Today in Labor History—November 2

Luddites in action, 1812

November 2, 1811 – Luddite weavers and knitters destroyed machines in Sutton and Ashfield, England.  (From the Daily Bleed)

Elizabeth Gurley Flynn soapboxing during a free speech fight

 November 2, 1909 – The I.W.W. (Industrial Workers of the World) free-speech fight in Spokane, Washington began on this date. Local organizer James P. Thompson was yanked from the speaker's platform by the police. Other Wobblies swarmed to take his place, leading to the arrests of 150 men and women. The IWW union hall was also raided. (From the Daily Bleed)

November 2, 1920 - Labor leader Eugene V. Debs received nearly 1 million votes for president – while running from a prison cell. He had been jailed for opposing World War I. (From Workday Minnesota)

November 2, 1928 – Police fired on striking dock workers in Melbourne, Australia, killing one man. (From the Daily Bleed)

November 2, 1950 – Following an attempt on President Truman’s life by two Puerto Rican nationalists, all known Puerto Rican nationalists and communists were arrested on the island. (From the Daily Bleed)

 

November 2, 1955 – Tennessee Ernie Ford's "Sixteen Tons" first appeared on the charts, going on to become one of the biggest selling singles of its time. The lyrics struck a sympathetic chord with millions of people "Another day older and deeper in debt, St. Peter don't you call me cause I can't go, I owe my soul to the company store..." (From the Daily Bleed)