100 years ago in Spokane: National guard stages raid on Wobblies’ headquarters

A squad of Fort Wright national guard soldiers raided the Spokane headquarters of the Industrial Workers of the World (Wobblies) and arrested the leader and 26 other men.

The reason: The Wobblies were planning a general strike for the next day.

Major Clement Wilkins said that he acted under “general orders empowering me to take such steps as appeared to be necessary to prevent the destruction of property and the hampering of industry.” He took action shortly after Spokane county and city officials asked Governor Ernest Lister “for immediate measures.”

Strike records and other documents were confiscated. One of the men arrested was James Rowan, described as “the leading spirit” behind the strike.

The raid occurred mid-afternoon and was planned as a surprise so the Wobblies would not have time to destroy papers. About 40 Idaho guardsmen marched up the narrow stairs to the offices and made the arrests “without resistance.”

“You are military prisoners and are not detained under civil law,” Major Wilkins told them. “An investigation of your cases will be begun tomorrow and any of you who are wrongly held will be released.”

Rowan told reporters that the raid “will not prevent or stop the strike.” He said their principal demand was for the eight-hour day and for clean and sanitary conditions in the lumber camps. There was “nothing unlawful” about that, he said.