employers attempted to stop I. W. W. agitation, which was directed toward the organization of the thousands of unskilled workers in the San Joaquin Valley, the fruit belt of California. Street meetings were forbidden in Fresno. The I. W. W. again made use of “direct action” methods, and filled the jails of that city with arrested street speakers. The fight lasted for four months, and over 100 members were in jail for from two to three months. Arrested members refused to hire lawyers, and plead their own cases in court, or used some member of the organization as their “attorney.” Finally, the organizations outside of Fresno took an energetic hold of the fight, and organized a movement to “invade California.” In accordance with this plan, detachments of free speech fighters started to “march on Fresno” from Spokane, Portland, Denver, St. Louis, and other sections. Whereupon the Fresno authorities decided that they had enough, and surrendered. Freedom of speech was completely re-established in Fresno, and the I. W. W. has never since been interfered with.
A four months’ strike of shoe workers occurred in Brooklyn, New York in the winter of 1911. This strike was most stubbornly contested on both sides, and resulted in improved conditions for the workers in some of the shops.
SOME OF THE STRIKES OF 1912
Local Union No. 10, Electrical Supply Workers, Fremont, Ohio. One strike; 30 men involved. Lost because of inability to extend the same and shut down the plant.
Local Unions 161 and 169, Textile and Shoe Workers, Haverhill, Mass. Two strikes involving 572 members. Both strikes successful. Lasted seven weeks altogether. Sixty members arrested and 15 of them convicted and sentenced to jail for one to four months.
Local Union 194, Clothing Workers, Seattle, Wash. Ten small strikes lasting from a few hours up to two
