Spies Monitor I.W.W. Utah Governor William Spry's angry response to efforts by President Woodrow Wilson to stop the execution of Joe Hill was clearly tied to his belief that the President did not understand the facts of the case---and, perhaps, did not comprehend the threat posed by the radical Industrial Workers of the World union which claimed Hill as a member. After receiving reports from police agencies that the "Wobblies" were certain to make a violent attempt to break Hill out of prison, Spry had called up units of the National Guard to reinforce prison staff. Additionally, Spry hired dozens of private detectives to serve as personal bodyguards for him and his family, and to serve as undercover agents aimed at penetrating the I.W.W. and uncovering its plans for an assault on Utah. Adopting code names and blanketing Salt Lake City, Spry's Spies filed dozens of reports on their surveillance of I.W.W. figures, generating little criminal information but receiving a fairly complete introduction to the city's bars. (Courtesy: Library of Congress) Read this historical document's full text                   About the Program || Joe Hill Home || PBS Home