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Hellraisers Journal – Monday April 7, 1902
Mother Jones News Round-Up for March 1902, Part I
Praised for Her Efforts on Behalf of the Socialist Party of Erie, Pennsylvania
From the New York Worker of March 2, 1902:
———-
The city campaign in Erie, Pa., closed on Tuesday, Feb. 18, after more than two months of the most energetic work, and the results are such as to satisfy the most sanguine. The vote for Mayor stands:
Hardwick, Rep, 4,291.
Warde, Socialist, 3,164.
Warfel, Dem., 1,512.
S. L. P., 163.The campaign has been one of “boring from within” in the trade union movement-that is, it has been a campaign of education on the Socialist view of the labor question, carried on in the closest harmony with the trade unions, without fear and without compromise. The ticket was composed of men tried in the work of the unions and proven true, headed by Geo. N. Warde of Cigar Makers No. 107, Jas. Wilson, Jr., of the Pattern Makers, H. C. Gould of Typographical No. 77, Julius Erstfeld of the Machinists’ Union, T. H. Mosher of the Carpenters, and G. F. Hibeck of the Molders.
The campaign was waged entirely on educational lines. Meetings were held every night, and in nearly every union hall in the city, and the addresses of the candidates and other speakers were of the straight, uncompromisingly Socialist order. The efforts of the local comrades were most effectively supplemented by Comrades Nic Geiger, A. M. Simons, August Klenke, and Mother Jones. Geiger was with us for ten days, Simons a week, and Klenke two weeks. Mother Jones stopped over with us three days, insisted on paying all her own expenses, and made two of her characteristic speeches, which were of incalculable value to the movement, one at the big labor carnival, the other in C. L. U. hall. The services of these comrades cost us nothing-because they were Socialists.
And Mrs. A. M. Simons [May Wood Simons] should not be omitted. She was with us for two weeks and did effective work for the cause, besides speaking a number of times. We could not utilize her to the extent she desired; because at this stage most of our meetings were held at noon time in the shops; but these two noble women have dispelled the prejudice against “women agitators,” and prepared the field for comrades of their sex. Mrs. Simons made the address at the carnival on ladies’ night. It was pronounced a masterly effort. She also made a deep impression at a big mass meeting in the Second Ward…..
[Photograph and emphasis added.]
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SOURCES
Quote JA Wayland, Mother Jones, AtR p1, Mar 17, 1900
https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/appeal-to-reason/000317-appealtoreason-w224.pdf
The Worker
(New York, New York)
-Mar 2, 1902, p1
https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/the-people-the-worker/020302-worker-v11n48.pdf
IMAGE
Mother Jones, Ipl Ns p11, Jan 21, 1902
https://www.newspapers.com/image/37784565/
See also:
Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday March 18, 1902
Mother Jones News Round-Up for February 1902, Part I
Found in Indianapolis, Cleveland, Erie and Arnot, Pennsylvania
Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday March 19, 1902
Mother Jones News Round-Up for February 1902, Part II
Found Returning to West Virginia as Organizer for U. M. W. A.
-For debate between SPA and SLP on “boring from within”:
“‘Boring from within’ Self-Exhibited”
by Daniel De Leon of Socialist Labor Party
https://www.marxists.org/archive/deleon/pdf/1901/feb14_1901.pdf
May Wood Simons
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Wood_Simons
Tag: UMW West Virginia Organizing Campaign of 1900-1902
https://weneverforget.org/tag/umw-west-virginia-organizing-campaign-of-1900-1902/
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Correspondence for March 1902:
The Correspondence of Mother Jones
-ed by Edward M. Steel
U of Pittsburgh Press, 1985
https://books.google.com/books?id=EZ2xAAAAIAAJ
https://digital.library.pitt.edu/islandora/object/pitt%3A31735057897435
-pages 24-27 (75 of 415) for Correspondence of March 1902:
https://digital.library.pitt.edu/islandora/object/pitt%3A31735057897435/viewer#page/75/mode/1up
As written, except for periods added, as needed, for clarity.
March 6, 1902-to Mother Jones at Montgomery WV from John Mitchell
Hotel Fey, Peoria, Ill.,
March 6, 1902.Mother Mary Jones,
Montgomery, W. Va.
My dear Mother:Your favor dated February 27th has just been forwarded to me at Peoria, where I am attending the Illinois joint convention.
I have read with much interest the result of your meetings on the Kanawha, and I am glad to note the success which has crowned your efforts. I sincerely hope that the miners of West Virginia will be governed by the advice you give them.
I am very much worried at the outlook in Illinois; the joint convention has been in session for nearly two weeks, and the prospects of a settlement appear remote. I fear very much that we shall have a strike of considerable magnitude upon our hands unless one side or the other gives way. Our own delegates are unreasonably obstinate in some things, and the operators the same in others. I am compelled to leave here Saturday to attend the Iowa convention, which is also in a tangle. From there I shall go to Shamokin to take part in the movement to secure recognition for the anthracite field.
I have noted carefully all you say concerning the discharge of the President of the Local Union at Rend’s mines. I do not know if he is the man with whom I have been in correspondence; the man I have in mind is named Duncombe. Please let me know if he is the one to whom you refer. In any event we cannot at this time place him in the field. I might say, Mother, that nearly every mail brings from one to six applications for positions as organizer from West Virginia miners, and I fear the fact that we have employed some men who were discharged has resulted in more harm than good because it has impressed others with the idea that our organization is financially able to place on salary every one of them who happens to be so unfortunate as to lose his job; and while personally I should be happy to take care of those men, I am forced to the conclusion that the best interests of the West Virginia miners will be conserved by teaching them that they must, to some extent, depend upon themselves. However, just as soon as I can dispose of many matters which are pressing at this time and causing us so much worry, I shall again take up the matter of the employment of local men to help our organizers who are stationed there.
I presume that by the time you receive this letter John Walker will have joined you, and possibly another man from Illinois, named Wilson [Pete Wilson].
I quite agree with you, Mother, that things will move along in the Kanawha and New River districts better without a general manager; and if anyone is sent there to have charge of the District I shall see that it is someone who is up to date.
I hope that you will try to take care of your health and not expose yourself unnecessarily or overexert your energies.
With love and best wishes, I am,
Yours truly,
(John Mitchell)
President U. M. W. of A.P. S. I shall take care of that man Davis.
March 14, 1902-Mother Jones at Montgomery WV to John Mitchell
Montgomary West Virginia
3-14-1902My dear Comrade Mitchell
Been over the mountains for the last few days with Boys found your letter when I got back. I am having glorious Meetings. The Boys are responding to the bugle call last night we had a fine meeting here and took in a large no [number] to the local
Sunday we have a large Mass Meeting here in the Opera House. The owner gives me the use of it just for the cleaning up. I am going to heave a band of music out last Sunday. I had a mass meeting at Brooklin had a band march up the track got the Boys all in with us. John Lang never showed up he said I was a good old woman he was not going to bother me any more. The boys say he is completely whiped that a woman to do it. No matter who did it So its done. I agree with you that it was a mistake to undertake to provide for those men who get out of work for any cause. They think that the National Tres is a mint.
I spoke of this man Duncomb for the reason that he was Pres of the Local and good inteligent fellow. The Local is a large one and for a while have to be cared for besides there is a great deal of local work he could do. I learned that Carrell asked for Tincher [Thomas Tincher, Local 195, Sun WV?] to be put on. I told Carrell I did not considered it for the best interest of the organization. The Boy is a good boy without any experience a regular talking machine. Would do more harm than good. We have found him work in three mines let him go and work. This fellow is young but he has got the office bug running around in his head.
A Pointer for you
This man is a good honest fellow faithful worker. I mean Carrell. be a little slow in taking stock in his Judgement. I find him rather deficient. A noble fellow. Some what of an Egotist. I regret the Ill. miners do not realize the time is not ripe yet for us to defy our Masters. I know how unreasonable our people can be how unyeilding they are at times. The other Side is just the Same because they can be.
I feel sometimes the burden is more than you can bear. I only wish I could assume part of it. All I can do is to keep this old heart true to you in my humble way help you all I can.
This fellow Davis is doing some very good work among the young men. I have him with me you can depend I’l switch him on the side of right he was in the wrong company for a while the boy is young wants to be right and will be when he understands things.
When I came in here I found a Slate for the offices. I held council with the boys bursted up the Slate. I do not like the Complextion of things in the fairmont field I fear those fellow are fooling Tom. I see Flyn has swoped places with Springerz [J. A. Springer, past president of WV District 17].
there is some deal. I do not take much stock in Flyn he is an office seeker. We dont want any Squires at the head of the miners They are tricky. I hope you or Comrade W—— [William B. Wilson, Sec-Treas UMWA?] will be able to come to the Convention.
honest John Walker is here It did me good to see him. I think this Boy Wilson [Peter Wilson, member of WV organizing team]
will make a fine worker. I am going to make him read up.
You will laugh. I think I won Murreys watch I am going to tell you if so they wont get it back. I have no use for that gang of Traitors.
God bless and guide you for those who need you most
fraternally yours
Mother
March 15, 1902-to Mother Jones at Montgomery WV from John Mitchell
Hotel, Des Moines, Ia.,
March 15, 1902.Mother Mary Jones,
Montgomery, W. Va.
Dear Mother:Acknowledging your favor of the 7th instant, which has just reached me at Des Moines, I desire to express my gratification at the progress you are making, and my approval of the methods which you and the other organizers in that field are pursuing.
By the way, both you and I are being urged to attend the first of April celebration at Streator, Illinois. I wish you would arrange to go there, and if it is possible for me to complete our business in the anthracite field I shall be there also; however, the chances of my attending are problematical. There will be an immense meeting, and much good will result therefrom. Please write me at the office acknowledging the receipt of this letter and letting me know if you can comply with this request.
Trusting that you will excuse this brief reply, as I am leaving to-night for the anthracite field, I am, with best wishes,
Yours truly,
(John Mitchell)
President U. M. W. of A.
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She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain -Ken Carson and the Choraliers