Historical background of the February 7th strike

Introduction to the February 7th Strike

Jiang’an Beijing-Hankow Railway Union Membership Badge

And the pocket watch used by martyr Lin Xiangqian

February 1923 On March 1, representatives of the trade unions at various stations on the Beijing-Hankow Railway held an inaugural meeting of the Federation of Trade Unions in Zhengzhou. Wu Peifu sent military police to obstruct the meeting. The Federation of Trade Unions immediately organized a strike for 20,000 workers across the road and moved the Federation of Trade Unions to Jiang'an, Wuhan. A general strike began on February 4, and the Beijing-Hankou Railway was paralyzed. On February 7, Cao Kun, Wu Peifu and others sent a large number of military police to carry out bloody suppression in Changxindian, Zhengzhou and Wuhan Jiang'an. Communist Party member Shi Yang was brutally murdered. This tragedy exposed the brutality of the warlords and demonstrated the revolutionary determination and organizational discipline of the Chinese working class.

Source: Red World Network

Leading the February 7th Strike

Wang Xingfu

In order to unify the trade union organizations of the Beijing-Hankow Railway, strengthen In order to strengthen the cohesion of workers in order to carry out the anti-imperialist and anti-feudal struggle, according to the opinions of the Northern Branch of the Labor Combination Secretariat, in the spring of 1922, the Changxindian Workers Club proposed to all trade unions to establish the Beijing-Hankow Railway Federation.

The initiative of the Changxindian Workers’ Club was endorsed by all workers’ clubs on the Beijing-Hankow Railway.

On April 9, 1922, trade union clubs across the country sent people to Changxindian to hold a preparatory meeting. At this meeting, the participating representatives agreed to hold another preparatory meeting in the third quarter to discuss in detail the candidates for the establishment of the Preparatory Office of the Federation of Trade Unions and other matters. On August 10, the Beijing-Hankow Railway clubs held their second preparatory meeting in Zhengzhou.

According to the party's instructions, Lin Yunan, director of the Wuhan branch of the China Labor Organization Secretariat and secretary-director of the Federation of Trade Unions, attended the meeting in the name of a reporter from "Labor Weekly" and participated in guiding the work of the preparatory office .

The meeting decided that Yang Defu would be the chairman of the preparatory office, Shi Wenbin and Ling Chufan would be the deputy directors, and Xiang Ying, a worker, would be the director-general.

After several days of hard work, the preparations for the Beijing-Hankow Railway Federation of Trade Unions are basically ready.

On January 5, 1923, the Preparatory Office of the Beijing-Hankow Railway Federation of Trade Unions held its third meeting in Zhengzhou. The meeting decided to hold the founding meeting of the Beijing-Hankow Railway Federation of Trade Unions at Pule Theater in Zhengzhou on February 1, and invite representatives from trade unions and all walks of life across the country to attend the meeting. In order to prevent the military and police from sabotaging the conference midway, the preparatory office also informed the Beijing-Hankou Railway Bureau and the warlord Wu Peifu of the preparations for the conference.

At that time, both Wu Peifu and the railway authorities agreed to convene the conference.

Considering that January 28 is a Sunday, the Beijing-Hankong Railway Federation of Trade Unions Preparatory Office also proposed to the railway authorities and Wu Peifu: On the 28th, the employees of the Beijing-Hankou Railway system will not take a break and will go to work as usual on February 1 Participated in the celebration of the establishment of the All-Road Federation of Trade Unions on the same day. Wu Peifu and the railway authorities also agreed to this arrangement by the Railway Federation. All of this shows that the preparation and establishment of the Beijing-Hankow Railway Federation of Trade Unions was thoughtful, reasonable, and more legal.

At the end of January, representatives from all over the country entered Zhengzhou one after another.

Dozens of representatives from various parts of the north were issued free tickets by the Changxindian Bus Service Office in the northern section to take the bus on the spot. Hundreds of representatives from all over the south first gathered in Hankou, and then went to the Jiangan Vehicle Service Office in the southern section. Two special cars were attached to go north.

Representatives from various places also presented plaques and various couplets. Branches along the way set off firecrackers to express their welcome, and invited representatives from various places to stop and give speeches.

On the night of January 30, various industrial groups in Wuhan led by Lin Yunan, Chen Tanqiu, Li Qiushi, Shi Yang, Li Hanjun, Xu Baihao, etc., including the Guangdong-Hankou Railway Federation, Hanyeping Trade Union, and Hanyang Steel Plant Trade Union, More than 160 people, including more than 30 trade unions including the Xujiapeng branch of the Guangdong-Hankong Railway, journalists from newspapers and magazines, representatives of student unions and other units, plus a military band, took the bus to Zhengzhou on the bank of the river with high spirits. On the afternoon of the 31st, Lin Yunan, Chen Tanqiu and others arrived in Zhengzhou. As soon as they got off the train, they were warmly welcomed by workers' representatives of Zhengzhou Railway System. Later, the conference preparatory office sent them to Zhengzhou Fuchang and Asia Hotel for accommodation.

According to the scheduled plan, representatives from all regions will deliver the plaques to Huatigang Wuqingli before the conference the next day.

The person in charge of the Preparatory Office of the Beijing-Hankow Railway Federation of Trade Unions and worker representatives from various places never imagined that the authorities were sharpening their knives.

Zhao Jixian, director of the Beijing-Hankow Railway Bureau, who is a human being in front of him but a ghost behind his back, saw so many worker representatives coming from all over the country and the momentum was huge. He believed that the workers would take the opportunity of establishing the Federation of Trade Unions to plot evil or undermine the Railway Bureau. The opposite.

What Zhao Jixian is even more worried about is that the establishment of the Beijing-Hankow Railway Federation of Trade Unions will endanger his status. While expressing his position in front of the head of the Preparatory Office of the Federation of Trade Unions, he allowed workers to hold meetings and provided free special trains. At the same time, he reported to Wu Peifu that the trade unions of the Beijing-Hankou Railway had come to Zhengzhou to establish the Federation of Trade Unions. This was ridiculous, and he asked Wu Peifu to send troops to stop the workers. Have a meeting.

Wu Peifu listened to Zhao Jixian's small report and immediately decided to send troops to stop it. He also sent an urgent telegram to Jin Yun'e, the division commander stationed in Zhengzhou, asking Jin Yun'e to try to prevent the Beijing-Hankow Railway Federation of Trade Unions from holding its inaugural meeting. Jin Yun'e received Wu Peifu's telegram and immediately sent military police to impose martial law on the entire city. Then, he sent military police to quickly notify the Preparatory Office of the Beijing-Hankow Railway Federation of Trade Unions, prohibiting them from holding the inaugural meeting in Zhengzhou, and quickly evacuated those who had gone to Zhengzhou for the meeting.

When Lin Yunan got the news, he immediately went to Chen Tanqiu, Li Hanjun, Shi Yang, Li Qiushi, Yang Defu and others for urgent consultation. Everyone believed that the people attending the meeting had arrived and they should strive to continue the meeting. In order to make the meeting If there is no problem, Yang Defu is suggested to immediately take people to Luoyang to explain to Wu Peifu and make him change his attitude.

Subsequently, the Preparatory Office of the Federation of Trade Unions held an emergency meeting to discuss emergency measures based on the suggestions of Lin Yunan, Chen Tanqiu and others.

According to the decision of the emergency meeting, five people including Yang Defu, Ling Chufan, Li Zhenying, and Shi Wenbin rushed to Luoyang to explain to Wu Peifu the purpose and significance of the conference, and repeatedly explained to him that the founding conference of the Federation of Trade Unions There is no bad intention, and it will not affect the social security of Zhengzhou. Wu Peifu's attitude was very tough. He told Yang Defu and others that the Beijing-Hankow Railway Federation of Trade Unions could be established, but it could not hold an inaugural meeting.

The five worker representatives found it difficult to convince Wu Peifu and quickly returned to Zhengzhou. They immediately reported their trip to Luoyang to the heads of trade unions in various places. After hearing this, everyone believed that the establishment of the Federation of Trade Unions was reasonable and legal, and that Wu Peifu's actions were unreasonable. They decided that the conference on February 1 would go ahead as scheduled.

After breakfast on February 1, representatives of trade unions from all over the country arrived at the No. 1 Hotel in Zhengzhou on time to gather in accordance with the original plan, preparing to collectively deliver the plaque to the office of the Federation of Trade Unions.

After the team gathered, they immediately headed towards the Federation of Trade Unions. The marching procession was led by a military band. Each representative held a red flag and wore a badge and marched in line. It was very spectacular. When they reached the main road, they were suddenly blocked by a group of military police. Jin Yunyu and Zhengzhou City Police Chief Huang Dianchen approached the workers' representatives and said: "According to the order of Wu's patrol envoy, you are not allowed to send plaques!"

The workers' representatives walking in the front refused to accept it. Asked: "Why are we not allowed to send the plaque? Didn't you agree to our meeting?"

Jin Yunyu said viciously: "We are executing the orders of our superiors and you are not allowed to go to the meeting!"< /p>

A worker representative angrily asked Jin Yunyu and Huang Dianchen: "We are giving gifts to the conference, why are we not allowed to go? Are we not allowed to go on the road?"

Jin Yun'e and Huang Dianchen did not answer, and did not allow the workers' representatives to move forward.

The workers' representatives headed by Shi Yang were extremely angry and rushed forward, and the military and police defense lines were overwhelmed. The military police immediately surrounded the people who rushed out. Taking advantage of their numbers and weapons, they forcibly broke the plaque in the hands of the workers' representatives and threw it on the road. The workers' representatives were furious and rushed to the Pule Theater where the meeting was held. The garden gate had been sealed by the military and police, and the workers' representatives couldn't bear it anymore and forced their way in.

Lin Yunan entered the venue along with the worker representatives.

Zhao Jixian, director of the Beijing-Hankou Railway Bureau, rushed to the venue immediately. Seeing that the workers' representatives were nervously discussing the meeting, he shouted loudly: "No meetings are allowed here, no speeches are allowed, and no cannons are allowed to fire. Everyone is required to disperse and leave within 5 minutes. Otherwise, the problem will be solved by force." "If anyone resists, they will be punished by military law!"

The workers' representatives present were furious when they heard Zhao Jixian's words. Some scolded Zhao Jixian and Huang Dianchen in person, some were so anxious that they rubbed their hands and stamped their feet, and some were so angry that they burst into tears.

After a while, the worker representatives saw that the 5-minute time was approaching and felt that it was impossible to hold a meeting in the park, so they kept shouting slogans in the park:

"Long live the workers!" "Down with the warlords!" "Long live the Beijing-Hankow Railway Federation of Trade Unions!" "Long live the workers' unity!"

More and more military and police officers surrounded the Pule Theater. The workers were unwilling to leave, so the military police used bayonets to drive them away.

Seeing the seriousness of the situation, Lin Yunan walked to Yang Defu and said softly: "In order to reduce unnecessary sacrifices, quickly announce the establishment of the Beijing-Hankow Railway Federation of Trade Unions and then disband."

Yang Defu, Shi Yang and others also agreed with Lin Yunan's opinion. In the chaos, Yang Defu shouted loudly to the workers' representatives present: "Now I announce that the Beijing-Hankow Railway Federation of Trade Unions has been officially established!"

Suddenly, the venue burst into cheers. The representatives raised their fists and shouted over and over again: "Long live the Beijing-Hankow Railway Federation of Trade Unions!"

After leaving the Pule Theater, the worker representatives asked Huang Dianchen to send the unsmashed plaque to the general union. The union went, but Huang Dianchen disagreed. The workers' representatives repeatedly negotiated with him, but he still disagreed. The representatives had no choice but to return to their respective places of residence.

In the afternoon, Jin Yun'e sent troops to occupy the Beijing-Hankou Railway Federation of Trade Unions office and smashed all the newly purchased desks, chairs and other office facilities in the Federation of Trade Unions. Worker representatives entering and leaving the Federation of Trade Unions were beaten. arrest. At the same time, the entire city of Zhengzhou was under martial law, and the streets and alleys were filled with military police armed with live ammunition. There are also military police standing in front of every hotel, restaurant, and hotel. Military police were also stationed in the hotel where the workers' representatives were staying. The workers' representatives' words and deeds were restricted. Idioms, traveling together, and visiting were all prohibited.

The military and police repeatedly forced the worker representatives to leave the hotel, and the military and police were not allowed to open the banquet that the Federation of Trade Unions had planned to entertain the guests.

The military police also restricted the workers’ representatives to leave Zhengzhou at night. If they did not leave, they would be arrested the next day.

In the city of Zhengzhou, dark clouds were looming over the city, and there was a bloody storm.

Lin Yunan, who had rich experience in struggle, saw that the situation was critical and felt that if he continued to fight hard in Zhengzhou, he would either die or the net would be broken. In this case, it is better to take a step back temporarily and let representatives from various places return to their local areas to carry out the struggle. As long as the green hills remain, there is no need to worry about running out of firewood. He suggested to the Beijing-Hankow Railway Federation of Trade Unions to hold an emergency meeting immediately to study a unified temporary action plan.

In the evening, the Beijing-Hankow Railway Federation of Trade Unions Preparatory Office convened an emergency meeting with representatives of each branch, and Lin Yunan attended the meeting.

The meeting decided that in order to protest against the illegal interference and sabotage of the founding meeting of the Federation of Trade Unions by warlord Wu Peifu and the railway authorities, a general strike will be held on the entire Beijing-Hankou Railway from the morning of the 4th, and the office of the Federation of Trade Unions will be moved from Zhengzhou. To the bank of Hankou River. The meeting also passed the "Special Urgent Announcement of the Beijing-Hankow Railway Federation of Trade Unions", requiring the Ministry of Transportation to remove Zhao Jixian, director of the Beijing-Hankow Railway Bureau, and Feng, director of the southern section; Wu Peifu was asked to remove and investigate Huang Dianchen, compensate for the loss of 6,000 yuan at the founding conference, and return the withheld funds. Plaques and gifts.

After the meeting, representatives from the Hubei region, led by Lin Yunan, Chen Tanqiu, Xiang Ying, Shi Yang and others, boarded the southbound train.

In the car, Lin Yunan, Chen Tanqiu, Xiang Ying, Shi Yang, Xu Baihao and others discussed the action plan to launch a workers' strike back to Han.

After getting out of the car, Lin Yunan could not afford to rest. He wrote slogans, slogans, documents, telegrams, leaflets, and notices for the general strike struggle all night long. He wrote or participated in the writing of: "Strike Declaration of All Workers of the Beijing-Hankou Railway Federation", "Emergency Declaration of the Hubei Provincial Federation of Trade Unions to Assist the Beijing-Hankou Railway Federation on Strike", "Warning to the Railway Clerks", "Warning" Passengers" etc.

These manifestos and leaflets written by him are wonderfully written and have strong appeal. For example, the leaflet "Warning Passengers" has only more than 200 words including punctuation, which is unforgettable after reading it. The leaflet said:

My compatriots, the workers have suffered so much at the hands of the warlords and bureaucracies that they have endured it no longer. They have no choice but to go on strike at 10 a.m. on the 4th of this month. In recent years, railways have been used as spoils of war by warlords, and merchants have suffered huge losses in life and property. Corruption in road administration and harassment by soldiers in cars are all due to warlords robbing and withholding road funds and bureaucrats embezzling to satisfy themselves. From this point of view, not only do workers suffer, but so do travelers. Therefore, the workers would like to warn all travelers that the workers’ strike was forced by the warlords and bureaucrats.

After the strike, the tourists certainly suffered, but this pain was not inflicted by the workers, but actually by the warlords and bureaucrats. This layer hoped that the tourists would pay attention and sympathize with them, and unanimously attack the bureaucrats and warlords.

These declarations and leaflets written by Lin Yunan undoubtedly played a great propaganda role in exposing the crimes of reactionary warlords in oppressing the people and undermining the establishment of the Federation of Trade Unions, and calling on the masses to fight against the authorities.

At that time, although Zhang Guotao had come to Hankou to guide the workers' strike movement, he rarely went out because he did not know much about the workers' movement in Wuhan and was timid and afraid of getting into trouble. As long as Lin Yunan contacted him through a single line, Lin Yunan later Because he was too busy, Li Bogang contacted him instead. Mr. Li Bogang, who participated in the February 7th strike, also said in a memoir that Zhang Guotao was living in Sanyuanli, Hankou at the time, and was nominally guiding the strike movement in Han, but in fact he did not express any opinions. Lin Yunan was an important leader in the February 7th strike, and he was responsible for most of the organization and propaganda work.

While leading workers from all walks of life in Wuhan to support the Beijing-Hankow Railway strike, Lin Yunan also actively participated in the work of leading and assisting the temporary office of the Beijing-Hankow Railway Federation of Trade Unions that moved to Jiang'an, and made a lot of contributions to the strike struggle. What a good plan.

On February 3, the Federation of Trade Unions’ strike declarations, slogans, and flyers were plastered all over factories, docks, telephone poles, and major traffic intersections in three towns in Wuhan. On the morning of February 4, the strike began on the Zhengzhou section of the Beijing-Hankow Railway. Then, Changxin Store also went on strike. At 9 a.m. on the 4th, Lin Xiangqian, chairman of the Hankou Jiangan Branch, officially issued a strike order, and worker Huang Zhengxing blew the whistle vigorously. Waves of flute sound shook both sides of the Yangtze River and resounded over Wuhan.

When the workers heard the sound of the flute, they immediately extinguished the lights, cut off the wires, and disassembled the water pump... The entire Beijing-Hankou Railway was paralyzed.

As soon as the strike began, the Federation of Trade Unions immediately organized picket teams and investigation teams. The picket group is the workers' own armed organization and is responsible for self-defense work; the investigation team is responsible for collecting intelligence and gathering information.

In order to mobilize more public support and solidarity with the Beijing-Hankou Railway workers’ strike struggle, Lin Yunan and others convened an emergency meeting of members of the Hubei Province Federation of Trade Unions overnight to study ways to support and support the Beijing-Hankou Railway workers. Four specific measures for the strike:

(1) Issue a declaration in the name of the Hubei Provincial Federation of Trade Unions, urging the Jinghan Road authorities to resolve the problem as soon as possible;

(2) Jointly Various trade unions held large demonstrations;

(3) Contact the national labor sector for a general strike;

(4) On February 6, Wuhan workers were held in Jiang'an to support the Beijing-Hankow Railway workers' strike Struggle mass meetings.

After the meeting, in addition to presiding over the drafting of the "Emergency Declaration of the Hubei Provincial Federation of Trade Unions to Assist the Beijing-Hankou Railway Federation of All Strikes", he also asked the "Zhenbao" to publish "Outside the Number" and sent Workers circulated it everywhere to publicize the cause of the strike and the goals to be achieved.

On the third day of the strike, the Hubei Provincial Federation of Trade Unions organized more than 10,000 workers to hold a meeting of solidarity, support and condolences to the striking workers on the bank of the Hankou River. Lin Yunan, Shi Yang, Xu Baihao and Lin Xiangqian spoke at the meeting. After they finished speaking, Li Zhenying, secretary of the Beijing-Hankow Railway Federation of Trade Unions, led everyone in chanting slogans. After the conference, Lin Yunan, Shi Yang, Lin Xiangqian and others led the workers attending the conference in a large parade. The parade held red flags and passed through the concession to the Chinese territory. They gave speeches and chanted slogans along the way. The entire parade lasted three hours.

In order to break the workers' strike, Zhao Jixian, director of the Beijing-Hankou Railway Bureau, sent people to post his notices everywhere on June and July. , and it is much higher than other industries. Workers should fulfill their obligations to the railway bureau and should not go on strike. If workers do not come to work after 12 hours, the railway bureau will regard them as voluntarily leaving their jobs. Don't regret it then.

The workers believed that Zhao Jixian was the culprit who prevented and sabotaged the establishment of the Federation of Trade Unions, and ignored his announcement.

The general strike and demonstration held by Beijing-Hankou Railway workers aroused panic and hatred among imperialism and its lackeys, the warlords. On the afternoon of February 7, the British, German, and French consuls general in Wuhan and the warlord Xiao Yaonan's chief of staff Zhang Hou'an and others were summoned to the British Consulate by the British Consul General in Hankou, Lauring Jarl, to plot an action plan to suppress the labor movement. They decided to use force to extinguish the strike movement.

At 5 pm on the 7th, striking workers gathered in front of the Beijing-Hankow Railway Federation of Trade Unions.

At this time, the warlord Xiao Yaonan ordered Zhang Houan to lead two battalions of military police, carrying hundreds of ropes, and set off from the station in three routes. One route ran across the left rear of the trade union on Fujian Street, and the other route ran three routes. Cross the street to the right of the Trade Union, and the third route goes straight to the Jiangan Beijing-Hankou Railway Union from the station. Zhang Hou'an and the director of Jiang'an District 8 Police Station stood in front of the main gate of the Federation of Trade Unions to direct the actions of the military and police.

The gunshots first rang out on Sandao Street. For a time, the three streets were filled with smoke and flesh and blood flying everywhere.

Wang Xianrui, a worker sent by the Federation of Trade Unions to maintain order, saw that many workers were killed and injured. He was so distressed that he stood in the hail of bullets and shouted loudly: "Workers, they killed so many of our brothers, let's all die." "Come on!"

The uninjured workers heard the shouts and rushed to rescue the wounded who fell on the ground regardless of life or death.

At this time, a military policeman raised his gun and shot at Wang Xianrui. Wang was hit and fell down with the sound of the gunshot. When he died, the "Maintain Order" placard was still erected beside him.

Zeng Yuliang, deputy leader of the workers' picket group, was extremely angry when he saw so many workers being shot dead. When he saw a military policeman about to shoot a worker, he quickly ran to hug the military policeman and kept shouting: "Don't shoot at unarmed workers, don't hit our worker brothers..." Standing Upon seeing this, an officer nearby pulled out his pistol and shot Zeng Yuliang. Zeng died immediately, and the military policeman who was being hugged was also killed by a bullet that passed through his body.

Two vendors and a manure picker were also shot down randomly.

In less than half an hour, three groups of military police met in front of the Federation of Trade Unions, and the office of the Federation of Trade Unions was surrounded. The murderer Zhang Houan and the police chief moved to the side of the Rotary School to take command. The military and police fired for a while, and the streets were littered with corpses. Zhang Hou'an still felt that the killing was not enough, so he ordered the bugler to blow the charge horn and used the command to direct the military and police to continue the massacre. Another group of workers fell in a pool of blood.

Bodies were strewn on the ground in front of the Federation of Trade Unions, and rivers of blood flowed.

Lin Yunan, who was among the workers, felt his heart bleed when he saw the heavy casualties. He thought calmly for a moment and felt that he should not sit back and wait for death, nor should he fight forcefully. In his haste, he gained wisdom and secretly directed the workers to flee to all directions to reduce losses.

Zhang Houan saw many workers fleeing and quickly sent troops to chase them.

The workers did not bring anything with them, and most of them ran faster due to their better physical strength. The military and police only chased and killed a few people. In the chaos, Lin Yunan escaped from the killing field with the workers. The more than 80 workers who did not escape were all caught by the military police. Zhang Hou'an ordered the military police to tie more than 80 people to telephone poles and beat them severely. Some were beaten all over their bodies, some had their heads broken, and some were beaten with bruises and bruises... After the beating, the military police searched for workers participating in the strike in nearby residences, found one, and shot the other.

All the office facilities and plaques of the Federation of Trade Unions were smashed, and all property was looted.

At that time, Lin Xiangqian, chairman of the Jiang'an branch, and Lin Yunan lived in the same building in Du'anli, Hankou. When the military police rushed into the house, Lin Xiangqian was caught before he could run away. Lin Yunan heard from upstairs that the military police had arrived downstairs to arrest someone. He quickly grabbed a rope and tied it to the window frame, then climbed over the window and hung himself down, and ran away from the back of the house.

Lin Xiangqian’s brother Lin Yuancheng escaped from home and was discovered by a military policeman. The military policeman immediately shouted: "He is Lin Xiangqian's brother!" As soon as the shouting stopped, another military policeman immediately raised his bayonet. He stabbed Lin Yuancheng who was running away. Lin Yuancheng was unable to dodge and died under the executioner's knife.

Zhang Hou'an also ordered the military police to search Yang Defu's home. Since Yang Defu's family had fled, the military and police failed. At 7 p.m., the military police went to No. 5 Hualou Piye Lane, Hankou, to search for Shi Yang. Shi Yang was caught and sent to the Army Prison.

After the military and police arrested and killed them, they looted shops and people’s property around the Federation of Trade Unions. Some military and police officers grabbed too much stuff and couldn't carry it away, so they piled it up in a nearby snack shop and told them to pick it up the next day.

Zhang Houan directed the military and police to kill and arrest people on the river bank for more than two hours. Later, he turned back and persecuted Lin Xiangqian. He personally carried the "horse lantern" and, together with the police chief and the section chief, searched for Lin Xiangqian among the more than 80 people who were tied up, and forced Lin Xiangqian to order the workers to resume work. Lin Xiangqian immediately refused. That night, Lin Xiangqian was killed.

On this day, Xiao Yaonan and Zhang Houan’s military police shot and killed 37 workers and injured more than 200 others.

The river bank area is awash with blood, and the three towns of Wuhan are shrouded in white terror...

The "February 7th" General Strike

2004-06 -30 23:29:59.0

Also known as the Beijing-Hankow Railway Strike. The largest and most influential of the first upsurges of the Chinese labor movement. It occurred in February 1923, centered on the Zhengzhou-Jinghan Railway Federation of Trade Unions, starting from Changxindian in the north and ending in Hankou in the south. The Changxindian railway workers' strike was an important part of this.

Background Changxindian and Marco Polo Bridge are the birthplace of China’s railway industry. In 1897, the Lu-Han Railway was built, and the Marco Polo Bridge Railway Machinery Factory was jointly built by France, Belgium and other countries. In 1900, the Marco Polo Bridge Machinery Factory was destroyed due to the Boxer Rebellion. In 1901, the Marco Polo Bridge Machinery Factory moved to Changxindian and became the Changxindian Railway Factory. The factory was operated by the Belgian state and its director was Zoeman. In 1919, there were about 3,000 workers, and their daily wages were 30 to 40 cents. In the winter of 1918 and the end of 1919, Mao Zedong came to Changxindian twice to inspire workers’ consciousness in order to establish a preparatory class for work-study students studying in France. After the May 4th Movement broke out in 1919, Changxindian organized a federation of the National Salvation League of Ten to support the Beijing student patriotic movement. During this period, the early leaders of the Communist Party of China, Li Dazhao, Zhang Guotao, Deng Zhongxia, Gao Junyu, Deng Pei, Zhao Erkang and others founded a labor cram school in Changxindian and later established a workers' club. Peking University Civilian Education Lecture Troupe set up lectures in Changxindian to promote Marxism-Leninism. After the First Congress of the Communist Party of China was held, the Secretariat of the China Labor Combinations was immediately established. The Secretariat set up a branch in Beijing to be responsible for the workers' movement on the Beijing-Hankow Railway. In August 1922, he organized the Changxindian August strike and achieved victory. In 1922, the Chinese workers' movement reached its first climax. On January 12, Hong Kong seafarers demanded an increase in wages, but were rejected by the British capitalists. Then, under the leadership of Lin Weimin and Su Zhaozheng, the leaders of the China Seamen Industry Federation, a strike was held. In September, Li Lisan, Liu Shaoqi, Jiang Xianyun and others led a strike of 17,000 workers at the Anyuan Road Mine. Other strikes in conjunction with this include the Jingfeng Road Shanhaiguan Railway Factory Workers' Strike, Changsha Carpenters' Strike, Jingfeng Road Tangshan Manufacturing Factory Workers' Strike, Kailuan Coal Miners' Strike, Beijing-Suiyuan Railway Workers' Strike, and Changsha Printing and Letterpress Workers' Strike Strike, strike of Zhengtai Railway workers, etc. At that time, China's political situation coincided with the defeat of the Anhui warlords, and the strength of the Zhili and Fengtian armies was increasing. The Zhili and Fengtian warlords headed by Cao Kun and Wu Peifu had hundreds of thousands of troops and controlled Luoyang, Baoding, Fengtai, Beijing, Tianjin and other North China regions. From April to May, there was a war between the Zhizhi and Fengxi armies. The war started on the front lines of Fengtai, Marco Polo Bridge, and Changxindian. In order to obtain military reserve resources and ensure the smooth flow of railway transportation, Wu Peifu mobilized a large number of railway workers to serve for a period of time. After the Zhili-Fengtian War, Wu Peifu flaunted his "enlightenment" and used the slogan "protect labor" in order to confuse workers to maintain his monopoly on the political power in Beijing. The Communist Party of China took advantage of this opportunity to organize workers' clubs and trade unions to put forward various reasonable demands to the warlords, pushing the labor movement to a climax. On February 1, 1923, the Beijing-Hankong Railway Federation of Trade Unions was obstructed by the Zhili clique warlords. That night, the Federation of Trade Unions held a secret meeting and decided to declare a strike for all the general unions on the Beijing-Hankow Railway at noon on the 4th. On the evening of the 3rd, Shi Wenbin, chairman of the Changxindian branch, returned to Beijing and held an emergency meeting overnight to convey the strike order.

After the strike on the morning of February 4, 1923, more than 3,000 workers gathered at the Changxindian Empress Palace. Shi Wenbin reported at the meeting the founding meeting of the Federation of Trade Unions and the destruction by the warlords, and announced the strike order. . After the meeting, the strike began. The Federation of Trade Unions issued a strike declaration and proposed conditions for resumption of work: ① Remove the investigation director Zhao Jixian, the deputy director of the southern section Zheng Yun, and the Zhengzhou police chief Huang Dianchen. ② Demand compensation for the losses incurred in holding the founding meeting, re-hang the damaged plaque, and demand that the Zhengzhou military police return the stolen items. ③ One day off per week and seven days off in the lunar calendar year without any deduction of wages. After the strike began, workers' pickets stood guard at various intersections and intercepted trains at the station. Each worker held a small white flag with the words "Labor is sacred," "Improving workers' political status," "Improving workers' living standards," and " Fight for human rights, fight for freedom" and other slogans. During the strike, the workers all went to the club to participate in activities, which was in good order and was generally favored by the public. On February 5, the tea servants of the Beijing Railway Administration also went on strike. Railway Director Zhao Jixian received an order from Wu Peifu and ordered him to deal with it severely.

Zhao Jixian then issued a threatening notice, restricting workers to resume work within 12 hours, but the workers ignored it. Zhao sent people to Changxindian to force the union to negotiate alone. The union responded that it "only knows the orders of the Federation of Trade Unions and does not know anything else." In the afternoon of that day, Cao Kun sent Commander Xin Dian to declare martial law. All workers also came forward to demonstrate and spread the word to the soldiers. On February 6, the strike investigation team reported that a large army was about to arrive in Zhuozhou. After hearing the news, 120 workers selected 500 soldiers to learn how to drive. They also stated that if the striking workers did not resume work, they would be dismissed and escorted out of the country. The workers ignored it. Jing Zhaoyin and the governor of Wanping County came to persuade the workers to go to work, and the workers responded that "the Federation of Trade Unions will decide." Strikes in other places began on February 4, and strike struggles were widespread across the entire Beijing-Hankow Railway. ①River bank aspect. On February 5, Hubei Governor Xiao Yaonan sent Chief of Staff Zhang Housheng to Jiang'an and used a tough attitude to blackmail the union into handing over important leaders. Federation of Trade Unions pointed out. Unless Cao Kun, Wu Peifu and the person in charge of the Ministry of Communications come, they will not be received. At noon, a large number of troops surrounded the factory and arrested two driving workers. After hearing the news, the workers gathered more than 2,000 people. Breaking through the army's defense line and snatching back two workers. During the conflict, the military and police arrested three members of the workers' picket group, and the Federation of Trade Unions sent people to demand their release. On the 6th, various trade unions in Wuhan sent representatives of hundreds of people, including more than 2,000 people, to Jiang'an to hold a condolence meeting. After the condolence meeting, the workers held a demonstration, which passed through the Hankou Concession from Jiang'an. The parade lasted 21 hours and ended. ②Zhengzhou area. On February 4, Zhengzhou Garrison Division Commander Jin Yun'e summoned the union representatives to give a speech and forced the representatives to drive back to work. The union representatives refused on the grounds that "driving requires orders from the Federation of Trade Unions." On the 5th, Jin Yunyu arrested three trade union members. After hearing the news, the workers immediately organized and negotiated with Jin Yunyu. On the 6th, the military police arrested two more trade union members. In the morning, Jin Yunyu pushed five workers' representatives out of the station. In the afternoon, the police station sounded gongs to call workers to work, but the workers ignored them.

After the February 7th Massacre, Wu Peifu used deceptive means such as establishing a labor bureau, endorsing labor legislation, awarding portrait medals, and inviting workers' representatives to meet with workers' representatives under the guise of "protecting labor" to maintain his rule. As a result of the Changxin store strike, Wu Peifu lost 60,000 yuan a month. For this reason, Wu Peifu suppressed the strike, and the Changxindian railway workers were the first to suffer. On February 5, the Beiyang Warlord Garrison Command sent patrol captain Zhang Guoqing to lead the First Battalion of the Four Suburban Patrol Team to Changxindian to closely monitor the striking workers. On the afternoon of February 6, Beijing-Hankow Railway Bureau Director Zhao Jixian, Wanping County Magistrate Tang Xiaoqiu, and the Inspector General of the Police Department collaborated with the 14th Mixed Brigade Commander Shi Sheng and the Four Suburbs Patrol Captain Zhang Guoqing to hold emergency discussions in Cheya, Changxindian, and planned a crackdown. plan. At about 9 pm on the same day, Shi Quansheng, Zhang Guoqing and others led by the 3rd Battalion of the 2nd Regiment of the 14th Brigade, our company of the guerrilla team and the railway police broke into the Changxindian railway worker's house and arrested communists Wu Ruming, Shi Wenbin, Chen Limao, Eleven people including Wang Yongtai, Li San, Hong Yongfu, Yang Xizhen, Wu Chunxi, Wu Zhen and Yi Shun were detained at the headquarters of the 14th mixed brigade. In the early morning of February 7, Luo Zhanglong and Liu Boqing drove to Changxindian. After learning the news that Shi Wenbin and other 11 people had been arrested, they quickly organized a team of three to four thousand workers and rushed to the Changxindian Fire Temple. They surrounded the police station and formed a confrontation with the garrison and two police battalions in the temple. The protesting workers first sent Han Lianjin to talk to them, and then sent Sun Chengwu and Liu Wenwu inside to negotiate. When the troops saw the masses swarming in, they immediately retreated and raised their guns as if to shoot. Soon, the 3rd Battalion of the 4th Regiment of the Mixed Brigade arrived, and the two sides began to clash. During the conflict, five people, Ge Shugui, Yang Shitian, Xin Kehong, Liu Baoshan, and Zhao Changrun, died, and 29 people were injured. More than 20 people, including Wang Yongfu and Liu Bingbo, were arrested, and the strike of Changxindian railway workers was brutally suppressed. On the bank of the Hankou River, Hubei Governor Xiao Yaonan sent Chief of Staff Zhang Housheng to command the suppression. At around 5 pm on February 7, Zhang Housheng led two battalions to surround the Federation of Trade Unions and ordered shooting. Hundreds of unarmed workers' pickets fought with the military and police. 32 people including Zeng Yuliang died and more than 200 people were injured. At the same time, the army surrounded the workers' dormitories and searched for the workers. Lin Xiangqian, chairman of the Jiang'an branch of the Beijing-Hankow Railway Federation of Trade Unions, was arrested. The military police tied him to a power pole at the station and forced him to issue an order to resume work. Lin Xiangqian sternly refused and died generously. At the same time, bloodshed and deaths occurred at various stations in Baoding, Luoyang, and Zhengzhou. During the entire February 7th Massacre, within 12 hours at each station in the north and south of Beijing, more than 40 people were killed, more than 100 people were arrested, more than 500 people were injured, and nearly a thousand households of workers were unemployed and exiled.

Reactions from all walks of life to the tragedy. The February 7th massacre perpetrated by Zhili warlords Wu Peifu, Xiao Yaonan and their subordinates Shi Quansheng, Zhang Guoqing and others aroused unanimous political indignation from all walks of life in China. The Communist Party of China massacred the Beijing-Hankou Road workers for Wu Peifu and published a letter to the working class and the people, calling on the working class to unite and overthrow the Wu Peifu regime. The Secretariat of the China Labor Union issued a warning to the people, proposing slogans to fight for freedom, resist warlords, fight for civil rights, and resist massacres. The Vladivostok Federation of Trade Unions declared the crimes of warlords such as Wu Peifu, the Shanghai Student Federation, the Beijing Federation of Organizations, the National Federation of All walks of life, the National General Preparatory Committee of Railway Workers, the Beijing Civil Rights Movement Alliance, the Hunan Provincial Trade Unions, Beijing Organizations and groups such as the University Student Union, Chaozhou Federation of Trade Unions, various trade unions in Shanghai, the National Workers’ Union Self-Demand Association, the China Socialist Youth League, the Hubei Provincial Federation of Trade Unions, the National Seamen’s Federation, and the Beijing Students’ Federation have all issued messages of support. and a declaration condemning Wu Peifu's crime of massacre of workers. On March 2, people from all walks of life in Beijing went to Tiananmen Square to demonstrate against the warlord government, but were suppressed by the government. On March 22, more than 5,000 people from all walks of life in Beijing held a "memorial meeting for Shi Yang, Lin Yangqian and other February 7th martyrs." In order to preserve and accumulate revolutionary power, the party organization notified the Beijing-Hankow Railway Federation of Trade Unions to resume work on February 9. The Changxindian trade union was severely destroyed under the high pressure of the warlord government. The northern workers' movement temporarily reached a low ebb.