Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for June 1901, Part III: Found Speaking to Mine Workers of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania

11th July 202111th July 2021 Janet RayeHellraisers Journal

Quote Mother Jones, Love Each Other, UMWC Ipl IN, Jan 25, 1901 —————

Hellraisers Journal – Thursday July 11, 1901
Mother Jones News Round-Up for June 1901, Part III
Found Speaking to Mine Workers of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania

From the Wilkes-Barre Times of June 11, 1901:

National Board Member Fred Dilcher and “Mother” Mary Jones returned to Scranton yesterday morning from Lykens and Williamstown in Dauphin county where they made a number of addresses to Mine Workers on Friday and Saturday. They will remain here during the week.

[Drawing of Mother Jones added.]

From the Wilkes-Barre Record of June 11, 1901:

PRESIDENT MITCHELL IN SCRANT0N.

President John Mitchell of the United Mine Workers arrived in Scranton yesterday afternoon from Indianapolis. President Mitchell’s visit to Scranton is for the purpose of appearing as prosecutor in the case of criminal libel against Richard Little, the editor of the Scrantonian, and which is on the trial list for to-day.

District president Nicholls, Fred Dilcher and “Mother” Jones also arrived in Scranton and will confer with President Mitchell during the week with reference to labor questions.

From the Scranton Tribune of June 11, 1901:

HE MAY NEVER BE TRIED
———-
Libel Case Against Richard Little Will Not
Be Called Today. Conference Last Night.
—–

The libel case against Richard Little, editor of the Scrantonian, in which President John Mitchell, of the United Mine Workers, is the prosecutor, will not be tried today. It is possible It will never go to trial.

A conference for the purpose of effecting a compromise was held last night, at the St. Charles, in President Mitchell’s room. It was arranged for during the afternoon.

The conference lasted from 8 o’clock until 2 o’clock this morning. There were present President Mitchell and his attorney, Joseph O’Brien, and Editor Little and Attorney John F. Scragg.

About 11 o’clock the door of President Mitchell’s room was opened and all the assembled labor leaders invited in. In response to the invitation came National Organizer Fred Dilcher, “Mother” Mary Jones, President T. D. Nichols, of District No. 1; President Thomas Duffy, of District No. 9; Secretary John Dempsey, Organizers Robert Courtright and Nicholas Burke, Committeemen Henry Collins and J. J. Kearney, of District No. 1; Martin D. Flaherty, of the American Federation of Labor, and D. J. Keefe, president of the International Association of Longshoremen, who is now developes is the mysterious “Mr. Guernsey” of last fall.

Nothing would be given out from the conference except that the case would not be tried to-day…..

From the Shenandoah Evening Herald of June 11, 1901:

“Mother” Jones, accompanied by two Philadelphia newspaper men, visited the county jail Sunday afternoon, and spent some time with the Oneida rioters.

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Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for June 1901, Part I: Victorious Scranton Silk Mill Strikers, “Gave Their Masters a Good Hammering”

9th July 20218th July 2021 Janet RayeHellraisers Journal

Quote Mother Jones, St L Lbr, Apr 13, 1901 —————

Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday July 9, 1901
Mother Jones News Round-Up for June 1901, Part I
Found Describing Victory of Scranton Silk Mill Strikers

From the International Socialist Review of June 1901:

The silk weavers’ strike at Scranton, Pa., which was directed by Mother Jones, and which has been pending for many months, was won by the workers, while the strike at Paterson, N. J., was lost, owing largely to the fact that the courts issued an injunction against the women and children, and the police assaulted them for attempting to persuade scabs to refuse to work. “Mother,” besides organizing for the unions, is now putting in some spare time in forming unions of domestic servants.

—————

We have just received the following letter from “Mother Jones,” which we must again offer in place of the promised article. We feel sure that our readers will appreciate the reason for the delay:

Dear Comrades:

I owe you an apology for not writing to you before. You know I had a strike of 4,000 children on my hands for three months and could not spare a moment. If that strike was lost it meant untold oppression for these little helpless things. They came out victorious and gave their masters a good hammering. I could not write a thing for June, but will for July.

I have had a very hard winter’s work, but have done just as much for socialism as if I were writing articles. One very cheering feature is that the cause is growing everywhere. I have been landing plenty of literature In the hands of the boys.

[Drawing of Mother Jones added.]

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Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for April 1901, Part IV: Scranton Silk Strike Called Off; Smallest of Mill Girls Parade in City

12th May 202115th May 2021 Janet RayeHellraisers Journal

Quote Mother Jones, St L Lbr, Apr 13, 1901 —————

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday May 12, 1901
Mother Jones News Round-Up for April 1901, Part IV
Scranton Silk Strike Called Off; Smallest Girls Celebrate with Parade

From the Scranton Tribune of April 29, 1901:

At a general meeting of the employes of the silk mills of this city, held yesterday afternoon in St. Thomas College hall, the strike which has been on during the last three months was formally declared off and the announcement made that work will be resumed Tuesday morning.

This afternoon the younger girls will celebrate the end of the strike by holding a parade, and tonight a mass meeting will be conducted in College hall, at which Editor William Mailly, of the New York Worker; National Committeeman Frederick Dilcher, of the United Mine Workers of America, and “Mother” Mary Jones will make addresses…..

AN OPEN SESSION.

[Yesterday’s meeting] was open, and of very short duration. The announcement was briefly made that the strike was over, and all hands were ordered back to work Tuesday morning. “Mother” Jones then made a short address, in which she briefly mentioned the successful culmination of the long struggle, and then urged all of the younger girls to participate in today’s parade…

“Mother” Jones spent Saturday in Paterson. Trouble seems brewing there, and a general strike is threatened on account of difficulties with the ribbon workers.

—————

[Drawing added.]

THE YOUNG UNIONISTS.
———-
Bootblacks and Newsboys’ Union
Yesterday Were Dined at College Hall
-Several Speeches Made.
———-

A unique, but pleasing, spectacle was presented yesterday afternoon, when between three and four hundred boys representing the youngest and newest union in this city filed into St. Thomas’ College hall and there listened to a number of addresses, ate and were merry.

It was the initial appearance of the Bootblacks’ and Newsboys’ union in the city streets and everywhere the youngsters were greeted with friendly and good natured smiles…

“Mother” Jones gave a hearty, cheerful address to the boys, in which she spoke of the necessity of organization and assured the lads of the benefits which would arise to them from their union. Reading rooms will be established for them, those of their number who are musically inclined formed into a band, instructors provided and other advantages secured.

William Mailly, editor of the New York Worker, also addressed the boys. He spoke along the same lines as “Mother” Jones, and, among other things, told of the recent strike of the New York newsboys…..

———-

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Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for March 1901, Part III: Found Seeking Settlement of Pennsylvania Silk Mill Workers Strike

14th April 202114th April 2021 Janet RayeHellraisers Journal

Quote Mother Jones, Fight n Keep On, Hzltn Pln Spkr p4, Nov 15, 1900 ———-

Hellraisers Journal – Friday April 12, 1901
Mother Jones News Round-Up for March 1901, Part III
Found Seeking Settlement of Pennsylvania Silk Mill Workers Strike

From the Scranton Tribune of March 12, 1901:

…..Nothing has been heard from any of the mill owners or superintendents regarding their attitude on the arbitration question. Mother Mary Jones and Committeeman Frederick Dilcher, of the mine workers, both leave the city this morning…

A mass meeting was held in Taylor Saturday night, which was scheduled as a meeting of the silk mill girls,. Very few of the latter were, however, in attendance, the greater part of the audience being made up of miners. An address by Mother Jones featured the meeting.

———-

[Photograph added.]

The Philadelphia Times of March 23, 1901:

DAWN BREAKING IN SILK STRIKE
———–
Scranton Mill Girls, Aided by “Mother” Jones,
Win Their Fight.
———-

FIRST BREAK IN THE RANKS
—–

Special Telegram to THE TIMES.

SCRANTON, March 22.

Dawn is surely breaking in the silk strike and within a week’s time fully half of the mills which have been tied up will be working again. Thanks are due entirely to “Mother” Jones, who has labored long to bring about an amicable adjustment of the existing troubles.

This morning ‘Mother” Jones and Alfred Harvey, the owner of the Forest City mill, met and came to an agreement, and the strike at that mill was promptly called off and the girls will commence work to-morrow morning. The basis of the agreement is an increase of 25 cents a week to all employes and after a stated period an increase of 25 cents more, making 50 cents in all.

This will be a considerable gain. Mr. Harvey also owns the second largest mill in Scranton, and he and “Mother” Jones will meet again to-morrow and come to an agreement in regard to the mill here. This is the first break in the ranks of the mill owners’, and the proprietors of all the smaller mills are expected to fall in line with the movement. That will leave Superintendent Davis and the big Sauquoit mill out in the cold, thus forcing them to give in.

———-

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Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for March 1901, Part II: Found at United Mine Workers’ Convention in Hazleton, Pennsylvania

13th April 202113th April 2021 Janet RayeHellraisers Journal

Quote Mother Jones, Fight n Keep On, Hzltn Pln Spkr p4, Nov 15, 1900 ———-

Hellraisers Journal – Thursday April 11, 1901
Mother Jones News Round-Up for March 1901, Part II
Found Arriving in Hazleton, Pa., for Mine Worker’s Convention

From the Philadelphia Times of March 13, 1901:

National Organizer Chris Evans
Makes an Impassioned Appeal to
the Delegates at Hazleton.
———-
LEGISLATION IS DISCUSSED
———-
Bills Now Pending at Harrisburg
Come Up for Debate in the
Convention and Evoke
Heated Discussion.
———-
[Mother Jones Arrives]

From a Staff Correspondent.

Hazleton, March 12.

National Organizer Chris Evans, in a speech before the convention of the miners here this afternoon, struck the keynote of the situation when he made an impassioned appeal for uniformity…..

…It is sure that a resolution will be introduced in the convention, making a demand for uniformity in the day wage scale for each of the three districts.

The convention was called to order by President Mitchell in the Grand Opera House at 10 o’clock. The house was filled, and it is believed that 700 delegates are in attendance.

In his opening address President Mitchell referred to the great growth in this region since the strike of last fall, which, he said, had proven that there is a community of interest between the anthracite and bituminous miners which makes needless the argument that they should stand together in one union.

[…..]

[…..]

Mitchell Refuses a House.

President Mitchell created somewhat of a sensation this afternoon by positively refusing to accept the offer of a house which the anthracite miners have decided to give him. In a touching speech he thanked the men very kindly for their appreciation of his efforts, and strongly urged them to devote the money to erecting a monument to those members of the union who gave up their lives in the cause of unionism at Latimer in 1897……

“Mother” Jones arrived here to-night from Scranton and immediately went to MacAdoo, where she and District President Duffy and National Organizer Chris Evans addressed a big meeting. “Mother” Jones will remain here several days and will likely address the convention to-morrow.

A. H. ACORNLET.

———-

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Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for March 1901, Part I: Found Writing for The Review and Marching with Striking Silk Mill Workers

10th April 202110th April 2021 Janet RayeHellraisers Journal

———-

Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday April 10, 1901
Mother Jones News Round-Up for March 1901, Part I
Found Writing for The Review and Marching with Striking Silk Workers

From the International Socialist Review of March 1901:

Civilization in Southern Mills
———-

The miners and railroad boys of Birmingham, Ala., entertained me one evening some months ago with a graphic description of the conditions among the slaves of the Southern cotton mills. While I imagined that these must be something of a modern Siberia, I concluded that the boys were overdrawing the picture and made up my mind to see for myself the conditions described. Accordingly I got a job and mingled with the workers in the mill and in their homes. I found that children of six and seven years of age were dragged out of bed at half-past 4 in the morning when the task-master’s whistle blew. They eat their scanty meal of black coffee and corn bread mixed with cottonseed oil in place of butter, and then off trots the whole army of serfs, big and little. By 5:30 they are all behind the factory walls, where amid the whir of machinery they grind their young lives out for fourteen long hours each day. As one looks on this brood of helpless human souls one could almost hear their voices cry out, “Be still a moment, O you iron wheels or capitalistic greed, and let us hear each other’s voices, and let us feel for a moment that this is not all of life.”

We stopped at 12 for a scanty lunch and a half-hour’s rest. At 12:30 we were at it again with never a stop until 7. Then a dreary march home, where we swallowed our scanty supper, talked for a few minutes of our misery and then dropped down upon a pallet of straw, to lie until the whistle should once more awaken us, summoning babes and all alike to another round of toil and misery.

I have seen mothers take their babes and slap cold water in their face to wake the poor little things. I have watched them all day long tending the dangerous machinery. I have seen their helpless limbs torn off, and then when they were disabled and of no more use to their master, thrown out to die. I must give the company credit for having hired a Sunday school teacher to tell the little things that “Jesus put it into the heart of Mr. – to build that factory so they would have work with which to earn a little money to enable them to put a nickel in the box for the poor little heathen Chinese babies.”

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Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for December 1900: Found Leaving Pennsylvania on Her Way to Organize Miners of West Virginia

8th January 20218th January 2021 Janet RayeHellraisers Journal

Quote Mother Jones, Fight n Keep On, Hzltn Pln Spkr p4, Nov 15, 1900 ———-

Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday January 8, 1901
Mother Jones News Round-Up for December 1900
Found in Leaving Pennsylvania, Headed for Coal Fields of West Virginia

From the Hazleton Plain Speaker of December 1, 1900:

WITH THE MINE WORKERS.
———-
“Mother” Jones Leaves For Virginia
–Dilcher, Here Next Week.

Fred Dilcher, who is at present doing missionary work in the Lackawanna region will arrive in this city on Monday. Mr. Dilcher’s visit is for the purpose of organizing the brewery employees and clerks in Hazleton. The latter have been organized but very little interest has been taken in the local and not a meeting has been held since the union was formed. Benjamin James was present at the meeting and it was decided by a unanimous vote that a charter be applied for.

Through the Lackawanna, upper Luzerne and the greater part of Schuylkill all tradesmen have been organized and every craft is represented in the great Federation of Labor.

“Mother” Jones who has been among the miners hereabouts for some time is organizing them, leaves tomorrow morning for Montgomery, Virginia, where she will do missionary work.

[She said today:]

Conditions are worse in Virginia than anywhere, and the days of chattel slavery are nothing compared to the methods employed by the mine owners there in forcing their employees into subjugation.

Mrs. Jones informed a reporter today that she would not return to this region for several months, but she leaves Hazleton glad in the knowledge that the miners are happy and contented and that better conditions exist in the anthracite region than for many years…..

[Photograph added.]

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Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for November 1900, Part III: Found Speaking on Christianity and Anarchy in Vandling, PA

19th December 202020th December 2020 Janet RayeHellraisers Journal

Quote Mother Jones, Live f Justice n Love, Carbondale Dly Ns p2, Nov 24, 1900 ———-

Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday December 19, 1900
Mother Jones News Round-Up for November 1900, Part III
Found in Giving Ringing Speech to Large Audience in Vandling, PA

From the Carbondale Leader of November 24, 1900:

Mother Mary Jones was given a rousing reception in Vandling last night. The famous female friend of the miners came to this city on the 3 o’clock train and was met at the station by a number of people. Early in the evening she went to Vandling. Quite a number of Carbondalians went up to hear her. So large was the crowd which wished to attend the lecture, it was found that Mr. Closkey’s hall would not accommodate all. Rev. Clarke and the trustees of the Methodist church kindly offered its use and this large edifice was filled to overflowing. The audience was an attentive one and for over two hours and a quarter Mother Jones held the listeners’ close attention. She is a woman of about sixty-five and her hair is very white. She speaks in a very straight forward positive manner leaving no doubt as to the meaning of what she says. With “Mother” Jones there were on the platform Thomas Davis, J. Johns and Rev. Mr. Clarke.

SCORED WALL ST.

“Mother” Jones began by scoring the Wall street men whom she characterized as a lot of idling robbers. Then she cut into the coal operators. She told an incident where to save a piece of wood valued at two and one-half cents the corporation sacrificed a mans life. That was held of less value than a piece of wood. In part the speaker said:

We believe we live in a Christian nation and yet why do we take our children from the school and put them in the mills and breakers. The Christian church never murdered. Christianity means the brotherhood of man and the fatherhood of God; it means that all men should be fed; it means that our schools should be populated. But look at the vile language the children learn in mill and factory. Look, and see what the coming generation will be. You and I will have to render an account for our life’s work here below. How can you expect justice then if you wont give it now.

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Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for October 1900, Part V: Found Declaring Victory at Panther Creek; Grand March Closed Mines

30th November 202030th November 2020 Janet RayeHellraisers Journal

Quote Mother Jones, Miners More Powerful Than Ever, Phl Tx p5, Oct 18, 1900 ———

Hellraisers Journal – Friday November 30, 1900
Mother Jones News Round-Up for October 1900, Part V
Found Declaring Victory in Grand March on Panther Creek

From the Philadelphia Times of October 18, 1900:

THE MINE WORKERS STRONGER THAN EVER
———-

(Written for Th Times by “Mother” Jones.)

Hazleton, October 17.

Our victory in closing the mines in Panther Creek, which have been working steadily for years and which have never ceased to operate during a strike, shows that the United Miners to-day are more powerful than ever and perfectly able to continue the struggle for mouths. The only possible solution of the strike is for the mine operators to make the small concessions asked.

There is no reason in the world why they should not do so, because coal is bringing higher prices to-day than ever before. Railroad rails are cheaper than they have been in years, making the profits of the operators double what they have been. Yet the mine workers have received no increase in pay nor benefit from this increased prosperity whatsoever. This means that the hard coal [anthracite] trust is getting richer every day while the workers are getting poorer. How the operators can refuse the concessions I cannot see.

Mary Jones.

———-

[Photograph added.]

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Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for October 1900, Part III: Found Marching from McAdoo to Beaver Meadows and Hazleton

21st November 202021st November 2020 Janet RayeHellraisers Journal

Quote Mother Jones, Brave Mining Women, Phl Tx p5, Oct 15, 1900 ———-

Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday November 21, 1900
Mother Jones News Round-Up for October 1900, Part III
Mother Jones and Miners’ Army March from McAdoo to Hazleton

From the Hazleton Plain Speaker of October 11, 1900:

About six hundred strikers, composed of men from McAdoo and other South Side towns and the No. 3 Local of this city, gathered at McAdoo before dawn this morning, marched to the Beaver Meadow colliery of Coxe Bros. & Co., which had been kept in steady operation since the inauguration of the strike, then came around to Cuyle’s strippings east of the city and from the stripping marched right into the heart of Hazleton, the first time since the trouble began, that the town was invaded by marchers. The parade dispersed on North Wyoming street, this city, and the men returned to their homes.

Among those who participated in the march were “Mother” Jones, the well known lady organizer, and Miss Bertha Williams and Annie Petrosky, two pretty girls of about eighteen summers, whose homes are at McAdoo. It was feared, when the matchers reached Cuyle’s strippings that there would be trouble, but no violence was attempted. Many of the strikers were loud in their denunciation of the special policemen stationed near the place, but no disturbance occurred…..

[Paragraph break added.]

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Tag: Fred Dilcher

Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for June 1901, Part III: Found Speaking to Mine Workers of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania

Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for June 1901, Part I: Victorious Scranton Silk Mill Strikers, “Gave Their Masters a Good Hammering”

Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for April 1901, Part IV: Scranton Silk Strike Called Off; Smallest of Mill Girls Parade in City

Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for March 1901, Part III: Found Seeking Settlement of Pennsylvania Silk Mill Workers Strike

DAWN BREAKING IN SILK STRIKE
———–
Scranton Mill Girls, Aided by “Mother” Jones,
Win Their Fight.
———-

Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for March 1901, Part II: Found at United Mine Workers’ Convention in Hazleton, Pennsylvania

Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for December 1900: Found Leaving Pennsylvania on Her Way to Organize Miners of West Virginia

WITH THE MINE WORKERS.
———-
“Mother” Jones Leaves For Virginia
–Dilcher, Here Next Week.

Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for November 1900, Part III: Found Speaking on Christianity and Anarchy in Vandling, PA

Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for October 1900, Part V: Found Declaring Victory at Panther Creek; Grand March Closed Mines

Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for October 1900, Part III: Found Marching from McAdoo to Beaver Meadows and Hazleton

DAWN BREAKING IN SILK STRIKE———–Scranton Mill Girls, Aided by “Mother” Jones, Win Their Fight.———-

Civilization in Southern Mills———-

WITH THE MINE WORKERS. ———- “Mother” Jones Leaves For Virginia –Dilcher, Here Next Week.

DAWN BREAKING IN SILK STRIKE
———–
Scranton Mill Girls, Aided by “Mother” Jones,
Win Their Fight.
———-

Civilization in Southern Mills
———-

WITH THE MINE WORKERS.
———-
“Mother” Jones Leaves For Virginia
–Dilcher, Here Next Week.