Hellraisers Journal: From the Spokane Industrial Worker: Elizabeth Gurley Flynn Speaks to Detroit Auto Workers

Janet RayeElizabeth Gurley Flynn
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Quote EGF, Heaven n Hell, ISR p617, Jan 1910—————

Hellraisers Journal – Monday October 16, 1911
Elizabeth Gurley Flynn Speaks to Detroit Auto Workers

From the Spokane Industrial Worker of October 12, 1911:

GURLY FLYNN IN DETROIT
———-

ELIZABETH GURLEY FLYNN
-DAUGHTER OF INTERNATIONAL REVOLUTION
-DELIVERS THE GOODS IN DETROIT
-GOOD CROWD PRESENT.
———-

EGF, ISR p606, Apr 1911

Local No. 16, Automobile Workers, I. W. W., engaged Turner Hall for a lecture to be held in the afternoon of September 24. On account of the train being late three hours that was to bring the speaker from Cleveland the meeting had to be postponed until 7:30 p. m. Money for tickets was refunded at the door to those who thought of spending the evening some other place. Later on it rained to beat the band, but many came anyhow. No use in giving an account of her lecture. Let the workers go and hear her message of hope to the toilers, her masterful arraignment of the futility of craft unionism, her logical , convincing and comprehensive explanation of industrial unionism as a bonafide expression of industrial or shop solidarity. The I. W. W. de facto and not the “ism” as an ideal to the exclusion of the real, was emphasized at every opportune time. Only “ism” propounders should take notice. It’s the goods that count every time and the I. W. W. is the means to get the goods.

No questions were asked except on the position of the I. W. W. toward politics. And one “Sabotage” was “recognized.” Ha!ha! Recognized! by whom? By the desk revolutionists that never worked in a shop but want to be “it” in every respect in the labor movement, of course. Answer, brilliant. Go and ask that question at her meeting and get it first hand. We also took up a collection to continue the propaganda-nearly $10; some “subs” taken and literature sold. If not for the rain a full house would have listened to her. As it was the crowd was full-of enthusiasm.

An incident worth mentioning took place in the afternoon in front of the hall. Section sidewalk of the S. L. P. was busy distributing some of their labor “savioring” dope. “A Mutt” cam along, ordering them away from the entrance to the hall. Well, they went away and never came back in the evening to put their questions.

“A. MUTT.”

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Hellraisers Journal: Progressive Woman: “Socialism Will Not Rest on the Drudgery of Little Children” by Ralph Barton

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Mother Jones Quote ed, Suffer Little Children, CIR p10641, May 14, 1915—————-

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday October 15, 1911
Cartoon by Ralph Barton: Predatory Wealth and Child Labor

From The Progressive Woman of October 1911:

Socialism Capitalism Drudgery of Children by R Barton, Prg Wmn Cv, Oct 1911

The Capitalist: “Suffer the little children (of the working class)
to come unto me, for of such is the Kingdom of Capitalism.”

—————–

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Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for September 1901, Part III: Found Writing for the International Socialist Review

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Mother Jones WV Miners Conditions, ISR p179 , Sept 1901—————

Hellraisers Journal – Monday October 14, 1901
Mother Jones News Round-Up for September 1901, Part III
Found Writing on Behalf of Working Class Men, Women, and Children

From the International Socialist Review of September 1901:

A Picture of American Freedom
in West Virginia
———-

[By Mother Jones]

Mother Jones, Drawing, SDH p4, Mar 9, 1901

SOME months ago a little group of miners from the State of Illinois decided to face the storm and go to the assistance of their fellow-workmen in the old slave state of West Virginia. They hoped that they might somehow lend a hand to break at least one link in the horrible corporation chains with which the miners of that state are bound. Wherever the condition of these poor slaves of the caves is worst there is where I always seek to be, and so I accompanied the boys to West Virginia.

They billed a meeting for me at Mt. Carbon, where the Tianawha Coal and Coke Company have their works. The moment I alighted from the train the corporation dogs set up a howl. They wired for the “squire” to come at once. He soon arrived with a constable and said : “Tell that woman she cannot speak here to night; if she tries it I will jail her.” If you come from Illinois you are a foreigner in West Virginia and are entitled to no protection or rights under the law—that is if you are interested in the welfare of your oppressed fellow beings. If you come in the interest of a band of English parasites you are a genuine American citizen and the whole state is at your disposal. So the squire notified me that if I attempted to speak there would be trouble. I replied that I was not hunting for trouble, but that if it came in that way I would not run away from it. I told him that the soil of Virginia had been stained with the blood of the men who marched with Washington and Lafayette to found a government where the right of free speech should always exist.

“I am going to speak here to-night,” I continued. “When I violate the law, and not until then will you have any right to interfere.” At this point he and the constable started out for the county seat with the remark that he would find out what the law was on that point. For all I have been able to hear they are still hunting for the law, for I have never heard from them since. The company having called off their dogs of war I held my meeting to a large crowd of miners.

But after all the company came out ahead. They notified the hotel not to take any of us in or give us anything to eat. There upon a miner and his wife gave me shelter for the night. The next morning they were notified to leave their miserable little shack which belonged to the company. He was at once discharged and with his wife and babe went back to Illinois, where, as a result of a long and bitter struggle the miners have succeeded in regaining a little liberty.

———-

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Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for September 1901, Part II: Found in Carbondale, Speaking at Golden Jubilee Celebration

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Mother Jones, Stormy Paths, UMWC Ipl IN, Jan 25, 1901—————

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday October 13, 1901
Mother Jones News Round-Up for September 1901, Part II
Found at Carbondale, Pennsylvania, Golden Jubilee Celebration

From the Scranton Tribune of September 4, 1901:

Mother Jones at Carbondale PA, 2nd Day of Golden Jubilee, Scranton Tb p1, Sept 4, 1901

BIGGER even than that of Monday was the crowd thronging Carbondale yesterday, when Labor held sway in the semi-centennial celebration.

All the industries and most of the stores were closed and their thousands of employes turned out en masse to participate in the jubilation. The mines in Carbondale and from Forest city to Archbald were idle for the third day in succession and the minters in consequence were rife for a march.

It was in fact a miners’ celebration for they composed three of the four divisions of the parade; it was their leaders who were the distinguished guests, and nearly all the events of the day had a mine flavor.

Quite appropriately it might be called “Mitchell Day.” The president of the United Mine Workers was far and away the feature of the day. He was the chief guest of honor, the principal speaker at the labor mass meeting, the honoree of the evening reception and everybody wore a Mitchell badge…

The weather was of the same delightful character as that of yesterday except in spots, and one of these was a very aggravating spot. Just as President Mitchell was warming up to the principal address of the meeting, the rain commenced to fall heavily.

The crowd seemed bent on weathering the storm but President Mitchell abruptly terminated his speech, with regrets that the meeting was interrupted…..

The first event of the day was the reception of President Mitchell and the other labor leaders who came up from Scranton on the 8:30 D. & H. train. A delegation of the Central Labor union escorted them from the station to the Harrison house and introduced to them the hundreds who were assembled to give them greetings.

The remainder of the morning was given over to the labor parade. There were nearly twenty thousand in line, including many of the most celebrated of the miners’ leaders.

At 1:30 o’clock occurred the unveiling of the tablet marking the site of the first underground anthracite mine in America. Addresses were made by Mayor Kilpatrick, Reese Hughes whose father worked in the mine; President Nicholls, of District No. 1, of the United Mine Workers; “Mother” Jones, of the American Federation of Labor, and Charles Law, son of Archibald Law, the man who opened the mine.

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Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for September 1901, Part I: Found in Cleveland, Ohio: Gives Interview, Celebrates Labor Day

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Mother Jones, Nation of Strikers, Clv Pln Dlr p5, Sept 2, 1901—————

Hellraisers Journal – Saturday October 12, 1901
Mother Jones News Round-Up for September 1901, Part I
Grants Interview in Cleveland, Speaks at Labor Day Celebration

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer of September 2, 1901:

Mother Jones HdLn re Interview, Clv Pln Dlr p5, Sept 2, 1901

“Mother” Mary Jones, who has been associated with the miners and silk workers in their strike, arrived in Cleveland on the Big Four yesterday afternoon [September 1st]. She is registered at the Forest City house. Mrs. Jones was met at the train by a committee of four and conducted to her apartments at the hotel. The committee consisted of two members of the Central Labor union and two of the Woman’s Labor union.

An address will be given by Mrs. Jones this afternoon at Scenic park to the members of the Central Labor union. The theme of her lecture will be “The Necessity for Organization in the Field of Labor.” A reception will be given her after the address.

Mrs. Jone came to Cleveland from the New river district in West Virginia, where she has been working among the miners for the past two months. In the evening she will leave for Carbondale, Pa., where she will give a lecture. From there she will return to West Virginia.

“Come right in!” called Mrs. Jones in a hearty, motherly voice, in response to a rap at the door, “I like to talk to newspaper men. They belong to the workers.”

What do I think of the present steel strike? I believe all strikes are good. They are bringing us nearer the goal we are striving for, that is, equalization of wealth.

I don’t believe that the Amalgamated association struck merely to show its power. The men had real grievances. If they weren’t dissatisfied they wouldn’t have quit work. Perhaps they won’t win, but whether they do or not a great deal will be accomplished.

[She continued:]

We are a nation of strikers. We inherited the disease from our revolutionary fathers, and have been striking ever since. We will continue to strike and strike until the laboring men are emancipated.

I don’t know when that time will be, but it won’t be as long as most people think. Something will have to change before long or we will have another French revolution. The poor people who are oppressed will not stand being trodden upon too long. “The worm will turn.”

In the West Virginia mines there are boys six years old who work ten hours a day, and this is in order that a few may live without work.

[She exclaimed, her eyes flashing:]

It’s a shame and an outrage. We call ourselves Christianized and civilized, and such things in our midst. It’s a mockery.

The whole system of labor is wrong and must be changed. I hope at the ballot box, but-well-it must be changed.

—————

Events of Labor Day, Mother JonesSpeaks, Clv Pln Dlr p10, Sept 2, 1901

—————

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Hellraisers Journal: From the Duluth Labor World: Keeney and Mooney Were Far Away at Time of Alleged Crime

Janet RayeBattle of Blair Mountain of 1921
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Quote Mother Jones, Powers of Privilege ed, Ab Chp III—————–

Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday October 11, 1921
Keeney and Mooney Were at State Convention at Time of Alleged Crime

From the Duluth Labor World of October 8, 1921:

UNION LEADERS WERE FAR AWAY
———-
Keeney and Mooney Were at State Convention
at Time of Alleged Crime.
———-

UMW D17, Mooney Keeney, Lbtr p9, Aug 1920

HUNTINGTON, W. Va., Oct. 6.—At a mass meeting of citizens these ques­tions were submitted to Governor Morgan and the coal owners of southern West Virginia.

“We would like to know how C. F. Keeney and Fred Mooney, president and secretary of the miners’ organi­zation, can be held without bond for a murder which we understand was committed in another county while they were attending the West Vir­ginia state federation of labor meet­ing in the city of Huntington, and the personal aides of the coal owners’ as­sociation, who we know did kill Sid Hatfield and Ed Chambers, still run at large on a small bond?

“We would like to ask if the law is being carried out which provides for a weighman at the mines also in re­gard to pay days.

“The coal owners of Logan claim they pay more for coal than is paid in union fields. In the same state­ment they say if their fields were or­ganized the price of coal would be so high the public could not buy. Please explain.”

—————

[Photograph and emphasis added.]

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Hellraisers Journal: From the Appeal to Reason: Socialists of New Castle Freed; Other Socialist Editors Remain in Jail

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote BBH, Win Workers to Revolution, ISR p1096, June 1910—————

Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday October 10, 1911
Socialist Editors of New Castle, Pennsylvania, Freed

From the Appeal to Reason of October 7, 1911:

New Castle Socialists Freed
———-

New Castle PA, Free Press Fight by Warren, ISR Cv, July 1910

Charles McKeever, Frank M. Hartman and C. H. McCarty, editors of the Free Press, of New Castle, Pa., have been acquitted in the court of the charge seditious libel. This is the ease that has attracted so much attention all over the country. They are arraigned under an obsolete English law that was supposed to have been off the statute books of every civilized state. Had there been no publicity given to the matter no doubt the comrades would have been convicted, but when the people began to realize that a law belonging to the middle ages was sought now as a means of upholding the capitalist system there was such an awakening that conviction became an impossibility.

Although the seditious libel case was decided in favor of the defense, the unheard of action was taken of assessing them half the costs of the prosecution. All the costs of defense and half the cost of prosecution, when they were found not guilty, is a hard burden for them to bear and is an outrage against so-called civilization in America.

But in addition to this, they are under sentence of a fine for contempt of court. This case has cost them a great deal and the flight against the life of the Free Press has lasted for eighteen months. As a result it has been a severe blow to the comrades. Those who wish to help in this fight now that it is won should send fifty cents for an annual subscription to the Free Press. 

—————

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Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for August 1901, Part II: Found in Indianapolis at Headquarters of United Mine Workers

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Mother Jones, Capitalists should surrender gracefully, AtR p2, Sept 14, 1901—————

Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday October 8, 1901
Mother Jones News Round-Up for August 1901, Part II
Found at United Mine Workers’ Headquarters in Indianapolis

From The Indianapolis Journal of August 30, 1901:

Mother Jones, Drawing, SDH p4, Mar 9, 1901

“Mother” Jones Here.

“Mother” Jones, an official organizer of the United Mine Workers, is in the city for a few days, resting after a long campaign among the miners and children in the factories of the East and South. She will leave to-morrow for Cleveland, O., where she will deliver an address Labor day.

———-

[Photograph added.]

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Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for August 1901, Part I: Found Working Among the Miners of West Virginia, Organizing for U.M.W.A.

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Dorothy Adams re Mother Jones asleep moonlight, Tammany Tx p10, Aug 12, 1901—————

Hellraisers Journal – Monday October 7, 1901
Mother Jones News Round-Up for August 1901, Part I
Found Organizing for United Mine Workers in West Virginia

From the Columbus Evening Dispatch of August 2, 1901:

MORE ORGANIZERS
———–
Sent to West Virginia to Unionize Mine Workers.

Mother Jones, Drawing, SDH p4, Mar 9, 1901

According to information received at the local mine workers’ headquarters, an effort will be made to more thoroughly organize the miners of West Virginia during the next few months. It is understood that the national organization has sent a number of organizers into the field and will soon send more.

Those said to be working among the miners at the resent time are Thomas Burke, Edward Cahill, John H. Walker and “Mother Jones.” of organizing fame.

Heretofore the organization has had a great deal of difficulty in getting the men into line, but owing to the consolidation of a majority of the companies of the state, it is now thought that the men will agree to join the union.

[Photograph added.]

—————

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