Notizen zu dieser Person
John Joseph Potthast is sometimes called "Janny." Sometime before or during World War I, John Potthast became involved with the Industrial Workers of the World (the IWW), which is commonly referred to as "The Wobblies." The IWW was a radical labor organization formed in June 1905 by a diverse lot of socialists and militant unionists who preferred on-the-job action, such as strikes and sabotage. Despite its revolutionary goals and violent reputation, the IWW is remembered chiefly for organizing women, blacks, new immigrants, and unskilled, semiskilled, and migratory laborers, all of whom American Federation of Labor craft unions of the time tended to shun. The World War I era witnessed widespread public disapproval of the Wobblies. Many in the organization were subjected to vigilante attacks and prosecution under federal and state espionage, sedition, and criminal statutes. Many Wobblies evaded the draft and others were charged with taking money from German agents for staging strikes in sensitive industries. With anti-German sentiment running high, the US Government specifically targeted for arrest German immigrants who were part of the IWW. A number of the leaders were arrested under the provisions of the Espionage Act. By 1919, the communists had emerged as powerful rivals for the IWW, and by 1920 the IWW was all but defunct, although it continues to maintain general headquarters in Chicago. John Potthast was one of those arrested German immigrants (even though he was NOT an immigrant but, rather, the son of an immigrant). He was arrested in Turlock, CA and sentenced in Sacramento, CA on January 17, 1919 (although I have not been able to determine the specific charges), then immediately transferred to the United States Federal Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas (arriving there on January 25, 1919). Leavenworth Penitentiary is the largest maximum security prison in the United States, known by the slang term "The Big House." It houses approximately 2,000 inmates. The walls are 40 feet high and extend 40 feet below ground. The first cell house opened in 1906, and the building was completed in the mid 1920's. John was received by Leavenworth on January 25, 1919. His commitment papers say: Crime: Conspiracy (Espionage Act) Received Jan 25, 1919 from N.D. California, Sacramento Sentence 10 yrs. Date of Sentence Jan 17, 1919 Eligible for parole May 24, 1922 Mother Mrs. Lena Potthast, 635 West South St, Baltimore, Md. In case of sickness or death notify IWW 2 years college Sentence commuted Dec 22, 1923 The prison records (obtained from the Kansas City Archives) also indicate that he was not a model prisoner. "Jan 19, 1920 - Indolence. The above prisoner failed to break his share of rock on this fore noon; he simply roamed about and talked to other prisoners. He has always been a man of indolent habits. Reprimanded and placed in isolation on restricted diet. Released Jan 17, 1920." "March 31, 1920 - wasting food. The above prisoner left his plate full of meat and bread at dinnertime today. Reprimanded and two weeks yard and amusement privileges taken." John's prison records also include details of mail he received. From this we know that John corresponded with his mother as well as his sister (Lena Laur) and a friend named Lillian Dehaven. Also in John's file is a record of his prison purchases including ten 10 cigars per month and lots of apples, lemons & oranges. John is recorded in the 1920 US Census as a prisoner in Leavenworth. In June of 1923, he (and 19 other imprisoned IWW members) applied for a commutation of his sentence. The Washington Post on Thursday, June 21, 1923 reported, in part: PRESIDENT (HARDING) GRANTS COMMUTATIONS TO 27 WAR PRISONERS 21 APPLICATIONS DENIED, INCLUDING 20 I.W.W. TRIED AT SACRAMENTO "Of 23 cases resulting from convictions at Sacramento, immediate commutations conditioned upon deportation were ordered by the President for Harry Gray, a British subject, and Vincent Santilli, an Italian. "The twenty convicted in Sacramento who were denied commutations were Elmer Anderson, Peter De Barnardi, Harry Brewer, Mortimer Downing, James Quinlan, George Voetter, James Graves, Phillip Laughlin, Robert Connelian, Caesar Tabibn, R. F. Conner, Frank Elliott, William Hood, John Potthast, Myron Sprague, Edward Quigley, Chris A. Luber and J. Tori. All of the Sacramento prisoners were given ten-year sentences and their convictions, a Department of Justice memorandum said, resulted from "vicious" acts and not mere expressions of opinion." I have not been able to determine the nature of the above referenced "vicious" act. Six months later, in December 1923, his sentence was finally commuted. Over the next few years, John worked to rebuild his life. He moved to New York and began a career as a brakeman on the New York Central Railroad. In 1927, he married, and by 1930 (according to the 1930 US Census) he and his wife Connie had two children. He spent the rest of his life in Croton-on-Hudson, New York. Dot Wimsatt records his date of death as September 24, 1971 rather than September 15, 1971. Neither date seems to have documented support.
Georg
Potthast
