Joe Hill is a poet, a writer of songs, a man of soul, a tender and sympathetic nature
and the crime of murder is as foreign to him and as unthinkable
as it would be to any other man of like temperament.
-Eugene Victor Debs
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Sunday August 29, 1915
Salt Lake City, Utah - Governor Spry Receives Letter from Debs on Behalf of Joe Hill
Among the many volumes of letters received by Governor Spry pleading with him to spare the life of Joe Hill, is the following from Comrade Eugene Debs:
August 20, 1915
Terre Haute, Indiana
Dear Governor Spry,
Please allow me to say a word in behalf of Joseph Hillstrom (also known as Joe Hill). From the reports that have come to me from those in position to know the facts and whom I regard as entirely trustworthy, I am convinced that there is more than a reasonable doubt as to the guilt of this unfortunate brother of ours in the cause of labor. He was convicted upon circumstantial evidence, denied the right to choose his own counsel, while at the same time there was unquestionably a strong prejudice against him on account of his activity in the labor movement.
Joe Hill is a poet, a writer of songs, a man of soul, a tender and sympathetic nature and the crime of murder is as foreign to him and as unthinkable as it would be to any other man of like temperament. For this reason and others I will not trouble you with I beg you to give serious consideration to the case of Joe Hill and if you do I am confident you will grant him executive clemency. Joe Hill is not a murderer; he is a man and the great state of Utah where murder is so abhorred cannot afford to take his life.
Thanking you sincerely for myself and for the working people in whose behalf Joe Hill has labored and suffered and made many sacrifices I remain,
Yours very truly,
Eugene V. Debs
[Photograph added.]
~~~~~~~~~~
SOURCE
Letters of Eugene V. Debs, Volume 1
-ed by J. Robert Constantine
University of Illinois Press, Jan 1, 1990
https://books.google.com/...
IMAGE
Joe Hill
http://en.wikipedia.org/...
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Correspondence of Eugene Debs with Elizabeth Gurley Flynn
EGF to EVD, about August 18th:
New York City
Dear Comrade Debs,
I write to you on behalf of a valiant soldier in labor's cause-Joe Hill, the poet and song-writer of the I. W. W. who is in jail, sentenced to death, in Utah. You probably have already heard of the case. Judge O. N. Hilton now has it in charge and is attempting to secure an appeal to the U. S. Supreme Court. I am enclosing data and a form of the appeal to the Governor that is being circulated widely in the East. If you would write even a few lines to some of the Socialist press or to me to send copies to the Socialist press urging financial and moral support, the circulation of the petitions etc. it will help tremendously to stir up working class interest and co-operation for this almost unknown and very worthy comrade.
I wonder if the Rip Saw would publish a form of appeal to the Governor to be filled out and sent in by readers?
I am sorry not to have met you on my Middle-West trip, but had a very pleasant hour with Kate Richards O'Hare.
With very best wishes and hoping to enlist your support and co-operation for Joe Hill, I am
Yours fraternally,
Elizabeth Gurley Flynn
[Photograph added.]
EVD from Terre Haute, Indiana, to EGF:
August 20, 1915
Dear Comrade Flynn,
Your communication with printed enclosures in behalf of Joe Hill has just been received and I am glad to undertake without loss of time to comply with your request. When the life of a comrade is at stake all else must take second place. I have been interested in Hill's case but have had no chance on account of being so hard pressed to take any active part in his behalf. I have now written a letter to Governor Spry of which you will find a copy enclosed. You can use this in any way that will help. I have also written a brief appeal and mailed it to the editor of the American Socialist and asked him to insert it in the next issue. You will find a copy of this enclosed also and you can use it in any way you may think best. As the A. S. is the party paper and all socialist papers receive it in exchange it is quite probable that a number of them will copy this article. Perhaps you would better send a copy of both the letter to the governor and the article to the A. S. to the Int. Socialist Review if you think it will help the agitation in Hill's behalf. I will gladly do anything more I can and I shall find other ways of getting publicity and reaching the people. Unfortunately the R. S. has gone to press and it will be a month before there is another issue and that will be too late.
I too am sorry to have missed you while we were in the middle states but am glad you had the visit with Kate Richards O'Hare. Earnestly hoping we shall be able to save Joe Hill and with all good wishes to you I remain,
Yours fraternally,
Eugene V. Debs
[Photograph added.]
~~~~~~~~~
See above for source.
IMAGES
Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, 1915
http://dp.la/...
Eugene V Debs
https://www.marxists.org/...
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Dear Readers of Hellraisers,
This year for my vacation, Hellraisers will not be as scaled back as it was for the past two vacations. This happy change is due to my new & much faster computer.
The big change that my readers will see, starting July 16th, will be the shorter length of the postings along with fewer links.
When my readers find unfamiliar names, places, or events, please use the tags along with JayRaye (in diarist section of search feature). Or just leave a question for me in the comments and I will get back to you.
When I actually leave for Minnesota, I'll let everyone know.
Solidarity,
JayRaye
Note: Dear Fellow Workers, Brothers and Sisters, and Comrades: I'm back from Minnesota, but technically still on vacation. I will be checking in briefly at about 2 pm and again at 7 pm each day until Sept 1, at which time Hellraisers Journal will return to it's regular programing with more links and research included. Many thanks to everyone who watched over Hellraisers during the time that my internet access was much limited. I very much appreciate it.
And thanks to WordsInAction who nominated me for that Daily Kos election and to the person who voted for me (gooder was that you?). I appreciate the honor even tho I don't exactly understand what the election was all about or what my duties would be had I won the election and which duties I most likely would not have the time to fulfill...but thanks anyway for the recognition!! And congratulations to the winners of the election.
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Joe Hill - Bruce Springsteen
And standing there as big as life
And smiling with his eyes
Joe says, What they forgot to kill
Went on to organize
Went on to organize
-Alfred Hayes
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