State Historical Society of Iowa

"Marching from Lowell" 1917

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Courtesy of Library of Congress, "Marching from Lowell" 1917

Description

The Bisbee Deportation was a vigilante action, not one undertaken by the U.S. government. Due to the war the demand for and prices of cooper had increased. The mine was open 24/7 in conditions the workers charged were not safe. Two weeks prior to the deportation of members of the Industrial Workers of the World (I.W.W.) representing the miners gave the company a list of demands, one of which was to stop blasting in the mines during workers shifts. Further the workers charged the company with unequal treatment of foreign and minority workers as well as a pay increase tied to the price of copper. The mine refused to bend on any of the I.W.W. citing the war effort as their reason. Workers then called a strike with half of the mines work force joining by June 27. Vigilantes kidnapped the workers and the transported them over 200 miles in cattle cars, over 16 hours without food or water through the desert. The workers were released in New Mexico with no money or transportation and told not to return to Bisbee.

Source Dependent Questions

  • What does the number of workers deported communicate about the mine owners feelings toward the strike? Do you think this shows a commitment to the war effort or to ending union involvement in the mines?
  • What actions by the government in previous sources supported the vigilantes efforts? Use support from previous documents.
  • What actions or statements by the government contradicted the vigilantes' motivations? Use support from previous documents.
  • How does the actions by the vigilantes show a widening of the divide in labor relations during the war effort?

Citation Information

Dix, George C., Copyright Claimant. Marching from Lowell Ariz. Deportation of I.W.W.'s. Courtesy of Library of Congress Courtesy of Library of Congress

State Historical Society of Iowa

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