Three Different Items from the International Labor Defense, 1930's (all unlocated in WorldCat/OCLC)
1.
Workers Killed in Economic Struggle U.S.A. Year of 1937 Year of 1938. first six months of 1939. National Conference International Labor Defense, Hotel Hamilton, Washington DC,July 8 and 9, 1939. 13.75x8.5", 4 leaves, 44 case histories. Original wrappers. Condition: old horizontal fold, with a 1-1.5" tear at left in each page at the fold. Provenance: Edward Walther, and then the Library of Congress (with their 6mm "LC" perforated stamp on the title page and their surplus/duplicate rubber stamp on the front cover.)
“The International Labor Defense (ILD) was a legal advocacy organization established in 1925 in the United States as the American section of the Comintern's International Red Aid network. The ILD defended Sacco and Vanzetti, was active in the anti-lynching, movements for civil rights, and prominently participated in the defense and legal appeals in the cause célèbre of the Scottsboro Boys in the early 1930s. Its work contributed to the appeal of the Communist Party among African Americans in the South.”--Wiki
“In the book Selected Writings by Dorothy Day (who was present), the events of the protest are summarized as thus: 'On Memorial Day, May 30, 1937, police opened fire on a parade of striking steel workers and their families at the gate of the Republic Steel Company, in South Chicago. Fifty people were shot, of whom 10 later died; 100 others were beaten with clubs.' “ And: “On Memorial Day, hundreds of sympathizers gathered at Sam's Place, headquarters of the SWOC. As the crowd marched across the prairie towards the Republic Steel mill, a line of Chicago policemen blocked their path. The foremost protestors argued their right to continue. The police, feeling threatened, fired on the crowd. As the crowd fled, police bullets killed ten people and injured 30. Nine people were permanently disabled and another 28 had serious head injuries from police clubbing.”--Wikipedia
2.
Labor's Prisoners and their Families, Case histories, “prepared by Prisoners Relief Department—ILD, 112 East 19th Street, N.Y.C.”, presenting “brief sketches about our wards. They receive the daily attention of the organization in addition to regular relief checks which are sent to them on the 15th of each month for the duration of their sentence...” 13.5x8.5”, 13 leaves, 90 entries with 156 cases identified. Condition: Good, with an old horizontal fold. The fold is problematic, , the first page having a 2” tear along it to page ten, with each page thereafter having a less severe tear in the same spot. Also there is a Library of Congress surplus/duplicate rubber stamp on the front page. Mimeograph (or offset?) production, staple bound.
The info sets including name, prison sentence, an average 25-word case history synopsis, and a “relief and family history”.
This publication includes cases such as that of S. Alexander Charles, in the Tennessee correctional system for 12 years for “second degree murder and resisting an officer”. “Charges against this young Negro came as a result of his intervening in an attempted lynching when he saved the intended victim.” The continually-saddening story continues in the “family history section”: “No family. In jail since 1932. transferred ti hospital for Criminally Insane three years ago. Not permitted to receive any mail, newspapers etc. Not permitted to write letters.”
There are numerous reports of “frame ups” for murder, rape, and other crimes in the 90 reports in the publication. There are also some famous cases represented here, including Clarence Norris (“one of the five remaining Scottsboro boys” whose death penalty was commuted to life imprisonment, who “has received relief regularly since 1931...also additional clothing, soap, etc.”
ALSO with:
3.
“What to Do when Under Arrest” pamphlet, distributed/sold for a penny, by the International Labor Defense. 4.25x1.75”, folded from a 14x4.25” sheet, printed on two sides, in 8 panels. I guess it was made to fit into a wallet. Provenance: estate of Ralph M. Easley. Very Fine condition. No date of publication, but ca. 1938/9, with a gift stamp of 1940
(“Ralph Montgomery Easley (1856–1939) was an American journalist and political organizer. He was Director of the American political reform group, the National Civic Federation...The National Civic Federation (NCF) was an American economic organization founded in 1900 which brought together chosen representatives of big business and organized labor, as well as consumer advocates in an attempt to ameliorate labor disputes. It favored moderate progressive reform and sought to resolve disputes arising between industry and organized labor.”--Wikipedia
The three: $450
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