People's World

26 July 1937

People's World, Volume 6, Number 59, 26 July 1937

 

ASK FUNDS TO DEFEND UNION MEN

Murder Indictments Framed Against 10 Kansas Miners

The Western Worker has received a copy of a letter appeal for funds to defend the 10 union brothers of Galena, Kansas, who are indicted on charges of first-degree murder, from the Galena Defense Committee, Tony Me Teer, chairman. Richard Murray, secretary. The letter follows: To All Organized Labor: Fraternal Greetings: This letter is an appeal to all union men anti women, to see that the ten union brothers of Galena. Kansas, who are under indictment for first degree murder. are not crucified and sent to the gallows or given life sentence in the state prison. The notorious Blue Card Company Union, headed by ex-convicts and formed to break the strike of the Tri-State Miners, raided and wrecked the union halls in Picher, Oklahoma and Treece, Kansas, beating union men unconscious with pickhandles, before proceeding to Galena and marching on the union hall in that city. They broke out the window glass with pickhandles, fired a shotgun charge into the hall and hurled smoke bombs, before any retaliation was made on the part of the union. After all of this had occurred, the union men thought it was time to exercise the rights of free American Citizens and defend their lives and property. Shots were fired from within the union hall, and nine members of the attacking mob were wounded. One of these, who had only been in the district for five weeks, coming here to work under striking conditions, later contracted pneumonia and died. Then, these union brothers were indicted for first degree murder. / The organization to which these men belong has been on strike for more than two years, despite great suffering, to establish true American working conditions, and to win collective bargaining rights, against companies which organized company unions in violation of the law. We are financially unable to take care of the expense of the trials, and we are forced to appeal to you for funds. We ask that you exercise the true spirit of unionism in your hearts and donate to this fund. All checks should be made out to John M. Sherwood, Secretary - Treasurer. International Union of Mine. Mill and Smelter Workers. 720 Colorado Building. Denver, Colorado, and marked “for Galena Defense Fund.’’ An audit will be made at regular intervals of all receipts and disbursements for the benefit of the organizations making donations. Thanking you for your kind consideration, we are with best wishes.

 Fraternally yours, GALENA DEFENSE COMMITTE

 

 

 RW 10-21-1972 Page 26

 Record World 10-21-1972 Pg. 25

Atomic blast at Bikini Atolls 

 

 

 

 FLYIN' HIGH

 

 

                      Pat, football card with Orlando Panthers

...

Abilene Reporter-News, December 15, 1963, Page 10

 Pat Batten Hardin-Simmons University's outstanding tailback for the past two seasons has signed a contract to play for the Detroit Lions professional team for 1964 The 6-2 221-pound senior was drafted in the third round of the National Football League draft by the Lions In addition the San Diego Chargers of the AFL drafted him in the seventh round Edwin Anderson general manager of the Lions was in Abilene last week to sign up Batten who is the highest draft selection to be signed by the NFL club Southern California quarterback Pete Beathard and Michigan State end Matt Snorton were drafted first and second respectively by the Lions They have signed with AFL clubs The Linns who are seeking a running back to assist Nick Pietrosante and Dan Lewis announced the signing of Batten this week and no contract terms were devulged.

 

May 29, 1979

 

 

 

 

 August 21, 1970

 Don Dennis -- college classmate

 GRAM 1974

 Dylan 1964

 

Liz Anderson, Hag contributor

 

You have to squint maybe to see my name credit -- Bryce Martin -- Deke saw fit to include me in the "Thanks To:"

 KAREN MIZE

ROLLING HILLS - Karen Mize, 21, a public relations major at the University of Southern California, is looking forward to spending Christmas in South Vietnam. “I like the odds,” she said. And all those men who make the odds so appealing to Karen are going to be happy with some other statistics. Karen, daughter of country music singer Billy Mize of Rolling Hills, will be accompanying KTLA television personality Johnny Grant on his 12th USO visit to South Vietnam. She and three other girls will leave with Grant on Dec. 12 for 17 days of bouncing from military base to fire support outpost to hospital to naval ship, saying hello from “The World” and bringing the nation’s holiday greetings to its servicemen who won’t be home for the holidays. A sorority girl with a glamour model’s figure, Karen met Johnny Grant during the recent political campaign. Attracted by her looks and outgoing personality, Grant asked Karen to make the Christmas trip with him. Karen says her “favorite thing is meeting people and asking questions. It seems so great to be going to Vietnam; all those people I don’t even know!” Karen grew up in Bakersfield on a ranch. In her senior year her family moved to Rolling Hills. Karen went to Rolling Hills High School and Harbor Junior College before transferring to USC.

 

View of Kern migrant camp, aka "Weedpatch Camp," showing one of three sanitary units, 1936.

Photo by Dorothea Lange, courtesy Library of Congress.

Weedpatch Camp

Concerned about the squalid conditions in the squatters’ camps, the federal government intervened to assist the migrants. The Works Progress Administration (WPA), a New Deal agency, constructed Arvin Federal Camp, near the town of Weedpatch, California, in 1935. With running water for showers, bathrooms, and laundry rooms, and wood platforms designated for tents, the facility was a step up from squatters’ camps

 

Jesse James was a bad man

 

Photograph by Brittneydawn Cook

In the summer of 2018, a huge mural of Johnny Cash was erected in Sacramento, easily seen on the horizon when heading towards the State Capitol from the eastern part of midtown. The image was crafted by Shepard Fairey, of the Obama “Hope” poster fame, from a photo taken by rock-and-roll photographer Jim Marshall at the famed 1968 concert in Folsom State Prison that made Cash — and Folsom Prison — a legend. 

 GO! Catdaddy!

 Art by Lyndell Dean Wolff

In 1965, Bill Ray (a staff photographer for LIFE magazine) spent several weeks with the San Bernardino chapter of the HAMC. Bill and his camera accompanied the club on a ride to Bakersfield Ca, this was a scheduled Run with other motorcycle clubs attending. Although Life magazine did not publish his editorial, the pictures were eventually published in his book “Hells Angels of San Berdoo”. After a long-distinguished career as a photojournalist, Bill Ray died in 2020 at the age of 83. The club’s rendezvous at the “Blackboard” honky-tonk, was well documented by Bill’s photo essay and used by me for inspiration. Bakersfield was well known for its signature sound of country music giving rise to Merle Haggard and Buck Owens. The “Blackboard” employed young Buck Owens and his buddies as the house band.

...

“Outside the Blackboard cafè” 1965

Photo Bill Ray

 

         When Buck and Tommy went to the Opry

 

Mickey Dolenz in a Moog mood

 

Mr. Zimmerman

 

 The across-the-street Duleys, much like many residents of the Kansas Ozarks who relied on electric fans for respite during the summer months, kept their front door open to welcome a refreshing evening breeze. A screen door effectively kept insects at bay. With the front door ajar, I could discern when the Duleys were preparing their homemade chili or baking their delightful hot fudge brownies. Additionally, their radio played the popular songs of the day, which I soon memorized. I would have never imagined that, while listening for the umpteenth time in the late summer of 1953 to the immensely popular song "A Dear John Letter," hearing the tinkling piano being played by Bill Woods, would be someone who became a best friend 20 years later in Bakersfield, Calif.

Bill, Buck, Blackboard

Background photos: I recognize upper left white hat Tommy Duncan to his left Wade Ray

Billy Mize at mic, George French accordion, Bill Woods desk

Bob Wills, Billy Mize, Jean Shepard, Johnny Cuviello, Bill Woods

Tommy Duncan, Carolina Cotton, Bob Wills

 

Lubbock, Texas 1952 -- a favorite hangout of Buddy Holly, where he is said to have written lyrics to some of his songs on the drive-in's napkins.

 BILL WOODS

NOTE: The photo here of Bill Woods in #26 was not taken in 2011. That is the date stamp for the photo copy. It was closer to the late 60s.

 

 SWEET BON-BON

 Cousin Barry Martin -- The Napa Neoclassist

 1963

Edie

 October 14, 1950, Bakersfield Californian

"Let's have a heart to heart, what say you, darling?"