Biography
Burt Lorton, a nine-year IWW member and secretary of its Chicago Recruiting Union, was convicted at the mass IWW trial in Chicago for seditious conspiracy and conspiracy to obstruct military service. He was sentenced on August 30, 1918, to ten years in prison and fined $30,000. He served in the Cook County Jail and Leavenworth Penitentiary from September 7, 1917, to December 24, 1923.
Although Lorton was arrested for obstructing enlistment, confidential Department of Justice documents admit that "[n]o evidence was adduced, either oral or otherwise showing that [he] had written, said or done anything against the war." Nevertheless, the Department of Justice urged against releasing Lorton because of his eminence in the trade union leadership: " The Metal Machinery Workers Union had gained a decided increase in members because of his agitation." Lorton was placed in permanent segregation because of continuous conflicts with the prison administration. Among the pages of disciplinary write-ups, guards complained ferociously: Yesterday [Lorton] said he knew several persons who did not have the nerve to steal but made their living standing over prisoners with a club. This was intended as an insult.... [Action taken: ] Placed in isolation on restricted diet. After being notified to break rock smaller, he just looked up and laughed.... [Action taken: ] Reprimanded (already in isolation). Throwing dishes and creating a general disturbance in dining room.... [Action taken: ] Segregated indefinitely as a dangerous and irresponsible character. Permanent segregation undermined Lorton's health. According to a letter to Leavenworth Warden A. V. Anderson from Carolina Lowe, an IWW Defense Committee official: When he entered the penitentiary, he was strong and sturdy looking, a picture of robust health. When I saw him the other day, he looked like a different man, he looked so pale and has lost many pounds, I am sure, in weight.
