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Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday November 19, 1902
Mother Jones News Round-Up for October 1902, Part V
Found Speaking in Holyoke and Celebrating John Mitchell Day in Wilkes-Barre
From the Holyoke Daily Transcript of October 27, 1902:
MOTHER JONES SPEAKS.
———-LARGE AUDIENCE LISTENS
———-
The Most Successful Socialist Rally
Held Here For Many Years.
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“Mother Jones, the miners’ friend” who has become well known all over the country for her fierce defence of the miners in the coal strike, and who has been arrested in the mining regions several times for her utterances, lectured in this city at the city hail last evening. That she was one of the persons who gained in popularity for her course was shown by the enthusiastic reception she received here. She was welcomed by the largest audience of any campaign speaker this fall, and the largest which attended a socialist rally for years, in Holyoke. It was attributed to her cause in which she appears to be in sympathy body and soul, and to the active part she has taken in it. “Mother” Jones is a pleasant-faced woman who speaks clearly and convincingly, and at times with the most bitting sarcasm. She made a big hit with the large audience. She has force and eloquence. She has been speaking a week in New England.
E. A. Buckland, the congressional candidate of the Socialist party, in this district, presided and introduced L. F. Fuller of Springfield, as the first speaker.
It was 8.30 o’clock before the speaking began.
Mr. Fuller said that a great case was on trial, a case of dollars against men. “The statement is sometimes made that money always did rule and always will rule. This is not true; as in the case of primeval man, money did not rule, and it is my firm belief that it will not long rule. In this country we do not recognize a governmental despotism, but an industrial despotism has already taken place. Abraham Lincoln placed labor above capital. Even in this country the hardest work is done by those who have the least. Labor is the creator of all values. We notice that the home-owners are disappearing. In the last few years the percentage of home-owners has dropped from 69 to 34 per cent. Socialism demands justice for humanity. The socialist objects to dividing up. If the laboring man was not continually dividing up the profits of his labor, there would be no millionaires in this country.
“Mother” Jones, at her introduction, was received with hearty applause.
One of the most important statements made by Mrs. Jones was that the strike is not at an end. She said the commission appointed by the president was organized because an election was approaching. Mrs. Jones wanted to know why the president took the insults of the coal barons so mildly sometime ago and then consulted with Morgan last Sunday on a yacht. She said the miners went back because of public opinion and public opinion did not care for them until the matter was brought home to the people by empty coal bins.
In speaking for organized labor co-operating with the socialists she said that during her 30 years’ acquaintance with the coal regions not a single clergyman protested against the oppression of the miners until the United Mine Workers entered the district. She said that if there is any Christian religion today it is in organized labor.
In speaking of the operators of Pennsylvania and the manner in which they treat the miners she said the operators can violate the law any time they please and 10 times a day if they desire. They seem to own the world, and all the people thrown in. She pictured the manner in which the coal barons live in contrast with the bare existence of the miners, who are compelled to bring their young children into the mines to help get a living. She made much of the journey of Morgan and some others across the continent when wine costing $35 a bottle was opened.
[…..]
She said the strike will not be settled in the coal regions until the miners get what belongs to them. They did not want charity, they wanted justice. Solidarity of labor, she said, was still in its incipiency. Mention was made of the probability of a strike of engineers and firemen that would overshadow the one now in existence. She said much was being urged against the militia and other weapons of the capitalists, but the greatest danger to the miners is the injunction.
In conclusion she urged the working people to emancipate themselves [by] the power of organized labor and by voting the socialist ticket at the polls.
[Photograph added.]
From The Brooklyn Citizen of October 29, 1902:
From the Wilkes-Barre Daily News of October 30, 1902:
With pleasant memories will be anthracite miners of Wyoming Valley recall their observance of Mitchell Day, 1902, for it was truly a marked epoch in the history of the organization. What could be greater and more impressive sight than that of witnessing 12,000 men and boy marching the streets with one name-Mitchell-and one attainment-victory of labor over capital-in their mind? There were no happenings to throw discredit on the organization. It was a harmonious gathering of men to do honor to one they revere.
The streets were crowded and the spectators, too, seconded the efforts of the paraders and shouted continually, with the evident desire to show their approbation. At times the streets were impassable. Men, women and children surrounded Mr. Mitchell’s carriage to shake his hand, to show some mark of appreciation or present him with a bouquet of flowers. It was a continuous ovation for the leader of the mine workers. The carriage stopped directly in front of the Coal Exchange building, where the Lehigh Valley offices and General Gobin’s headquarters are located. It was not many moments before a large crowd gathered and the applause was deafening.
Owing to the eager desire of the spectators to meet Mr. Mitchell, the parade was blocked for some time. The street was finally opened. At the west side of the bridge a guard of soldiers were stationed. A short distance away there were several companies of soldiers. Their services were not required, because the miners greeted them in a friendly manner.
The scene at Y. M. C. A. Park will not soon be forgotten. It was one sea of faces, all eager and desirous of hearing what their leader had to say. When Mitchell reached the platform he was given an ovation.
It was five minutes past 11 o’clock when Chief Marshal John Fallon gave the command to march, and it took the parade an hour and 10 minutes to pass a given point. Chief Jones with a squad of officers on horses were on the right of the line. National Board Member John Fallon, his aids, John B. Evans, Edward Williams, David Davis and James Moran.
The prominent people followed in carriages. They were as follows:
First carriage-President John Mitchell, Rev. J. F. Powers, National Organizer Thomas Haggerty and Mother Mary Jones.
[Eight carriages in all, followed by the marching miners and breaker boys.]
AT THE PARK.
When President John Mitchell arrived at the Y. M. C. A. Park there were 10,000 voices that shouted with glad acclaim: Hurrah! hurrah! for the one who led us to victory. Men, women and children greeted the popular leader with continuous applause, and when it subsided for a moment those in front rushed towards the grand stand with the intention of shaking his hand. Women said, here Mr. Mitchell. Boys reached their hands over the banister, and the miners, some worn by incessant toil, crowded near and gave their greetings. During this memorable moment the wind blew at a rapid rate, the snow was falling, and it was decidedly chilly, but Mr. Mitchell forgot it all, kept off his hat and bowed with simple modesty to the applause of the multitude. “Keep on your hat,” requested ‘Mother Jones,’ or you’ll contract a severe cold.” He complied but when the applause broke anew the hat came off again.
[…..]
TWO PATRIOTS
[Speeches of Thomas Haggerty and Mother Jones]National Organizer Thomas Haggerty of Central Pennsylvania, said: “I greet you, as the lovers of liberty and despisers of despotism.” He cited the rights of man, how the operators tried to abridge the redress of grievances. The speaker related some incidents of mine life in West Virginia, saying that one-half the miners in the latter place won a decisive victory during the past week. He said a Federal Court Judge issued a document, which is un-American and abridged the right of free speech. He said no one would rest content until all attain the right of free speech, and more comforts and joys of life.
Mother Jones declared that she differed from the others and entertained a kindly feeling for President Baer. She spoke of “Divine right,” and said the god of Fiji Island would not give it to some men in Pennsylvania. She declared:
Abraham Lincoln arose out of obscurity from the State of Illinois. Another young Lincoln came to Pennsylvania from the State of Illinois to free the miners of the anthracite region. What would you do, martyr him?
There were cries of “Never! Never!” from every part of the audience.
The public, they said, was a mighty factor, but let me tell you that the public is mighty slow to think or act until its pocket is pinched.
[Mr. Mitchell gave a brief address and said, in part:]
Language is inadequate to express the feeling of gratitude I have for the men, women and children of the anthracite coal fields, who have honored me so much as they did to-day [and] gave me more credit than was due me.
The victory belongs to the men who struck, but behind them remained the great force, and their names never got into the papers-they are the brave women and children who endured the sufferings without a perceptible murmur. They deserve the credit. I desire to pay a tribute to these men, women and children of the anthracite coal mines.
From The Brooklyn Daily Eagle of October 31, 1902:
ADDRESS BY “MOTHER” JONES.
“Mother” Jones, famous leader and organizer of the coal miners, will address a public mass meeting at the Criterion Theater this evening. The meeting will also be addressed by Ben Hanford, candidate for governor of the Social Democratic party; John Spargo, editor of the Comrade, and other labor leaders.
Note: Emphasis added throughout.
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SOURCES & IMAGES
Quote Mother Jones, Coming of the Lord, Cnc Pst p6, July 23, 1902
https://www.newspapers.com/image/761305973/
Holyoke Daily Transcript
(Holyoke, Massachusetts)
-Oct 27, 1902
https://www.newspapers.com/image/836755453/
The Brooklyn Citizen
(Brooklyn, New York)
-Oct 29, 1902
https://www.newspapers.com/image/541894727/
Wilkes-Barre Daily News
(Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania)
-Oct 30, 1902
https://www.newspapers.com/image/425942537/
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle
(Brooklyn, New York)
-Oct 31, 1902
https://www.newspapers.com/image/50393581/
IMAGE
Mother Jones , Phl Inq p24, June 22, 1902
https://www.newspapers.com/image/168338244/
See also:
Whereabouts and Doings of Mother Jones for October 1902
Part IV: Found Speaking on Behalf of Striking Miners at Boston’s Apollo Garden
“The Greatest Strike Ever” by Scott Connelly, Spring 2010
https://pabook.libraries.psu.edu/literary-cultural-heritage-map-pa/feature-articles/greatest-strike-ever
Tag: Great Anthracite Coal Strike of 1902
https://weneverforget.org/tag/great-anthracite-coal-strike-of-1902/
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Working Man-The Men Of The Deeps
Lyrics by Rita MacNeil