_{“Wobbly insurrectos” (photo source: Revolution’s Newsstand)}

From the front page of the ‘Industrial Worker’, March 30, 1911, Spokane, Washington. Republished on the front page of ‘Solidarity’, under the title “The I.W.W. in Mexico”, April 1, 1911, New Castle, Pennsylvania

Reds Die For Freedom

I.W.W. Men Fighting for Freedom in Mexico

Los Angeles, Cal., March 10, 1911.

Mr. Vincent St. John,

Chicago, Ill.

Fellow Worker: The I.W.W. is marching straight ahead. It was the I.W.W. boys who first kept the red flag flying on the battlefield of Mexicali, Mexico, and during the thickest of the fight we lost two brave I.W.W. boys from San Diego, Cal., one, and the other from Holtville, Cal., Antonio Fuertes and J.R. Pesqueira, both died at the foot of the red flag. None are flag worshipers, but the principle embodied in it is well recognized by all.

It was the I.W.W. boys who first took Mexicali, Mexico, January 29, 1911, and it was the I.W.W. boys who fought and won the world-wide famous battle of Mexicali, February 15. 1911. Next day after the fight I was taken across the line by the Red Cross Society, suffering from sickness. A couple of days afterwards as a United States prisoner I was taken to El Centro jail. Three days afterwards United States detectives took me to Los Angeles, where I was turned loose after a whole day’s questioning in regards to my whole history as an agitator and revolutionist of Mexico. At the same time they were trying to find me guilty of violating the neutrality laws. Our enemy’s bluff didn’t work with me.

The Mexican Liberal Party, through its officers, Magón and Rivera, has come out flat-footed for the I.W.W. completely. So it is now up to you and the I.W.W. to get results from this splendid opportunity. I am working for the I.W.W. only.

Yours for the I.W.W.

(INSURRECTO),
Of San Diego, Cal.

P.S.: Notify our papers about our I.W.W. boys who lost their lives in Mexicali and also that two I.W.W. boys are in command, one in Mexicali and the other in Tijuana, lower California, Mexico – Captain William Stanley and Captain Louis Rodriguez.

Protest Against United States Assisting Morgan and Rockefeller in Mexico

From ‘Industrial Worker’, March 30, 1911, Spokane, Washington

At the regular joint business meeting of Local Unions Nos. 178 and 382, it was decided to hold a “Protest Meeting” against the United States government sending troops to the Mexican border, an act calculated to intimidate the Mexican rebels and thus support the barbarous Mexican government in its acts of keeping the workers in perpetual peonage and slavery. It was also decided to invite the “Revolutionary Organizations” in Seattle to co-operate with us in this protest meeting, to show to the workers the class character of governments.

It was decided through the “Worker” and “Solidarity” to call on the I.W.W. locals to hold protest meetings for the same purpose, and to do it alone, if necessary.

Yours for an “Economic Organization” that can stop any such moves by any capitalist government against the workers anywhere on earth.

Thos. Whitehead.
Secretary Literature and Organization Committee, Seattle, Wash.

Don’t Move Soldiers – Don’t Feed Soldiers – Don’t Arm Soldiers

From ‘Industrial Worker’, March 30, 1911, Spokane, Washington

Fellow Worker: The following resolution was adopted at Haywood meeting on March 12th:

“Whereas, the executive of the United States government has massed troops on the Mexico border with the declared intention of sending them to suppress the revolt of the workers in Mexico.

“Whereas, we, the working class of the United States, can prevent warfare and the shedding of blood by refusing in any way to transport soldiers, to fight, or to make ammunition or supplies for war.

“Be it resolved, that we, the Industrial Workers of the World, and all others present, refuse to aid in transporting soldiers or any armed force for suppressing any revolt of the workers: refuse also to make or transport ammunition or supplies for warfare of one nation against another.”

J.J. Miller

United States and Mexico: A Call to Action

From ‘Solidarity’, April 1, 1911, New Castle, Pennsylvania

Comrades and Fellow Workers in the Revolutionary Movement in America:

The Mexican workers have been fighting valiantly for many weeks for the right to live, and for better economic and social conditions. The Mexican insurrection has assumed a proletarian nature, so much so that the Wall Street capitalists are frightened, and they have called on their political servants who are now in control of the American government, to act.

They were obeyed. The American government has obeyed its master, capitalism, and has sent many thousands of soldiers to the Mexican border, so as to be ready to crush the Mexican rebels at any time. The American capitalists have shown their hand. What are the WORKERS of the United States going to do? Are you going to idly view these proceedings, or are you going to assert your class character and, conscious that “an injury to a part of us is an injury to all of us,” shout defiance at our capitalist masters? Which are you going to do?

We, the socialists and revolutionists of America can put a kink in the plans of Wall Street, by asserting our proletarian spirit and holding demonstrations, in every city of the country.

The Anti-Interference League of San Diego, calls on the socialists and all revolutionists to send telegrams to Washington, to the president, to the department of state, and to congressmen, DEMANDING that the American troops be called away from the Mexican border, and demanding that the insurrectos or rebels be recognized as belligerents by the U.S. government We also call on you to hold protest meetings everywhere, and have the actions of our capitalist politicians advertised to the workers everywhere.

Anti-Interference League of San Diego, Calif.