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Hellraisers Journal – Thursday October 26, 1911
Mother Jones News Round-Up for August 1911, Part I
John O’Neill, Editor of Miner’s Magazine, Speaks in Defense of Mother Jones
From Proceedings of W. F. M. Convention, Butte, August 2, 1911:
[Excerpt from Address of John O’Neill
-Editor of Miners Magazine]
We [the W. F. M. executive board and the John O’Neill] have been arraigned by the Wallace committee because the editor deemed that he was justified to train the editorial guns of the Magazine on the dishonesty, immorality and drunkenness of J. Mahlon Barnes, the national secretary of the Socialist party. For some time the editor has known that the office of the Socialist party at Chicago could not be classed as a place fit for the inmates of a Sunday school, and in editorials of a general character, attempted to arouse the membership of the Socialist party to the fact that “something was rotten in Denmark,” and suggested that there should be a house–cleaning. Editorials of a general character are not feared by criminals, and it is only when an editor becomes specific and points out the crime and the criminal that there is heard a howl of indignation from men and women who realize that lightning is striking close to where they live. The editor who informs the people of a city that the community is infested with criminals, does not arouse the antipathy of the criminals, but when an editor brands John Jones as a burglar, Sam Brown as a foot–pad, and Jim Smith as a porch climber, such an editor, by striking close, is making it tropical for criminals. To say that the Socialist party needed fumigation officially or to declare that the Western Federation of Miners has a number of Pinkertons in its member ship, would arouse but little excitement; but when an editor points the finger of accusation at the culprits and names the crimes of which they are guilty, their masks of righteousness are pulled on and some people exclaim, “The editor has a personal grudge.”
The editor has no personal grudge against the secretary of the Socialist party, but when the report of an investigating committee which white–washed Barnes reveals the fact that twelve empty whiskey bottles were found in the office of Barnes, when the report of that committee shows that a stenographer of the gentler sex is found at hotels until long after midnight taking dictation from male members of the national committee of the Socialist party, and that when that report discloses that Barnes did not hold in his possession one single shred of positive evidence that he had liquidated the financial obligation that existed between himself and “Mother” Jones until he was forced to pay the obligation through a threat of an action in court, and when a quintet of conspirators who voted for themselves to serve on a committee, give angelic virtues to a “booze–fighter,” a blackmailer, and “ free–lover, ” the editor of the Miners’ Magazine concluded that it was time that members of the Western Federation of Miners who are socialists and pay per capita tax, should know something of the official conduct of the leading official of the Socialist party of America.
Had the report of the investigating committee which white–washed Barnes, cast no reflection on the honor of that silvery–haired woman who has been crowned the “Queen of the Miners,” the editor of the Miners’ Magazine might have refrained from using his pen to hold up to the arclight some of the frailties that affect the Socialist party officially, but when Barnes and his white-washing committee herald through a document published in the official bulletin of the Socialist party, that “Mother” Jones is a black–mailer, then no power on earth can restrain the editor of the Miners’ Magazine from denouncing such an infamy and defending the woman who has given the best years of her life to lift laboring humanity to a higher plane of civilization. That report of the investigating committee branded “Mother” Jones as a black mailer,” and gave credentials of honor and integrity to the libel on manhood who had used his ingenuity in an attempt to bilk her out of the sum of $200.
I cannot forget that when the storm raged in Colorado, that when the members of the Western Federation of Miners in Cripple Creek and Telluride were torn from their homes, that when the wails of wives and the cries of children could be heard as they saw husbands and fathers brutally slugged by the hired thugs of the mine owners and driven at the point of the bayonet to bull–pens and freight trains, that “Mother” Jones, the woman blackmailed by Barnes and a subsidized committee, sent $500.00 to the Western Federation of Miners to help feed the women and children whose protectors were driven beyond the borders of the state by the brutal power of armed Hessians farmed out to a Mine Owners’ Association.
Will the committee of Wallace Miners’ Union and Globe Miners’ Union, tell me that the editor of the Miners’ Magazine shall remain mute and silent in the defense of a woman who has faced the injunctions of courts, been thrown into bull–pens and pest houses, and who never flinched or faltered before the rifles of State militia or federal troops in her loyalty to the cause of unionism? Shall the Wallace committee and Globe Miners’ Union tell me that I shall not wield my pen or raise my voice in resenting the aspersions cast upon the tried and true woman, who, for thirty years, has stood beneath the folds of labor’s flag to give the best that was in her to combat the machinations of corporate despotism and to lead men on labor’s battlefield closer to the goal of economic liberty? The editor is not an ingrate. Within his memory is treasured the history of the struggles and sacrifices of the dauntless woman, who even now in her 78th year, as her eyes are growing dim and her step faltering, is still fighting the cause of suffering humanity, and the editor refuses to shackle his pen or imprison his tongue and permit this woman to be maligned by a “booze fighter,” blackmailer and “free lover,” who has been Loramerized by a quintet of white–washers who voted for themselves to serve on an investigating committee .
[Photograph added.]
From The Butte Miner of August 1, 1911
-Excerpt from reporting on W.F.M. Convention by C. F. Degelman:
Bitter Contention Arises Over Certain Publications
Involving Mother Jones, the Famous Woman
Friend of Labor OrganizationsA bone of contention was the following recommendation of the committee:
Proposed Censure.
“We censure the present executive board for allowing the editor of our magazine to fill our official organ with scandalous personalities relating to J. M. Barnes, as in our opinion such tactics have a tendency to impair the efforts of the field solicitors. We hope that the incoming editor will be as efficient as the present incumbent.”
Joe Guelfi said in his opinion the editor had no right to engage in a personal fight into which the name of Mother Jones was dragged, as this action antagonized many union men who would other wise subscribe to the magazine.
Joe Cannon declared it was very unfortunate that the controversy had arisen, but he did not blame Editor O’Neill for defending Mother Jones from the attacks of the Chicago man who was accused of making statements that would, in effect, brand the aged woman as a blackmailer. It was stated that when the Western Federation was “on the rocks” about eight years ago and was compelled to withdraw the organizers from the field for lack of funds, Mother Jones gave $300 from her own scant means to help replenish the treasury, and besides went out to work for nothing for the federation.
Mother Jones Defended.
“I stand for that grand old woman and the editor who devoted his columns to defending her,” declared Mr. Cannon, and the sentiment was much applauded.
Frank Aaltonen declared that the magazine editor had exceeded his authority and gone out of his way to attack the socialist party and one its officials in Chicago…..
President Moyer and Executive Board Member Davidson declared they were willing to stand by Editor O’Neill in the matter although they had nothing to do with directing the publication of the article in question.
“I do not propose to say a word in denunciation of an editor who takes it upon himself to defend the character of an aged woman who has done so much for the cause of the Western Federation and organized labor generally,” declared Mr. Davidson…..
Editor Sent For.
The motion was then made by Vice President Mahoney, seconded by Delegate Mike B. McNally, of Anaconda, that the matter be set specially to be further discussed on Wednesday morning, and that Editor O’Neill be requested to appear before the convention at that time. The motion was carried by an almost unanimous vote of the delegates.
From The Butte Miner of August 3, 1911
-Excerpt from Reporting on W. F. of M. Convention:
Executive Board Members and
Editor O’Neill are Sustained
-President Moyer Goes on Record as
Approving Defense of Mother Jones in
the Official Organ of the Western Federation.The session of the Western Federation of miners’ convention yesterday was taken up largely by the defense of John M. O’Neill to some severe criticisms of his course as editor of the Miners’Magazine, a weekly publication issued at Denver and which is the official organ of the federation…..
[After the address to the convention, during the morning session, by O’Neill [see above], which was “vociferously applauded,” the debate continued into the afternoon session.]
“Is the executive board responsible for the publications in the Miners’ Magazine?” asked Delegate C. Rutledge, addressing the chair.
Moyer Proud of It.
“I would answer that question in the affirmative,” replied Mr. Moyer. “I am willing to be responsible for the act of your editor in this instance, and would deem it an honor to be censured for being in favor of defending Mother Jones.“
“I also have no apologies to make,” said Executive Board Member Davidson….
“A man is a coward and a cur who would not do all in his power to defend the fair name of that old lady and friend of organized labor from a man who would attempt to drag that fair name in the mire,” declared J. A. MacKinnon of Trail. “I will not vote to censure the executive board for that. I am a socialist but I will not uphold at all times and under all conditions the officers of the party whether they are right or wrong.”
Board Member J. C. Lowney said it was absurd to say that the members of that board while scattered over the country could have any supervision and “blue pencil” authority over the magazine that is issued weekly. The speaker said he did not believe the editor should be censured for exposing the rottenness of a certain socialist party official.
Board Is Upheld.
The proposal to censure the executive committee for allowing the articles in question to be published in the Miners’ Magazine was lost by a vote of 194 to 109.
Note: Emphasis added throughout.
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SOURCES
Proceedings of the 19 Annual Convention
Western Federation of Miners,
Butte, Montana, July 17-Aug 4, 1911
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=5M9JAQAAMAAJ&pg=GBS.RA2-PA1
-15th Day-Wednesday Aug 2, 1911, AM Session
-Excerpt from Address of John O’Neill, Editor of Miners Magazine
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=5M9JAQAAMAAJ&pg=GBS.RA2-PA335
The Butte Miner
(Butte, Montana)
-Aug 1, 1911
https://www.newspapers.com/image/348419251/
https://www.newspapers.com/image/348419281/
-Aug 3, 1911
https://www.newspapers.com/image/348419471/
https://www.newspapers.com/image/348419505/
IMAGE
Mother Jones, WDC Tx p5, June 18, 1910
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026749/1910-06-18/ed-1/seq-5/
See also:
Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for July 1911, Found at Greensburg, Pennsylvania; Miners Meet to Call Off Strike
Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday August 29, 1911
-From the Appeal to Reason of August 26, 1911
Chicago, Illinois – Barnes Resigns as National Secretary of Socialist Party
Aug 1911 – SPA Official Bulletin, p1-Barnes resignation letter.
https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/spa-bulletins/110800-socialistpartyofficialbulletin-v07n12.pdf
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The Spirit of Mother Jones – Andy Irvine