Customer Reviews

Joe Hill

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It's a shame the publisher is no longer printing this book. In a day and age of extremely poor role models Joe Hill is a breath of relief. These are the kinds of books that should be required reading in history and government classes. I highly recommend this book, especially if you are a democrat. It's no wonder this is on the Rage Against the Machine reading list...

This is a well-researched, fairly well-composed telling of the life and the trial and execution of Mr. Hill, which led to the famous and wonderful song, "I Dreamed I Saw Joe Hill Last Night." However, it convincingly argues that Joe most likely did MURDER two people that night in Salt Lake City in a botched robbery. So the explosive part of the story is not that "The copper bosses killed you, Joe" as the song declares, but that Joe got a fair trial, for his era, even in Utah. He was his own worst enemy during the legal proceedings, unwilling to cooperate with his attorneys and unable or unwilling to declare a credible alibi. This does not negate the power of some of his labor songs, or the power of songs about him, for songs do not have to tell the truth to be good songs. But to see four reviews, none of which point out that Joe was guilty, after all, is amazing. You can't read this book and respect Mr. Hill quite as much after you are done as you did when you were ignorant of the circumstances of the case. The song says "They framed you on a murder charge" and there has NEVER been any believable evidence produced to support the line. I wish the song WAS true, frankly.

One of my friends, a Yale student, was reading this during a trip and I picked it up mostly out of boredom, then pratically made myself car sick finishing it on the bus. Anyone with a nominal interest in politics and labor unions should consider this an important part of their required reading, as well as anyone who is simply interested in fascinating and well-written books on subjects that too often disappear into the dusty shelves of public libraries. Pick it up; try it out! Reading is fun.

This was a christmas present for my son. He really liked it. He heard about Joe Hill at a Joan Baez concert, and wanted to know more about him.

Joe Hill, by Gibbs M. Smith

The `Acknowledgments' list the people who helped in this work. Gibbs M. Smith thanks his wife Catherine. This was published by the University of Utah Press. It has a Table of Contents, Bibliography, and Index. `Appendix A' has a "Joe Hill song checklist". `Appendix B' has two letters from Joe Hill.. The `Introduction' by Joyce Kornbluh compares the IWW in the WW I era to the civil rights and protest movements in the 1960s. People still have a "dread of war and the fear of want" in our society (p.1). The IWW tried to organize workers in industrial unions instead of craft-based unions; it was formed in 1905 Chicago (p.2). The former Knights of Labor also organized all workers. Machinery and technology were reducing the need for skilled craftsmen. All workers had to organize to compete with corporations that had political power.

Page 3 has the 5 points of the IWW. "Human life and happiness must replace ... the rights of property". [Was that too much of an ideal?] They were against "political action" since many since many workers were not allowed to vote (p.5). The IWW hoped a general strike would lead to a peaceful revolution (p.6). Rising prices, stagnant wages, depressions an unemployment resulted in discontent (p.7). IWW members read in public libraries about economics (p.9). The IWW songbook was a way to educate listeners. Free speech fights resulted when IWW members spoke about job conditions. They were attacked with "needless brutality" (p.10). The IWW supported striking textile workers in Lawrence Mass and Paterson NJ. The IWW was anti-militaristic (p.11), and for "international solidarity". This led to calls for killing IWW members (p.12).Many of their leaders were imprisoned during WW I and their membership declined (p.13). Their idea of industrial unionism was used by the CIO. Political oppression reduced their influence (p.14). Its techniques were adopted by the AFL and CIO unions.

`Joe Hill's Songs' provide a condensed history. If not for his songs he would not be remembered except as an executed murderer (p.15). His songs were based on popular tunes or gospel hymns (p.16). [Irreverent to many?] They educated people (p.17). On Saturday night January 10. 1914 Joe Hill went to a physician to be treated for a bullet wound that entered his chest and went out his back (Chapter 3). Earlier a grocer and his son were shot dead by two masked men (p.67). The police caught two wanted robbers but released them (p.69). The killings were thought to be for revenge (p.71). There had been a previous attack (pp.72-73). There were problems in blaming Hill (p.78). Was Hill convicted by prosecutorial perjury "scars on my face" (p.80)? Was his conviction due to a lack of a lawyer (p.82)? Or Hill's poor judgment (p.87)?

There was a problem in ballistic evidence: Hill had bought a .30 Luger and Morrison was shot with a .38 Colt (p.92). The hole in Hill's jacket matched the wound in his chest when his hands were raised high above his head (p.95). Witnesses said there was another man similar in appearance (p.96). The bullet that wounded Hill passed through his body but no bullet was found in the store (p.97). There was reversible error (p.100); three errors in the trial (pp.101-102). Chapter 5 discusses the legal issues of the case. A poor defense can lead to a guilty verdict (p.113). Could a "Wobbly" get a fair trial (Chapter 6)? Was Hill convicted on "coincidence" (p.130)? A Bishop asked for a commutation (p.138) because of the circumstantial evidence (p.140). Joe's failure to explain his wound doomed him (p.162). Was the testimony of an eyewitness suppressed (p.175)? Or a hoax? Hill kept his courage to the end (p.177). Hill's lawyer was disbarred in Utah (p.180). A university teacher was fired (p.179). Hill's body was cremated and its ashes distributed to other states (p.188). Reactionary newspapers rejoiced (p.189). Hill "was a genius in the rough", "convicted on flimsy circumstantial evidence" (p.190). Chapter 10 discusses the lasting effects of his legend: "don't mourn, organize". Could a "skid row suspect" be framed to solve a crime (p.191)? "Unhappy are the people who need a hero"? The political persecution of WW I ended the power of the IWW. Joe Hill is best remembered through a song (p.194) and a phrase "pie in the sky" (p.195). Was Hill framed by suspicion (p.205)?
[The page numbers are for the hardcover book.]

This book has never been out of print! It is afterall, the book that got author Gibbs Smith into the publishing business.