"Goller was important to the prosecution. All the foreigners were though to a lesser extent. But it was Goller that formed the link in the public mind between the I.W.W. in their midst and th unspakable for barely being held back from destroying civilisation in Europe. With the hysteria generated the left became vulnerable for German migrants had played a role in the socialist movement for many years. The Verein Vorwarts (Forward Association) had been formed as far back as 1885. In Sydney it was German cigar makers were crucial in forming the International Socialist Group, in fact Heinrich Borax, a German, was secretary for many years. The members of Verein Vorwarts were Germans who fled from "Prusianism". They mainly organised some social life and received, passed round and discussed, socialist papers from home." Bertha Walker, Solidarity Forever, p.49-50
Jonn Goller was a member form Western Australia. He was amongst the twelve subjected to the first IWW show trial in that state in 1916. Like the others he was further subjected to Judge Burnsides strange mercy in arranging that the men be found guilty but then released after being given suspended sentences. The quality of mercy in Goller's case was rather strained, however, as he was detained as a German after the trial, shipped to the concentration camp (sic) over east and probable deported after the war.
A sticker found on Goller when he was aarrested said, "The workers will own Australia when they organise to take it. Organisation is power. Power is the way to freedom."
