Joe hill—the man they couldn't Kill

On November 19, 1915, came the terrible news that Joe Hill, the great Wobbly² songwriter, poet and organizer, was executed in Salt Lake City,³ after he was found guilty of the murder of J. G. Morrison, a grocer. Hundreds of thousands of people all over the world felt that Joe Hill was not guilty and protested against the trial.⁴

He was born in Sweden, October 7, 1879, and given the name of Joel Hägglund. His father was a railroad worker.

Joel Hägglund came to the United States from distant Sweden in 1902 at the age of 23. For ten years he worked at many jobs; during this time he changed his name to Joe Hillstrom, and became popularly known as Joe Hill.

The year 1910 marked a turning point in Joe Hill's life. He Joined the Industrial Workers of the World as he was determined to win a better future for the working people. The I.W.W. was five years old. It had been organized in June 1905 in Chicago to lead the workers in their fight against the AF of L ⁵ for "One Big Union" which would unite skilled and unskilled workers, foreign-born and native Americans, Negroes and whites, women and men.

In the years after 1910, Joe Hill was an I.W.W. organizer. He attended Wobbly meetings, moving from one hall to the next, helped out in strikes and free speech fights, worked at different jobs, and, of course, always composed his songs. A music-lover since childhood, he put his political ideas into song and soon became a bard of the working class.

* * *

On Saturday, January 10, 1914, at about 9:45 pm,⁶ two men, their faces covered with red handkerchiefs, entered John G. Morrison's store at 778 South West Temple Street in Salt Lake City. The grocery owner and tits two sons were closing the shop for the night. As soon as the men entered, one of them cried, "We've got you now!", and shot at the elder Morrison. He had been shot twice and died that night.

It was generally believed that he was killed by two bandits who had twice in the past ten years made attempts to rob him. Mrs Morrison told the police that her husband had spoken to her of two men in their district whom he believed to be his enemies, had given their names, and had said, "If anything happens to me, you may have to look them up."

Though several people were arrested, no attempt was made to hold the two men whom Morrison had told his wife were his enemies. Strangely enough, the event which took place that night had also led to the arrest of Joe Hill. However, all the men who were arrested in the days immediately following the murder were later set free, except one — Joe Hill.

Joe Hill was a marked man. A campaign against him had been on from the moment he was arrested. Hill was an active I.W.W. agitator, the author of I.W.W. songs and therefore a dangerous man. The state authorities decided that the arrest of Joe Hill would end the active strike movement in that part of the country. On the very day of his arrest, the police pronounced their verdict: "The police now believe that Hill is guilty...." The police and the press had found Joe Hill guilty before the trial.

* * *

On the morning of November 19, 1915, Joe Hill sat in a chair before the firing squad.⁷ Five men with guns stood waiting for their orders to shoot.

"Aim," commanded the sheriff.⁸

"Yes, aim!" cried Joe Hill. "Let her go. Fire!"

"Fire!" commanded the sheriff in a hurry. He couldn't allow the prisoner himself to give the final command.

The bullets went into Joe Hill's heart.

(Adapted)

JOE HILL'S LAST WILL   My will is easy to decide, For there is nothing to divide. My kin don't need to fuss and moan: "Moss does not cling to a rolling stone." My body – Oh! – If I could choose, I would to ashes it reduce, And let the merry breezes blow My dust to where some flowers grow. Perhaps some fading flower then Would come to life and bloom again. This is my last and final will. Good luck to all of you. Joe Hill.

ЗАВЕЩАНИЕ ДЖО ХИЛЛА   0 завещанье ли дyмать мне? Ведь нечего делить родне. К чему ее притворный вздох: «К камням лавин не липнет мох». А тело? Был бы выбор мой, Я сжег бы в пепел огневой, Чтоб ветры весело в полях Развеяли цветам мой прах, Чтоб увядающий цветок Опять воскреснуть к жизни мог. Вот все о чем бы я просил. Желаю счастья вам. Джо Хилл. (Перевод М. Зенкевича)

NOTES

1. Philip S. Foner, an outstanding contemporary US historian. Dr Foner is the author of "History of the Labor* Movement in the United States", "A History of Cuba and its Relations with the United States", "The Complete Writings of Thomas Paine", "Jack London: American Rebel" and many other important works.

2. Wobbly (sl): a member of the Industrial Workers of the World. The Industrial Workers of the World («Индустриальные рабочие мира») was formed to unite that part of the American working class whose interests were ignored by the American Federation of Labor. Among the founders of the I.W.W. were Eugene V. Debs, leader of the Socialist Party, Daniel De Leon, head of the Socialist Labor Party, and William Haywood, an outstanding Labor leader. In those years the I.W.W. was very popular among the working people for its progressive policies. The organization existed until the early 1920s.

3. Salt Lake City: the capital of Utah, a Western State of the United States

4. trial: суд, судебное разбирательство; зд судилище

5. AF of L: American Federation of Labor («Американская федерация труда»). This labor union was founded in 1881 and united the so-called "labor aristocracy", that is the privileged and better-paid part of the working class. Its policy was based on the principle of class collaboration. In 1955 the AF of L merged with the CIO (Congress of Industrial Organizations).

6. pm: (Lat) post meridiem, after noon (во столько-то часов) пополудни

7. firing squad: взвод солдат, выделенный для приведения в исполнение приговора

8. sheriff: the chief law officer of a county

VOCABULARY

distance n расстояние What is the distance between Moscow and Leningrad? The station is at a distance of two kilometres from the village. Phr in the distance вдали; from a distance издалека; distant a далекий, отдаленный a distant country (land, place, etc)

mark vt 1. отмечать, помечать mark words (pages, mistakes, a road, etc); 2. отмечать, праздновать mark an event (one's birthday, a holiday, sb's arrival, etc); mark n 1. метка; знак, след; 2. норма, предел; Phr up to the mark на должной высоте; на должном уровне; marked a 1. имеющий какие-н знаки; отмеченный a marked man человек, взятый на заметку, за которым следят; 2. заметный a marked difference, etc

lead vt (led) 1. возглавлять, руководить lead a party (an army, a demonstration, a strike, etc); 2. вести, сопровождать She led the child by the hand. He led us into the room; vi 3. вести (иметь то или иное направление) Where does this road lead? 4. вести, приводить к чему-л (иметь что-л своим следствием, завершением) lead to victory (good results, trouble, etc); leader n руководитель, вождь

fight vt/vi бороться, сражаться, воевать; драться fight for peace (freedom, one's country, a better life, etc); fight n

skill n искусство, мастерство, умение; ловкость; skilful а искусный, умелый; skilled а квалифицированный attend vt посещать (школу, собрание и т. п.) attend school (a meeting, a concert, etc); attendance n посещаемость; присутствие

strike vi (struck) бастовать; strike n забастовка; Phr be on strike бастовать; go on strike забастовать, объявить забастовку

free a 1. свободный, независимый a free country (town, people, man, etc); Phr set sb/sth free освобождать, выпускать кого-н/что-н на свободу; 2. бесплатный a free concert (ticket, education, etc); freedom n свобода, независимость; Phr freedom of speech (the press, etc) свобода слова (печати и т. п.)

own vt владеть, иметь own a house (a car, etc); In the Soviet Union the people own the land, its minerals, waters and forests; owner n; ownership n собственность, владение; право собственности

attempt n попытка Не failed in his attempt to reach us by telephone. Phr make an attempt сделать, предпринять попытку

active а активный, энергичный, деятельный Не takes an active part in the social life of the Institute; activity (-ies) n деятельность; активность

authority n 1. власть, полномочие Не had no authority to make changes; 2 авторитет, влияние, вес Не spoke with authority; 3. pl власти, администрация the local (city, etc) authorities

guilt n вина, виновность; guilty a 1. виновный, преступный Не was tried and found (not) guilty. He was guilty of robbery. Phr plead (not) guilty (не) признавать себя виновным; 2. виноватый a guilty look, etc

trial n судебный процесс, судебное разбирательство Не was on trial for robbery. The trial of N. lasted two weeks. Phr hold a trial вести судебное разбирательство; try vt судить, слушать судебное разбирательство What was he tried for?

order n 1. порядок Не likes order in everything. She keeps the house in good order. Phr be in (out of) order быть в порядке, исправности (в неисправности, испорченным); disorder n беспорядок; 2. приказ; Phr by order по приказу; order vt 1. приказывать order sb to do sth; 2. заказывать order a taxi (a dress, dinner, books, etc)

allow vt разрешать, позволять allow sb to do sth; Smoking is not allowed here.

WORD COMBINATIONS

a turning point поворотный пункт

be determined (to do sth) быть полным решимости (что-н сделать)

take place иметь место, состояться

EXERCISES

COMPREHENSION

Ex 1 Answer the following questions.

1. When and where was Joe Hill born? 2. What was his real name? 3. When did he come to the United States? 4. Why did Joe Hill join the I.W.W.? 5. What sort of organization was the Industrial Workers of the World? 6. How did Joe Hill fight for a better future for the working people? 7. What happened on January 10, 1914 in Salt Lake City? 8. Who were the real killers of the grocer? 9. What did Mrs Morrison tell the police? 10. Why did the police keep Joe Hill under arrest? 11. What made Joe Hill "a marked man"? 12. Why did people all over the world protest against the trial? 13. Why does Joe Hill live on in the hearts of the people?

Ex 2 Find in the text the English for the following phrases, and use them in retelling and discussing the text.

ужасное известие; признать виновным в убийстве; протестовать против судилища; возглавить борьбу рабочих; квалифицированные рабочие; неквалифицированные рабочие; посещать собрания; сочинять песни; как ни странно; быть на заметке у полиции; власти штата; забастовочное движение.