Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for December 1916: Found Visiting President Willson with UMWA President

I am yours in the struggle for
a nobler civilization.
-Mother Jones

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Hellraisers Journal, Thursday January 11, 1917
Mother Jones Found in Nation’s Capital During Month of December

From Washington Evening Star of December 11, 1916:

APPEAL TO PRESIDENT TO
PARDON LABOR MAN
—–
Frank P. Walsh, John P. White and “Mother” Jones
at the White House.
—–

President Wilson remained indoors all of today, having been prevented from a morning game of golf. He worked upon various matters that have been pending some time. In the afternoon he had engagements for a number of visitors. He received Frank P. Walsh, former chairman of the industrial commission; John P. White, president of the United Mine Workers, and “Mother” Jones, labor’s incessant champion. They asked the President, it was said, to grant a pardon to a labor leader erroneously convicted and sentenced to prison….

———-

[Photograph added.]

From The Washington Post of December 12, 1916:

MANY WHITE HOUSE CALLERS
—–
“Mother” Jones Among Them-Asks President
to Pardon Labor Leader.

“Mother” Jones, accompanied by John P. White, president of the United Mine Workers, was among the callers at the White House yesterday. “Mother” Jones and Mr. White, it is said, asked the President to pardon a labor leader, who they contend was erroneously convicted and sentenced to prison. Another visitor during the day was Frank P. Walsh, former chairman of the industrial commission.

Senator Sheppard called at the White House at 6 o’clock last night. He denied that the question of prohibition was raised, but inferred that the visit had merely to do with the question of appointments in Texas. Senator Sheppard expressed the belief that the President would not interfere with prohibition for the District if it passed both houses.

President Wilson last night begun a week filled with social engagements by attending a box party at the theater. Tonight he entertains the cabinet at dinner. Thursday night he gives a dinner to the State executives attending the governors’ conference, and Friday night he will attend a dinner given in his honor by Vice President and Mrs. Marshall. Wednesday the President will preside for a short time at the annual meeting of the Red Cross. Rain compelled the President to remain indoors yesterday.

———-

[Photograph added.]

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SOURCE

The Evening Star
(Washington, District of Columbia)
-Dec 11, 1916
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1916-12-11/ed-1/seq-12/

The Washington Post
(Washington, District of Columbia)
-Dec 12, 1916
https://www.newspapers.com/image/28968270/

IMAGES
Mother Jones, John P White, UMWJ, Feb 10, 1916
https://books.google.com/books/reader?id=NQpQAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&source=gbs_atb&pg=GBS.RA11-PA1
Frank P Walsh from Harper’s Weekly of Sept 27, 1913
https://books.google.com/books/reader?id=i2wyAQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&source=gbs_atb&pg=GBS.RA2-PA24

See also:

For more on Frank P Walsh and the Commission on Industrial Relations see:
Hellraisers Journal: Walsh Report Vindicated by Rebuke from Philanthropists’ Organ, The Survey
http://caucus99percent.com/content/hellraisers-journal-walsh-report-vindicated-rebuke-philanthropists%E2%80%99-organ-survey

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LETTERS To And From MOTHER JONES, December 1916

From Henry Hagelstein, Secretary of International Workers Defense League:

San Francisco, Cal.
Dec 1st 1916

Mother Jones,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Comrade:

Enclosed please find receipt for $10.00 your contribution to the defense of our imprisoned comrades.

The next trial, that of Tom Mooney of Moulders Union #164 is fixed for the 3d of January. We anticipate a fair trial, seeing that the professional jury system and the hired witnesses of the prosecution have been thoroughly exposed. The Hon. W. Bourke Cochran of New York has volunteered to act as chief counsel for the defense, a fact very conclusive in itself of the absolute innocence of the accuse.

The San Francisco Building Trades Council, the Chicago Federation of Labor, The Bay District Councils of Painters and Carpenters and all the largest unions of San francisco are united, demanding fair trials for those so unjustly accused of the bomb outrage.

We thank you for your aid, which we sincerely appreciate and ask your further co-operation towards securing the freedom of our comrades. We are,

Yours fraternally,
International Workers Defense League
By Henry Hagelstein secy.

To Edward M. House, adviser to President Wilson:

Atlantic Hotel., Washington, D. C.
Dec. 9, 1916

Colonel Edward M. House,
115 E. 53rd st., N. Y. C.
My dear Col. House:

I hope you will pardon me if I take the liberty to write you in behalf of the structural ironworkers who are incarcerated in Levenworth prison and who have been separated from their homes and families and from society for several years. I write you because I know your abiding faith in the goodness of human nature and because of your close relation with the President who I know, is a man of kind heart and tender sympathies. The men for whom I appeal were convicted under stress of public excitement and it is not unfair to say that the mind of the court and the public was inflamed against them.

If in desperation over real or fancied wrongs men commit acts of violence, who is there to say that there is no extenuating circumstance? We do not all entertain the same viewpoint towards society. Imagine men engaged in the hazardous work of erecting iron and steel for tall buildings. Suppose one of them fell to the ground and was crushed, who would take care of his family? You can realize that these men do not earn enough to insure the future let alone provide sufficient for the daily needs of themselves and their families? These men cannot entertain the same beneficent attitude of men in easier and more comfortable circumstances. And who shall say that these men are not more sinned against by society than sinning?

We all go through this life but once my dear Colonel and it behooves us all to render as much aid to our fellow-beings as we can while here. If we could raise up all humanity and obviate all strife, what a glorious world this would be. But constituted as it is, society inflicts many hardships on those least able to bear them.

When I visited the penitentiary a few weeks ago, one of those whom I am trying to help asked me “Mother, will it be possible for us to see our families at home this Christmas?” I responded that I thought it might be and I said this in the hope that my appeal in their behalf would bear fruit. The world is growing better in spite of the terrible slaughter on the other side, or maybe because it is awaking people to “man’s inhumanity to man” so aptly described by Pope. We should try to raise this country above the Greed for Gold that has produced such horrible disaster abroad. In my long years I have seen many men sacrificed on the Altar of the Dollar and I hope that the last of such sacrifice in this country has been made. Let us all work for a better day when this nation will stand forth as an exemplar for the world; when Greed will be banished and when the strife for gain will no longer afflict us.

With faith in the humane interest of the President and confident that he will aid me in the effort to restore these men to their families, and to society, I remain

Yours faithfully,
Mother Jones

From John P. White, President of UMWA:

Indianapolis, Ind.,
Dec. 9, 1916

Mother Jones
Atlantic Hotel
Washn D C

Expect to be in Washington Monday morning early. Will meet you at Department of Labor about ten oclock. Unable to secure Walsh as he was reported out of the city.

John P. White

To Joseph P. Tumulty, secretary to President Wilson:

December 13, 1916

Hon. J. P. Tumulty
Secretary to the President,
The White House,
My dear Mr. Tumulty:

I enclose application for Executive clemency for Eugene A. Clancy, one of the men in whose behalf I saw the President on Monday. At that time I left with you several other applications. The enclosed application for Mr. Clancy reached me from San Francisco the day after saw the President. Will you please be good enough to place it with the others, to be acted upon with them.

I want to take this occasion to express to you my most sincere thanks and appreciation of your kindness to me in this matter.

Sincerely yours,
Mother Jones

To Tom Mooney, labor leader of San Francisco,
-victim of frame-up in connection with Preparedness Day Bombing of July 22, 1916:

Washington, D. C.
December 15th., 1916.

Mr. Tom Mooney,
San Francisco, California,
My dear Mr. Mooney:

Your letter of the 25th ultimo reached me a week ago. I have already got my hands full, but nevertheless I have been watching the trend of things in California. I realize that the enemies of society are not on the working man’s side, but on the side of those who rob the workers in the interests of dollars.

I am opposed to violence, because violence produces violence, and what is won today by violence will be lost to-morrow. We must ever and always appeal to reason, because society after all has made all the progress it has ever made, by analyzing the situation carefully and bringing the matter before the public with reason on its side. Humanity as a whole is right, if they only learn the truth and the way out. The taking of human life has never settled any question. And the wrongs eventually revert back to those who commit them. I am not afraid to say that I probably, in the great industrial struggles that I have been in have prevented more blood shed than any other person in America. I felt in this case, as I read it, there was a hidden wire somewhere, that has not come to the surface. I cannot believe that the workers in California would resort to any crime of the kind. The people have a right to have a preparedness parade, if they wish, without being molested, or interfered with in any way. And we must be generous enough to concede to every citizen the rights we claim for ourselves. I feel that you boys have been the victims of this diabolical crime and are innocent from the beginning. I will do everything that I can do to help you. You refer to Mr. White, President, he will render you all the assistance that can be rendered in your defense. He is waiting for a meeting of the Executive Board to act, and do never be afraid of him to act in a great cause. No man in America is more anxious to see justice administered than he is. So far as President Mahon of the Street Car Men, he has been up to his shoulders in struggles of his own craft. He has just returned from Europe, and had a terrific strike in New York; and you must remeber that these men have but one brain and the responsibility of their craft is on their shoulders. Keep up courage for right and justice will finally prevail. I am going to Chicago on Sunday and I will ask them to take up your case. I dont think that they ought to be asked; I think that they ought to do it themselves. give my best wishes to all boys. You have got a good man in Robert Minor [heading Mooney Defense], and no better man could go to the post [than?] George West. I am yours in the struggle for a nobler civilization,

Mother Jones

From Tom Mooney, awaiting trial in San Francisco:

San Francisco, Cal.,
Dec. 28, 1916

Mother Jones,
Any Where in the Country.
My Dear Old Freind:

Your most welcomed, and long looked for letter came to me the other day. It was in its self great encouragement to me and my codefendants.

It is with in the last few weeks or a months that our case has cause very much comment, or received publicity to any great extent on a national scale. And even now, it is not one hundredth part as much advertised as it should be. I am enclosing you a letter that was just sent to all of the Molders Locals and the Officers, It gives the latest developments in our case, I have just been informed that the court has ordered drawn 200 names from the Regular Jury panel box, which contains the full list of names that are thrown into it each year by the different judges. My jury will be drawn from these two hundred.

This is not much of an improvement over the Billings selection, and the ones drawn are no better than those that convited Billings. They are tools of the Police, Prosecutors, and the Judges, and ready and willing tools of the corporations against Labor Men, on trial for their activities in the Labor Movement.

Make an effort in every locality to get the different labor papers to take up the news of our trials and the case in general. Get all of the central Labor Bodies to endorse our fight.

Fraternally and Sincerely Yours in
Labors Fight.
Tom Money

P. S. Have written John P. White, & Wm. Green with a hope that they will have the U. M. W. executive Board do some thing at their next meeting in Jan.