You ought to be out raising hell.
This is the fighting age.
Put on your fighting clothes.
-Mother Jones
Thursday July 5, 1906
Mother Jones on Tour in Missouri and Arkansas for Socialist Party
Today Hellraisers pauses to catch up with Mother Jones and to document her whereabouts and doings for the month of June 1906. We find Mother travelling and speaking from town to town in Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas as an organizer for the Socialist Party of America.
On the 15th of June, Mother encountered a bit of excitement while speaking in Webb City, Missouri. The following was reported by a local newspaper:
John Dermott, one of Webb City’s prominent citizens, was arrested last night upon a charge of peace disturbance. Dermott took exceptions to a statement made by Mother Jones, the Socialist lecturer, and forthwith commenced to argue the matter with her. Officer Herrin placed Dermott under arrest which was resisted by that gentleman, and for a few moments a lively scuffle ensued.
From the New York Worker of June 2, 1906:
NATIONAL ORGANIZERSDates for National Lecturers and Organizers for the week are:
[Mother being one of several on list of organizers…]
Mother Jones: June 3, Cuba, Ill.; June 4, Macomb; June 6, Bevier, Mo.; June 7, 8, Chillicothe; June 9, St. Joseph.
From the Kansas City Star of June 9, 1906:
“MOTHER JONES” TO SPEAK.
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An Address Tomorrow to Socialists Here…“Mother Jones” of Chicago, Socialist leader, will speak to-morrow afternoon at 401 Kansas avenue. Monday night she will speak at Warwick hall, Eighth and Oak streets. Mrs. Jones is expected in Kansas city early to-morrow morning….
From the New York Worker of June 9, 1906:
We find Mother Jones on list of National Socialist Party Organizers with dates given for lectures during the week.
Mother Jones: June 10, Kansas City, Kansas; June 12, Sedalia, Mo.; June 13, Nevada; June 14, Joplin; June 15, Webb City; June 16, Carthage.
From The Dallas Morning News of June 12, 1906:
PARKER COUNTY SOCIALISTS.
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To Hold a Campmeeting-
Waging a Vigorous Campaign.SPECIAL TO THE NEWS.
Weatherford, Tex., June 11.-The Socialist organization of this county has a number of speakers in the county and is making a vigorous campaign.
County Organizer D. C. Bruce said today that Socialist sentiment in this county was gaining at a rapid rate and some time during the latter part of next month a six-day State encampment would be held in Weatherford, such speakers as Eugene V. Debbs [Debs] of Indiana, Walter Thomas Mills of Chicago and Mother Jones of Chicago will be among the prominent speakers. He also stated that the Socialists will put out a full county ticket in Parker County.
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From The Salt Lake Herald of June 13, 1906:
DEMOLLI GETS OUT OF THE FEDERAL PRISON
—–(Special to The Herald.)Price, Utah, June 12.-News has reached here that Charles Demolli has been released from the federal prison at Leavenworth, Kan., where he was sent for two years, having been convicted of sending obscene matter through the mails. Demolli was editor of an Italian paper which was suppressed by Major Seth Hill during the reign of martial law at Trinidad, Colo., several years ago. The alleged obscene matter in Demolli’s paper was an article concerning Polly Pry of Denver. Demolli will engage in the newspaper business at Pittsburg, Kan. Demolli was the leader of the Italian coal miners’ strike in Carbon county three years ago, along with Mother Jones, and was in jail during the greater part of the time.
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From the Missouri Bevier Appeal of June 15, 1906:
Mrs. Mary Jones of Chicago, known in labor circles from one end of the country to the other as “Mother Jones,” spoke at the Foresters opera house, this city, to a large audience on Wednesday night of last week. She was here under the auspices of the local Socialists.
She has delivered interesting addresses here before, but her address last week it is said made a deeper impression than any of her former talks. She dealt with economic questions from the socialist point of view and advocated the demands and doctrines of that party as the true and permanent solution of labor problems and the co-operative common-wealth as the best and most desirable state of society, and urged workingmen to unite and settle the great social and economic questions by voting right. Her remarks were given close attention and many points made received with applause.
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From the New York Worker of June 16, 1906:
We find Mother Jones on list of National Socialist Party Organizers with dates given for lectures during the week.
Mother Jones: June 17, Monett, Mo.; June 18, Aurora; June 19, Springfield; June 20, Willow Springs; June 21, Enroute; June 22, Cape Giradueau; June 23, Poplar Bluff.
From the Webb City Daily Register of June 16, 1906:
Get Into an Argument.John Dermott, one of Webb City’s prominent citizens, was arrested last night upon a charge of peace disturbance. Dermott took exceptions to a statement made by Mother Jones, the Socialist lecturer, and forthwith commenced to argue the matter with her. Officer Herrin placed Dermott under arrest which was resisted by that gentleman, and for a few moments a lively scuffle ensued.
Dermott gave bond for his appearance in police court this morning, and appeared there at 9 o’clock. No one had appeared to make any complaint against him and the matter was postponed to await the action of the Socialists, for whom Mother Jones was making her address, but they refused the prosecute.
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From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch of June 17, 1906:
Crowd With Mother Jones.Special to the Post-Dispatch.
WEBB CITY, Mo., June 16.-John Dermott, a millionaire, was arrested here and dragged to the City Jail today for taking issue with and disputing Mother Jones in a street talk on Socialism. He told her there were no labor troubles in the Webb City mining district and she was unwelcome here. The crowd hooted and hissed him.
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From The Coffeyville Daily Journal of Kansas of June 19, 1906:
Socialist Demonstration.Springfield, Mo., June 19.-Local Socialists have arranged for a great demonstration on the streets tonight. Mother Jones, the famous woman labor leader and Socialist, will be the chief speaker.
From the New York Worker of June 23, 1906:
We find Mother Jones on list of National Socialist Party Organizers with dates given for lectures during the week.
Mother Jones: June 25, West Plains, Mo.; June 26, Thayer; June 27 to 30, Arkansas, under the direction of the State Committee.
From the Appeal to Reason of June 23, 1906:
Mother Jones will fill the following appointments in Arkansas: Mammoth Springs, June 27th, H. Chilcote. Hardy, June 28th, F. Welman. Pocahontas, June 29th, Geo. Zuleeg. Jonesboro, June 30th, Jerry Spain. Bald Knob, July 2d, W. S. Biram. Wynne, July 3d, U. P. Dearing. Brinkley, July 4th, C. H. Andrea. Little Rock, July 5th, S. W. Harvey.
From The Arkansas Gazette of Little Rock of June 26, 1906:
“MOTHER” JONES COMING.-“Mother” Jones, who headed 3,000 children working in factories during the textile workers’ strike to Washington, but was denied an interview with President Roosevelt; who was put in the “bullpen” in Idaho, and incurred the wrath of Governor Pennypacker of Pennsylvania by inducing the militia to divide their rations with the wives of striking miners, will speak at Old Concordia hall on the night of July 5. Admission will be free.
Note: Regarding Mother Jones, the Gazette is playing fast and loose with the facts as presented here, for example, greatly exaggerating the number of marchers on the Children’s Crusade which Crusade ended at Oyster Bay and never went to Washington, D. C.
From the New York Worker of June 30, 1906:
We find Mother Jones on list of National Socialist Party Organizers with dates given for lectures during the week.
Mother Jones: Arkansa, under direction of State Committee.
From the Appeal to Reason of June 30, 1906:
Mother Jones is reported to have held a very successful meeting at Carthage on the 15th inst. After she had spoken for two hours to a crowd of four or five hundred miners, a big mine-owner, white with rage at her remarks, undertook to take the meeting away from her. She let him speak for awhile and then proceeded to make his fur fly. The miners cheered her to the echo, and a policeman had to come and take the old plute away.
[Note: most news accounts place this event in Webb City.]
—–Socialist encampments will be held in Texas at the following places: July 16 to 21, Fort Worth; July 16 to 21, Groesbeck; July 23 to 28, Goldthwaite; July 23 to 28, Holland; July 30 to August 4, Caddo; July 30 to August 4, Lorena; August 6 to 11, Weatherford; August 6 to 11, Grand Saline; August 13 to 22 Linders. Stanley J. Clark, M. A. Smith, Samuel P. Benbrook, Word H. Mill, Luella R. Krahbell and Laura B. Payne will be the speakers. Mother Jones and other national speakers will attend some of the encampments.
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SOURCES
From Genealogy Bank:
http://www.genealogybank.com/
The Worker
“The Organ of the Socialist Party”
(New York, New York)
-June 2, 1906, page 4
-June 9, 1906, page 3
-June 16, 1906, page 3
-June 23, 1906, page 6
-June 30, 1906, page 5
Kansas City Star
(Kansas City, Missouri)
-June 9, 1906, page 2
The Dallas Morning News
(Dallas, Texas)
-June 12, 1906, page 3
From Chronicling America:
The Salt Lake Herald
(Salt Lake City, Utah)
-June 13, 1906
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85058130/1906-06-13/ed-1/seq-1/
From Newspapers.com:
Bevier Appeal
(Bevier, Missouri)
-June 15, 1906
https://www.newspapers.com/image/79255263/
Webb City Daily Register
(Webb City, Missouri)
-June 16, 1906
https://www.newspapers.com/image/131238955
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
(St Louis, Missouri)
-June 17, 1906
https://www.newspapers.com/image/138894388/
The Coffeyville Daily Journal
(Coffeyville, Kansas)
-June 19, 1906
https://www.newspapers.com/image/58473372/
Appeal to Reason
(Girard, Kansas)
– June 23, 1906
https://www.newspapers.com/image/66994203/
-June 30, 1906
https://www.newspapers.com/image/66994229/
From The Arkansas Gazette
(Little Rock, Arkansas)
-June 26, 1906
https://www.newspapers.com/image/132925060/
IMAGE
Mother Jones from Appeal to Reason of Mar 11, 1905
http://www.newspapers.com/image/66992169/
See also:
“Mother Jones and the Children’s Crusade”
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/8/4/1228470/-Anti-Capitalist-Meet-up-Mother-Jones-and-the-Children-s-Crusade
Hellraisers Journal: Organizer Demolli of UMWA Sentenced to Federal Pen for Defending Mother Jones.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/10/27/1339287/-Hellraisers-Journal-Organizer-Demolli-of-UMWA-Sentenced-to-Federal-Pen-for-Defending-Mother-Jones