Death in the Haymaket
by James Green
Published by Anchor Books/Random House
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Reviewed by Kathy Perschmann
(Now out in paperback)
Subtitled: A story of Chicago, the first Labor Movement and the bombing that divided Gilded Age America
Author James Green is a professor of history at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. He grew up outside Chicago.
This book is especially important in light of recent encroachments on the rights of citizens. What happened in Haymaket Square on May 4, 1886? I would wager that many Americans do not know. After striking workers had been killed by private security guards the day before (trying to get an 8-hour work day, at that time most workers worked ten-hour days), a labor rally had included especially outraged speeches by labor leaders August Spies and Albert Parsons, among others.
During a march after the rally, police formed ranks six deep and charged menacingly towards the crowd, when a bomb exploded in the ranks of the police, killing seven, and injuring many more. Shots rang out, and those still left at the rally (it had begun to rain, and only around 500 people were left listening to the last speaker) fled in confusion. Police shot indiscriminately into the crowd, probably wounding some of their own. Hundreds of arrests and searches followed.
The speakers at the rally and well-known labor leaders August Spies and Albert Parsons were tried for murder along with "anarchists" Louis Lingg (the only one who had ever made a bomb, though it could not be proved that one of his bombs was used that night), Adolph Fischer, George Engel, Sam Fielden, Oscar Neebe, and Michael Schwab. After a long and contentious trial and appeals, Governor Oglesby upheld the death sentences of Parsons, Spies, Fisher and Engel; and commuted the sentences of Fielden and Schwab to life in prison. Louis Lingg had committed suicide while in prison a few hours before.
Was there evidence of a conspiracy? Did these men deserve to die? Or were they killed for simply speaking out against the murder of workers?
This is a well-written account of the events in the years leading up to this rally, with an epilogue outlining the labor movement and the perceptions of the Haymarket martyrs in the years up to the present day. Green brings the characters involved to life, and uses illustrations, maps, writings, and transcripts of speeches to great effect.
Armchair Interviews says: This would be an excellent selection for a book club discussion.
Author's Web site: http://jamesgreenworks.com