Transcript Progressivism - Portland State University

Solidarity
International Workers of
the World
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1905 IWW Convention
the “New Continental
Congress”
Industrial Union
Thought change would
come through a general
strike hoping the workers
would take over
Marxist organization
IWW in the
Northwest
• IWW in the Northwest
wanted to organize all
industry into one large
union including timber,
shipping
• They wanted the
workers to own the
companies
• Rejected the electoral
system
Key Wobblies
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Big Bill Haywood – Helped organize strikes for for workers of all
races
Eugene Debs – Leader of the labor movement in America ran for
president in 1908
Elizabeth Gurley Flynn – Feminist concerned with equal pay for
workers, helped organize strikes
Joe Hill – martyr of the Wobblies, “Don’t morn…organize.”
Marie Equi – Portland doctor who performed abortions
regardless of class, helped organize humanitarian efforts, fought
for workers rights
All of these individuals went to jail at least once for their cause
Free Speech Action in Portland
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Standing on soap boxes in downtown Portland (6th and
Washington) IWW speakers would shout their messages of
worker’s rights and the need to organize to the people passing by
The newly elected, upon being sworn in ordered all public
speaking to end except religious meetings
IWW members challenged this by continuing to speak on street
corners in Portland
On one occasion in 1913 the police arrested every man who
stepped on the soap box and began to speak until the jail was
filled with shouting, singing IWW members
Once all of the men had been arrested, the women started in
and were arrested as well
This marked the beginning of violent conflict between the IWW
in Portland and Portland police
6th and Alder today