Hellraisers Journal –Wednesday October 29, 1919
Mother Jones News for September 1919, Part I
Duquesne, Pennsylvania – Mother Jones Arrested for Organizing Steel Workers
From the New York Sun of September 8, 1919:
RAID ENDS MEETING OF STEEL WORKERS
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Mother Jones and Other Organizers
Seized in Duquesne.
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Special Dispatch to THE SUN.
PITTSBURG, Sept. 7.-Duquesne was the scene of much excitement on the part of the police and union organizers this afternoon when Police Chief Thomas Flynn and a squad of patrolmen appeared at an open air meeting at Linden and River avenues, where more than 1,000 steel workers had assembled, and arrested four labor organizers, including “Mother” Jones, the veteran organizer, and forty steel workers. The organizers were charged with holding a public meeting without a permit and the workmen were charged with illegal congregating. After staying in the Duquesne police station four hours they were released on forfeits for a hearing to-morrow.
Mother Jones with William Z. Foster
The organizers arrested besides “Mother” Jones were William Z. Foster, secretary of the national committee for organizing iron and steel workers; J. L. Beaghen, president of the Pittsburg Bricklayers Union, and an American Federation of Labor organizer, and J. M. Patterson, vice-president of the Brotherhood of Railway Car Men.
The organizers said the meeting was being held on a vacant lot, the owner of which had given permission.
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[Photograph added.]
From the New York Sun of September 9, 1919:
“MOTHER” JONES FINED $100.
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Other Labor Leaders Also Punished
for Steel Trade Activity.
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PITTSBURG, Sept. 8.-Four organizers of the American Federation of Labor, including “Mother” Jones, were fined $100 each by Mayor James S. Crawford of Duquesne to-day for attempting to hold a meeting of steel workers yesterday without first obtaining a permit.
They paid their fines under protest. A score of persons in the audience were fined $10 each on charges of disorderly conduct.
The other organizers arrested were W. Z. Foster, J. M. Patterson and J. L. Beaghen, who with “Mother” Jones are in the Monongahela Valley trying to unionize steel workers.
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MOTHER JONES NEWS ROUND-UP for SEPTEMBER 1919
(Part I)
From The Quarry Workers Journal of September 1919:
MOTHER JONES.
—– [by Minna S. Ledyard.]
For the past 10 years, being alive to the industrial situation of our country, I have had a great wish to see and hear “Mother” Jones, but I had quite given up the possibility of my desire being attained.
Imagine my immense surprise when a few nights ago, 2 o’clock in the morning, a messenger boy rang the bell and called out “Message for Mrs. Ledyard.” On it was written, “Come to Youngstown at once. Mother Jones speaks.”
My heart leaped. I remained up an hour, musing on the favors and tricks fate plays us.
Next morning at 9:40 I left Cleveland thoroughly thrilled with the thought, I am to see Mother Jones; and in anticipation I saw an old, gaunt, tall, raw-boned woman with a rasping voice somewhat cracked by age. I must some time in the past have seen a caricature of her, for I imagined her untidily and un-tastely dressed in rusty black with an old bonnet askew on her head. Nevertheless, I admired the brave old warrior and was impatient to see her.
Nearing Youngstown, a group of workingmen boarded the train and in my credulity I thought they too are going to greet Mother Jones.
Upon my arrival I greeted my husband with “Is she here, Mother Jones?” He told me that the meeting was not to be in Youngstown but in Newcastle, Pa. Arriving at the Italian hall in which she was to speak, I was amazed to see no one but the chairman of the evening. I had thought people would come early in order to secure a seat. The organizer present informed us that she was there, had come about noon, and was resting at the hotel.
Soon a few more organizers strolled in and presently small groups of individual Italian workers took their seats on the benches. Then I saw two women, for in my impatience to see Mother Jones I was watching the door. They might have been any two women-nothing spectacular about them. The chairman said “There she is,” and presumably noting my stupidity, he said, “That is Mother Jones.” I was on my feet instantly. That Mother Jones! That sweet little lady not looking a day over 65! Someone had told me she was 89. Mother Jones has rather fine features, is dressed becomingly and neatly; in short, has the appearance of a real mother. I was introduced to her, but in my astonishment at finding someone who would give the “Divine Sarah” a “run for her money” as far as youth is concerned, someone so sweet and womanly, I simply greeted her conventionally and didn’t say any of the things I had meant to say.
She mounted the platform briskly and unassumingly and spoke for about an hour to only about 150 men, mostly Italian by birth. There were no women, save one other organizer’s wife and myself, and I wondered,
What ails the American-born union men and what ails the wives of all union men? Have they no sense of loyalty or admiration for this remarkable woman? Were their hearts not burning within them to see, hear and be near this great little mother of the American workingman?
It was very hot in the hall and she looked warm, but she spoke for an hour without a note, this wonderful woman, with her acute memory and keen intellect.
When she had finished, instead of dropping exhausted into a chair, she stepped quickly from the platform in order to come into personal touch with the men, shaking hands, wishing them luck and spreading her good will among them. One of the Italian laborers kissed her reverently. She took it as a matter of fact. One could see that she was used to that sort of treatment by her sons of the working class.
I then had a few minutes with her which always will be dear to me, for she put into my mind thoughts which I hope shall germinate and grow and bear fruit.
I am glad I have had the privilege of meeting Mother Jones, she who so unselfishly has given herself to the workers everywhere, “for greater love hath no man than this, he giveth his life for his friends,” and she is their friend. Even though some of the workers of Youngstown and Newcastle did not show their appreciation of her tireless work by their presence, it is to be hoped that they may some day awaken to their own interests and become as thoroughly class conscious as is Mother Jones.
Some of the Italian workers formed a double honor line, doffed their hats and lovingly returned her greeting as she passed out of the hall. They had shown their loyalty, gratitude and unionism.
Minna S. Ledyard.
From The Blacksmiths Journal of September 1919:
[From page 49:]
International Representative C. Claherty
Actively Engaged Organizing Steel Workers. Campaign in Northern Ohio
Is Encouraging. Mother Jones Addressed a Large Gathering.
District Council Picnic in Cleveland.
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Youngstown, O., Aug. 18, 1919.
Editor Journal:
[…..]
Mother Jones Speaks
A monster mass meeting was held here in the Diamond hall last night [August 17th], Mother Jones was the principal speaker and she gave it to them right from the shoulder. The Old Young Woman talked their kind of talk, and she was cheered and applauded at every turn. She pointed out the changes in the field of industry and the progress that organized labor has made and would make when the unorganized joined the ranks. Long may she live, and more power to her…..
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[Pages 52-53:]
International Representative F. J. Hardison
Attends National Committee Meeting of Steel Mill Organizers;
Counts Votes of Men Who Will Strike if Demands are Refused.
Mother Jones Speaks to Large Crowd.
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Pittsburgh, Pa., Aug. 18, 1919.
Editor Journal:
[…..]
We owe much to “Mother Jones” for her splendid work around Pittsburgh in these meetings. A woman of 89 years of age she gets around like one of 45 or 50. In the meeting at Clairton she spoke for one hour and thirty-five minutes and the crowd went wild.
Hope to be able to report much success here next report.
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From the Pittsburg (Kansas) Workers Chronicle of September 5, 1919:
“MOTHER” JONES PREDICTS.
Pittsburgh, Pa.-At a meeting of steel workers, held at North Clairton [August 10th], near here, “Mother” Jones was the principal speaker. In her plea for workers to unite, the veteran trade unionist said:
Kaiser Bill had nothing on the multimillionaire steel barons. His day has come and their day is coming.
The meeting was not disturbed by public officials, who stopped a meeting Sunday, Aug. 3 last, arrested the organizers and fined them for “disorderly conduct.”…..
IMAGE
Mother Jones with WZF, Chg Tb p120, Oct 26, 1919
Note: the earliest I found this photo was Oct 1, 1919
and thereafter appeared frequently throughout Oct,
-most likely taken during September, have not yet found location. https://www.newspapers.com/image/355273232/
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