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Hellraisers Journal – Saturday February 11, 1899
-Mother Jones News Round-Up for the Year 1898, Part II
October 9, 1898
In the pages of the Appeal to Reason of July 2, 1898, Mother Jones was found as “Mary G. Jones” on the list of delegates who bolted the Convention of the Social Democracy, held in Chicago during June of 1898. The disgruntled delegates immediately set about to establish a rival organization called the “Social Democratic Party of America,” and are now calling for “every loyal supporter of socialist principles” to “promptly come to the front and join” the new party. Mother Jones finds herself in good company as Eugene V. Debs and his brother, Theodore, are among the prominent Socialists who have joined the newly founded S. D. P.
July 1898 also found Mother Jones speaking in Omaha to packing house strikers. It was reported that she was speaking as “a traveling representative of the paper known as the “Appeal to Reason.”
In October 1898, Mother Jones was found in the “two Kansas Citys” preaching socialism along with Mrs. Anna Ferry Smith of San Diego. It was reported that the two women had traveled by a horse-drawn wagon from Chicago, speaking on street corners along the way.
In December 1898, Mother Jones was found leaving Kansas City and heading towards Texas “in a prairie schooner drawn by one white horse.” She was next found in Fort Scott and Mound City, Kansas. The Mound City Torch reported:
She is on her road to Texas, traveling in a private carriage alone. She is distributing literature and lecturing on needed reforms as she goes.
MOTHER JONES NEWS ROUND-UP: JULY-DECEMBER 1898
From the Appeal to Reason of July 2, 1898:
The Social Democratic Party of America.
———-CHICAGO, June 16, 1898.
To Members of the Social Democracy of America:
COMRADES: There has been a division of the delegates who met in annual convention in this city in the name of the Social Democracy, beginning June 7th and ending June 11th, and the result has been the formation of a new party, known as the Social Democratic Party of America……
Every loyal supporter of socialist principles should promptly come to the front and join the Social Democratic Party of America. Never was the outlook more promising. East, West, North, and South, comrades are with us and ringing messages of approval cheer us on the course we have taken. There is cause for neither doubt nor despondency. The cause of socialism has again given evidence that it cannot be sidetracked, that it is a living force in human affairs, and that in due course of time it will abolish the slavery of capitalism and give us the cooperative commonwealth.
With socialist greetings and awaiting your reply, we subscribe ourselves
Yours fraternally,
Massachusetts-James F. Carey, Margaret Haile.
California-Anna Ferry Smith.
Indiana-Eugene V. Debs, Theodore Debs, Hugo Miller.
Illinois-Sylvester Keliher, Jesse Cox, Seymour Stedman, George Koop.
New York-M. Winchevsky, Louis E. Miller, I.A. Hourwich, I. Phillips, Joseph Barondess, William Butcher.
New Jersey-Sam’l Levine.
Missouri-G.A. Hoehn, C.F. Meier, Mary G. Jones.
Tennessee- Wm Mailly, A.S. Edwards.
Wisconsin-Victor L. Berger, Federic Heath, Charles G. Kuhn, George Moerschel, Jacob Hunger, John Doerfler, Oscar Loebel.
New Hampshire-F.G.R. Gordon.
Ohio-Charles R. Martin, W.J. Carberry
Pennsylvania-Walter H. Miller.
From Appeal to Reason of July 16, 1898:
Between Devil and Deep Sea.
Mrs. M. G. Jones of Chicago, is authority for the statement that children are very largely employed in the cotton mills of the South, at wages of forty-five cents per week. This will give us some idea of the significance of the New Bedford strike, where adult operatives were struggling, not against the obstinacy and avarice of the mill masters, but against the competition of child labor in the Southern States. And there is something even worse than child labor for the wage-workers to contemplate and that is the competition of constantly improving machinery operated for private profit.
Whenever the workers of the country see the direct connection between cause and effect, they will apply the remedy surely and swiftly. The machinery of production and distribution must be operated for the good of the whole people and not for the benefit of a few private individuals.-Ex.
From The Nebraska State Journal of July 18, 1898:
SOUTH OMAHA STRIKE GREW FROM SLIGHT DIFFERENCES.
—–[…..]
OMAHA. July 17.-In many respects the strike now on among the employes of the South Omaha packing houses is the most peculiar on record. It was started by a controversy over a matter of $3.50 a day. A gang of fourteen laborers employed in loading for the Cudahy company on Monday last demanded an increase of pay from 15 cents and hour to 17 1-2 cents an hour. It would have cost the Cudahy company $3.50 a day to accede to the demand, but it did not see fit to do so and the fourteen men quit. No one at that time imagined that there would be a strike. These men were not members of any union and it is stated that there had been no preconcerted action of any kind looking toward a general industrial disturbance, although it has been understood for some time past that a strike was imminent….
Thursday night [July 14th] there were two mass meetings, one of which was addressed by Mother Mary Jones, a traveling representative of the paper known as the “Appeal to Reason,” who is declared to be a friend of Eugene v. Debs. It was on Friday that the men began going out of the Swift and Hammond works in earnest, and by Saturday night the working forces had quit, so that three great plants were necessarily idle….
One peculiar feature of the present strike is that the under-bosses have gone out with the men so that the office forces are practically all that remain. All of the clerks and employes of the offices have been sworn in as special policemen to add in the protection of property.
—–
From the New York People of October 2, 1898:
-Official Organ of the Socialist Labor Party
St. Louis, Mo., Doings.
To THE PEOPLE.-To give a detailed account of what has happened in St. Louis since the readers of THE PEOPLE last heard from here, would require too much space. I will be brief…..
Queer subjects have come up for debate at meetings of the Social Democratic party (?)….Rumor has it that the following lectures are about to be delivered by that organization:
[…..]
“How the members of the S. L. P. [Socialist Labor Party] and of the S. D. P. [Social Democratic Party] can be on friendly terms,” by Mother Jones…..
I might as well prepare the comrades for an impending calamity. This communication will probably be the last seen from the St. Louis S. L. P.; we are to be wiped off the face of the earth by that Grand Conglomeration of Contradictions, called for short the S. D. P.
UNCLE HENRY.
St. Louis, Sept. 24.
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From The Kansas City Star of October 9, 1898:
WOMEN PREACH SOCIALISM.
—–“MOTHER” JONES AND MRS. SMITH,
LEADERS OF THE PARTY
—–
The Former Was With Coxey’s Commonweal Army on Its
March to Washington-They Avoid Public Halls
and Trains, Using Streets and Highways
—–During last week two plainly dressed, intelligent looking women, both well advanced in years, attracted small crowds nightly on the streets of the two Kansas Citys and Argentine. They were preachers of Socialism. They were strangers to all except a few old Socialists and not one in a thousand of those who saw them knew that they were two of the most notable women Socialist agitators in the world for Mrs. Mary Jones and Mrs. Anna Ferry Smith are so regarded by Socialists in America and England. They occupy the same relation to Socialism as Mrs. Mary Lease and Mrs. Anna Diggs do to Populism.
Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Smith are making a tour of the West and South spreading broadcast the doctrine of Socialism, or the brotherhood of mankind by speaking at public meetings and by selling the works of the leading writers on Socialism. They believe that, like the Gospel of Christ, the teachings of Socialism should be as free as air consequently they hold their meetings in the public streets paying no tribute to landlords for hall rent. Neither do they travel by rail, for that would be paying tribute to corporate wealth. Instead, they move from city to town, and town to city, in a light covered spring wagon drawn by a single horse for they say, the public highways belong to the people.
THEIR TRAVELS IN A WAGON
Several months ago Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Smith started out in their little vehicle from Chicago, which is the headquarters of the Socialists for the Middle and Western states. They crossed Illinois and Iowa, stopping at many cities and towns, until they reached Omaha. There they mingled with the crowds at the Exposition and preached Socialism to them, four weeks ago they started South. They were in Topeka for the fall festivities week before last and were shocked at the lavish display of finery and the “palavering” of the populace over the “Rose of Hilo.” Then they came to Kansas City for Carnival week.
“And such barbarianism as we have seen” said Mrs. Jones yesterday as she referred to the manner in which Kansas City entertained its visitors. “Think of the thousands and thousands of poor creatures in this a land, and yet Topeka spends $1,000 to bring a festival queen from Honolulu while Kansas City spends twenty times that much to make a show for her guests”
Mrs. Jones has seen many years of work for Socialism in the United States. She had traveled extensively and is affectionately regarded as Mother Jones by the Socialists. She is stoutly built and there is a preponderance of gray in her hair which was formerly brown. Her face is that of an intelligent woman and it is possible there is no person in the United States better informed on Socialism than she.
SHE WAS WITH COXEY
Mrs. Jones first came into national prominence a few years ago when, as General Coxey’s chief lieutenant, she marched with the army of the commonweal on to Washington to camp before the capitol and demand reforms in the interests of the toiling millions.
[By way of explaining her ideas of Socialism, she said:]
We believe in the government owning everything and placing everybody on an equal footing. But we will not live long enough to see the consummation of our grand plan, we are working for future generations.
Mrs. Jones declared with emphasis that the wage earners of this country are slaves. She recalled a visit she made to the cotton factories a few years ago. She had been told that children were working for 50 cents a week and she sought employment in one of the factories only to find out that it was true.
[She exclaimed:]
I told you, this land of ours is full of misery.
Mrs. Anna Ferry Smith is not so old as Mrs. Jones by a few years but she has seen much experience in the Socialistic world. She comes from San Diego Cal., and she gained much notoriety there on account of her Socialism utterances. She says she was once arrested and imprisoned for preaching Socialism.
Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Smith are now on their way South. They expect to visit Texas and other Southern states and will be gone for an indefinite period.
———-
From The Kansas City Journal of October 11, 1898:
ECHOES OF THE PAST.
—–
“Mother” Mary Jones, Socialist, and
One of Coxey’s Lieutenants,
Addresses the Faithful.There was a little eddy in the current of pedestrians on Broadway near Fifth street last night, circulating between a brick wall and a buggy.
It was a Socialist meeting. At no time did the audience, including those in the neighboring windows, exceed twenty-five. The monotonous, high keyed harangue beat sharp and resonant against the brick wall, rebounding to others, fretting the night air and unwilling listeners.
O. M. Howard, of Kansas City, and “Mother” Mary Jones, “a citizen of the world,” were the speakers. Howard denounced the millionaires. They could not have acquired their millions honestly, he said. He hailed that millennial day when his system should obtain, and all within sound of his voice should be millionaires. “Mother” Jones addressed her hearers as “my fellow slaves.” She told the old but always alluring story of Utopia, of the beautiful songsters that all may catch when the firmament shall fall. From time to time a ripple of hope ran over the surface of the eddy.
Mrs. Mary Jones is one of the notable women socialist agitators of the world. She is traveling across the country in a light spring wagon with Mrs. Anna Ferry Smith, another prophet of the faith, known in England as well as in American. As one of Coxey’s lieutenants Mrs. Jones marched with the commonweal army to Washington to camp upon the grass of the capitol and present the grievances of the unemployed to the president. When the order was issued to “keep off the grass.” Mrs. Jones was obdurate. She trod upon the grass in front of the capitol all one day in the vain hope that she might, through her offense, gain opportunity for a personal appeal to the president. She failed to attract wide notoriety.
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From The Topeka State Journal of December 1, 1898:
TO PREACH SOCIALISM.
—–
“Mother” Jones Will Make a Thorough Canvass
of Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.Kansas City, Dec. 1.-“Mother” Jones, known to the socialists from one end of the county to the other, has moved upon the Populists of Kansas. She left Kansas City yesterday in a prairie schooner drawn by one white horse. She will journey from county to county, preaching her Utopian gospel to the dissatisfied. “Mother” Jones thinks that the recent election presages the disintegration of Populism and that the way out will be found through the avenue of socialism.
From Kansas “Mother” Jones will move on Texas and other states-wherever the sentiment most abounds that things are rapidly going to the bad.
“Mother” Jones took part in the labor troubles in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. She was present in Omaha, during the Cudahy strike.
She thinks that the time is ripe for a vigorous propaganda among the Populists, many of whom are socialists at heart.
———-
From the Fort Scott Weekly Tribune of December 15, 1898:
Mother Jones Visits Fort Scott, Kansas
Mother Mary Jones, a socialist lecturer of national reputation, is the guest of C. Lipscomb and it is expected she will lecture here before leaving Fort Scott.
From the Mound City Torch of Liberty of December 15, 1898:
Mother Jones
Last Thursday we [Mound City, Kansas] were favored with a call from “Mother Jones,” the noted socialist lecturer of Chicago. A few months ago she secured a pardon from President McKinley for a boy in California whom she thought was wrongfully imprisoned and she convinced the president she was right. She is on her road to Texas, traveling in a private carriage alone. She is distributing literature and lecturing on needed reforms as she goes. She had an appointment in Ft. Scott on Sunday. She spent Thursday night with Mr. and Mrs. John McAuley of Battlefield. She is a widow, having lost a husband, also four children, and has now devoted her life to the sole object of doing what she can “toward lifting mankind to a higher moral plane, and giving all an equal opportunity to maintain and enjoy physical life.” God bless her efforts.
———-
Note: Emphasis added to articles above.
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SOURCES
Quote Mother Jones, Get Evil at Its Root, St L Rpb p2, Feb 5, 1898
https://www.genealogybank.com/
Appeal to Reason
(Girard, Kansas)
-July 2, 1898
https://www.newspapers.com/image/66970672/
-July 16, 1898
https://www.newspapers.com/image/66970718/
The Nebraska State Journal
(Lincoln, Nebraska)
-July 18, 1898
https://www.newspapers.com/image/333751705/
The People
Official Organ of the Socialist Labor Party
(New York, New York)
-Oct 2, 1898, page 3
https://www.genealogybank.com/
The Kansas City Star
(Kansas City, Missouri)
-Oct 9, 1898, page 9
https://www.genealogybank.com/
The Kansas City Journal
(Kansas City, Missouri)
-Oct 11, 1898, page 4
https://www.genealogybank.com/
The Topeka State Journal
(Topeka, Kansas)
-Dec 1, 1898
https://www.newspapers.com/image/323142569/
Fort Scott Weekly Tribune
(Fort Scott, Kansas)
-Dec 15, 1898
https://www.newspapers.com/image/426193688/
The Torch of Liberty
(Mound City, Kansas)
-Dec 15, 1898
https://www.newspapers.com/image/422559895/
See also:
Hellraisers Journal, Thursday July 7, 1898
On the Formation of the Social Democratic Party of America
From the Appeal to Reason: A Letter from the Chicago Delegates
Tag: Social Democratic Party of America
https://weneverforget.org/tag/social-democratic-party-of-america/
Social Democracy Red Book:
A Brief History of Socialism in America
-ed by Frederic Heath
Progressive Thought of January 1900
-Published Quarterly
Debs Publishing Company, Terre Haute, Indiana
https://books.google.com/books?id=75QWAAAAYAAJ
Mother Jones on list of 100 well known Social Democrats:
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=75QWAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&pg=GBS.PA128
Mary G. Jones, “Mother Jones.” Girard, Kan.
Note: search at newspaper.com: “mary g jones” returns 100s of newspapers articles about “mother” fighting with Debs, the ARU, Coxey, United Mine Workers, Social Democracy, etc, esp for 1897. In 1898-9, “mother jones” and “mary g jones” both work, but few returns. In 1900, “mother jones” has 100s of returns and “mary g jones” returns nothing that has to do with our Mother Jones.
Re Anna Ferry Smith, see:
http://www.marxisthistory.org/history/usa/parties/spusa/1909/0306-hoehn-annaferrysmithobit.pdf
Annie Le Porte Diggs
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annie_Le_Porte_Diggs
Mary Lease
https://spartacus-educational.com/USAleaseM.htm
Coxey’s Army
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coxey%27s_Army
Re “Rose of Hilo,” see:
https://kansashistoricalopencontent.newspapers.com/clip/8758981/anna_kanaina_rosehow_she_became_a/
Re Mother Jones and President McKinley, see:
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=-5FJAQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&pg=GBS.RA2-PA12
Note: for more on Mother Jones before 1898, see:
Mother Jones: The Most Dangerous Woman in America
by Elliott J. Gorn
Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Jun 2, 2015
(search: yellow fever)
https://books.google.com/books?id=9gRpCAAAQBAJ
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