EH Weitzel to Jesse F. Welborn

Title

EH Weitzel to Jesse F. Welborn

Creator

Weitzel, E. H.

Identifier

WWP18045

Date

1913 September 26

Source

Wilson Papers, Library of Congress, Library of Congress, Washington, District of Columbia

Subject

Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924--Correspondence

Relation

WWP18161, WWP18112, WWP18147, WWP18159

Text

PERSONAL.


Dear Sir:-

Have just been going over the situation at Primero with Haske and find matters as follows:

6 men time checked on the 20th; 21 on the 22nd; 30 on the 23rd; 17 on the 24th; 21 on the 25th; and about 12 in sight for today.

Practically all of these have been Austrians. No Hungarians have quit up to date. Eight Italians out of 40 have drawn their time since the strike began. Practically all the Austrians are gone now. Most of them are at Old Segundo. Up to date only six men have gone to Wyoming.

A large number of the Austrians who have quit were strongest in their declarations before the strike that they would not leave and those who quit today declared yesterday that nothing could drive them away. There seems to be some sort of an under-ground or wireless connection with Old Segundo. When they came for their time they pleasded that they were scared and that they have been told they would be killed if they staid here. Joe tells of one old man, who has had charge of the powder houses for several years, who was strong in his statements that he would never quit. He came after Haske one morning about six o’clock a few days ago, and cried like a baby, and pleaded with Joe to take the keys from him right away. Joe refused and he followed him all through the camp, crying, and saying that he would be killed and would have to quit. Up to date Haske has been unable to find what the means of communication is to these men inside the camp, but the manner in which they changed from their staunch declarations in intending to stay one day to frightened sheep the next convinces us that they are being terrorized by some means or another. Joe hopes to be able to hold the other nationalities after the Austrians are gone, but the situation does not look good. If some means is found by the agitators to reach the Italians a break on their part is likely to result in losing them off all.

Some of these men who have quit in the last few days, had the nicest places in the camp, and were busy fixing up fences, and so on, within the last two or three days. One of the men who quit today had probably the nicest garden in the camp. Frank Stanovich, who quit day before yesterday, had worked 22 shifts this month, earning $168.00. He had just bought his own calcimine and calcimined hims whole house. He decided he had to quit and took his six boarders with him. This case is not cited as an extreme one. While we were discussing the situation, Joe, who was looking over the pay roll, brought it to my attention. This is convincing to me that there is some pressure being brought, and that it is not merely the strike call that is influencing these people.

Yours truly,
EH Weitzel

EHW-B (What is termed “Old Segundo” is a small village composed primarily of saloons, gambling houses and other disorderly places, where in normal times the worst element congregates, and where under existing conditions the vicious element among the strikers have assembled from nearby camps)

Original Format

Letter

To

Welborn, Jesse F.

Files

http://resources.presidentwilson.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Temp00634B.pdf

Citation

Weitzel, E. H., “EH Weitzel to Jesse F. Welborn,” 1913 September 26, WWP18045, First Year Wilson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.