#strike committee

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“Court Held In Pen., Remands Strikers,” Toronto Star. June 18, 1919. Page 03. --- Winnipeg Leaders Are Remanded Eight Days for Trial - To Ask for Bail. --- Special to The Star. Winnipeg, June 18. - Twelve hours after they had been placed in cells at Stony Mountain Penitentiary on a series of charges of sedition and conspiracy against the constitutional Government of Canada, ten Winnipeg strike leaders appeared before a justice of the peace yesterday afternoon and were remanded for eight days. They will come up again on Wednesday, June 25th.

Ald. John Queen, Ald. Abraham, A. Heaps, Wm. Ivens, George Armstrong, Robert B. Russell, R. E. Bray, Max Charietonoff, Moses Almazoff, Mike Berenczuk, A. Schopplerei, were the men arrested.

Four Warrants Unserved. Warrants for W. A. Pritchard, R. J. John, B. Devyatken, and S. Blumenberg still remain to be served.

A. J. Andrews, K. C., has been retained by the Dominion Government as prosecutor. He stated the warrants for the four yet to be apprehended can be executed anywhere in Canada. Sam Blumenberg, a radical socialist, is reported to have crossed the boundary line into the United States; W. A. Proychard, a prominent Victoria, B.C., labour leader, is said to be on his way back to the pacific coast; R. J. Johns, local strike leader, is in Montreal, Que., and of B. Devyatken little is known by the city police as to this man or his whereabouts.

Only Few Present. The only persons present when remand was granted were the Justice of the peace, Edgar A. Andrews, assistant clerk of the Winnipeg Police Court, and A. J. Andrews, K.C., Crown prosecutor. T. J. Murray, who has been retained to act as counsel for the defence, left Winnipeg for Stony Mountain at 4 o’clock, accompanied by Ald. Ernest Robinson, secretary of the Trades and Labor Council; J. K. McBride, Business agent of the Electrical Workers’ Union; Andrew Scoble, business agent of the Street Railway Men’s Union; and four or five other members of the Strike Committee. They were going out to see the prisoners if possible and to assure them of support and continued allegiance to the cause of which they had worked together. Two motor cars carried the labor delegation. One car turned back when it was discovered that a section of the road was almost impassable, while the other car, in which were Mr. Murray, Mr. McBride, and Ald. Robinson, attempted to push on. The gumbo was too much for them, however, and they remained on the road until given a lift by a passing car. Mr. Murray will go to Stony Mountain again to-day, making the trip by train owning to the condition of the roads.

Will Apply for Bail. Mr. Murray announced last night that application for bail for all the men gathered in when the most spectactular round-up in Winnipeg’s history was pulled off, will be made to-day. Mr. Murray will take the matter up with the Crown prosecutor. He stated last night that there would be no difficulty in raising any amount of money that might be required to furnish bail. Mr. Murray was to have been present at the penitentiary when the prisoners came up yesterday afternoon, but when five o’clock, the hour set for the proceedings, came around and counsel for the defence had not arrived, the formality of remanding the men for eight days was gone on with. Eight days is the longest period of remand which can be granted in the initial stages of a case of this nature.

Mr. Andrews brought back to the city a  number of letters from the strike prisoners to their families and friends in Winnipeg. In conformity with the rules of the prison, the letters were first read by the penitentiary authorities. Each of the men has a cell to himself.

Arrival Not Expected. The arrival of the prisoners, under a strong guard of members of the mounted police fire and city police yesterday, was a real surprise party for Warden Graham. The penitentiary officials had received no intimation that the Winnipeg delegation would be brought there and some little time passed before the door were opened and the prisoners taken in. Most of them appeared so amazed by the proceedings that they could hardly realize where they were. They bore up as good naturely as possible, under the circumstances. The party reached the penitentiary about 5.30 in the morning.

If bail is granted the preliminary hearing of the strike leaders will likely take place in Winnipeg. The Strike Committee has ever hope that bail will be allowed.

Text of information. Here is the text of the information and the complaint upon which warrants for the arrest of the men were issued. ‘The information an complaint of Albert Reams on the 16th day of June, 1919, that Rev. W. Ivens, R. J. Johns, R. B. Russell, W. A. Pritchard, (of Vancouver), John Queen, A. A. Heaps, A. Blumenberg, George Armstrong, R. E. Bray, Narrgew Chartanoff, B. Devyatken, Oscar Schoppelrel and Moses Almazoff, during the months of May and June, did conspire with one another and divers persons to this informant unknown, to excite divers, subjects of the King, to resist laws and resist persons, the same being part of the police force of the City of Winnipeg, in the due execution of their duty, and to bring the said force into hatred and contempt and to cause divers leal subjects of the King to believe that the Laws of the Dominion were unduly administered, and intending to disturb the public peace and to raise discontent in the minds of subjects of the King, and to raise and excite tumult and disobedience of the laws, and did cause to be published certain false and libelous statements with reference to the said police force and administration of justice in a publication known as the Western Labor News, special strike edition, in the words following, to wit: <<The Committee of One Thousand has achieved a distinct success in dismissing the Winnipeg police force and filling our streets with special police, many of whom are thugs, they have spilled blood, caused booze to be sold openly on the Main street at 50 cents a drink, and allowed fifteen to twenty bunches to carry on games of ‘crap’ for hours on the said Main street without interference. These are the magnificent forces of law and order that replace the police who were said to have refused to obey law and order. The special police are panicky and uncontrolled. When one man who kept cool drew his baton and quietly urged the people to get back to the sidewalk, he was charged by another special police man and went down under a smashing blow from his baton. So excited were these men that they slashed out at everybody promiscuously and received a shower of missiles in reply. When one became separate from his fellows he was quickly unhorsed and understood the meaning of rough house.  Several blackjacks were wrenched from the ‘specials’ by the strikers and are now one exhibition at the Labor Temple. They are heavy chains loaded with a clevice and bolt and covered with leather. Whoever made them had murder in his brain. One fellow was seen to take a daily paper, fill it with filth from the street and wipe the dirty mess all over the face of a ‘special.’ He spat and swore, and got off the street at the double quick. The rioting lasted some time, but was ended when the special police and the mounties dispersed in all directions and left the field to the crowd. It is understood that Canon Scott begged the Mayor to dismiss the thugs and enroll a police of returned men. A strong committee of soldiers left Victoria Park and offered Mayor Gray their services to maintain real order if the thugs were removed.>>

<<Further, they offered that, provided the special police ceased provocations and that these thugs were sent out without guns and with short batons which are concealed and that the mounties rode in twos instead of fours, sixes and eights, that they would not be molested. But if these specials were looking for trouble they would be sure to find.>>“

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“Further Remands For Leaders In Strike,” Winnipeg Free Press. July 8, 1919. Page 09. --- Assurance of This Given Before Three of Them Took Trip East --- Strike leaders, remanded to appear in city police court, Friday, on charges of sediition, will be remanded again. T. J. Murray, Labor counsel, declared yesterday. Ald. John Queen and A. A. Heapers, and R. E. Bray will not return from Toronto in time to appear, he stated. The three went east to confer with Toronto labor leaders only after A. K. Andrews, K. C., government prosecutor, said that the crown would not be ready to proceed on Friday, according to Mr. Murray. Mr. Andrews, while not aserting definitely that the preliminary hearing would not be opened on the remand date, said yesterday that there was nothing to prevent the strike leaders going to Toronto. Mr. Murray said his clients have been free to go anywhere since their last appearance in court, when they were released from their agreement to refrain from participation in labor activities, so long as they were on hand to appear when required. Mr. Murray Protests Mr. Murray took exception to the statements made that the strike leaders ‘refused to hold to their agreements.’ He declared that his clients protested against the continuation of the agreement which prevented them from speaking publicly in their own defense against statements appearing in the press. Accordingly, the agreement was withdrawn, and bail in each instance was increased. While under agreement, Mr. Murray said, the labor men at no time refused to adhere to the conditions laid down. Mr. Hyman, regarding alien labor men held on sedition charges, declared yesterday morning that Blumenberg, Almazoff, Charitonoff and Schoppelrel will not come up on ordinary application for bail. He said that their released under bonds is being dealt with by the commissioner of immigration. Thos. galley, commissioner of immigration, subsequently stated that he was awaiting instructions from Ottawa. He declared that the immigration board which is to deal with the cases of these men will sit this week. Name Aliens for Deportation Eight aliens to go before an immigration board who may not be given a civil trial for participation in the riots are Antoni Czezanouski, Mike Antochon, Mike Balacalki, John Grabski, Adam Baryaki, Kerick Condakonski, Steve Jaswak and Danyton Kuzaj, A request from immigration authirioties that these men be held without bail for investigation was received by Acting Chief Chris.H. Newton yesterday. If they are ordered deported, no action will be taken against them. If not, it is possible they will later be tried on the rioting charges. Meanwhile they were remanded for a week in police court on the civil charge. Rioting Cases Stayed Proceedings against H. Hancock and H. G. Hancock, father and sent for rioting, have been stayed at the request of the crown. The accused were arrested by special police after the riots had ended. Both are railway men. They live at 101 Dufferin avenue, Norwood, W. M. Nobie appeared for them. The Toronto Visit Local Labor leaders have little to say as to the visit of Ald. John Queen, Ald. A. a. Heaps and R. E. Bray, to Toronto. Ald. E. Rovinson stated that they had been sent there by the Defence league, but could give no further particulars.

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“Dixon and Armstrong Urge Alien Sympathy,” Winnipeg Free Press. July 10, 1919. Page 05. --- Address Open-Air Meeting in Condemnation of Immigration Act Amendment ---- Men who protested against the chloroforming of the transactions of the profiteers were being deported, F. J. Dixon, M. L. A. for Centre Winnipeg, asserted last night, addressing a meeting held in market square, in condemnation of the amendment to the immigration Act, passed in the session of parliament just closed. George Armstrong also spoke, and declared that the only way in which the workers could obtain political power was by getting control of industry. How this was to be secured he did not say, except to suggest that after investigating conditions, they could select their own methods. Petitions were circulated during the meeting asked for a fair and open trial for the six men of European nationality held by the immigration authorities. A collection was also made for the fund being raised for the defence of these men and the labor leaders. Mr. Dixon said that if the people of Canada allowed their rights to be over-ridden in the way it was sought to deport these aliens without the benefit of trial by jury to which they were entitled under British law, it would not be long before others would be deprived of their rights too. As a matter of fact, said he, the alien had better protection than the man born in the old country, as the alien could apply to his consul to look after his interests. If a man, he declaimed, challenged the right of the profiteer or criticized the government, he was in danger of immediate arrest and being railroaded out of the country. If they allowed the labor leaders to be thrown into jail, it would not be long before the farmers would be arrested for protesting against the tariff, and the temperance leaders for protesting against the transactions of the liquor dealers. ‘Unless,’ he shouted, ‘the people of Canada make up they will find their rights and liberties stolen from them by the scabbiest pack of political jackals that ever harassed a civilized country.’ Declaring that the fight was only beginning, Mr. Dixon denounced profiteering and becoming very sympathetic towards the returned soldier, asked why the government did not give the men some of the land held by speculators in the prairie provinces, such as the C.P.R. and the Hudson’s Bay company.

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“Winnipeg Jury Unable To Agree On Verdict In Strike Cases After Deliberating 11 Hours,” Toronto Star. March 27, 1920. Page 01. ---- THE JURY WHICH DECIDES TO-DAY, FATE OF SEVEN WINNIPEG LABOR LEADERS. ---- Here are the twelve men, who, since January 28, have been hearing the evidence is the case of the seven Winnipeg labor leaders charged with seditious conspiracy. Their names are: Standing, left to right - H. Johnson, Lundar; T. Spence, Greenridge; J. Jak, Ridgevllle; J. Kirkpatrick, Ridgeville; A. Davidson, Sperling; C. Morrison, Haselridge. Sitting: left to right - J. M. Henderson, Hazelridge; A. H. Quicke, Emerson; Alex. Sinclair, Tyndall; J. W. Stephens, Hazelbridge, G. C. Glenie, St. Marks; and D. Bruce, Stephenfield. ----- Twelve Men Deciding the Case Against Seven Winnipeg Strike Leaders Announce to Court They are Still Considering Their Decision. ---- Canadian Press Despatch. Winnipeg, Man., March 27. - At 11.10 to-day, the jury in the trial of the seven strike leaders charged with seditious conspiracy reported to Justice Metcalfe that they had been unable to agree on a verdict but that they were still deliberating. The court then adjourned until two o’clock this afternoon. Following the rebuttal address by A. J. Andrews, K.C., senior Crown counsel, yesterday. Mr. Justice Metcalfe, at 4.30, commenced his charge  to the jury, not concluding till half an hour after midnight, when the jury retired to consider their verdict. Objections to the charges were made by W. H. Truman, K.C., who applied for a reserve case. The application was granted by His Lordship, before the court adjourned.

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“Propose ‘Silent’ Strike,” Edmonton Bulletin. September 1, 1919. Page 01. --- WINNIPEG, Aug. 31. - Should the dominion government fail to grant petitions demanding the release on bail of the eight Winnipeg strike leaders now in the provicnial jail awaiting trial at the assizes, organized labor throughout Canada will be called upon ‘to take a holiday’ for twenty-four hours on Sept. 17 to protest against the treatment meted out to these men.

This announcement was made by F. J. Dixon, M.L.A., at a mass meeting held in the Winnipeg rink this afternoon under the auspices of the Dominion Labor party.

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“THOUGHT WINNIPEG. WAS UNDER SOVIET CONTROL,” The Quebec Chronicle. August 2, 1919. Page 03. --- MINNEAPOLIS ADVERTISING MAN DESCRIBES IMPRESSION DERIVED FROM WM, IVEN'S SPEECH IN VICTORIA PARK ON SECOND DAY OF STRIKE. --- Winnipeg . Man, Aug. 1—"My impression from Mr, Ivens’ speech was that Winnipeg was practically under Soviet control,” sad WE. Davis, Minneapolis advertising man, referring to a speech made by Mr. lvens in Victoria park on the second day of the strike, at the preliminary hearing of the eight labor leaders, charged with seditious conspiracy. “It implanted in the minds of the audience strongly the fact hat the strike committee was able to do anything it pleased.” he added.

Mr. Davis stood about forty yards from the speakers platform and Mr. R. B. Russel and several] other labor men spoke. Mr. Ivens first congratulated the audience on the solidarity of labor.” he said “and passed in review points which showed the strong grip of control the strike committee had on the community of Winnipeg. He told of control of the police force and the firemen. the telephones, streetcars, food, particularly bread and milk. He said the strike committee intended to limit use of telegraphs and to close newspapers, mails and control the waterworks.”

:”He explained how he had got in touch with unions connected with the production of newspapers,’ said witness, ‘other than typographical unions and that there would soon be no dailies published unless the strike committee published one.’

“He said ‘I think we have Dafoe (Managing Editor of the Free Press) and Richardson (President of the Tribune) now powerless to do to us this time what they did in past strikes”.” said witness. He went on: 

“Speaking of the bread and milk situation, he said they had been required to allow partial distribution because of many complaints of sickness of babies. 

“While recounting the strong control on the community held by the Strike Committee he said: ‘The Parliament of the city is now in the labor Temple instead of the City Hall.’ 

“Referring to the war of employers and working classes, he said: ‘If you will but stand firm in a short time we will bring them cringing on their knees to you saying: ‘What shall we do to be saved? 

“He said, ‘The storm is about to break. and this time the lightning will strike upward instead of downward. Some of the brothers are talking about raising money to build a new Labor Temple. I think the Parliament buildings on Kennedy street would make a good Labor Temple and the way things are going on we will soon move in.’  

“The impression he implanted in the minds of the audience firmly was the fact that the Strike Committee was able to do anything it pleased. I was impressed by the fact that the speech pointed out to the audience that this was a class war between capital and labor. and that the Strike Committee representing the working classes, was in complete control of the situation: that constituted authority had been set aside and a new clement was in control of the city.” 

Three moving picture theatre proprietors took the stand and told of the permit cards placed in front of their houses. Andrew Ferguson wrote the Strike Committee, pointing out the value of keeping theatres open and asking permission to keep his show going’ He then produced a letter from the Provincial Government ordering that the permit card of the Strike Committee be removed. 

E. J. McMurray. defence counsel objected to the letter, but Magistrate Nobe contended that if evidence had  been produced to show that a body usurped the functions of constituted authority as represented by the Provincial Licensing body, a letter protesting would be admissible. Mr. Ferguson identified a letter dictated by the Strike Committee, signed by him on behalf of the Provincial Exhibitor’s Association, pledging the Association to carry the permit signs and submit to censorship of the Strike Committee.

‘We pledge not to show any films which may be objectionable to the interests of labor for the duration of this crisis,’ the letter said in part.

Mr. Davis will take the stand next Tuesday until which day the hearing has been adjourned and will be cross-examined by the defence.

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“Woman Agitator Here,” Toronto Star. August 18, 1919. Page 10. --- Mrs. Amstrong of Winnipeg Calls Toronto ‘Dead’ Labor Labor Town --- Mrs. George Armstrong, wife of one of the so-called Winnipeg ‘Reds,’ who is at present confined in the Stoney Mountain Penitentiary, addressed a gathering in the Labor Temple yesterday, and appealed for aid to defend Rev. William Ivens and his associates, who have been committed for trial for attempting to form a Soviet Government.

‘They say one of our strike leaders was a German,’ she declared. ‘I don’t care what a man is if he is white under the skin and a worker. The only alien enemies we have in Canada are the capitalist and the strike-breaker.’

The working classes did not get a square deal, even in prison. The Winnipeg Labor leaders were placed in dingy cells and the manhood was knocked out of them by the ‘system,’ while Thomas Kelley, convicted of stealing a million dollars in connection with the construction of the Manitoba Parliament Buildings, ‘has a private suite of rooms at the Stoney Mountain retreat.’

Expressing her disappointment at the small attendance at the meeting, Mrs. Armstrong said she had formed the opinion that Toronto was a ‘dead Labor town,’ and the Labor leaders here needed a term in prison to wake them up.

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“Bail Is Refused Eight Winnipeg Strike Leaders,” Edmonton Bulletin. August 15, 1919. Page 07. --- Judge Says When Given Bail Before They Had Broken Their Promises --- Winnipeg, Aug. 14. - Bail was refused the eight Winnipeg strike leaders by Justice J. D. Cameron of the court of appeal today. The accused, William Ivens, R. B. Russell, John Queen, A. A. Heaps, R. E. Bray, W. A. Pritchard, R. J. Johns and George Armstrong, were accordingly taken into custody of the Royal North-West Mounted police, and escorted to the provincial jail, where they will remain until they appear for trial at the October assizes, unless defence counsel can obtain their freedom from one of the other judges of the higher courts.

Mr. Justice Cameron refused to grant bail on the ground that the eight leaders had broken their promises when released on bail the first time to obtain from taking an active part in labor unrest; that they had by public speeches and other activities carried on a campaign of an indiscriminate nature. He did not feel like taking the responsibility of admitting them to bail.

J. C. Murray had pointed out that these public utterances had been made in order to raise the necessary funds for defense. He does not despair of getting bail, but says that success is doubtful.