The Everett Massacre: A history of the class struggle in the lumber industrySmith, Walker C.
History
The Everett Massacre: A history of the class struggle in the lumber industry
Smith, Walker C.
Industrial Workers of the World; Lumbering -- Washington (State); Lumbermen -- Washington (State)
"Counsel for the defense says this is an important trial, that important
questions are involved, that the verdict in this case will have a great
deal to do with the ultimate future of the working man and organized
labor. I don't think that matters of that kind should enter the minds of
the jurors in arriving at a verdict, but if it does, I want to
supplement what counsel for the defense has said. I want to say that in
my mind a verdict in this case will have much to do with the future
success and the future advancement of honest labor in every line and in
all organizations. It will have much to do with clarifying the situation
insofar as this one organization is concerned. Every organization don't
preach the doctrines that are preached by this organization, and if this
jury by its verdict does not support that kind of method and that kind
of procedure it will aid in purifying an organization that otherwise
might do a world of good, but as it stands today, uttering the
propaganda that it does, pursuing the tactics that it does it, is a
menace not only to society, but is a menace to the welfare of the other
labor organizations that believe in pursuing lawful methods, in a lawful
manner. This is an important case in that regard.
"I believe that it is a fortunate thing that a jury of King County and a
jury from the city of Seattle should have been called to try this case.
The seed was not planted in Snohomish County! The plot was not hatched
in Snohomish County! It was hatched down here in Seattle. The expedition
started out from Seattle, not this one alone but many of them. Seattle
was the base, the enemy's base, and it was from here that they started.
Just down here almost in sight of this court house is the place where we
claim the plot was formed, and it has come back here, and we come into
court and lay it at your feet. They returned here, they have brought the
case here for trial, and we are satisfied. Now we lay it before you and
say,--'As citizens of Seattle do justice to the city of Everett and
Snohomish County.'"
With these words ringing in their ears the twelve jurors retired for
their deliberations, the court having entered an order discharging from
further service the two alternate jurors, Efaw and Williams.
Retiring shortly before noon, the jury consulted for nearly twenty-two
hours, taking ballot after ballot only to find that there were some who
steadfastly refused to agree to any compromise verdict. Then, shortly
after nine o'clock on May 5th, two full calendar months after the start
of the trial and just six months to the day from the time of the tragedy
of the Verona, Foreman James R. Williams announced the result of their
deliberations, and the word sped out to the many hundred thousands who
had spent an anxious and sleepless night;
"We, the jury, find the defendant, Thomas H. Tracy, NOT GUILTY!"
CHAPTER IX.
SOLIDARITY SCORES A SUCCESS
"I. W. W. Not Guilty!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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