UNION-SMASHING IN SACRAMENTO - The Truth About The Criminal Syndicalism Trial - Herbert Solow

Sep 21, 2026

Union-Smashing in Sacramento presents the argument that the 1935 criminal syndicalism trial in California targeted labor organizers rather than any genuine conspiracy. The foreword describes the imprisonment of defendants after events connected to Sacramento and related cases, framed as the product of anti-union forces and a “red” scare. It also highlights political actors, public responses, and supporting labor organizations, presenting the appeal effort and the claim that the verdicts threaten free speech and labor organizing rights.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryGeneral

FormatPDF

Pages20

Reading Time31 min

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UNION-SMASHING IN SACRAMENTO

FOREWORD

PREFATORY NOTES

UNION LABOR AND CRIMINAL SYNDICALISM

97-84161-27Solow,Herbert Union-smashing inSacramento New York 1935 # COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIESPRESERVATION DIVISIONBIBLIOGRAPHIC MICROFORM TARGET ORIGINAL MATERIAL AS FILMED-EXISTING BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD 308Z Box 732solow,Herbert. …Union-smashing in Sacramento,the truth about the crimi-nal syndicalism trial,by Herbert Solow.With prefatory notesby Samuel S.White …and Travers Clements..New Yorkcity,The National Sacramento appeal committee,1935. 31,1p.20°. 1.Syndlenallsm—Callfornla.2.Agrlcultural laborers—Callfornfa, 3.Trade-unlons—Callfornla.4.AB80clated farmers t.National Sac-ramento nppeni committee..Ttle. Lbrnry of Congress44-2046LHDG515.A528675·22BMxE1331.886 RESTRICTIONS ON USE: Roproductlons may not be made without permisslon trom Coumba Universlty Lbraries # TECHNICAL MICROFORM DATA FILM SIZE: mmREDUCTION RATIO: /2:/MAGE PLACEMENT:IA IB B INITIALS: 4 DATE FILMED: 8-12-97 TRACKING是： 26875 2 —1 FILMED BY PRESERVATION RESOURCES,BETHLEHEM,PA. 308 2 B4732 ## UNION-SMASHINGIN SACRAMENTO The Truth About The Criminal Syndicalism TriaBY HERBERT SOLOWWITH PREFATOBY NOTES BYSAMUEL S.WHITEof the Sam Franclsco Jolnt Board of the Internatlonal Ladlos Garment Workers Unlonand TRAVERS CLEMENTSCo-author of "Rebel Amerlea"Publiabed by theNafloool Sacemnko Appeol CommtieNew York CltyAaguat,1935 Copies of this pamphlat may be ordarad fram theNATIONAL SACRAMENTO APPEAL COMMITTEE,Boom 707,41 Unbon Squaro,New York CHyReduced raes for bundle ordors45 PCR MAY 28 1946 ## FOREWORD TN APRIL,1935,eight yong·peple of Sacramento uere rail-I roaded to SanQuentin and Tehachapi,Californid's prison hellswhere sit TomMooney and so many other labor martyrs.They havebeen sentenced to terms of up to fourteen years each on the chargeof being in a conspiracy to commit“criminal syndicalism.” They twere in no conspiracy whatsoever. The truth is,as this pamphlet reveals,tha they vere the victimsof a conspiracy of anti-union forces led by the Asociated Farmers,Ine.The object of this conspiracy has been revealed by F.J.Palmo-mares,one of the Asociated's subordinates.On February 4 he toldthe Sacramento Bee that the trial wvas"of utmost importance"to hisbosses "because they beliee the defendants responsible for the SanJoaquin Valley strike of 1933—the first serious one in the section'shirtory."In the twords of the New York Times of Jan.20,1935,the defendants had led stikes and been “responsible for raisredDages and improved lioing conditio ns”among the exploited migra-tory agricmltural workers of California.Hence the conspiracyagainst them. The conspiracy tuas carried out znder cover of a"red"scare,andby means of the "criminal syndicalism"statute,denotnced by lead-ing trade inionists,edwcators,clergymen,publicists and jurists as avicions instrament of oppression.The “red”scare was also usedby reactionary California legislators to introdnce netw bills againstfree speech and the rights of labor to organize and strike.Happilymost of these twere defeated,but the Sacramento coneietions arepointed to by reactionaries as proof that there is a need for moregag Laus and more“criminal syndicalism”prosecutions. Today,many states have latus like California's "criminal syndi-calism”statute.William Randolph Hearst has proclaimed that theSacramento conspiracy showld be a model for all states,and headvocates a similar Federal law. HEARST CORRECTLY 8AYS THE SACRAMENTOCASE I8A NATIONAL ISSUE. If the verdicts are upret,the teeth can be dratun from the"criminal syndicalism"Latw and the drive for nete anti-labor and 30 ≥ 4732 anti-free speech lauor can be headed of.Thig in important to zniomen and friends offree speech throughout the covntry. During the trial the Nom-Partisan Labor Defense providedNorman Mini with an attorney,Albert Gold

FAQs

What does the foreword claim about the Sacramento criminal syndicalism convictions?

It states the defendants were not in a real conspiracy and were instead victims of a conspiracy by anti-union forces, carried out under a “red” scare and through the criminal syndicalism statute.

How is the “red” scare described in the pamphlet?

It is presented as a tactic used to justify prosecutions under criminal syndicalism law and to introduce or support new measures restricting free speech and labor rights.

What role does the preface emphasize for labor organizations?

It argues that the appeal is supported by the class-conscious labor movement, and it frames the prosecution as part of labor’s broader struggle to free victims of these laws.

Sep 21, 2026

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