WE NEVER FORGET: Political Prisoners of World War I Repression Who Lost Their Lives in Freedom’s Cause, 1917-1931

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Pray for the dead
And fight like hell for the living.
-Mother Jones
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WNF, WWIR, Political Prisoners 1917-1931

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From American Political Prisoners by Stephen M. Kohn:

Between 1917 and 1931, at least thirty-one young men died as a direct result of imprisonment for their opposition to World War I or for their radical trade union activities. For the most part, these men died in obscurity at a time when the general public ignored the First Amendment abuses that led to their imprisonment and death.

April 8, 1918 – Fort Hancock, New Jersey
-Ernest Gellert. Socialist CO.

June 29, 1918 – Leavenworth Penitentiary
(Date of death from Davenport Daily Times of July 1, 1918, page 1.)
-Daniel H. Wallace, convicted under Espionage Act for anti-war speech given at Davenport, Iowa. Member, League of Humanity.

October 14, 1918 – Bellevue Hospital, New York
-Jacob Schwartz of New York City. Anarchist who criticized US intervention in Russia.
Transferred to hospital from Blackwell’s (? needs verification) after severe beating.

November 1918 – Sacramento County Jail
-R. J. Blaine, IWW-Federal Prisoner, died while awaiting trial.
-Ed Burns, IWW-Federal Prisoner, died while awaiting trial.
-Ed Evans, IWW-Federal Prisoner, died while awaiting trial.
-James Nolan, IWW-Federal Prisoner, died while awaiting trial.
-Frank Travis, IWW-Federal Prisoner, died while awaiting trial.

November 25, 1918 – Camp Hancock, Georgia
-Julius Firestone of Kings County, New York, Socialist

December 2, 1918 – Hospital in Spokane, Washington
-Otto Frederick Schmidt – 26-year-old IWW member.
Arrested in Spokane, later transferred to Walla Wall County Jail where he was found bleeding and unconscious after he and other IWWs were hosed down with icy water as punishment for protest. Transferred to Spokane County Jail for medical care and finally to hospital where he died.

December 6, 1918 – Fort Riley Hospital, Kansas
-John M. Wolfe, died in hospital after becoming ill while crowded into damp, dark basement cell with 41 other prisoners. CO, faith not given.

July 30, 1919 – Ft. Douglas
-Frank Burke of Chicago, Socialist CO.

September 19, 1919 – Spokane County Jail
-Carol Swenson. IWW-Federal Prisoner, died while awaiting trial.

(About) December 20, 1919 – Chicago Bridewell Jail
-Van Skedine. IWW CO.

November 21, 1922 – Leavenworth Penitentiary
-Ricardo Flores Magón of Mexico City and Los Angeles.
Mexican Revolutionary and Anarchist.

August 9, 1923 – San Quentin Prison
-Abraham Shocker. IWW-convicted under California Criminal Syndicalism Law.

May 12, 1924 – Sacramento County Jail
-Joe Coya, arrested at IWW union conference, died while awaiting trial.

October 1931 – Allegheny County Workhouse in Blawnox, Pennsylvania
-Milan Resetar of Woodlawn, PA. Communist Party member.

No date given:

Died in Hartford County Jail, Connecticut, date of death not given.
-Cornelius Lehane of Cork County, Ireland. Socialist and Irish Nationalist.

Died at Ft Leavenworth, date of death not given.
-Charles W. Bolly of Mungo, Indiana. Dunkard (German Baptist) CO.
-Reuben J. Eash of Thomas, Oklahoma. Mennonite CO.
-Daniel B. Flory of Lancaster, PA. Undenominational CO.
-Henry E. Franz of Hooker, Oklahoma. Mennonite CO.
-Hofer Brothers, Joseph and Michael. Hutterite COs.
-Johannes M. Klassen of Clinton, Oklahoma. Mennonite CO.
-Walter Sprunger of Berne, Indiana. Mennonite CO.
-Daniel Teuscher of Fisher, Illinois. Mennonite CO.
-Mark R. Thomas of Vandergraft, Pennsylvania. Jehovah’s Witness CO.
-Ernest D. Wells of Virginia. Christadelphian CO.
-Daniel S. Yoder of Applecreek, Oklahoma. Mennonite CO.

Died in Newton County Jail, Kansas, date of death not given.
(This is most likely the Harvey County Jail in the town of Newton.)
-James Gossard of Urbana, Illinois.
IWW-Federal Prisoner, died while awaiting trial in Wichita.

Note: CO = Conscientious Objector

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SOURCE
American Political Prisoners:
Prosecutions Under the Espionage and Sedition Acts

-by Stephen Martin Kohn
Greenwood Publishing Group, 1994
https://books.google.com/books/about/American_Political_Prisoners.html?id=-_xHbn9dtaAC

Note: This book is well worth the price which is a bit steep, even second-hand. Kohn’s research is incredible and tenacious. The forward is by Howard Zinn. Imagine my joy when my copy arrived and I found it autographed by Zinn. What a treasure!

My research into the lives of these courageous martyrs will continue from here. Stay tuned to WE NEVER FORGET and to Hellraisers Journal for more.

See also:
Tag: World War I Repression
https://weneverforget.org/tag/world-war-i-repression/

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