Thursday May 11, 1916
Chicago, Illinois - America Union Workers Plead for Life of Irish Rebel

In a meeting of the Chicago Federation of Labor this past Sunday, a resolution was passed that a message should be sent to London making a plea for the life of the Irish Rebel, James Connolly. Connolly is well known and much respected by the trade unionists and Socialists of Chicago, having once been a resident of the city where he was active in both movements on behalf of the working class.

From The Chicago Daily Tribune of May 8, 1916:

Plead for Connelly.

Miss Mary O'Reilly introduced a resolution which requested the British government to be lenient with James Connolly, the Irish labor leader arrested in connection with the recent Irish rebellion. Connolly, formerly a Chicagoan is in prison in London awaiting trial.

After the resolution had been passed by a unanimous vote this cablegram was sent to Premier Asquith in London:

The Chicago Federation of Labor, in convention assembled, representing over 250,000 workers, by unanimous vote, asks that James Connolly and other leaders of Irish rebellion be given same humane consideration given by Abraham Lincoln to leaders in American civil war.

John Fitzpatrick, president.
E. N. Nockels, secretary.

The Seven Patriots Who Signed the Irish Proclamation of Independence
``````````

The Socialists of Indiana gathered at their party convention at 247 1/2 East Washington street this past Sunday afternoon and voted to send a message to the British Premier on behalf of James Connolly and the other Irish Rebels.

From The Indianapolis Star of May 8, 1916:

A cable message addressed to Premier Asquith, requesting that James Connolly, a prisoner since the Irish uprising, be treated as a prisoner of war and be given a trial, was sent before the convention adjourned. It is the understanding of the Indianapolis Socialists that Connolly is a member of their party. They contend that others who have been convicted by the British court-martial have not been given a trial before being put to death.

From The Indianapolis News of May 8, 1916:

SOCIALISTS OF INDIANA MAKE
PLEA FOR REBELS
-----

SEND CABLEGRAM TO MEMBER OF BRITISH PARLIAMENT.
-----

Socialists of Indiana in state convention in Indianapolis Sunday adopted a resolution to send to Conrad Henderson, Socialist member of the lower house of the British house of parliament, a cablegram asking that James Connolly and his colleagues, under arrest in England as a result of the Irish rebellion, be treated as prisoners of war. The message was as follows:

The Socialists of Indiana, in convention assembled, request that James Connolly and his colleagues be treated as prisoners of war.

The cablegram bore the signature of William Henry, state secretary.

The C. L. U. of Indianapolis addressed the issue of the Irish Revolt at its meeting on Monday evening.

From The Indianapolis Star of May 9, 1916:

CENTRAL LABOR BODY ADOPTS RESOLUTION
ON IRISH REVOLT
-----

Sympathy for the sufferers in the recent uprising in Ireland was expressed by the Central Labor Union in a resolution that was adopted at the regular meeting of the body last evening in the Labor Temple. The adoption of the resolution followed a warm debate which ended in the striking from the resolution a clause providing that the body send a cablegram to Premier Asquith urging him to spare the life of James Connolly and other leaders of the Dublin revolt. The resolution was introduced by W. F. Jackman, who had a personal acquaintance with Connolly when the Irish leader lived in Chicago.

Frank T. Hawley proposed the motion that was finally carried in which sympathy was extended but no provision was made for sending of the cablegram.

From the Chicago Day Book of May 11, 1916:

SOURCES

The Chicago Daily Tribune
(Chicago, Illinois)
-May 8, 1916
https://www.newspapers.com/image/28713349/

The Indianapolis Star
(Indianapolis, Indian)
-May 8, 1916
https://www.newspapers.com/image/7127082/
-May 9, 1916
https://www.newspapers.com/image/7128126/

The Indianapolis News
(Indianapolis, Indiana)
-May 8, 1916
https://www.newspapers.com/image/37350825/

IMAGES
Chicago Federation of Labor, A. F. of L., Org'zd Nov 9, 1896
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Federation_of_Labor
Irish Rebels, James Connolly, Chg Dly Tb, May 8, 1916
https://www.newspapers.com/image/28713349/
Easter Rising, Seven signers of Proclamation of Apr 24, 1916
http://www.easter1916.net/proclamation.htm
AFL Button
http://www.laborsolidarity.info/index-2.html
Irish Rebels, James Connolly, Day Book, May 11, 1916
https://www.newspapers.com/image/78257980/

See also:

C99 Tag: Easter Rising of 1916
http://caucus99percent.com/tags/easter-rising-1916

C99 Tag: Irish Rebels of 1916
http://caucus99percent.com/tags/irish-rebels-1916

The Socialist Party in Indiana Since 1896 by Ora Ellen Cox
https://scholarworks.iu.edu/journals/index.php/imh/article/view/5968/5656