Thomas J. Hagerty
Encyclopedia
The Reverend Friar Thomas J. Hagerty (ca. 1862–?) was an American
Roman Catholic priest from New Mexico
, and one of the founding members of the Industrial Workers of the World
(IWW).
before his ordination in 1892 and was later influenced by anarcho-syndicalism
. He served at St. Agatha's Parish in Chicago. Moving to the Diocese of Dallas, he was stationed at St. Joseph's in Cleburne Texas, and then at Our Lady of Victory in Paris Texas. The mistreatment of Mexican railroad workers angered him, and he started translating socialist literature into Spanish. Warned by the railroads to stay out of labor relations, he told a messenger "Tell the people who sent you here that I have a brace of Colts and can hit a dime at twenty paces." Shortly afterwards, he was exiled by the Dallas Diocese and sent to the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, where he worked at a parish in Santa Fe New Mexico. His formal association with the Church ended when he was suspended by his archbishop for urging miners in Colorado
to revolt during his tour of mining camps in 1903, however he continued to consider himself a priest in good standing. Shortly after, he became the editor of the American Labor Union
's newspaper, the Voice of Labor.
Hagerty is credited with authoring the IWW Preamble, assisting in writing the Industrial Union Manifesto and drawing up the first chart of industrial organization (dubbed "Father Hagerty's Wheel of Fortune" by Samuel Gompers
).
Hagerty favored direct action
, as opposed to political action of the socialist political parties (he referred to them as "slowcialists"). During an IWW convention speech he said:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Roman Catholic priest from New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, and one of the founding members of the Industrial Workers of the World
Industrial Workers of the World
The Industrial Workers of the World is an international union. At its peak in 1923, the organization claimed some 100,000 members in good standing, and could marshal the support of perhaps 300,000 workers. Its membership declined dramatically after a 1924 split brought on by internal conflict...
(IWW).
Biography
Hagerty had been a MarxistMarxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
before his ordination in 1892 and was later influenced by anarcho-syndicalism
Anarcho-syndicalism
Anarcho-syndicalism is a branch of anarchism which focuses on the labour movement. The word syndicalism comes from the French word syndicat which means trade union , from the Latin word syndicus which in turn comes from the Greek word σύνδικος which means caretaker of an issue...
. He served at St. Agatha's Parish in Chicago. Moving to the Diocese of Dallas, he was stationed at St. Joseph's in Cleburne Texas, and then at Our Lady of Victory in Paris Texas. The mistreatment of Mexican railroad workers angered him, and he started translating socialist literature into Spanish. Warned by the railroads to stay out of labor relations, he told a messenger "Tell the people who sent you here that I have a brace of Colts and can hit a dime at twenty paces." Shortly afterwards, he was exiled by the Dallas Diocese and sent to the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, where he worked at a parish in Santa Fe New Mexico. His formal association with the Church ended when he was suspended by his archbishop for urging miners in Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
to revolt during his tour of mining camps in 1903, however he continued to consider himself a priest in good standing. Shortly after, he became the editor of the American Labor Union
American Labor Union
When the Western Labor Union , a labor federation formed by the Western Federation of Miners, decided to overtly challenge the American Federation of Labor in 1902, it changed its name to the American Labor Union . The ALU was created because the WFM wanted a class-wide labor body with which to...
's newspaper, the Voice of Labor.
Hagerty is credited with authoring the IWW Preamble, assisting in writing the Industrial Union Manifesto and drawing up the first chart of industrial organization (dubbed "Father Hagerty's Wheel of Fortune" by Samuel Gompers
Samuel Gompers
Samuel Gompers was an English-born American cigar maker who became a labor union leader and a key figure in American labor history. Gompers founded the American Federation of Labor , and served as that organization's president from 1886 to 1894 and from 1895 until his death in 1924...
).
Hagerty favored direct action
Direct action
Direct action is activity undertaken by individuals, groups, or governments to achieve political, economic, or social goals outside of normal social/political channels. This can include nonviolent and violent activities which target persons, groups, or property deemed offensive to the direct action...
, as opposed to political action of the socialist political parties (he referred to them as "slowcialists"). During an IWW convention speech he said:
- "The Ballot BoxBallot boxA ballot box is a temporarily sealed container, usually square box though sometimes a tamper resistant bag, with a narrow slot in the top sufficient to accept a ballot paper in an election but which prevents anyone from accessing the votes cast until the close of the voting period...
is simply a capitalistCapitalismCapitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
concession. Dropping pieces of paper into a hole in a box never did achieve emancipation of the working classWorking classWorking class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
, and in my opinion it never will."