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Hellraisers Journal – Friday October 10, 1902
Mother Jones News Round-Up for September 1902, Part I
Predicts Victory for Striking Coal Miners of Pennsylvania and West Virginia
From the Wilkes-Barre Daily News of September 3, 1902:
MITCHELL RETURNS
———-MOTHER MARY JONES A VISITOR TO THIS CITY.
President John Mitchell, of the United Mine Workers, arrived in this city yesterday afternoon, from Philadelphia, and immediately repaired to strike headquarters. He was accompanied by Louis Hammerling, of this city…..
Mother Jones, the labor advocate also arrived in town yesterday afternoon. She talked very interestingly to a News reporter about the prospects of the miners. She believes that no matter how long the struggle continues, there can be but one thing, and that is success for the miners.
[She continues:]
I hope the struggle will soon be over because there is no reason why the people of the anthracite regions should not be enjoying peace and prosperity, like the other workmen throughout the country. The operators if they have the proper conception of the exact conditions will end the disastrous strike, because no matter how long it continues, it will mean defeat for them in the end.
I do not not know when I shall return to West Virginia, but there is a probability that I may depart for those fields in a few days.
She also believes that the West Virginia miners will be successful in their efforts for better conditions.
[Photograph added.]
From The Philadelphia Inquirer of September 4, 1902:
“Mother” Mary Jones arrived here yesterday afternoon, confident that the mine workers would be victorious in their struggle.
[She said:]
There are 16,000 soft coal miners who are out on strike in the New River, Kanawha and Loop Creek districts of West Virginia. They are out to a man. The conditions in that region are appalling. It is far worse than the situation in the Pennsylvania coal fields.
“What do you think of the recent injunctions issued in West Virginia?” she was asked.
We are approaching a very dangerous crisis in the American nation. The American people are patient, but there will come a time when they will not tolerate such rule.
Disregarded the Injunction
Only last Saturday I was served with an injunction to prevent my speaking in Ohio. But it didn’t work. I have been served with enough injunctions to make a comfortable shroud to bury me in. In West Virginia they issue injunctions against everything. Injunctions are not laws. They are the work of one man. He makes it, issues it, serves it on us, tries us and then he sentences us. We disregard all of them because we know that none of them will stand the test.
“What is your idea of the termination of the strike?”
The miners are not weakening in the slightest degree. We are sure of victory and will accept no compromise. We are determined to right it out to the finish. There will probably be a settlement made before long. I cannot say when that will be. Public sentiment is growing. If it is necesary, I am sure that the American people will support the miners for another year, just as well as the operators have done. The public has never before realized what a big factor the miner is in civilization.
Mother Jones said that she is on her way to the West Virginia coal fields, after having addressed the workingmen of Murray, O., on Labor Day. She stopped at Wilkes-Barre on her way here, and she said that President Mitchell is confident of victory. Last night she attended a meeting of the Plumbers’ Union at Industrial Hall, and also a meeting of the Amalgamated Plumbers in Odd Fellows’ Temple. She spoke to the men and asked their aid in support of the striking miners. She remained at the Hotel Windsor over night. She will leave at 7 o’clock this morning for West Virginia.
From The Clarksburg Telegram of September 5, 1902:
GEHR BREAKS HIS PROMISE
———-
To Stay Out of the Stale-Is in Fayette County.
———-Sunday morning, says the Huntington Advertiser, “Mother” Jones and John L. Gehr, of Indiana, left Montgomery…to go to Gatewood, Fayette county, where they were to speak at a big miners’ meeting. Deputy Marshal Dan Cunningham caught them there and served injunctions on both of them. When he handed “Mother” Jones the injunction intended for her she looked at it and then raising her eyes to the government official, said very solemnly:
Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
The officer hesitated a moment and then looking directly into the eyes of the gray-haired old lady, replied just as solemnly: “Six days shalt thou work and the seventh rest.”
This bit of repartee was heard and witnessed by several on the train and occasioned considerable good-natured comment.
“Mother” Jones and her companion continued on their journey to Gatewood and later in the day addressed a large crowd of people who were very orderly. Nothing was done in violation of the injunction order, and the people addressed listened attentively to the remarks of the people who addressed them.
From the Hinton Daily News of September 8, 1902:
Mother Jones At Montgomery
Mother Jones addressed 1500 people Sunday at Montgomery on the strike situation. She advised the miners to remain out until they got their demands. She made a very able talk.
From The Pittsburg Press of September 9, 1902:
TROOPS ARE LEAVING.
———-
West Virginia National Guardsmen
Quit Strike Region for Home.Thurmond, Va., September 9.-The signal corps and four of the eight companies of the Second Regiment left for their homes Monday afternoon. They were Company F, of Ronceverte, and G, H and I, of Huntington. The remaining four are billed to leave before Wednesday. Col. Morrison, commander of the Second Regiment, also left last night for his home at Parkersburg.
“Mother” Jones and other leaders have been in this immediate section for several days. She spoke at Glen Jean last night and will succeed in preventing many from returning to work at once.
From The Indianapolis Journal of September 25, 1902:
“MOTHER” JONES ARRIVES.
———-
She Comes from West Virginia
to Report Conditions.“Mother” Jones, one of the organizers of the United Mine Workers, who has been in West Virginia since the strike there began, arrived in the city at midnight and stopped at the Occidental Hotel. She was met by Secretary Wilson. The purpose of “Mother” Jones’s visit is not known. She is one of the best organizers the union has and it is supposed she came to headquarters to report on conditions in West Virginia. As the miners have the situation there well under way toward a general settlement, it is thought that Mrs. Jones may be transferred to the anthracite field.
From The Chicago Daily Tribune of September 26, 1902:
‘MOTHER’ JONES ON THE STRIKE
———-
Declares Miners Will Win, Though Suffering
Is Great-Denies Men Have Rioted.
———-Suffering is now the lot of the striking miners in the coal fields of Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Thousands of families are living on the highways, dependent for their subsistence on the good will of sympathizers. Conditions are appalling beyond words. Yet the men will win. I know they will win, for there is not a grumbler, not a traitor, not a “peace man” among them.
“Mother” Jones, the leader and agitator of the United Mine Workers’ union, made this statement yesterday afternoon. She is in Chicago, on her way west to deliver a speech in Albia, Ia., where the bituminous miners are holding a convention.
[She said:]
I have heard, with amazement, stories that the men are reaching the last period of their strike, and that they are beginning to riot. If two dogs meet, growl, and fight, the operators call that a riot and have the troops brought to the scene. Enough money and food are coming into the districts to keep body and soul together. Winter is coming on, and with it a wave of public indignation. The future glows with brightness-the dark is all behind.
[She repeated:]
But there is suffering. Over 2,000 families have been forced from their wretched shacks to live in the open air. I have seen children dying for the lack of proper medicine and care.
Contributions received for the strikers yesterday amounted to $181, making a total of $7,918…..
From the Duluth Labor World of September 27, 1902:
There are 20,000 breaker boys in Pennsylvania whose torn and bleeding hands attest the greed of murdering capital. I said in open court to a judge down there, who said in low accents, “Labor has its rights,” and in thundering menace, “and the operators have their rights, too, and I am going to see that they get them.” I said, “It’s worse than crucifying Christ, because Christ could have helped himself, and these babes can’t.”—Mother Jones.
Note: Emphasis added throughout.
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SOURCES & IMAGES
Wilkes-Barre Daily News
(Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania)
-Sept 3, 1902
https://www.newspapers.com/image/425934796
The Philadelphia Inquirer
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
-Sept 4, 1902
https://www.newspapers.com/image/168381233
The Clarksburg Telegram
(Clarksburg, West Virginia)
-Sept 5, 1902
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84037844/1902-09-05/ed-1/seq-2/
Hinton Daily News
(Hinton, West Virginia)
-Sept 8, 1902
https://www.newspapers.com/image/667453334
The Pittsburg Press
(Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
-Sept 9, 1902
https://www.newspapers.com/image/141912376
The Indianapolis Journal
(Indianapolis, Indiana)
-Sept 25, 1902
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82015679/1902-09-25/ed-1/seq-7/
The Chicago Daily Tribune
(Chicago, Illinois)
-Sept 26, 1902
https://www.newspapers.com/image/350216104
The Labor World
(Duluth, Minnesota)
-Sept 27, 1902
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn78000395/1902-09-27/ed-1/seq-4/
IMAGE
Mother Jones, Coal Miners, Cnc Pst p6, July 23, 1902
https://www.newspapers.com/image/761305973/
See also:
Mother Jones News Round-Up for August 1902
Part I
-Embodies Spirit of Revolt; Surrounded by Injunctions in West Virginia
Part II
-Mother Jones Describes Judge Jackson; “Mother Jones” by O. L. Ford
Part III
Found in Anthracite Region of Pennsylvania, Returns to West Virginia
The Social Democrat, Volume 6
London, Twentieth Century Press, 1902
-Sept 15, 1902, Cover
(search: “mother jones”)
https://books.google.com/books?id=bCwrAAAAYAAJ
Note: this article by Wm Mailly was found previously
in Socialist Spirit of August 1902
(search: “mother jones” by william mailly)
https://books.google.com/books?id=wIcuAAAAYAAJ
Hellraisers Journal: From The Socialist Spirit of Aug 1902:
“Mother Jones” by William Mailly
Part I
Part II
Part III
Tag: Great Anthracite Coal Strike of 1902
https://weneverforget.org/tag/great-anthracite-coal-strike-of-1902/
Tag: West Virginia Coalfield Strike of 1902-1903
https://weneverforget.org/tag/west-virginia-coalfield-strike-of-1902-1903/
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Breaker Boys – Lex Romane