100 years ago: Crackdown on Wobblies spreads throughout the region

A general roundup of Wobblies continued throughout the region – sometimes involving tar and feathers.

In Yakima, a mob kidnapped the local secretary for the Industrial Workers of the World (Wobblies) at midnight and carried him a mile out of town. The man, believing he was about to be hanged, “begged hard for his life.”

The mob gave him “a coat of tar and feathers” and ordered him to leave town. He promised to leave the state.

In Fernwood and St. Maries, Idaho, 50 Wobblies were being held for further questioning and charges were in the offing.

In Moscow, three Wobblies were awaiting trial for “criminal syndicalism.” Three others were originally charged, but they escaped and were considered fugitives. Meanwhile, another Wobbly was arraigned for posting stickers calling for Wobblies to assemble in Moscow for the trial. He was also charged with criminal syndicalism – criminal acts for social or economic change.

In Coeur d’Alene, officials were preparing for the trial of the local Wobbly secretary, also on charges of criminal syndicalism. His trial had been moved from St. Maries to Coeur d’Alene because of the fear of jury intimidation in St. Maries.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1918: Congress passed the first law establishing daylight saving time in the United States, with clocks to be moved forward one hour from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October. (This law was repealed in August 1919.)