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Thursday December 30, 1915
From The Labor World: I. W. W. to Begin Organizing Drive Among Timber Workers

The Labor World of Duluth, Minnesota, recently warned the American Federation of Labor that the Industrial Workers of the World intends to begin organizing the Timber Workers of Northern Minnesota. We would note that no great concern has, of yet, been demonstrated by the A. F. of L. for these underpaid and overworked migratory workers, that is, not until the I. W. W. arrived upon the scene.

From The Labor World of December 25, 1915:

I. W. W. ISSUES APPEAL TO TIMBER WORKERS
OF NORTHERN MINNESOTA TO ORGANIZE;
A. F. OF L. SHOULD GET BUSY WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY

The American Federation of Labor should pay some attention to the appeal of The Labor World to organize the timber workers of Northern Minnesota, before it is too late. Already the I. W. W. is making a strenuous effort to organize these men. Headquarters have been opened at 907 West Michigan street. They are in charge of Arthur Boose. A strong appeal has been issued to the timber workers to organize under the I. W. W. by J. A. McDonald of Virginia [a city on the Minnesota Iron Range].

The appeal is in printed form and states that the timber barons are employing young men and are discarding all of the old men to become "hobos, vagrants and bums."

[The appeal continued:]

The boss has thrown them to one side to starve, as they may, to die as they can. Those worn out timber beasts are pictures of their future.

You see many of your bosses are healthy men at 53 and 60. How many lumber jacks do you find who are healthy at that age? The bosses steal from you the best of the product of your labor.

They want you to pay big salaries to the employment sharks that they may fatten on your poverty. Running an employment office is easier than swinging and ax. But you have to swing the ax that these parasites may fatten off your labor. It is easier for them to work you than to do the work themselves.

The main cause of your present conditions is the fact that you are unorganized in the world, where all power is organized. The boss does not respect you because you are not powerful, you are not powerful because you are not organized. With 5,000 men organized in the Minnesota timber industry, fighting for themselves instead of for the boss, we could put the employment offices out business, we could demand higher wages, better camps and shorter hours.

The lumber barons hate organizations of labor. Instead of fighting a one-man-power-fight, organize, and when you then ask for better conditions you will not be an individual, but you will have behind you the concentrated might of the greatest fighting organization in the world.

We are in this fight to the last man, we never retreat and we never compromise. Let us get together. Change the timber beast into the full stature of manhood. The road to better wages to open to you.

[Photographs added.]

SOURCE
The Labor World
(Duluth, Minnesota)
-Dec 25, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/image/49836347/

IMAGES
"Timber Beasts" in bunk house near Hibbing, MN, about 1915-1917
pdf! http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/42/v42i05p162-174...
Arthur Boose, IWW Organizer, about 1915
http://digitalcollections.lib.washington.edu/cdm/ref/collection/social/i...

See also:
Revolt of the "Timber Beasts," IWW Lumber Strike in Minnesota
-by John E Haynes
pdf! http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/42/v42i05p162-174...
For more on Arthur Boose (1878-1959) from Rebel Voices-
https://books.google.com/books?id=n2ATBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA87&lpg=PA87&dq=%22ar...

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FIFTY THOUSAND LUMBERJACKS
(Tune: "Portland County Jail")

[Fifty Thousand Lumberjacks first appeared in the 14th edition of the Little Red Songbook,
published in Chicago in April of 1918 -per Archie Green.]

Fifty thousand lumberjacks, fifty thousand packs,
Fifty thousand dirty rolls of blankets on their backs,
Fifty thousand minds made up to strike and strike like men;
For fifty years they've "packed" a bed, but never will again.

Chorus
"Such a lot of devils," that's what the papers say-
They've gone on strike for shorter hours and some increase in pay.
They left the camps, the lazy tramps, they all walked out as one;
They say they'll win the strike or put the bosses on the bum."

Fifty thousand wooden bunks full of things that crawl;
Fifty thousand restless men have left them once for all.
One by one they dared not say, "Fat, the hours are long."
If they did, they'd hike-but now they're fifty thousand strong.

Fatty Rich, we know you're game, know your pride is pricked.
Say-but why not be a man, and own when you are licked?
They've joined the One Big Union-Gee! For goodness sake, "Get wise!"
The more you try to buck them now the more they organize.

Take a tip and start right in-plan some cozy rooms,
Six or eight spring beds in each, with towels, sheets and brooms;
Shower baths for men who work keeps them well and fit.
A laundry, too, and drying room, would help a little bit.

Get some dishes, white and clean; good pure food to eat.
See that cook has help enough to keep the table neat.
Tap the bell for eight hours' work; treat the boys like men,
And fifty thousand lumberjacks may come to work again.

Men who work should be well paid. "A man's a man for a' that."
Many a man has a home to keep same as yourself, Old Fat.
Mothers, sisters, sweethearts, wives, children, too, galore,
Stand behind the men to win this bread and butter war.

Fifty Thousand Lumber Jacks - Joe Glazer