I have been on the firing line
of the industrial battle for years,
and when democratic bullets shot workingmen,
their blood watered the highways just the same
as when republican bullets shot them.
-Mother Jones
Hellraisers Journal, Thursday November 8, 1906
Mother Jones Found Campaigning in Pennsylvania During October
From The Worker of October 6, 1906:
MOTHER JONES ABLE TO SPEAK.
Comrades the country over will be pleased to learn that Mother Jones is soon to be once more in the field [having recovered from a recent illness] and from now till election will divide her time between the 18th Illinois (Speaker Cannon’s) and the 11th Pennsylvania Congressional Districts, in which National board members of the United Mine Workers of America are candidates for Congress on the Socialist ticket, namely: John Walker and William Dettry.
———-
[Photograph added.]
Mother Jones, Grandmother of Agitation:
NATIONAL AGITATION FUND.
Contributions to the National Agitation Fund are reported:
…Mother Jones, gathered a field, $180…
Note: the other contributors donated between $10 and 50 cents, with the exception of the International Union of Brewery Workmen of America which donated $500.
From the Appeal to Reason of October 6, 1906:
General Party News.
Comrade Mother Jones will divide her time between the Eighteenth Illinois (Speaker Cannon’s) district and the Eleventh Pennsylvania Congressional district, in which national board members of the United Mine Workers of America are candidates for congress on the Socialist ticket, namely: John Walker and William Dettry.
—–
From The Wilkes-Barre Record of October 9, 1906:
Mother Jones-Mother Jones is expected at Hazleton on Wednesday [Oct 17] to address three labor meetings.
—–
From the Wilkes-Barre Times of October 18, 1906:
Mother Jones in Hazleton.
“Mother” Jones, the noted labor agitator and friend of humanity, arrived at Hazleton yesterday from the Schuylkill region. Last night she addressed a mass meeting of miners in Wagner’s hall, and to-night she will speak at Sheppton, accompanying the district officers of the mine workers to that place. Although she has passed through a severe siege of illness since last seen in the coal regions, she bears up well under weight of years, and speaks with her characteristic force and energy. The miners are not unmindful of the effective work Mother Jones has done in their behalf, and accord her a cordial greeting.
———-
Hellraisers Journal of October 21, 1906 reprinted an article from the Appeal to Reason of October 20, 1906 regarding her activities in Oklahoma. The Appeal is a national weekly and is mailed out to readers across the nation, therefore Mother was most likely describing meetings which were held in late September or early October.
The same issue of Hellraisers also reprinted a long article from The Washington Herald (D. C.) of October 20, 1906:
“MOTHER JONES” AND HER FOLLOWERS.
…The name of “Mother Jones” is a benediction in the family of every laboring man in the United States.
It is held in respectful reverence by the world’s reformers, thinkers, and writers.
She is equally at ease in a Pullman car or a caboose; as likely to be found in the home of Wilshire, discussing “The Great White Plague” with Eugene Weed, or “The Jungle” with Upton Sinclair-as standing between strikers and the militia…
From the Pittston Gazette of October 21, 1906:
LOCAL GLEANINGS.
—–
Town Talk and Events in and About the City.…The rally to be held next Thursday evening in St. Aloysius hall under the auspices of the C. L. U. will be an open meeting and the public is invited to attend. Besides the leading speaker, J. L. Rodler, “Mother” Jones and District President William Dettrey, two well known advocates of organized labor, will address the meeting…
From the Wilkes-Barre Times of October 25 1906:
MEETING THIS EVENING.
An important labor rally will be held this evening in St. Aloysius hall on South Main street under the auspices of the C. L. U. The leading speaker will be J. L. Rodier, of the A. F. of L. President William Dettery, of the Hazleton U. M. W. of A. district, will also make an address. He sent word to the C. L. U. secretary yesterday that he will surely be on hand. “Mother” Jones is also expected to be in attendance. It is probable that Hugh Frayne, of Scranton, will be one of the speakers. Hon. E. J. Burke, C. L. U. candidate for the Legislature, is expected to make an address.
From the Wilkes-Barre Times of October 30, 1906:
Rally of Socialists.
The Socialists will hold rallies in this region for the remainder of the week in the interest of W. H. Dettrey, Socialist candidate for congress. Mr. Dettrey and “Mother” Jones were expected here last evening to address a meeting in the C. L. U. [Central Labor Union] hall to further the candidacy of Mr. Dettrey, but they did not make train connections. They had been delivering addresses in Schuylkill and Carbon counties and were expected here from Coaldale. They are expected to-day, however and will remain in this section during the week. They are to speak in Luzerne Borough tonight and in Plymouth to-morrow night. They will also be assisted by Joseph O’Brien of San Francisco. The latter is a noted orator and last evening delivered an address in the court house yard, as did Charles Lavin.
[Photograph added.]
From The Wilkes-Barre News of October 31, 1906:
Socialists Will Hold Rally
The Socialists will hold a rally tomorrow evening in Gallagher’s hall, East End, and among the speakers to be heard will be Mother Jones and William Detterey. The latter is a candidate for congressional honors in Luzerne county.
Mother Jones has been speaking in different parts of the anthracite region and has drawn large crowds at every meeting. The issues of the campaign will be gone over in a careful manner and the capitol graft will also be touched upon.
—–
SOURCES
The Worker
“An Organ of the Socialist Party”
(New York, New York)
-Oct 6, 1906, pages 1 & 5
https://www.genealogybank.com/
Appeal to Reason
(Girard, Kansas)
-Oct 6, 1906
https://www.newspapers.com/image/66994560/
The Wilkes-Barre Record
(Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania)
-Oct 9, 1906
https://www.newspapers.com/image/90536326/
Wilkes-Barre Times
(Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania)
-Oct 18, 1906
https://www.newspapers.com/image/119441069/
-Oct 25, 1906
https://www.newspapers.com/image/119445537/
-Oct 30, 1906
https://www.newspapers.com/image/119448593/
Hellraisers Journal: Mother Jones Reports to the Appeal to Reason from Oklahoma Territory
https://weneverforget.org/hellraisers-journal-mother-jones-reports-to-the-appeal-to-reason-from-oklahoma-territory/
Pittston Gazette
Pittston, Pennsylvania
-Oct 21, 1906
https://www.newspapers.com/image/51545446/
The Wilkes-Barre News
(Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania)
-Oct 31, 1906
https://www.newspapers.com/image/182626088/
IMAGES
Mother Jones, Mar 11, 1905, AtR
http://www.newspapers.com/image/66992169/
Socialist Party of America Button
http://www.marxists.org/history/usa/eam/spa/socialistparty.html
See also:
Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for September 1906: Organizing for Socialist Party in Oklahoma
https://weneverforget.org/hellraisers-journal-whereabouts-doings-of-mother-jones-for-september-1906-organizing-for-socialist-party-in-oklahoma/