Ralph
Chaplin was born in Ames, Kansas, 1887. He joined the Industrial
Workers of the World (IWW) in 1913. He was one of the most popular
writers in the organisation. As well as editing Solidarity
and the Industrial Worker, wrote poems,
songs and pamphlets for the organisation. He also produced a large
number of illustrations for these journals. Along with Joe
Hill, was the most popular songwriter in the IWW.
This included Solidarity Forever
and The Commonwealth of Toil.
During the First World War Chaplin opposed the
anti-war campaign led by Frank Little.
However, in September, 1918, Chaplin was one of the 165 IWW
leaders charged with trying to "prevent, hinder and delay the
execution" of eleven Acts of Congress and Presidential Proclamations
covering the war program. Found guilty, Chaplin was sentenced to 20
years imprisonment and a fine of $20,000.
Chaplin was released from prison in 1923 and returned to trade
union work. His autobiography, Wobbly,
was published in 1948. Ralph Chaplin, who was converted to Roman
Catholicism in the 1950s, died in 1961.
Front
cover of Solidarity drawn
by
Ralph Chaplin (31st July, 1915)
Available
from Amazon Books (order below)
