indiana University at Gary.

Riot Revolution, Repression in the IRON RANGE STRIKE of 19\6

NEIL BETTEN

IN 1916 the iron mining companies of Min lay in the western states, and the organiza nesota's Mesabi Range were looking to the tion held a special appeal for unskilled and future with confidence. The country was in immigrant labor. Nevertheless, by early 1916 a period of prosperity, the "Great War" it had made no effort to organize the workers being fought in Europe guaranteed con of northern Minnesota despite requests re tinuing orders for steel, and industrial peace ceived from Finnish socialists on the iron had reigned in the iron district for nearly a range. decade. Since 1907, when the local organi Craft unionism, as represented by the zation of the Western Federation of Miners AFL, had little to offer the mine workers, had been destroyed as a result of an abor but the early months of 1916 saw consider tive strike, no major labor difficulties had able AFL activity in the area. The state con plagued the mine owners. The defeat, vention, which was to meet at Hibbing in achieved by mass importation of immigrant July, was preceded by a widely publicized strikebreakers from Europe, was one of sev "Labor Forward Movement." This program eral setbacks that had helped to turn the was directed by E. George Hall and George WFM along a more conservative course — W. Lawson, the president and secretary re leading in 1911 to its affifiation with the spectively of the Minnesota Federation of American Federation of Labor.^ The organi Labor. Although the movement was not zation did not regain its hold in Minnesota launched officially until April 30, Hafl set up nor was it replaced by any other labor group headquarters in Hibbing early in the month in the nine years between 1907 and 1916. and engaged in a general organization drive This period had seen the spread of indus trial unionism as championed by the radical ^Paul F. Brissenden, The I.W.W., A Study of wing of the Industrial Workers of the World, American Syndicalism, 320 (New York, 1957). For a general discussion of labor relations on the iron advocating the overthrow of capitalism range during this period, see Hyman Berman, "Edu through strikes, sabotage, and other direct cation for Work and Labor Sofidarity: The Immi action methods. The greatest strength of the grant Miners and Radicalism on the Mesabi Range," IWW — known popularly as "wobblies" — an unpublished study, copy in the Minnesota His torical Society.

82 MINNESOTA History throughout the range. He noted that a num LATE IN MAY Joe Greeni, an Itafian immi ber of new unions were "budding forth" in grant miner, left his job with the Alpena Hibbing alone. All, however, encompassed Mine at Virginia because of dissatisfaction traditional skills, such as plumbing, baking, with the amount and system of payment. and painting.^ Refore departing he agitated without success The "Forward Movement" included al for a strike. Greeni then went to work in the most daily meetings in one range town or St. James at Aurora, a small independent another. They were held, however, not to mine where discontent already prevailed.^ organize the miners but to "interest the peo According to the contract system under ple of the Mesaba range in the state con which all miners on the iron range worked, vention." In a Hibbing address Lawson they were paid not for their time but for declared: "Our object in this country is not the amount of ore produced. Such a piece to disturb anyone but to arouse enthusiasm work system was manifestly unfair to those for the honor that Hibbing has bestowed men working veins of ore that were unusu upon itself of being able to entertain labor ally hard or lean — a situation the companies workers from all over this great state." ^ tried to meet by frequently varying the con Despite the bland assurances of the AFL tract rate per ton. Miners at the St. James leadership, disturbance of some sort on the were hampered by large amounts of earth iron range seemed probable. Labor costs in and rock in the ore. They complained, and mining were low in relation to other Ameri the company recognized the grievance by can industries, and the immigrants from raising the rate sfightly. Not enough, how eastern Europe who had arrived by the ever, the miners claimed. They felt that even trainload to take the jobs of striking miners with the increase, they were still receiving in 1907 had had nearly a decade to learn the an income well below what the contract in meaning of labor solidarity. A letter from a tended. To this situation Greeni's agitation Virginia miner which was published on immediately set fire; on June 2, 1916, he and May 16 in the Industrial Worker, the organ the rest of the workers at the St. James of the IWW, cafled attention to the situation. walked off the job.'' If the miners were "not soon organized," the The word spread rapidly. The Miller mine Minnesota wobbly argued, "unorganized in Aurora struck the same day, and within strikes will break out."^ His prediction a short time a large part of the Mesabi Range proved correct. was tied up. Long lines of miners — Finns, Serbians, Italians, Montenegrins, and many from other parts of the world — ^ Clippings from the Minnesota Union Advocate marched from town to town, passing the (St. Paul), March 31, 1916; Labor World (Duluth), word down the seventy-five-mile length of April 1, 1916; Brainerd Tribune, April 6, 1916; unidentified newspaper, April 14, 1916, aU among the range that a strike was on. As soon as the the E. George HaU Papers, in the Minnesota His walkout reached significant proportions, a torical Society. new factor appeared in the situation. Fol == Clippings from the Mesaba Miner (Chisholm), May 5, 1916, and the Hibbing Tribune, May 9, lowing a strategy used elsewhere in the 1916, in the HaU Papers. country, the IWW immediately sent a group * Quoted in Philip S. Foner, History of the Labor of young and energetic radicals onto the Movement in the United States, 4:493 (New York, range to take control. The miners, alone 1965). ^Marion B. Cothren, "When Strike-Breakers and unaffiliated, lacked even an organization Strike," in The Survey, 36:535 (August 26, 1916). to make their demands known, and they "Labor World, June 24, 1916, p. 6; Minnesota welcomed the leadership of men like Joseph Department of Labor and Industries, Biennial Re Schmidt, Carlo Tresca, and Sam Scarlett.^ port, 1915-16, p. 169. 'Cothren, in The Survey, 36:535; Department All three were immigrants and experi of Labor and Industries, Biennial Report, 1915-16, enced agitators. Scarlett, the chief organizer p. 169. Summer 1968 83 Striking Mesabi miners marched in midsummer, 1916, to recruit support for their cause. of the strike, was a native of Scotland who quarters at Virginia and branches at each had worked as a wobbly lecturer and or mining location. Its officers included both ganizer since 1911. Schmidt's radical activi IWW leaders and range workers. Among ties had spanned three continents in his the latter were John Seppanen of Virginia, thirty-four years. Rorn in Lithuania, he had who served as treasurer of the general strike been engaged from the age of sixteen in committee, and George Andreytchine, a revolutionary plotting against the Czarist Bulgarian clerical worker formerly em government. In 1903 and 1904 he led suc ployed by one of the mining companies, who cessful strikes in three Lithuanian towns. filled the post of secretary. The union's ac Arrested as a result, he was sent to prison tive organizers included Joe Greeni, whose in Siberia, escaped in less than a year, and agitation had set off the strike. Wilham fled to the United States. There he became Wiertola, a Finnish socialist miner, became active in the socialist movement and in 1909 a leading spokesman for his countrymen.^ joined the IWW. Tresca was an Italian with Strike strategy was decided at regular a record as a socialist newspaper editor and business meetings, and committees were secretary of his country's largest labor union. elected to oversee various aspects of the long After numerous arrests stemming from radi and costly contest. Usually two representa cal activities, he was given a choice of tives of each nationality group served on a eighteen months in prison or ten years of committee. A strike committee was estab- exile. He chose exile in the United States, where he remained an editor and labor agi ® Harrison George, "Victory on the Mesaba tator, taking part in all the major IWW Range," in International Socialist Review, 17:430 strikes that involved Italians.^ (January, 1917). ® Department of Labor and Industries, Biennial Report, 1915-16, p. 168; United Mine Workers THE UNION'S center of operations on the Journal, August, 1916, p. 4; September, 1916, p. 7; Berman, "Education for Work and Labor Soli range was IWW Local No. 490, with head darity," 48.

84 MINNESOTA History lished in each town in addition to the gen It was argued that under the contract sys eral committee for the range. The IWW tem there was no security for the miner, who later claimed a complete tie-up of the mines, seldom knew how much his pay envelope with from sixteen to twenty thousand men would contain at the end of a month. Vari out. Mayor Victor L. Power of Hibbing sup ations in the difficulty of work and the qual ported the union's claim with his estimate ity of ore were theoretically compensated by of fifteen thousand, while the state's varying the contract rate, but this resulted Department of Labor and Industries con in frequent and arbitrary changes made sidered seven or eight thousand a more without notice to the worker. An even more accurate figure.^^ bitter criticism of the system was the claim Local 490 voiced the demands of the that it resulted in bribery and kickbacks to miners, co-ordinated strike activities, saw to the foremen and mine captains who as the distribution of strike benefits (usually signed work sections.^^ in the form of food rather than money), and Abolition of the entire contract wage sys scheduled meetings for a variety of pur tem was first among the economic demands poses. These were commonly held in the put forward by the IWW soon after the Finnish socialist halls, some in secrecy, but strike began. The system should be replaced, others open to the public and aimed at en the union maintained, by a flat rate of $3.50 couraging the miners and their families and a day for work in wet underground areas, influencing nonstriking sympathizers. Some $3.00 a day for dry underground work, and times a band supplied music, and the pro $2.75 a day for work on the surface. Other gram frequently featured some well-known demands included an eight-hour day, to agitator as the main speaker. Frequently start as soon as the miners were on company films were shown of recent strike parades. property and to end when they left; payment Talks given in several languages stressed immediately after discharge; two paydays poor working conditions (details of which rather than one a month; discontinuance of were often supported by miners' affidavits) Saturday night work; and the abolition of and explained and attacked the contract sys the private mine police.^-^ tem — and, of course, the mining companies, The companies, led by Oliver, asserted with particular attention to the Oliver Iron that the demands were unreasonable, claim Mining Division of United States Steel, ing that the miners were already receiving which, as the principal ore producer on the a higher income than that for which they range, was the strikers' chief adversary.^^ were striking. The contract system, they de clared, was actually favored by most of the ^"George P. West, "The Mesaba Range Strike," workers; bribery and kickbacks were against in New Republic, 8:108 (September 2, 1916); De company policy and occurred infrequently. partment of Labor and Industries, Biennial Report, 1915-16, p. 168; Eveleth News, June 15, 22, Sep They argued that the miners were free to tember 1, 1916; Daily Virginian, June 16, 1916. check each day on their rates of pay and Unless otherwise noted, all newspaper citations could thus know what their earnings would occur on page 1. be. In addition, monthly statements of earn ^^ Eveleth News, June 15, 22, August 3, 1916; Daily Virginian, June 16, July 21, August 4, 11, ings were given out at least five days before 1916. payday. As for semi-monthly payment, the ''A. K. Knickerbocker, "The Contract Wage Sys companies claimed that most of the miners tem for Miners," in Mining and Scientific Press, did not want the added bookkeeping and 120:497 (April, 1920); Department of Labor and Industries, Biennial Report, 1915-16, p. 168; Daily pointed out that it was the same money Virginian, June 16, 1916. whenever it was paid.^"* "Department of Labor and Industries, Biennial The overtures made by the IWW to the Report, 1915-16, p. 168. "Tyler Dennett, "The Mining Strike in Minne mining companies were in vain. The com sota: The Other Side," in The Outlook, 113:1048 panies positively refused to deal with the (August 30, 1916). Summer 1968 85 miners. Tresca and Scarlett stated that the local press, which repeatedly attacked union did not request recognition nor insist the union and the immigrant miners in the on having its organizers take part in bar most vicious demagogic terms. The Biwabik gaining talks. These would be conducted, Times found that the IWW "doctrine of they said, by a committee of strikers who 'sabotage' has no place on American soil and were not even IWW members. When this must be uprooted even though it is neces offer was rejected, the IWW agreed to with sary to do the very things which we are fond draw from the district if such action would of blaming the south for." According to the lead to settlement. At the same time the Tower News, "The trafl of the I.W.W. is one strikers would pledge in writing that they of blood. It is their history. It will persist as would not ask for recognition of any union. long as a single follower of their red emblem The companies still refused to meet with the remains." The editor of the Chisholm Trib men. A final attempt to bring the adversaries une-Herald, having quoted these statements together — a meeting called by several of with approval, advised that violence against the village governments on the iron range the union would be merely self-defense and in mid-July — also failed. Mining com assured potential troublemakers that the pany officials did not attend.^^ Their deter wobblies were "such cowards that their yel mination to break the strike rather than low streak overcomes them when it comes to. negotiate was clear. facing an unarmed native born American." ^'^ The first significant disturbance occurred THE STRATEGY that had worked so well on June 21, when a parade numbering in the strike of 1907 was no longer available nearly a thousand strikers started out from to the companies. Prosperity at home and Hibbing's Workers Hall. They carried a red the major war being fought in Europe made flag at the head of the procession. Incensed it impossible to recruit the number of strike by this, a special police officer named breakers necessary to keep the mines pro George King, employed by the Duluth, Mis- ducing at a normal profit. Thus they either sabe and Northern Railway, attempted to had to wait for hunger to bring the workers snatch the flag away, supposedly for patri back or quickly destroy the strikers' morale otic reasons. A melee broke out and King and organization. The companies set out to was somewhat mauled along with a number accomplish the latter. of strikers. The Virginian of June 22 re Ostensibly to protect private property and ported characteristically that "a policeman's the safety of nonstriking workers, the mine club broke when it landed on the head of police forces were increased during June to one of the strikers." ^^ the proportions of a small army. Loaded The miners demanded protection from with firearms, they barricaded the mines the town police, and when this was prom like fortresses and roamed the streets of the ised by Mayor Power, they scheduled an range communities. It was reported, for other demonstration for the following day. example, that armored cars manned by Gathering in the Workers HaU at nine sharpshooters with rifles patrolled the Hull, o'clock in the morning on June 22, they were Rust, and Mahoning mines near Hibbing, addressed by Andreytchine, who begged "ready to adopt stringent measures the in stant any violence is attempted by striking '"Dennett, in The Outlook, 113:1047; Hibbing miners." ^® Daily Tribune, July 1, 1916; Duluth News Tribune, It is difficult to avoid concluding that the June 24, p. 9, July 12, p. 5, 1916. '" Duluth News Tribune, June 21, p. 5, June 22, companies actually sought to provoke vio p. 5, June 27, p. 5 (quote), 1916. lence, knowing that if it occurred it would ^"^ Tribune-Herald (Chisholm), June 23, p. 6, be laid at the door of the IWW. Such a cer June 30, p. 3, July 7, 1916. tainty was justffied by statements in the ^^ Labor World, June 24, 1916; Duluth News Tribune, June 22, 1916, p. 5.

86 MINNESOTA History These men gathered in Duluth in May, 1916, for an AFL "Labor Forward Movement" meeting. Though active before the strike, craft unions had little to offer mine workers.

them to create no disturbance. "We don't Three miners had been shot, one fatally. want to fight the flag, we don't want to fight The slain man was an immigrant named anybody," he was quoted as saying. "What John Alar, who left a widow and three small we want is more pork chops. We will march children. No one was arrested or indicted and have a big, beautiful parade. Re peace for the act, but his death stimulated demon ful brothers. . . . Let the mining companies strations by miners throughout the iron dis- be the ones to incite disorder. We will put trict.2o them to shame." ^^ Alar's funeral procession was headed by Though Andreytchine was unaware of the a large red banner reading "Murdered fact, the mine police had already obliged. by Oliver Gunmen." Virginia law authorities Retween five and six o'clock the same morn used this as a pretext for arresting Tresca ing a large group of Virginia strikers, and Scarlett on charges of criminal libel, but gathered on public property to picket, were bail was furnished, and they were soon at ordered by Oliver guards to disperse. Fight liberty. They and other IWW leaders called ing followed and gunfire was exchanged, for self-defense on the part of the miners. although according to witnesses the miners Andreytchine, speaking to a large audience were armed mainly with stones and debris. in Hibbing said: "We shall try civifized Ry the time the battle ended, several of the methods if possible. But if they attack us guards had been hurt, the most serious in they shaH pay dearly." Two days later, fol jury being a scalp wound from a brick. lowing a street fight between pickets and guards in which Martin Teller, chief of the ^^ Duluth News Tribune, June 23, 1916, p. 9. Oliver special deputies, was seriously in ^^ Daily Virginian, June 22, 1916; Duluth News jured, Andreytchine was arrested also.^^ Tribune, June 23, 1916, p. 1, 9. On June 29, several shots fired by un ^"^ Duluth News Tribune, June 27, p. 5, June 28, p. 10 (quote), June 29, p. 5, June 30, p. 1, 5, 1916. known persons at a moving train in the Hull

Summer 1968 87 mine prompted a headline in the Duluth who have participated and are participating News Tribune reading: "Violence Starts in in riots in your county and make complaints Strike of Iron Miners Throughout Range." against them. Prevent further breaches of The paper, plainly echoing the policies of the peace, riots and unlawful assemblies. the mining companies, sought to give the Use all your powers . . . for the preserva impression that some kind of armed labor tion of life and property." Meining accord rebellion was taking place — a view that ingly deputized over four hundred of the was spelled out more clearly a few days later private mine police, although he admitted in an editorial stating: "The I.W.W. is not that many of these newly created law officers a labor union and the condition faced on had questionable reputations.^^ the range is not a labor strike. . . . What is faced on the ranges and threatened in Du AN EVEN MORE tefling blow at the strike luth is revolution, just that and nothing was delivered early in July, when authorities less." ^^ launched a concerted attack upon the IWW The companies had little trouble in per leadership. Andreytchine, under arrest for suading the state government to accept this inciting riot, was an immigrant from Rul- interpretation of events. Governor Joseph A. A. Rurnquist was a conservative, strongly sympathetic to United States Steel. On ^^ Duluth News Tribune, June 29, p. 5, July 7, p. 8 (quote), 1916. June 30 he dispatched a telegram to St. ^^ George P. West, "The Mesaba Strike," in In Louis County Sheriff John R. Meining which ternational Socialist Review, 17:160 (September, read: "Arrest forthwith and take before 1916). The full text of Bumquist's telegram was printed on the front page of the Duluth News Trib magistrate, preferably in Duluth, all persons une, July 1, 1916.

"Speed the Parting Guest" was the line over this anti-IWW cartoon from the Duluth News Tribune of July 1, 1916.

MINNESOTA History garia, and deportation proceedings were local liquor law. Several miners were immediately started against him. At only gathered there and a fight broke out. When twenty-two, he was one of the younger IWW it was over, the scene as described in the organizers. An anarchist and pacffist who Virginian of July 5 was gruesome, with had read Tolstoy, Thoreau, and William blood splashed over the floor and walls and Lloyd Garrison, he had left his homeland bullet marks everywhere. Several persons to avoid military service, and after studying were wounded, both miners and deputies, for a time in Germany, he had come to the and Mrs. Marsonovitch was badly hurt. Two United States. When the strike began, he men were killed — James C. Myron, one of had been an office employee of the Oliver the deputies, and Thomas Ladvalla, a soft- Division for some two years. Quitting his drink peddler whose cart was nearby.^® job, he joined the strikers and the IWW.^* It was assumed that the killing of Lad The United States immigration inspector valla was accidental, but not so Myron's at Duluth, Brown McDonald, argued that death. According to the coroner's jury, the Andreytchine was in bad company and was slayers of the deputy were unknown. Never dangerous. He pointed out also that since theless, all the miners present at the scene the young man was a sincere anarchist, he were jailed on charges of first degree mur would often find himself in jail, thus becom der, as was Mrs. Marsonovitch, who was ing a public charge. The argument failed to placed in a cell with her nine-month-old convince the United States Department of baby. Scarlett, Tresca, Schmidt, and other Labor, and the deportation action was even IWW leaders were also arrested as acces tually dropped, but it served to neutralize sories. It was admitted that they had not Andreytchine's strike activities.^^ been in the vicinity when the incident oc The other principal IWW leaders on the curred, but it was argued that their state range were dealt with in legal proceedings ments calfing upon the miners to fight in reminiscent of Chicago's notorious Haymar- self-defense had incited the crime.^^ ket trial thirty years earlier. The action grew Until this time the IWW on the range had from an incident that occurred in Biwabik been represented in court mainly by John A. on July 3, when several of Sheriff Meining's Keyes of Duluth, but for the murder trial company-employed deputies forced their the organization sent in its top legal tal way without a warrant into the home of a ent. The defense was led by O. N. Hilton, miner named Phillip Marsonovitch, al known affectionately to radicals as "the little legedly to make an arrest for violation of a judge," who had often been employed in the past by the Western Federation of Miners. He was assisted by Leon Whitsell, ^United Mine Workers Journal, August, 1916, a California lawyer, also with a long record p. 4. as a defender of western miners, and by ^^ United Mine Workers Journal, August, 1916, Arthur Le Sueur, a well-known socialist p. 4; September, 1916, p. 1-4. =« Duluth News Tribune, July 6, 1916. lawyer and president of the People's College ^ Daily Virginian, July 6, 28, 1916; Duluth News in Fort Scott, Kansas. Keyes also took part, Tribune, July 28, 1916; Otto Christensen, "Invad as did Victor Power of Hibbing. Appeals for ing Miners' Homes," in International Socialist Re defense funds were widely circulated, and view, 17:161 (September, 1916). Among the IWW leaders arrested but not held was Frank H. Little, unions from all over the country responded who had arrived in Minnesota only a day or two with small donations.^^ before the shooting of Myron. The lynching of At the preliminary hearing Duluth munic Little a year later in Butte, Montana, attracted nationwide attention. ipal judge William H. Smallwood decided ^« William D. Haywood, Bill Haywood s Book, against the defense. A grand jury was con 291 (New York, 1929); George, in International vened, and eight IWW leaders and sympa Socialist Review, 17:431; Labor World, Decem thizers were indicted for the murder of ber 2, 1916, p. 3. Summer 1968 89 Myron. The trial was to begin on the fol leaders like Wilham D. Haywood, who lowing Monday, but a motion of continu placed a high value on the propaganda effect ance was granted to the defense on the of mass trials and behoved that range lead grounds that the people of the community ership had been duped by the lawyers.^o where the case was to be tried (Virginia) were prejudiced. Thus the trial was carried WITH THE MAJORITY of its strike organ over to the December term.^^ izers in the Duluth jail, the IWW found that In the intervening period an agreement reinforcements were needed on the range. Accordingly it sent the union's general or was reached between the lawyers for the ganizer, Joseph Ettor, and Elizabeth Gurley state and the defense that three of the Flynn, who was already nationally known miners who had been at the scene of for her part in the eastern textile strikes of the crime would plead guilty, while charges 1912. Her arrival on July 12 had been against the IWW leaders and two of the eagerly looked for, and to judge by the iron local defendants would be dropped. The range press, she completely took control of miners who pleaded guilty received inde the situation, her personality overshadowing terminate sentences up to twenty years. These were commuted a short time later. ^Duluth News Tribune, July 28, August 31, The compromise was made at the insistence 1916; Daily Virginian, August 30, September 21, of the lawyers, especially Le Sueur, who felt 1916. that the hysteria on the range was too great ^"Haywood, Bill Haywood's Book, 292; Meridel to permit a successful head-on confronta Le Sueur, Crusaders, 52 (New York, 1955); Mar garet C. Banning, "End of Mesabi Range Strike," tion. It was resented by national IWW in The Survey, 37:411 (January, 1917).

'Somebody Has Got to Get Out of the Way!" From Solidarity, August 19,1916 that of Ettor. She caught the imagination support of the strike, a resolution calling of even the hysterical anti-IWW press. Hay for impeachment of the governor because wood they called a social renegade, black of his grossly antflabor stand was never per mailer, and murderer; Scarlett, Tresca, and mitted to reach the floor of the convention. Schmidt were described in similar terms. Also ignored was an appeal — both public But Elizabeth Flynn was "a woman with a and private — by Victor Power, asking that big heart, . . . filled to overflowing with the AFL step in and organize the miners.^^ sympathy for humanity." Even the Vir ginian, which lauded the arrest of the strike THESE FACTORS —the staying power leaders, found her "more sincere in her work and restraint of the IWW leadership, the than any other agitator of the I.W.W." ^^ general sympathy of other labor groups, and Sympathy for the strikers — or at least the influence of responsible and relatively resentment of the mining companies' high impartial local governments — helped to handed tactics — had never been entirely prevent the situation from degenerating into absent on the range. It was reflected espe an all-out labor war. Such a development cially in the views of many village officials could only have resulted in the smashing and local businessmen. Early in July, at a of the miners' organization and the immedi meeting of town officials called in the hope ate breaking of the strike. This, apparently, of mediating the strike, representatives of was the hope of the companies, but instead Virginia, Hibbing, Ruhl, and Eveleth pro the mines remained closed or operating at tested Burnquist's order that arrested miners a fraction of capacity throughout the sum be tried in Duluth and publicly condemned mer, the walkout lasting two full months the governor's personal agent, Gustaf Lind- after the mass arrest of its leaders. quist of St. Paul, who had been sent to There was much conflict, and neither side investigate the situation on the range. Dur was free from responsibility for direct acts ing the week he spent there, they claimed, of violence. Many of these involved attacks he had talked only with mining company on strikebreakers, whom the striking miners officers and had refused to meet with either saw simply as "scabs" willing to take their town officials or representatives of the jobs while they and their famifies faced star strikers. Lindquist denied the charge vigor vation. Illegal picketing was carried on ously, but it was probably in response to to prevent strikebreakers from reaching this local pressure that Governor Burnquist work — either by intimidation or direct at length sent a commission from the state's force. Occasionally vehicles carrying strike Department of Labor and Industries to breakers to work were fired upon, as were make an official investigation.^^ strikebreakers' homes. At one time two A measure of backing for the miners also homes were blown up, and three days later came from the AFL, which held its state it was reported that a boardinghouse full convention in Hibbing as planned. But al of strikebreakers was riddled with bullets. though the organization went on record in Strikers sometimes surrounded local jails in an attempt to intimidate officials into releas ing their arrested comrades. In Hibbing one «' Duluth News Tribune, July 12, 27, p. 5, 1916; mine was attacked and forced to close. Tribune-Herald, July 21, 1916, p. 2; Mesaba Ore There was even an attempt to burn a bridge and the Hibbing News (Hibbing), July 29, 1916 (quote); Daily Virginian, August 3, 1916. on the Duluth and Iron Range Railway.^* '"' Duluth News Tribune, July 8, 13, p. 5, 1916. The wives of the strikers were active in "^ Duluth News Tribune, July 19, 1916; Berman, various types of agitation. Together with "Education for Work and Labor Solidarity," 53. '''Hibbing Daily Tribune, July 1, 21, August 18, their children, they joined the men in picket 1916- Tribune-Herald, June 30, 1916; Daily Vir ing. Often women were arrested for ginian, July 1, 1916; Duluth News Tribune, July 14, throwing "ancient hen fruit," as the news- 1916.

Summer 1968 91 papers called it, at strikebreakers. In Chis beating up, shooting and jailing and ter holm three women were arrested for rorizing their workmen." ^'^ assaulting a strikebreaker by scratching his Speaking in more guarded language, the face and dumping his lunch box, and on two deputy commissioners representing another occasion in the same town a group the Minnesota Department of Labor and of some twenty women created a commo Industries said: "We are not entirely in tion by combining their favorite forms of sympathy with the belief that vigorous strike action — picketing, throwing rotten measures were necessary to maintain peace eggs, and dumping lunches. The reaction and safety in this strike. But we are entirely was not always restrained. In early August satisfied that the mine guards have exceeded the Duluth News Tribune reported that in their legal rights and duties and . . . that Hibbing 150 deputies "armed with repeat such violence as has occurred has been more ing rifles, revolvers, and riot sticks" had chargeable to the mine guards and police attacked a group of female pickets, beating than to the strikers. . . . Numerous cases them to the ground, even when they "raised of arrest of strikers without warrant and their infants as protection." Nor did the unfair trials in the justices' courts were wives limit themselves to demonstrations. brought to our attention." The report went An Aurora woman was charged with cutting on to note that "every shooting affray . . . the air hoses on ore trains, and the wife of has occurred on public property. . . . The one militant striker was reported manning parades of the miners had been peaceful, a rifle in an exchange of fire between strik the public police have had no trouble in ers and deputies. While the Virginian may maintaining order, and if the private mine have exaggerated in stating that outbreaks guards had been compelled to remain on of violence were usually led by women, the the company property we do not believe miners' wives certainly took an active part that there would ever have been any blood in the more vigorous forms of strike activ- shed on the range." ^^ ity.35 In fairness to the mining companies, it At no time, however, was the union im should be pointed out that they felt com plicated in acts of violence or sabotage, and mitted to keeping the mines in operation there is little likelihood that evidence link despite the strike, and to do this meant using ing the IWW with these sporadic outbreaks strikebreakers. Given the history of labor would have been overlooked by the authori relations in western mining areas, physical ties. Picketing was continued, even though protection for nonstriking employees must it had been outlawed, but for the most part have seemed indispensable. Recruiting a the IWW leaders cautioned the strikers to large force of private police would hardly "keep their hands in their pockets." ^^ have been possible without drawing upon some of the less stable elements of society, ROTH THE federal and state agencies in vestigating the strike placed the major share ^^ Daily Virginian, June 26, July 22, August 4, of blame for violence upon the mining com 1916; Tribune-Herald, July 28, September 8, p. 5, panies and their army of "police." The September 18, 1916; Duluth News Tribune, Au report to the United States Commission of gust 2, p. 5, August 3, p. 10 (quote), August 4, p. 5 (quote), 1916; Bear River Journal, June 22, Industrial Relations depicted the importa 1916; Virginia Daily Enterprise, June 22, 1916. tion of deputized thugs to break the strike '" Duluth News Tribune, July 27, 1916, p. 5. and stated that "the miners of Minnesota and ''''The report of George P. West to the United States Commission on Industrial Relations is repro- their families face want and suffer auced in full in the United Mine Workers Journal, ing and endure the abuse and violence of August, 1916, p. 12^14. a private army of gunmen." It pointed out ^**The report, signed by special inspectors Don "the length to which the companies went in D. Lescohier and Martin Cole, was printed in fuU in the Duluth News Tribune, August 17, 1916, p. 8.

92 MINNESOTA History and the resulting gang of unruly gunmen money back to the range, those men were was almost inevitable. That these men were returning to their families, thus increasing deputized was likewise within the tradition the burden on strike funds. Ry early Septem of mining areas, and the action received ber half the mines were operating, for men general acceptance in Minnesota. with families were slowly returning to work. After gaining the co-operation of the state The national office of the IWW stopped authorities in jailing the strike leadership, supplying funds for the range, no doubt the companies still found themselves faced feeling that the cause was lost. At last, be with opposition from local governments and tween September 17 and September 21, at stubborn resistance from the IWW. In the meetings in various range towns, the men end the strike was defeated not through voted to call the strike off.^^ arrests or violence, or by importation of By today's standards, the bloody three- strikebreakers, but simply because the re month contest would be considered an ex sources of the miners, always meager, were tremely violent one. Yet at its close in Sep finally exhausted. They survived for a while tember the employers commented with on credit, then on donations. Through the some truth on the "remarkable absence of summer many miners took agricultural jobs, violence." ^*^ Beatings, lynchings, and gun but by the end of August the harvest was fights were commonplace in the freewheel ending in the area, and instead of sending ing capitafism of western mining towns at the time. They had been relatively infre ^ Berman, "Education for Work and Labor Soli darity," 54. quent on the range. As in 1907, Minnesota *" Cothren, in The Survey, 36:536. had avoided such extremes of industrial war fare as pitched battles, vigilante action, and THE PICTURE of marching strikers on page 84 is from The Survey for August 26, 1916. The cartoon herding of workers into bull pens. The very on page 90 is reproduced from Rebel Voices, edited fact that the Mesabi strike of 1916 was con by Joyce Kornbluth, with permission of the Univer sidered a relatively peaceful one is a com sity of Michigan Press. The photograph on page 87 is from the society's picture collection. mentary on labor relations in the period. WORKERS of AMERICA The Strikers of the Mesaba Range Appeal to You. Will You Give Them Your Support? ||

A plea for help, pub lished in Virginia, September 6,1916, appeared under the aegis of the Mesaba Iron Range Strikers' Relief and Defense Committee.

"Sheriff Meining admitted to the writer that if gunmen in the employ of a private corpora tion were to enter his home without knocking and threaten the safety and lives of himself and family he would feel justified in defending himself. "---Geo. P. West's report.

Summer 1968 93 THE IRON ORE IVIINERS

This song, purportedly written in jail by an anonymous miner, was first published in Solidarity, August 5, 1916. It is here reproduced from Rebel Voices, edited by Joyce Korn- bluh, idth permission of the University of Michigan Press. The tune is "It's a Long Way to Tipperary."

The Miners of the Iron Range It's the wrong way to treat the Miners, Know there was something v\^rong It's the wrong way to go. They banded afi together, yes, It's the wrong way to best the Miners, In One Big Union strong. As the Steel Trust soon wifl know. The Steel Trust got the shivers. God help those dirty Mine Guards, And the Mine Guards had some fits. The Miners won't forget. The Miners didn't give a damn. It's the wrong way to treat the Miners, But closed down all the pits. And the guards will know that yet.

It's a long way to monthly pay day. The Governor got his orders for It's a long way to go To try and break the strike. It's a long way to monthly pay day, He sent his henchmen on the Range, For the Miners need the dough, Just what the Steel Trust liked. Goodbye Steel Trust profits. The Miners were arrested, yes. The Morgans they feel blue. And thrown into the jail, It's a long way to monthly pay day But yet they had no legal rights For the miners want two. When they presented bail.

They worked like hell on contract, yes. It's a short way to next election. And got paid by the day, It's a short way to go. Whenever they got fired, yes, For the Governor's in deep reflection The bosses held their pay. As to Labor's vote, you know. But now they want a guarantee Goodbye, Dear Old State House, Of just three bones a day. Farewell, Bemquist there. And when they quit their lousy jobs It's a short way to next election They must receive their pay. And you'll find no Bernquist there.

It's the wrong way to work, by contract Get busy, was the order to It's the wrong way to go. The lackeys of the Trust, It's the wrong way to work by contract Jail all the Organizers For the Miners need the dough. And the Strike will surely bust. Goodbye bosses' handouts, — Trump up a charge, a strong one, Farewell Hibbing Square. That will kill all sympathy. It's the wrong way to work by contract So murder was the frame-up, You wiU find no Miners there. And one of first degree.

John Allar died of Mine Guards' guns It is this way in Minnesota The Steel Trust had engaged. Is it this way you go? At Gilbert, wives and children It is this way in Minnesota, Of the Miners were outraged Where justice has no show. No Mine Guards were arrested, Wake up all Wage Workers, Yet the law is claimed to be In One Big Union strong. The mightiest conception If we afi act unified together. Of a big democracy. We can right all things that's wrong.

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