By clicking on this headline—multitiered in the style of the time—from the Arbeiter-Zeitung of May 4, 1886, one can see a translation of August Spies's coverage of the riot at the McCormick factory on May 3 (approximately 1850 words), which he witnessed firsthand, and then Michael Schwab's editorial on the subject (approximately 700 words). These were, respectively, People's Exhibit 63 and 73 at the trial, where it was also established that Schwab wrote the editorial (the police had found a manuscript version in his handwriting). The full headline reads:

Blood.

Lead and powder as a cure for dissatisfied workmen!

About six laborers mortally wounded, and six times that number slightly wounded

Thus are the eight hour men to be intimidated

This is law and order!

Brave girls parading the city!

The law and order beasts frighten the hungry children away with clubs

General news

Spies's story reflects the passionate feelings of radical labor organizers and the striking vocabulary with which they expressed their outrage. The police are "murderers" who shoot down workers as if hunting in the wild. In Spies's view, the scene recalls the atrocities and lies of 1877. As for Cyrus McCormick Jr., he is a "pimp" who blames Spies for the trouble he himself has loosed. The report ends with the text of the "Revenge" circular.

Schwab's editorial is similarly full of outrage, attacking the "gluttons" who "at their rich dinners and in the circles of their mistresses boast of the splendid achievements of law and order," while "[i]n the poor shanty, miserably clad women and children are weeping for husband and father." The proper response of the oppressed is clearly spelled out: "Dry your tears, ye poor and wretched; take heart, ye slaves; arise in your might and overthrow the system of robbery . . . ."