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Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday December 28, 1910
Mother Jones News Round-Up for November 1910, Part I:
–Blames Roosevelt for State of Miners Union in Anthracite Field
From the Muskegon News Chronicle of November 4, 1910:
[Mother Jones] Holds T. R. Responsible
for Ruin of Coal Union.
That man Roosevelt is responsible for the wrecking of the once powerful union of anthracite miners; he turned John Mitchell’s head by flattery and did what Geo. F. Baer and the combined hard coal barons couldn’t do. I repeat, the overrated Roosevelt wrecked the anthracite miners union.
These startling words were uttered by Mother Jones in conversation with the writer a few days ago, while en route to the Irwin-Greensburg coal field to assist the 20,000 striking miners who have been locked out since last spring [Westmoreland County Coal Strike].
Mother Jones is unquestionably the most influential figure among the American miners today, and has been for a decade. If she were a man she would be the life president of the United Mine Workers of North America. It was Mother Jones more than any other human being who rallied the hard coal miners in their helpless slavery 10 years ago and cheered them on a fight their way out.
[Said Mother:]
Now, after ten years of open shoppery, the boys are back in the old rut, back on the treadmill, not daring to call their souls their own, thanks to the scheming and hypocrisy of Roosevelt. And then that bluffer had the audacity to go down into the Scranton district recently, accompanied by photographers and press agents, and gloat and grin at the poor miners and announce ostentatiously, “I am ex-President Roosevelt.”
The papers said he was received enthusiastically. Probably he was by some. The poor critters thought he had come to help them out of the mire into which he had plunged them.
You remember the great strike of 1902, of course, when 147,000 men stood out like a stone wall. Baer, Oliphant and Truesdale, the heads of the anthracite combine, couldn’t create the slightest break, either with police or strike-breakers. They were absolutely helpless and about ready to surrender, when the heroic Roosevelt rushed to their rescue. He got Mitchell to agree to the appointment of a strike commission-and against the protests of nearly all the union officers-with the result that Judge Gray and his commission awarded the men increase in wages-but at the price of their union.
[Photograph of Mother Jones added.]
Evansville Press of November 9, 1910, concludes the above interview:
[Quoting Mother Jones:]
A harmless-appearing provision in the award gives the operators the right to discharge men who may have been arrested or are perniciously active. So all the active workers have been blacklisted and driven from the hard coal fields, while the masses have been coerced and cowed into a condition of slavery until today the membership doesn’t average more than 20 per cent in the three districts, and some officers say only 18,000 remain in the union.
So years of work have come to naught, and we must begin to build up all over again. I intend to go back to the hard coal fields and beard Geo. Baer in his den, in getting the boys together again where they can defend their wives and children. Then let the blustering Roosevelt come down there and try to play more of his tricks.
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From the East Liverpool (Ohio) Evening Review of November 5, 1910:
GOOD MEET FOR MOTHER JONES
—–
Socialists Have Good Parade Before the Meeting.
—–“Mother” Jones, one of the most famous figures in the labor movement today and particularly well known through her heroic services in behalf of the miners, paid her first visit to East Liverpool last night and delivered an enthusiastic and well received address to a large and appreciative audience at Sixth street and Broadway. The visit and address of Mother Jones in this city was under the auspices of the East Liverpool Socialists, who have also made arrangements for her to deliver an address at the Ceramic theatre Sunday afternoon.
A Favorite With Labor.
Although 80 years of age, “Mother” Jones is comparatively hale and hearty. Her achievements in the labor world read like history and she has a fond supporter in the heart of every union man in the United States.
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From the East Liverpool (Ohio) Evening Review of November 7, 1910:
‘MOTHER’ JONES SPOKE SUNDAY
TO SOCIALISTS
—–
Large Audience Listened to Remarkable
Friend of Labor.
——“Mother” Jones, the friend of labor and a figure of national prominence in behalf of organized workingmen and women, under the auspices of the Socialists, delivered an address at the Ceramic theatre Sunday afternoon. In which she vividly portrayed conditions existing among the working classes today, cited instances of horrifying conditions prevailing in large cities, and incidentally urged the voters who understood the principles of Socialism to vote that ticket [Socialist Party of America] in the coming election. A large crowd thronged the Ceramic theatre to hear “Mother” Jones and she, in her own inimitable style, held their undivided attention throughout the progress of her address.
A Remarkable Woman.
Although 71 years of age, “Mother” Jones, who claims tho distinction of never owning her own bed, but who simply travels from one point to another extending her efforts in behalf of union organizations, is rather a robust woman. Her oratorical efforts are remarkable considering her advanced years.
F. E. Vernia, editor of the Free Press, the organ of the local Socialist party, was chairman of the meeting Sunday and introduced “Mother” Jones to the audience.
Immediately launching into her subject, “Mother” Jones devoted her speech principally to a discussion of the welfare of the working classes, maintaining the only alternative of the worker was to collectively own the machinery of the country, as the time was not far distant when the entire production of the world would result from machinery and unless the equipment which did the producing was in the possession of the working people and the products of the same equitably distributed the laborer would face starvation.
Private Ownership. Etc.
She cited numerous instances of the effects of private ownership of the means of sustaining life and pointed out in a vivid portrayal the oppression resulting from same. As an illustration she referred to a case in Texas where a wife was compelled to go into the field with her husband to labor, while a dog trained for purpose remained at home to care for the infant.
The speaker called attention to cases in large cities where young girls with a mother and others depending on her support was compelled to work in stores during the day at a meagre wage of $2.75 a week, while at night she was forced upon the streets.
For this condition of affairs “Mother” Jones did not blame the employer but the system.
She cited conditions resulting from the miners’ strike in Colorado and the actions of a Democratic governor in Alabama in issuing orders for the removal of tents of strikers from private property and the ordering of the women and children out of the district. She then said suits were now pending in the Alabama courts against the state for this.
But little consideration was given the general political situation by the speaker in her address.
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From the Akron Beacon Journal of November 10, 1910:
FLOOD INVITED TO GO HENCE IN A HURRY
—–
American Federation of Labor Representative
Gets Walking Papers.
—–A DISORGANIZER, NOT ORGANIZER
—–
Central Labor Union Passes Resolutions to Fire Flood.
—–Red hot resolutions that demanded the removal of Emmet T. Flood, national organizer of the American Federation of Labor and stating in no uncertain terms that he is an undesirable citizen, were adopted at the special meeting of the Central Labor union at Walsh hall Wednesday night.
The resolutions state that Flood has done more damage than good in the local body and request is made that Flood be withdrawn from the national organization on these grounds…..
…..The excitement started when “Mother” Jones visited Akron and spoke to the local body shortly before Flood arrived. Then Flood brought confusion to the meeting of the Central body two weeks ago Tuesday night, when he, with a few others, succeeded in unseating four Socialistic delegates, questioned the credentials of C. L. Van Ness, former president of the C. L. U.
The meeting of Wednesday was a big one, all turning out, as the nature of the business was known, and opinion seemed to be unanimous in ejecting Flood.
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SOURCES & IMAGES
Quote Mother Jones, Lbr Arg p1, Oct 13, 1910
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85059855/1910-10-13/ed-1/seq-1/
Muskegon News Chronicle
(Muskegon, Michigan)
-Nov 4, 1910, page 5
https://www.genealogybank.com/
Evansville Press
(Evansville, Indiana)
-Nov 9, 1910
https://www.newspapers.com/image/137829478/
The Evening Review
(East Liverpool, Ohio)
-Nov 5, 1910
https://www.newspapers.com/image/64882784/
-Nov 7, 1910
https://www.newspapers.com/image/64882802/
Akron Beacon Journal
(Akron, Ohio)
-Nov 10, 1910
https://www.newspapers.com/image/227972539/
IMAGE
Mother Jones, Tacoma Tx p7, Oct 24, 1910
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88085187/1910-10-24/ed-1/seq-7/
See also:
Hellraisers Journal – Saturday November 12, 1910
Mother Jones News Round-Up for October 1910, Part I:
-Found in Cleveland, Stopping at Home of Editor Max Hayes
Hellraisers Journal – Sunday November 13, 1910
Mother Jones News Round-Up for October 1910, Part II:
–Found in Akron, Ohio, Speaking on Socialism at Central Labor Union Hall
Tag: Westmoreland County Coal Strike of 1910–11
https://weneverforget.org/tag/westmoreland-county-coal-strike-of-1910-11/
Great Anthracite Coal Strike of 1902
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal_strike_of_1902
Conditions in the Coal Mines of Colorado:
In the Matter of the Hearing Before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Mines and Mining, House of Representatives, Sixty-third Congress, Second Session, Pursuant to House Resolution 387, Authorizing and Directing the Committee to Make an Investigation of the Conditions in the Coal Fields of Colorado. Brief for the Striking Miners by Horace N Hawkins, Edward P. Costigan and James H Brewster
U.S. Government Printing Office, 1914
(search: “The 1910 Strike”)
https://books.google.com/books?id=ri8yAQAAMAAJ
August 26, 1908
On this day in Alabama history: Governor [Comer] ordered miners’ tent colonies cut down
By Graydon Rust
https://alabamanewscenter.com/2017/08/26/day-alabama-history-governor-ordered-miners-tent-colonies-cut/
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The Spirit of Mother Jones – Andy Irvine