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Hellraisers Journal – Saturday December 16, 1911
Mother Jones News Round-Up for November 1911, Part II
Found in California Speaking on Behalf of McNamara Brothers
From The Sacramento Bee of November 14, 1911:
“MOTHER” Jones, known throughout the country as a forceful speaker on Socialistic and Labor questions is coming to Sacramento. She will be he principal speaker at the “Capital and Labor” drama that is to be staged in the Clunie Theater to-morrow night. It is announced in local labor circles that Mother Jones is to speak in defense of the McNamara Brothers, now on trial in Los Angeles for the alleged dynamiting of the Los Angeles Times.
The drama “Capital and Labor” that is to be played at the Clunie Theater to-morrow night is in the nature of a benefit for the strikers in the local shops. It will be under the personal direction of Paul Gerson who will be supported by William A. Lowery member of the Blacksmith’s Local of San Francisco, who will appear in the role of the black smith in the play.
The receipts from the play, it is understood, will go into an emergency fund. From this fund relief will be given those unskilled laborers who were not organized at the time the strike was called and who hence are not entitled to strike benefits.
The company which is to stage the play is made up of professional talent and a good production is expected.
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From The Sacramento Bee of November 16, 1911:
ORGANIZED LABOR CAUSE
EXPOUNDED AT BENEFIT SHOW
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“Mother” Jones Says Center of
Industrial War Is in California
—————The cause of Organized Labor was expounded at the Clunie Theater last night through the drama and by “Mother” Jones who has been a crusader against oppression of the workingman for thirty years The affair was a benefit performance of “Labor and Capital” by a company which has met with success in many cities of the State playing for the purpose of raising a fund for those strikers against the Southern Pacific Company who are affiliated with no Union and therefore receive no strike benefits.
Though the plot is not unusual the play has a strong appeal to it and the rather slender house grew enthusiastic before the third act was finished shortly before midnight. The company has not yet been approved by New York, but bandied the vehicle by which it taught the doctrine “United we stand, divided we fall,” creditably.
The play did not start until nearly 9 o’clock, because, it was explained between the first and second acts, the train from San Francisco was three-quarters of an hour behind time as the result of an engine failure. The mention of an “engine failure” brought down the house.
California is now the center of the industrial struggle, said “Mother” Jones, referring to the trial of the McNamaras in Los Angeles. During the course of her remarks she told what she would do to General Harrison Gray Otis if she had an opportunity and referred sarcastically to “Teddy Roosevelt, the monkey chaser.”
Women, “Mother” Jones said, did great work while Labor troubles were on in Pennsylvania. “But we don’t belong to the clubs or the temperance brigade,” she said. “we don’t wear our brains on the outside of our heads In feathered hats.”
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From the Modesto Morning Herald of of November 18, 1911:
“MOTHER” JONES SPEAKS TO LOCAL UNION MEN
—————“Mother” Jones, known as the Joan of Arc of organized labor, spoke at Schafer’s hall last evening. She has been identified with work among union men for thirty years and has always been on the firing line in case of labor troubles. She gave considerable attention to the McNamara case and the Los Angeles situation.
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From the San Jose Evening News of November 24, 1911:
NOTED WOMAN WHO FIGHTS FOR THE RIGHTS
OF LABOR SPEAKS AT TURN VEREIN HALL TONIGHT
—————This evening “Mother Jones,” the noted labor speaker is to talk at Turn Verein Hall. “Mother Jones” arrived in this city at 3:50 from Fresno and was met by a committee from the Women’s Union Labor League headed by Mrs. Fred Volkers and Mrs. Charles Fish. She was escorted to the Hotel Imperial and every attention possible given her entertainment and comfort.
“Mother Jones” is accompanied on her tour of this State by William Cole of San Francisco, member of the executive board of the Carpenters’ and Joiners’ Union of America. He also is to speak this evening.
“Mother Jones” is popular with all of labor’s hosts throughout the country and it is expected that Turn Verein Hall will be taxed to its utmost seating capacity tonight.
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From the San Jose Evening News of November 25, 1911:
“MOTHER JONES” WAKES UP THE LABOR ELEMENT
—————“Mother Jones” addressed a large audience at Turn Verein Hall last evening and her remarks were vigorously applauded. Among the other speakers of the evening were W. G. Mathewson of this city and William Cole, who is traveling the State with “Mother Jones.”
The speakers all denounced the McNamara prosecution at Los Angeles and the labor situation generally in the southern city. The audience that attended the meeting seemed heartily in accord with all of the speakers’ sentiments.
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From the San Francisco Chronicle of November 27, 1911:
HARRIMAN RALLY IS WELL-ATTENDED AFFAIR.
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“Mother” Jones and J. Stitt Wilson Are Speakers of Evening.Socialists and Labor Unionists to the number of upward of 800 were on hand last night at the Building Trades auditorium, in response a call to assist in the election of Job Harriman, socialistic candidate for Mayor of Los Angeles. J. Stitt Wilson, Mayor of Berkeley; P. H. McCarthy, Mayor of San Francisco, and John A. Kelly, president of the San Francisco Labor Council, were advertised as the speaker of the evening. Kelly and the Mayor of San Francisco failed to materialize. However, “Mother” Jones was an unexpected arrival on the scene and delivered a stirring address, her topic being labor conditions and the cause of Socialism. Mother Jones maintains that she has been a Labor Unionist for the last thirty-five years and a Socialist for twenty years.
The Mayor of Berkeley handled the taking up of a collection that will be forwarded to Los Angeles to aid in defraying the expenses of the Harriman campaign. Upward of $200 was donated by the audience.
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SOURCES & IMAGES
Quote Mother Jones re California Class War, Fresno Tb p1, Nov 22, 1911
https://www.newspapers.com/image/696376012/
The Sacramento Bee
(Sacramento, California)
-Nov 14, 1911
https://www.newspapers.com/image/616689071/
-Nov 16, 1911
https://www.newspapers.com/image/616689392/
Modesto Morning Herald
(Modesto, California)
-Nov 18, 1911
https://www.newspapers.com/image/607087369/
The Evening News
(San Jose, California)
-Nov 24, 1911, page 3
-Nov 25, 1911, page 6
https://www.genealogybank.com/
San Francisco Chronicle
(San Francisco, California)
-Nov 27, 1911
https://www.newspapers.com/image/27551503/
See also:
Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts and Doings of Mother Jones for November 1911
Part I: Found Involved in Conflict between Madero and Ricardo Flores Magón
Tag: McNamara Brothers
https://weneverforget.org/tag/mcnamara-brothers/
Tag: Job Harriman
https://weneverforget.org/tag/job-harriman
Tag: Illinois Central and Harriman Lines Strike of 1911 to 1915
https://weneverforget.org/tag/illinois-central-and-harriman-lines-strike-of-1911-to-1915/
Notes re Women’s Union Labor League:
First mention found was from Jan 20, 1897,
Buffalo Evening News, page 6:
https://www.newspapers.com/image/327968269/?terms=%22union%20labor%20league%22&match=1
Last mention found was from Oct 29, 1970,
New Castle News, page 12
https://www.newspapers.com/image/72855242/?terms=%22union%20labor%20league%22&match=1
Photo from Labor Day 1910
San Diego History Center
https://photostore.sandiegohistory.org/product/labor-day-parade-women-s-union-labor-league-1910-12107/
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The Most Dangerous Woman – Utah Phillips & Ani DiFranco