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Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday January 24, 1922
Mother Jones News Round-Up for August 1921
Found Advocating for Mexican Workers and Standing with West Virginia Miners
From the Salina Kansas Leader of August 4, 1921
-from The New Majority (Chicago Federation of Labor):
U. S. LABOR ASKED TO ASSIST MEXICO
———-
Mother Jones Brings Request for Alliance in
Fight for New CivilizationThe Republican administration under President Harding is beating the tom-toms to arouse the country to stand for a war against Mexico to bind and gag that country while the oil profiteers continue to pick its pockets. Excuse has been made of a strike of oil workers to send United States gunboats to Mexican waters in an effort to cow the Mexican workers back to work for their “American” employers.
Only the labor movement of the United States can prevent war with Mexico. The Denver convention of the A. F. of L., adopted a policy of resisting such a war. The time seems to be at hand for the American unions to start their protest, if it is to become effective.
Mother Jones has just returned from her second trip to Mexico within the year. She was in Chicago last week and brought with her a message from the Mexican organized workers. Just before she left, she attended a meeting of the presidents and secretaries of the unions affiliated with the Mexican Federation of Labor. They asked her to bear this greeting to organized labor of the United States :
We send greetings to our brother workers in America and we want you, Mother Jones, to carry the message to them that the world is in the birth throes of a new civilization and that we in Mexico are coming to her aid to relieve her pain. We also wish you would ask our brothers in the United States to join us and we will stand shoulder to shoulder with them to usher in the new day and the civilization.
Now is Time to Help
If the workers of the United States are to stand shoulder to shoulder with the workers of Mexico, the job has got to begin with making impossible a war by our oil kings against the Mexican people.
Mother Jones reports that labor is making great strides in Mexico. She says that the newspaper reports that President Obregon is giving in to American demands that article 27 of the Mexican constitution be repealed are false. Article 27 vests ownership of the underground wealth of Mexico in the Mexican people.
She says that recently the Mexican government provided 300 striking miners with agricultural implements and placed them on farm lands so they could support themselves during their struggle and that in another case when the workers of a factory were locked out, the employer was compelled to reinstate them and pay their back wages.
[Said Mother Jones:]
Mothers who are employed are now retired on full pay for three months before childbirth and three months thereafter. Then for another three they bring their babies to work and have them cared for during working hours in nurseries provided by the employers. Whereas Mexican workers heretofore never knew when starvation and death would overtake them, their condition has improved so that now their children are going to school and are assured of their breakfast every morning before they go.
-New Majority.
[Photograph added.]
From North Carolina’s Wilson Times of August 5, 1921:
UNION MINERS GO TO COAL
FIELDS N MINGO COUNTY
———-MOTHER JONES IS GOING
———-
Union Official Sates if the Organizers Were Arrested
He Would Send More Until the Jails Were Full.
Coal Fields in Mingo County Are Under Martial Law
———-Charleston, W. V., July 29.-100 members of the United Mine workers of America from Cabin Creek and Paint Creek fields will start for Mingo county according to C. F. Keeney, president of district No. 17.
Mother Jones, organizer, is expected to arrive here tonight and also will go to the coal fields.
The decision to send the union men into the district which is under martial law was made the miners president said after C. F. Workman an organizer was reported arrested. Keeney claimed Workman had permission from the state authorities to return to the fields to wind up his personal business.
Keeney stated if organizers were arrested he would send more until every jail was filled, and if they were not arrested it would prove “organizers can go into a strike zone unmolested.”
From The New York Times of August 8, 1921:
DRAFT MINGO PEACE TERMS
—————
Miners Adopt Resolutions and Present
Them to Governor.CHARLESTON, W. Va., Aug. 7.-Resolutions setting forth terms for a settlement of the industrial controversy in Mingo County were adopted here to-day at a mass meeting of union miners and presented to Governor Morgan. The Governor requested time to consider them, and said that he would send his reply to C. F. Keeney, President of District 17, United Mine Worker of America.
More than 1,000 miners were at the meeting, held in the open near the site of the Capitol, recently destroyed by fire. They were addressed by “Mother” Jones, labor organizer, and other speakers.
The resolutions suggest these point for a settlement:
Appointment of a commission of six, three to represent the and three the operators, to adopt rules and methods for adjustment of any disputes arising between the two parties.
Creation of a board of arbitration, consisting of one to be selected by the miners, one by the operators and these two to select a third who shall be a non-resident of the State. This board will settle questions on which the commission fells to agree, and their decisions shall be binding and final.
That employers involved agree that all employes return to work without discrimination against any one belonging to a labor union.
Establishment of an eight-hour working day.
That employes shall have the right to trade where they desire.
That employee shall have the right to elect check weighers, and that 2.000 pounds shall constitute a ton.
That where coal is not weighed on a standard scale and the miner is paid by the car or the measure, the weight of each car shall be stamped thereon.
[Photograph added.]
—————
From the Martinsburg Journal of August 9, 1921:
MINERS ASK MORGAN TO SETTLE WARFARE
They Submit Basis for Settlement.
[Mother Jones Speaks]
———-Charleston, Aug. 7-Governor Morgan tonight asked for time in which to consider the demands submitted by the miners in a ten-hour mass meeting here today. The chief executive promised to send his answer to Frank Keeney, president of District 17, United Mine Workers, within the next few days. Keeney will convey the governor’s answer to local unions by mail.
The miners and their sympathizers began arriving in Charleston early this morning and by noon a throng variously estimated from 1,500 to 2,500 had gathered on the old capitol lawn. Mother Jones and other speakers addressed the crowd. The meeting disbanded at 10 o’clock…..
From the Hinton Daily News and Leader of August 17, 1921:
MOTHER JONES VISITS MINGO COUNTY JAILS
———-Williamson, W. V., Aug.,-16.-“Mother” Jones, labor organizer, arrived in Williamson tonight after, it is said, permission was granted by Governor Morgan to visit the Mingo coal fields, where there has been an industrial controversy since July 1, 1920. Upon her arrival she obtained permission from Sheriff A. C Pinson to visit the county jail, where nearly 100 prisoner are confined, some of them being idle miners. This is the third time “Mother” Jones has visited the Williamson district since the controversy began.
—————
From The West Virginian of August 24, 1921:
MOTHER JONES GOES TO MARMET
—————
Charleston Citizens Still Hope
There Will Be No TroubleCHARLESTON, August 24-Mother Jones, well know as a leader among miners, left here this morning for Marmet where about 3,000 miners have been in camp as a protest against the state of martial law in the Mingo county coal field.
She was to have addressed the men, who had moved their camp five miles from the original site, which was described as a more comfortable location.
While recognizing the gravity of the situation occasioned by the presence of so large a body of men within striking distance of the capital public officials and leading citizens here expressed the opinion that under proper leadership the incident would be closed without serious result.
It was recognized, however, that the situation still contained elements of danger particularly if the original program was carried out and the men carried out their march through Boone and Logan counties to Mingo.
—————
From The Wheeling Intelligencer of August 25, 1921:
Charleston, W. Va., Aug 24.-Reports received at the offices of Governor E. F. Morgan that the men, estimated by county officials to number more than 5,000, most of them armed, assembled at Marmet from the coal fields of eastern Kanawha county, had taken a vote today to break camp and return to their homes, were denied tonight by C. Frank Keeney and Fred Mooney, president and secretary-treasurer respectively of District 17, United Mine Workers of America.
It was the first statement that has come from the offices of the miners’ union here, since the men began to assemble last Saturday. It was in answer to a statement coming from the governor’s office to the effect that Keeney and Mooney had a “tilt” with “Mother” Jones over the purported speech to the men this morning advising them to return to their homes during the course of which she was said to have read a telegram from President Harding urging the men to break up their camp.
Both Keeney and Mooney declared the telegram purporting to have come from the president was “bogus.” They said they called George B. Christian, secretary to President Harding by long distance telephone this afternoon who told them, they say, that “no such telegram was sent by the chief executive.”
Alleged Harding Message.
[Keeney and Mooney said:]
“Mother” Jones went to the camp of the miners on Lens Creek, Tuesday night and told the men she would bring them a message from President Harding on Wednesday.
This morning the men sent a committee of two to Charleston to request us to go to Marmet and verify the telegram. We returned with the committee, arriving in time to hear “Mother” Jones address some 500 miners assembled at the lower end of the camp, advising them to go home. She read a telegram which she said was signed by President Harding, in which the president asked the miners to stand by the constitution and return to their homes and work and promising them he would use his power to drive the Baldwin-Felts guards from the state, never to return.
After she had finished reading the telegram, we asked “Mother” Jones to show it to us. She refused to comply and some strong words were exchanged.
Keeney and Mooney said they then returned to Charleston and called President Harding’s secretary, who, they say, denied that any telegram had been sent.
“Mother” Jones Leaves.
“Mother” Jones could not be located here tonight. At the hotel at which she stopped while in the city, it was said she checked out today and left on Chesapeake & Ohio train No. 2 for the east.
Keeney and Mooney said they investigated the reports that the men assembled at Marmet had taken a vote to return home and “found them unfounded and untrue.”
Small groups of armed men straggled into the camp today, according to information received by Sheriff Henry A. Walker, and he estimated the number now assembled to be approximately 6,000. Reports earlier in the day that the men would be joined by others from the coal fields of Indiana and Illinois could not be verified. Trains coming in from outside the state have not carried more than the usual number of passengers today, railroad men said tonight.
Two large automobile trucks belonging to C. H. James & Son of this city were chartered by five men from Marmet today, and provisions were solicited from Charleston stores and restaurants. Purchases were also made for the men in camp in Charleston stores, 15,000 loaves of bread having been bought from a grocery company. The trucks were manned by five residents of Marmet led by C. Silvas and [?] Medley both miners.
—————
From The Washington Times of Aug 26, 1921:
Troops Not Needed In Mingo, Bandholtz
Reports to War Dept.By International News Service.
There is no immediate necessity for the dispatch of Federal troops into West Virginia, General Bandholtz, who was sent to West Virginia to investigate conditions, reported to Acting Secretary of War Wainwright today……
“Mother” Jones called upon Secretary Wainwright today to urge that Federal troops be kept out of West Virginia, stating that the situation could be handled by the State forces. She said that she had urged the armed band to go home and had expected that action would follow.
[Mother Jones said:]
There is an ulcer in West Virginia that must be removed and that is the private army maintained by the coal operators.
She told the secretary that if the Baldwin Felts Detective Agency charter was revoked that much of the trouble in West Virginia would be obviated…..
—————
From The Kansas City Star of August 28, 1921:
SO “MOTHER JONES” IS SAD
———-LABOR HAS BECOME TOO RESPECTABLE,
SHE ASSERTS.
———-
Leaders Now Are Living Like Vanderbilts and
Their Wives Go Around With Poodle Dogs.
———-WASHINGTON, Aug.27.—”Labor has become too respectable,” declares “Mother” Jones .
The old Amazon of a thousand labor battles lashed labor leaders tonight and shook her head sadly as she did it. She was in a sad mood. Even the lavender flowers on her little black bonnet looked dejected.
[She said:]
In the old days labor leaders didn’t have no offices. They were glad when they got a hand-out. They didn’t have no hi-falutin’ stenographers writing their letters.
LOOK LIKE VANDERBILTS NOW
Look at ’em now. Look at ’em with their big offices fixed up with fine doodads and the rank and file footing the bill. Store clothes are not good enough for ’em any more. They’ve got to go around all tailored looking like Vanderbilts. They’ve got secretaries and under secretaries and pages and motor cars and their wives go around with poodle dogs like Mrs Up-Upty of the four hundred.
There’s 6 million unemployed and there’ll be 6 million more before the winter’s over. Who’s doing anything about it? The unemployed ought to be marching to Washington. They ought to be marching—tens of thousands of ’em. Maybe they’ll come yet but who’s to lead ’em?
“No, not me,” said the old warrior wiping the tears from her eyes with her crooked old fingers. The miners’ Joan of Arc, with trembling voice confessed her old body was tired.
NOT WHAT SHE USED TO BE
[She said:]
Coxey and me did it once, but now I’m 92 years old. I am not what I used to be. I’ve led men against the big guns; I’ve gone to jail. I’ve stuck with my boys through many a hard fight and I hope to stick through many another before I die. The spirit’s still there, but my body isn’t as strong as it used to be.
The rank and file have got the fire. All they need is someone to touch the spark and lead them. They’re not like their leaders who’ve grown so respectable they can’t eat without a manicure and can’t call a strike without getting advice from lawyers.
It’s the women who ought to be marching to Washington—the wives and mothers of the unemployed. It’s the trade union women who ought to be leading ’em.
UNION WOMEN “TOO LADYLIKE”
“The trade union women,” a snort of contempt and Mother Jones with the old fire in her voice said:
What’s the matter with the trade union women?
I’ll tell you. They’re too ladylike.
—————
From the New York Daily News of August 31, 1921:
U. S. Troops Move Thursday if 4,000
Armed Men Fail to Disperse
———-Charleston, W. Va., Aug. 30.-Four thousand armed miners are massing for the invasion of Logan and Mingo counties, while the United States Government, under a proclamation issued today by President Harding, has ordered the cessation of the Mingo Mine War by noon Thursday under penalty of having the invaders dispersed by United States troops…..
The troops were ordered in readiness after a conference today at the White House in Washington at which the President, Secretary of War Weeks and Major-Gen. Harbord, acting chief of staff, were present. When the conference adjourned the announcement was made that the miners must disband and return to their homes by noon Thursday, or the Federal troops would take charge of the district.
[…..]
A delegation of West Virginia business men and property owners were at Washington to urge action, and “Mother Jones” came along to intercede for the miners.
[…..]
Note: emphasis added throughout.
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SOURCE & IMAGES
Quote Mother Jones PAFL Congress, p72, Jan 13, 1921
Jan 10-18, 1921 PAFLC Report
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924003670712&view=2up&seq=1
Pages 72-76: Jan 13th, Address of Mother Jones
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924003670712&view=2up&seq=74&q1=mother%20jones
The Kansas Leader
“A farmer and laborer owned and controlled news-paper..”
(Salina, Kansas)
-Aug 4, 1921, p7
https://www.newspapers.com/image/486759613/
The Wilson Times
(Wilson, North Carolina)
-Aug 5, 1921, p2
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn92073953/1921-08-05/ed-1/seq-2/
The New York Times
(New York, New York)
-Aug 8, 1921
https://www.newspapers.com/image/26754098/
Martinsburg Journal
(Martinsburg, West Virginia)
-Aug 9, 1921
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85059587/1921-08-09/ed-1/seq-8/
Hinton Daily News and Leader
(Hinton, West Virginia)
-Aug 17, 1921
https://www.newspapers.com/image/667494634/
The West Virginian
(Fairmont, West Virginia)
-Aug 24, 1921
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86072054/1921-08-24/ed-1/seq-1/
The Wheeling Intelligencer
(Wheeling, West Virginia
-Aug 25, 1921
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86092536/1921-08-25/ed-1/seq-1/
The Washington Times
(Washington, District of Columbia)
-Aug 26, 1921
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026749/1921-08-26/ed-1/seq-15/
The Kansas City Star
(Kansas City, Missouri)
-Aug 28, 1921, p3
https://www.newspapers.com/image/654069560/
Daily News
(New York, New York)
-Aug 31, 1921, p2
https://www.newspapers.com/image/410293335
IMAGE
Mother Jones IN Dly Tx p1 crpd, July 15, 1920
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85047611/1920-07-15/ed-1/seq-1/
See also:
Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts and Doings of Mother Jones for July 1921:
Found Attending Senate Hearings on Conditions in the Coal Fields of West Virginia
-re The New Majority
“There’s a Rumbling in the Air
The Importance and Influence of the Labor Press in Chicago”
-by Mitchell Newton-Matza, 1999
https://depts.washington.edu/labhist/laborpress/Mitchell.htm
The New Majority, Vol’s 7&8 (1922)
https://books.google.com/books?id=aKE0AQAAMAAJ
https://books.google.com/books?id=hqE0AQAAMAAJ
Hellraisers Journal – Friday August 12, 1921
Charleston, West Virginia – Miners Mass Rally Sends Resolutions to Governor
Hellraisers Journal – Saturday August 13, 1921
Charleston, West Virginia – Mother Jones and Frank Keeney Speak at Miners Rally
Hellraisers Journal – Thursday August 18, 1921
Williamson, West Virginia – Mother Jones Visits Mingo County Jail
Hellraisers Journal – Thursday August 25, 1921
Marmet, West Virginia – Mother Jones Headed for Miners’ Camp at Marmet
Hellraisers Journal – Friday August 26, 1921
Marmet, West Virginia – Telegram Read by Mother Jones Declared “Bogus”
Hellraisers Journal – Saturday August 27, 1921
Madison, West Virginia – Advance Forces of Miners’ Army Reaches Danville
Correspondence, August 1921
-letters as written except: emphasis added,
periods added where necessary for clarity.
The Correspondence of Mother Jones
-ed by Edward M. Steel
University of Pittsburgh Press, 1985
https://books.google.com/books?id=EZ2xAAAAIAAJ
August 1921—Pages 233-234 (284-285 of 416)
https://digital.library.pitt.edu/islandora/object/pitt%3A31735057897435/viewer#page/284/mode/2up
Telegram from Mother Jones, at Washington, D. C., to Ephraim F. Morgan, Republican Governor of WV:
Washington, D. C.
Aug 29 1921Governor Morgan
Charleston WVACan [I?] be of any assistance in restoring order. Answer 502 Quincy Street NW Washington D C
Mother Jones
Telegram from Ephraim F. Morgan to Mother Jones:
August 29, 1921.
Mother Jones,
502 Quincy Street N. W.
Washington, D. C.Situation still tense. May have to call on you. Certainly appreciate your offer of assistance.
Morgan
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Spirit of Mother Jones – Andy Irvine