Organizing the Industrial Army in Centralia
A local organizer makes progress recruiting for the Industrial Army despite local mockery.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Major J. D. McCloskey has sworn in 117 recruits to the Industrial Army in Centralia. McCloskey is making arrangements with the Union Pacific railroad for transportation to Kansas City for 200 men. He says he will be in Washington on or before May 1, with Gen. Kelly. A few Democrats gave the major the 'horse laugh' for trying to organize in Centralia, but he has surprised them wonderfully. He told them that if he were a Democrat he would not ask to be excused, and would jump in the Chehalis River. The citizens have donated very freely so far, giving potatoes, meat, bread, sugar, coffee, tea, clothing, and shoes.
“The major is a very jolty fellow and seems to have full control over his men while drilling.”
This records a brief moment of local mobilization during the broader 1894 protest wave, illustrating how even smaller Washington towns were swept up in national labor unrest.
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