Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for August 1906: Organizing for Socialist Party in Oklahoma

Hellraisers Journal, Thursday September 13, 1906
Mother Jones in Oklahoma and Indian Territories During August 1906

Today we take a look at the whereabouts and doings of Mother Jones for the month of August 1906. After recovering from a serious illness in Huntington, Arkansas, Mother spent the month of August stumping for the Socialist Party of America in the Oklahoma and Indian Territories. She was a featured speaker at the Socialist Party Convention, held jointly for both Territories in Oklahoma City.

From The Worker of August 4, 1906:

Party News.
National.

Mother Jones is improving in health but it will be several weeks before she can leave the house of State Secretary Dan Hogan, Huntington, Ark.

From the Muskogee Times-Democrat of August 7, 1906:

SOCIALISTS AFTER MINERS, VOTE.

“Mother” Jones is now speaking in the coal mining sections of Indian Territory. She is but one of the many speakers engaged by the state committee of the Socialists organization. “Mother” Jones is probably the most widely known woman agitator of the world. Every miner in America knows “Mother” Jones, and although she is of a most lovable spirit and approaching the three score and ten mark, the capitalistic conspirators and mine owners’ association of Colorado [Utah] saw fit to stop her agitation amongst the miners of that state, to place her in a smallpox pest house and to deport her from the state during the troubles of some two years ago. Since that time she has been constantly touring the United States and is at the present time agitating in the McAlester coal fields under direction of the state committee of the Socialist party.

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From the Muskogee Times-Democrat of August 9, 1906:

FURMAN AND “MOTHER” JONES ADDRESS MINERS
—–

Wilburton, I. T., Aug. 9-(Spl.)-The greatest political rally ever held in this district was held in the opera house last night under the auspices of the Jefferson Democratic Club of Wilburton.

The meeting was a representative one of the district which is composed largely of members of trades unions and much interest was taken from the fact that the meeting was addressed by two of the ablest speakers ever in this part of the territory.

The Democrats were represented by Henry M. Furman, who spoke for two hours to an enthusiastic and appreciative audience, and he was applauded to the echo though no mention was made by him of his candidacy for the United States senate, his remarks being confined mostly to the necessary measures to come before the constitutional convention and which are being advocated by labor unions.

He was followed by “Mother” Jones, whose date conflicted with his and who had no hall in which to speak, therefore the Democrat and Socialist committees agreed to divide the time with her as most of the miners here are Democrats. They wanted to hear Mother Jones speak, yet did not want to miss Furman’s address, Mr. Furman courteously agreeing to the arrangement. Mrs. Jones spoke for about an hour and it is said by old miners who have heard her in West Virginia, and Pennsylvania, that she does not make as good a speech for Socialism as she does organizing labor unions, nevertheless she was listened to and liberally applauded by her hearers, particularly so when she referred to Furman as the next United States senator from Oklahoma, and advised all her adherants to vote for him.

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From the Appeal to Reason of August 11, 1906:

CENTRAL STATES PARTY NEWS.
* * *

Oklahoma.

Final arrangements have been made for the state convention and encampment of Indian Territory and Oklahoma at Oklahoma City, August 15-19. Convention will be held at Wheeler Park one mile southeast of the city. Mother Jones will be there. Ten other speakers have been engaged and Debs will speak if possible to be there.
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Arkansas.

Mother Jones, who has been detained at Huntington by sickness, has almost entirely recovered and will resume her work at Wilburton, Okla., on the 7th….

From The Daily Ardmoreite of August 14, 1906:

Oklahoma Socialists Meet.

Ardmoreite Special.

Oklahoma City. Ok., Aug. 14.-Socialists from all over Oklahoma and Indian Territory are arriving here today to attend the convention of the party. In connection with the convention a big Socialist encampment will be held at Crutcher Park, about six miles southeast of the city, which will be addressed by about fifteen prominent Socialists, including Eugene V. Debs and “Mother” Jones. Resolutions condemning the actions of the Colorado and Idaho officials in arresting Moyer and Haywood, the leaders of the Western Federation of Miners, will be adopted by the convention. The statehood bill did not recognize the existence of the Socialist party in Oklahoma and a place on the ballot at the coming state elections will have to be secured by petition.

From the Salem, Oregon, Capital Journal of August 16, 1906:

Will Wave the Red Flag.

Oklahoma City, Aug. 16.-The Socialists of Oklahoma and Indian Territory opened their annual encampment here today. Several hundred Socialists from the two territories are assembled here and will remain four days. Meetings will be held every day and prominent Socialistic speakers will address the meetings. “Mother” Jones and Maxim Gorky were both invited to attend the encampment and to deliver addresses, but were prevented from coming.

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The Hellraisers Journal of August 19, 1906, re-published two items from the Appeal to Reason of August 18th. The first was a letter from Mother thanking the Socialist of Massachusetts for their support during the time of her recovery in Arkansas. The second noted a speech made by Mother in Hartshorne, Indian Territory, on behalf of the Socialist Party.

From The Tulsa Daily World of August 21, 1906:

SOCIALISTS FOR MIDDLE OF ROAD
—–
DECLINE TO JOIN IN SUPPORT OF FARMERS
—–
COMMITTEES REPORT
—–
Jack Woods of London Offers Some Remarks-
G. W. Davis of Appeal to Reason
Staff Delivers Address
—–

Oklahoma City, Aug. 20.-Rainy weather somewhat interrupted the Socialist convention Saturday, particularly preventing an address by “Mother” Jones, but she was heard Sunday afternoon in a lecture on “Child Labor.”

The business features of the convention progressed uninterruptedly regardless of the very unfavorable weather, and the reports of various committees were received and considered without dissension of any kind.

The discussion on the question of newspaper representation indicate that a Socialist press will be established, though final plans have not been wrought out. Negotiations looking to the Socialists extending their support of a farmers’ union organ were rejected. Jack Woods, in discussing this matter said: “We purpose sticking to the straight Socialist doctrine untrammeled by any isms. If we are right, and we know we are, others will come our way. The light is breaking rapidly and socialism is growing the World over. We have no compromise to offer and no one can be a factional Socialist.”

Several interesting addresses were made at Wheeler Park. One of speakers was G. W. Davis of the Appeal to Reason Staff. Wood Hubbard and Capt. C.C. Ross were also heard.

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From the Arkansas City, Kansas, Weekly Republican Traveler 

of August 23, 1906:

J. B. Chapman, who lives south of the city in Bolton Township, returned yesterday from Oklahoma City where he attended a big reunion of socialists held in Wheeler park. Jack Woods, of London, England, was one of principal speakers at the reunion, comparing labor conditions in England and America. “Mother” Jones, the great woman labor agitator was another speakers of note.

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From the Ada Evening News of August 29, 1906:

TO A CROWDED HOUSE.
—–
Mother Jones the Great Socialist Speaks.

Mother Jones addressed a crowded house Monday night. She announced on the street in the afternoon that she would speak on the Colorado scandal [the Moyer-Haywood-Pettibone Case?] in the evening, and many of the farmers stayed in the city to hear her. She handled the question ably. She knows her subject thoroughly and understands socialism. She is one of the most forcible women speakers we have ever heard. It is estimated that she had 300 hearers at the courthouse meeting.

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Map of the Indian and Oklahoma Territories

SOURCES

The Worker
“An organ of the Socialist Party”
(New York, New York)
-Aug 4, 1906, page 5
http://www.genealogybank.com/

Muskogee Times-Democrat
(Muskogee, Indian Territory)
-Aug 7, 1906
https://www.newspapers.com/image/36014470/
-Aug 9, 1906
https://www.newspapers.com/image/36014521/

Appeal to Reason
(Girard, Kansas)
-Aug 11, 1906
https://www.newspapers.com/image/66994361/

The Daily Ardmoreite
(Ardmore, Indian Territory)
Aug 14, 1906
https://www.newspapers.com/image/71090322/

Capital Journal
(Salem, Oregon)
-Aug 16, 1906
https://www.newspapers.com/image/64368861/

Hellraisers Journal of Aug 19, 1906:
https://weneverforget.org/hellraisers-journal-mother-jones-thanks-massachusetts-socialist-for-her-care-during-illness-while-in-arkansas/

The Tulsa Daily World
(Tulsa, Indian Territory)
-Aug 21, 1906
https://www.newspapers.com/image/47618039/

Weekly Republican Traveler
(Arkansas City, Kansas)
-Aug 23, 1906
https://www.newspapers.com/image/80992708/

The Evening News
(Ada, Indian Territory)
-Aug 29, 1906
https://www.newspapers.com/image/9345576/

IMAGES
Mother Jones, Appeal to Reason, Mar 11, 1905
http://www.newspapers.com/image/66992169/
Map of the Indian and Oklahoma Territories, 1894
https://www.loc.gov/resource/g4020.rr002880/

See also:
Indian Territory
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Territory
Oklahoma Territory
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oklahoma_Territory

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The Capture of Mother Jones

The Most Dangerous Woman of America