Telegram from William Haywood to Mexican Delegates
11/16/1918
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This telegram comes from William “Big Bill” Haywood's inmate case file from Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas. He sent it to the Mexican Delegates at the Pan American Congress congratulating them on their stand for solidarity.
Haywood was the leader of the Western Federation of Miners and a founding member and leader of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), commonly referred to as the "Wobblies." He assembled unionists, and intimidated company bosses for improved labor conditions. He was convicted of obstruction of military service and sedition under the Espionage Act of 1917 and sentenced to 20 years in federal prison.
Also included in Haywood's inmate file are his "mug shot"; "record sheet"; "rap" sheet of arrests, convictions, and incarceration; commitment order; fingerprints; Bertillon measurements (an anthropometric identification system); record of items received; and other documents. See the entire file in the National Archives online catalog.
Haywood was the leader of the Western Federation of Miners and a founding member and leader of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), commonly referred to as the "Wobblies." He assembled unionists, and intimidated company bosses for improved labor conditions. He was convicted of obstruction of military service and sedition under the Espionage Act of 1917 and sentenced to 20 years in federal prison.
Also included in Haywood's inmate file are his "mug shot"; "record sheet"; "rap" sheet of arrests, convictions, and incarceration; commitment order; fingerprints; Bertillon measurements (an anthropometric identification system); record of items received; and other documents. See the entire file in the National Archives online catalog.
Transcript
[on yellow paper]NO. 02042
Nov. 16 1918
Warden, U. S. Penitentiary:
I respectfully request permission to send the following telegram, the cost to be charged to my account.
(Signed) Wm D Haywood No. 13106
[on brown paper]
Telegram
Night letter
[inside circle] Paid
Nov 16 - 18
[red writing] 13106
Ricardo Frebino
Mexican Delegates
Pan American Congress
Laredo Texas
[line crossed out]
We sincerely appreciate efforts of Mexican delegates on behalf of workers imprisoned [crossed out: political prisoners] in the United States. We send cordial greetings to workers of Mexico and congratulate you for stand taken for solidarity against the reactionary forces you had to contend with. [crossed out: The Industrial Workers of the World] We invite the closest investigation of workers everywhere
Yours for Industrial Freedom
Wm D Haywood A. V. Azuara
This primary source comes from the Records of the Bureau of Prisons.
National Archives Identifier: 55282014
Full Citation: Telegram from William Haywood to Mexican Delegates; 11/16/1918; Inmate Number 13106; Inmate File of William Haywood; Inmate Case Files, 7/3/1895 - 11/5/1957; Records of the Bureau of Prisons, Record Group 129; National Archives at Kansas City, Kansas City, MO. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/haywood-panamerican-telegram, April 25, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.