Celebrating History: Wobblies still in the area

By Emily Mayer

It was an election year in 1916, and Havre was a popular stop for those seeking various offices. This week, Governor Stewart was in the area giving speeches. Also on the ballot were several initiatives, including the prohibition of the manufacture, sale and consumption of alcohol. For at least the past year, churches and the Women's Christian Temperance Union were active in promoting the initiative, while saloon owners, breweries, and those who enjoyed consuming adult beverages were certainly making their views known. The most vocal opponent to Prohibition in Havre was J. K. Bramble, owner and editor of The Hill County Democrat. Which side will succeed? Keep reading future articles.

Aside from political glad-handing and kissing babies, the only other major news this week was the continuance of the I. W. W. and their antics. The Wobblies were serious about causing trouble, and this article was printed in the Oct. 2, 1916, issue of The Havre Daily Promoter, complete with misspelling:

"'WE WILL BURN THE BRIDGES FOR YOU' SAID ONE MEMBER

"Railroad trainmen who register at Havre division headquarters complain that the menace of the I. W. W. is something that is getting beyond the power of the Great Northern railroad to deal with.

"'A trainman takes his life in his hands every time he goes out on his run,' said one of them, and he hastened to add that it was not the usual railroad accident that was referred to.

"A freight conductor who would not permit the use of his name, owing to the danger of assassination to which it would expose him, said:

"'Every time I take out a train before it reaches its division terminal, there are from 15 to 150 members of the I. W. W., who have taken forcible possession of the train and definatly resist all efforts to put them off. It has got to the point where conductors no longer attempt to eject them. All we can do is to wire in the facts to the Division superintendent and let the police deal with the problem as best they may.

"Throw Men from Trains

"'To my certain knowledge more than one passenger on freight trains has been forcibly thrown from the train by alleged members of the I. W. W. for no other reason except the person could not produce a card showing membership in the order. In North Dakota no less than three or four persons have recently been killed in this manner, although the death is usually reported as purely accidental.

"'Any trainman who attempts to do his duty and clear the cars of the tramps, receives the menacing warning: 'We'll get you.'

"'Cut Bank, of all the towns along the line of the Great Northern, appears to handle the problem most satisfactorily. The 'I Won't Workers' are rounded up as soon as they arrive at that terminal and are made to work for the city. They have practically built their water works and the extension of the pipe system with this class of labor. If the men work they are given good meals; if not, they are imprisoned and fed on bread and water until they will work. When I was lat there, there were 11 members of the order at work on the rock pile crushing stone for the city streets. These had broken into a box car and stolen and drank a quantity of beer.

"Offer to Burn Bridges

"'Knowing me to a member of one of the railroad brotherhoods, and utterly mistaking the spirit and purpose of the union, the leader of a gang on my train last week said to me: 'Why did you men not go on strike? We would have helped you burn the bridges and make a bon fire of all railroad property.'

"'My answer was delivered with my fist and it was so effective that the men scattered at once.'

"Corroborative of facts related in the above interview are recent occurrences that have been given only partial publicity.

"Have It In For Farmers

"Near Rudyard, a threshing machine was burned to the ground after the owner had discharged men who were getting good wages but who devoted their time almost wholly to the intimidation of other workmen not belonging to the order.

"At Joplin, members of the order who had an assumed grievance against a farmer, quit their job and immediately afterward a box of matches was found concealed in a bundle of grain about to be fed into the thresher.

"At Kremlin, a monkey wrench was thrown into the gears of a threshing machine and the outfit put out of commission.

"In the Canadian provinces to the north, there are reports of the burning of no less than a dozen threshing rigs.

"It is asserted by men who have been urged to join the organization that many of the members have formed a sub-organization with the purpose of preventing the harvesting and threshing of grain, if possible.

"Declined $3.50 a Day

"Peter Wagner of West Butte reports having encountered a dozen members of the order in the Sweet Grass Hills. He was looking for a teamster for a bundle wagon and informed the men.

"'Well, what do you pay?' said one of the number.

"'Three fifty a day with good board and room,' replied Mr. Wagner.

"'Aw, we'se just quit a job that paid us $4 a day,' said another of the men in a sneering manner, and with that they turned their backs upon Mr. Wagner and walked away."

Perhaps this news from the Hill County Democrat's Oct. 7, 1916, issue will lessen the activities of the Wobblies:

"FIRST SNOW OF SEASON.

"The first snow for the season fell in Havre Tuesday and the ground is fairly covered with it. This is nothing, however, but an autumnal equinox squall and will soon pass away, as we always have fine weather in Have until Christmas.

"Some of the farmers who are late in threshing their grain will be delayed a little, but the moisture will be good for another crop next year."

Last but not least, here is an entry from the Society column of the Oct. 7, 1916, issue of The Havre Plaindealer:

"Cheek-Nordlund

"On Saturday afternoon at the Oakland hotel occurred the marriage of E. L. Cheek and Miss Hazel Nordland. The young couple were attended by Miss Ella Dillenbeck and Miss Vina Olson. Following the ceremony, performed by Judge Pyper, Mr. and Mrs. Cheek left for a wedding trip to the eastern part of the state."

The Oakland Hotel was located on the second story of what is now the Eagles' Club, and is the location of one of Havre's finest Halloween traditions. Yes, folks, it is almost time for the Havre JayCee's "Haunted Hotel Oakland" fundraiser.