Hellraisers Journal: From The Daily Herald, London’s Labour Newspaper: “First-Class First, Class Discrimination on the Titanic.”

24th April 202224th April 2022 Janet RayeHellraisers Journal

Quote Ben Tillett for Dock Workers re Titanic Class Antagonism, to Brd of Trade Apr 19, 1912 —————

Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday April 24, 1912
London, England – Statistics Prove Class-Discrimination on Titanic

From The Daily Herald of April 22, 1912:

The various representatives of the capitalist Press have taken Mr. Ben Tillett sharply to task for declaring, in a printed statement, that obvious discrimination was apparent in favour of the cabin passengers when the “Titanic’s” lifeboats were being manned. Mr. Tillett probably overstated himself when he spoke of “the vicious class antagonism shown in the practical forbidding of the saving of the lives of the third-class passengers.”

That the facts in the long run justify Mr. Tillett, however, is shown in the proportions of those rescued in each class to their several totals, which the DAILY HERALD here prints for the first time. They are as follows : Per cent:-

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[Emphasis added.]

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Hellraisers Journal: Letter to Editor Condemns Ben Tillett for Claiming That “Vicious Class Antagonism” Resulted in Deaths of Third Class Passengers of Titanic

23rd April 202224th April 2022 Janet RayeHellraisers Journal

Quote Ben Tillett for Dock Workers re Titanic Class Antagonism, to Brd of Trade Apr 19, 1912 —————

Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday April 23, 1912
Cambridge, England – Letter to Editor Condemns Ben Tillett

From the Cambridge Daily News of April 20, 1912:

MR. BEN TILLETT AND THE TITANIC,

TO THE EDITOR.

Received by Board of Trade
April 19, 1912

Sir,-According to the “Labour Gazette,” Mr. Ben Tillett is reported to be circulating a resolution passed by the Executive of the Dock, Wharf, Riverside and General Workers’ Union, protesting “against the wanton and callous disregard of human life and the vicious class antagonism shown in the practical forbidding of the saving of the lives of the third-class passengers on the ill-fated Titanic.”

Does Mr. Tillett know that as far as is known at present an equal number of each class has been rescued, and that several millionaires have perished, giving their lives heroically for the sake of the women and children? Mr. Tillett ought to be thoroughly ashamed of himself, and the sooner he publicly apologises for his insults to those brave men the better will be his position in the eyes of the workers. He is called a champion of the workers, but if this is a sample of the sympathy he extends then my opinion is that he ought to change places with one of those bravo first-class passengers who so heroically sacrificed their lives irrespective of class. The sooner the workmen select different men for their leaders the sooner will their needs be granted. Such men as these are not worthy to be called Englishmen.- Yours, etc.,

C. C. P. BARRETT.
79, Hills-road.

[Resolution to Board of Trade and emphasis added.]

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Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts and Doings of Mother Jones for January 1902, Part II: Found Speaking at Convention of the United Mine Workers of America

17th February 202217th February 2022 Janet RayeHellraisers Journal

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Hellraisers Journal – Monday February 17, 1902
Mother Jones News Round-Up for January 1902, Part II
Found Speaking at Indianapolis United Mine Workers Convention

From The Indianapolis News of January 21, 1902:

MOTHER JONES TALKED.
———-
A Speech to the Convention While
Waiting for Miss Meredith.

While the convention awaited the coming of Miss Meredith to make charges against the national officers, this forenoon, the committee called for “Mother Jones” and she responded in a stirring speech.

She said it was a critical time for the miners’ organization, and she urged cautious and intelligent action on the part of the organisation in order to accomplish its purposes. She related, in an interesting way, her experiences in strikes and in the mining districts in the East.

One characteristic incident was of a time when a strike was on and the mining company’s policeman called on her to keep her from taking the miners’ part.

“Who are you?” she asked the policeman.

“The company’s watchman,” the officer replied.

“Well,” replied “Mother” Jones, “the company doesn’t own me. I’m responsible to God Almighty and He and I stand in on this question.”

This met with vigorous applause from the miners.

She urged greater respect for the Mine Workers’ organization, and censured the man who refused to pay dues to the national organization.

[She exclaimed:]

You poor, benighted, brainless creature that you are. You poor, ignorant, slaving serf. If the company offered you a barrel of beer, you would take it and fill your stomach; but won’t pay 25 cents to help the national organization.

She said the miners must be intelligent enough to emancipate themselves.

You have emancipated the mules that work with you and demanded that they shall be turned out to grass, but you nave not emancipated yourselves. The mule enjoys the air and grass, while you still toil down in the bad air of the mine working more than eight hours a day.

In a pathetic way she told of miners’ children, and in conclusion she said:

I plead with you men to go home and do your duty as men. Young men miners who work in the mines all day long and come out at night and never read a book. You don’t seem to study your coal trade only over men whom you have to deal with. Study your work and be prepared to take your post. You must be ready to go to jail, and must be willing to face bullets or even be hanged for your principles.

[Note: Miss Meredith charged that President John Mitchell and Secretary-Treasure William B. Wilson had minimized embezzlement committed by ex-Secretary W. C. Pearce, which charges were unanimously rejected by the Convention]

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Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts and Doings of Mother Jones for January 1902, Part I: Found Describing United Mine Workers Organizing Drive in Old Virginia

16th February 202216th February 2022 Janet RayeHellraisers Journal

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Hellraisers Journal – Sunday February 16, 1902
Mother Jones News Round-Up for January 1902, Part I
Found Describing Organizing Efforts in Old Virginia

From the New York Worker of January 5, 1902:

CAPITALIST TOOLS IN OLD VIRGINIA.

Mother Jones is at present in old Virginia, organizing for the United Mine Workers. As usual she finds labor conditions in that state as deplorable as else where, more so perhaps, because modern industrial methods are comparatively new there and the capitalist exploiter has unrestricted sway. That Mother Jones has anything but a “soft snap” is shown in a private letter, recently received. She says:

This is an American Siberia if one exists anywhere on the continent. Let me tell you what happened to me yesterday. I had a meeting scheduled several miles from here. The federal judge located here got on the train and went down ahead of me. I had the meeting billed for the colored church, but before I arrived the company served notice on the trustees that if they allowed me to speak they would annul their deed. The poor negroes got scared and begged me not to talk. When I arrived the federal judge was waiting to arrest me if I spoke.

I fooled both him and the company, however, for I called the meeting in a secret place, and had a fine crowd of the boys. The company officials are trying to find out where the meeting was held, but none of the boys will give it away, and so they cannot arrest me.

Nevertheless, they tied to bluff me and sent a company policeman up to serve notice on me not to speak or they would put me in jail. I sent back word, “Jail be hanged. I am going to hold that meeting.”

The company policemen have no bondsmen, are responsible to no one but the company, and they can put you in jail without a cause, and there is no redress. This fellow who spoke to me was a dandy.

He said the company hired him for $35 a month, twelve hours a day, and night work besides. He boasted of working seven years for one man for $3.50 a week, took care of a wife, paid house rent, bought fuel and clothes and fed themselves, and when he quit he had $37.67 saved up. He thought I should not come in there and “bother the company.” In our conversation it developed that he did not know who Thomas Jefferson was. He asked me if Jefferson was a minter. When I spoke of George Washington he asked me if I meant the company doctor. And this fellow is an officer of the law in the state of Virginia!

[Photograph added.]

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Hellraisers Journal: Lawrence Strikers Greet Bill Haywood with Wild Enthusiasm as Attempt at Settlement Falls Flat

27th January 20225th March 2022 Janet RayeBread and Roses Strike of 1912

Quote BBH Dream of One Big Union, Bst Glb p4, Jan 24, 1912 —————

Hellraisers Journal – Saturday January 27, 1912
Lawrence, Massachusetts – Big Bill Haywood Arrives to Cheering Crowds

From The Boston Daily Globe of January 25, 1912:

By F. P. SIBLEY.

LAWRENCE, Jan 24-The first attempt to hold a conference between the striking employes of the textile industry and the mill owners and mill agents fizzled flat tonight.

The mill owners’ representatives did not all come to the meeting in City Hall. Nobody appeared for the Kunhardt, the Duck, the Pemberton nor the Arlington Mills. Of the seven men representing the other mills, all but two left almost immediately.

The strikers’ committee was then told that the mill agents who were there had not sufficient authority to treat with them. “We’re wasting our time,” said a strikers’ delegate and the strike committee adjourned to its own hall.

[…..]

Greeting to Haywood.

In the meantime [while Ettor was in conference with the Mayor] the scenery was setting for the first big spectacular event of the day. For two hours the strikers and their sympathizers, with tour bands, were gathering at the North Lawrence Station to greet William D. Haywood, the famous labor agitator, whose coming has been so eagerly expected here.

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Whereabouts and Doings of Mother Jones for December 1901, Part II: Set to Take Part in Upcoming National Convention of UMWA

8th January 20229th January 2022 Janet RayeHellraisers Journal

Ab p241, 1925 ————————

Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday January 8, 1902
Mother Jones News Round-Up for December 1901, Part II
Found Ready to Answer Call for Annual Convention of Coal Miners

From The Indianapolis News of December 23, 1901:

TO MINE WORKERS
———-
Call for Annual Convention Next Month.
———-

NEARLY A THOUSAND DELEGATES WILL ATTEND.
———-
GREAT LABOR ORGANIZATION
———-
PRESIDENT MITCHELL ON CIVIC FEDERATION PLAN.
———-
He Sees Great Promise in the Proposed
Meeting of Capital and Labor.
———-

[Mother Jones to Take Part.]

The call for the annual convention of the United Mine Workers of America and the joint conference of the miners and bituminous operators of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania, who are now represented in the interstate agreement, was issued to-day. The convention of the mine workers will be held in Tomlinson Hall. It will begin January 20, and will continue until January 30, when the miners and operators will begin their joint conference.

President Mitchell said to-day that the convention will be the largest that has ever represented any single body of organized labor. Numerically it will exceed the convention of the American Federation of Labor, held recently at Scranton, Pa., as there will be nearly one thousand delegates. Preparations are being made throughout every bituminous field in the United States now for the meeting. It is also expected that every operator of the four States concerned in the interstate agreement will be represented.

The operators of Virginia and West Virginia, who thus far have refused to meet the miners, have been invited and it is thought that a number of them will be present and will pave the way for a joint agreement between them and their men. Secretary [William B.] Wilson, of the miners, says that Ben Tillett, the famous English labor leader, will be present throughout the proceedings. “Mother” Jones, a national character among labor unions, will also take part in the convention…

At their convention, the miners will determine on the basis for their scale for the coming year and will also prepare other demands to which they will ask the operators to agree. All the proceedings except when the scale is fixed will open to the public. The operators also will probably meet in Indianapolis a few days before the date of the joint conference for the purpose of arranging for the presentation of their side. The night of January 30 at banquet will be given at Tomlinson Hall for the miners and operators.

The mine workers compose the largest labor organization in the world. The membership is now above 275,000.

President Mitchell, who has just returned from New York, where he attended the meeting of the National Civic Federation, says the work it contemplates is the greatest thing of the kind ever attempted, and that its magnitude can not be overestimated. He thinks that the fact that men like Senator Hanna and President Schwab, of the steel corporation attended the meeting is an acknowledgment of the fact that there is a labor problem to solve. He is also encouraged because men like Senator Hanna expressed a willingness to meet with representatives of organized labor in joint conference for the purpose of signing annual agreements. It is the opinion of President Mitchell that the Federation will try to work out a scheme whereby representatives of labor and capital everywhere may meet and perfect an annual agreement, “Whenever the representatives of capital and labor meet on an equality,” he declared, “then they will reach at agreement.”

President Mitchell thinks it probable that the Civic Federation will have another meeting in New York in February.

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[Photograph and emphasis added.]

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Tag: Ben Tillett