Break This Conspiracy of the Shipping Trust – Ben Fletcher (1914)

_{Art by Anastasya Eliseeva}

From the front page of the Industrial Workers of the World newspaper ‘Solidarity’, February 28, 1914, Cleveland, Ohio

(Special to Solidarity)

Philadelphia, Pa., Feb. 23.

Fellow Worker John J. McKelvey, organizer of Branch 4, Marine Transport Workers, I.W.W., with two other fellow workers, is in jail. Although convicted by a jury of their “peers” Dec. 17th, and committed on the 18th pending the hearing of their appeal, they have not yet been sentenced.

If this case is to have a proper presentation, it will be necessary to relate a little history. A battle was waged in this city last summer between the Marine Transport Workers and their employers, the shipping trust, for more control of industry.

After many unsuccessful attempts to use scabs, police, gunmen, bribery, race prejudice, etc., to break their ranks, the shipping trust was forced to surrender to the solidarity of labor.

Realizing the power wrought up in an organization of workers so trained and fitted, they proceeded to make those of the Industrial Workers of the World, who had paved the way for this organization in the port of Philadelphia, victims of their vengeance.

Being aware that for diverse reasons McKelvey had contributed no little part to the victory of the transport workers, they selected him for the first victim. So one evening while walking the public highway he was arrested by Sergeant Peoples, who, in keeping with his instructions, began beating him up with a blackjack, next with his revolver, after he had thrown his bulky form across him.

McKelvey was jailed, convicted at his trial, and sentenced to 60 days, which he served. Not being a “quitter,” McKelvey upon being released, got active immediately and played his part in lining up the Boatmen — Branch 4, M.T.W., I.W.W., who won hands down in their struggle for better conditions, shorter hours and more wages.

All but two lines—Tucker and Oliver — surrendered. It was while they were proceeding to organize the workers of those lines that McKelvey, Loux and Wilmot were arrested. It was charged that these fellow workers conspired to beat up scabs — Loux charged with being the principal; McKelvey and Wilmot the accessories. This being based on the testimony of a detective.

Judge Kinsey overdid himself at their trial in impressing the jury that a conviction was desired. He stated in his charge: “If you gentlemen suspect that these defendants had either a MENTAL or ORAL understanding, they are guilty.”

They were convicted Dec. 12th, and to date have not been sentenced. The shipping trust and their henchmen do not want McKelvey to be at liberty; neither does Judge Kinsey, who, since McKelvey has been in jail, has asked him very inferentially what he would do when released.

These are the facts in the case, and alone are sufficient evidence of a damnable conspiracy. To you, members of the I.W.W. in Philadelphia and all other workers, is dedicated the duty of forcing the release of our outraged fellow workers.

You must get together. Act quickly and resolve that you are going to make this attempt on the part of a fossilized judicial lickspittle and the shipping interests to railroad to the penitentiary these working men, so costly that they’ll forever remember with regret the price they paid if they dare to consummate their damnable conspiracy.

Hold meetings of your organization and send delegates to the McKelvey, Loux and Wilmot Defense Conference which meets every Wednesday evening at 128 South 8th St., Philadelphia.

Hold meetings and demand the release of McKelvey, Loux and Wilmot. Serve notice on the master class that we are not going to permit our fellow workers to be sacrificed.

On and off the job make the power of a class conscious protest heard everywhere.

This is the time to act! Do it today. Get busy immediately.

A protest meeting will be held Sunday, March 1, at 2 P.M, at Lyric hall, 928 S. 6th St. Speakers — General Organizer Wm. D. Haywood, in English, and others in Polish, Italian and Lithuanian languages.

Benj. H. Fletcher,

Chairman Press Committee

Solidarity Wins in Philadelphia

McKelvey, Loux and Wilmot Released from Jail on Suspended Sentence

From the front page of ‘Solidarity‘, March 14, 1914, Cleveland, Ohio

(Special to Solidarity)

Philadelphia, March 3.

Another victory was scored by the I.W.W. last week in Philadelphia. McKelvey, Loux and Wilmot were liberated from the capitalist hellhole, Mayamensing prison, February 19. Although sentenced to one year on probation, we are more than confident that the subservient lickspittles of the shipping trust will not dare lay their hands again on these fellow workers for that account.

McKelvey, Loux and Wilmont were convicted December 13, 1913, on a charge of mentally conspiring to beat scabs and “get Tucker.” Tucker is one of the shipowners that refused to grant the demands of the workers during the boatmen’s strike last fall.

A defense conference was organized shortly after their imprisonment. For obvious reasons the conference at first pursued the method of “watchful waiting.” The judge, a faithful lieutenant of the parasites, took advantage of the conference’s policy. He kept McKelvey and the other two fellow workers in jail for nine weeks, while making up his mind as to what sentence should be pronounced upon them, without arriving at any conclusion.

The up till now, somewhat slumbering rebels began to feel aggravated. The conference changed its tactics. The I.W.W. began to manifest itself. A local newspaper, sympathizing with the working class, gave publicity to the case, arousing public sentiment. The different labor organizations readily answered the call for support. But the most essential factor that contributed to the release of the three fellow workers is the mighty weapon possessed by the waterfront slaves — the Marine Transport Workers’ Union of the I.W.W.

The judge before sentencing the prisoners questioned Tucker as to his feelings toward McKelvey, Loux and Wilmont, to which he replied that he no longer held any grievance against them. The reason for it is as follows: As it reached the ear of the shipping trust that Bill Haywood was coming to Philadelphia March 1st, to have a consultation with the Marine Transport Workers relative to the imprisonment of the three fellow workers, Tucker’s heart suddenly expanded to make room for a “Christian magnanimity” that was traveling with lightning speed towards his auricles and ventricles. This is what labor can do everywhere if organized. Make the bosses become “magnanimous.”

Benj. H. Fletcher,
Jas. A. Levine

Marine Transport Workers Line-Up in Boston

Slaves Getting Wise to I.L.A. Tricks

From ‘Solidarity‘, April 14, 1917, Chicago, Illinois

The One Big Union of Marine Transport Workers has been registering so many victories over the opposition in the past few months that it is safe to state that their endeavors to extend the organization among the longshoremen of the port will be crowned with certain victory. For the time being it will be necessary to concentrate our energies on the coastwise longshoremen and coal trimmers, in view of the fact that the International Longshoremen’s assassinators have entrenched themselves among the deep-water men.

The same labor pirates have fooled quite a number of coastwise men who are wiser now than they were before. They have learned by experience that a paid-up card in the I.L.A. [International Longshoremen’s Association] will not permit them to work deep-water ships, even though these ships are being discharged by other I.L.A. members.

As a longshoreman mentioned to me the other day, the “I.L.A. is a funny union.” Live wires should take notice and get on the ground here just as soon as possible. Work is brisk and there never was a better field in which so much results will accrue if those who “savvy” get on the job. The One Big Union controls forty ships out of this port and are sailing twice that many besides. It just requires a little more effort to prove to the other marine transport workers that the I.W.W. is the ship and that all else is the deep blue sea.

Ben H. Fletcher