Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts and Doings of Mother Jones for December 1910: Found Standing with Striking Miners and Their Families in Pennsylvania

15th January 202115th January 2021 Janet RayeEugene Victor Debs

Quote Mother Jones, Greensburg PA Cmas 1910, Steel 2, p83 ———-

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday January 15, 1911
Mother Jones News Round-Up for December 1910:
–Praised by Max Hayes and Eugene Debs for Work in Pennsylvania

From the International Socialist Review of December 1910:

THE WORLD OF LABOR

BY MAX S. HAYES.

[…..]

MOTHER JONES has been busying herself during the past few weeks in trying to bring cheer and comfort to the poor miners in the Irwin-Greensburg soft coal district of Pennsylvania [Westmoreland County], and assisting those unfortunate victims of one of the most heartless lockouts in American industrial history (as has been shown in THE REVIEW) to gain a semblance of humane working and living conditions. Mother is never so happy as when helping “the boys” in the mining fields, and, as every officer and member of the U. M. W. knows, she has gone into districts in Colorado, Alabama, West Virginia and other places where many of the bravest of men have feared to tread. She has faced injunction judges, served time in jail, lived on bread and water and has undergone a thousand hardships where others have hesitated or flunked, and never a word of complaint as to her own sufferings escape her lips. In fact she is as jolly and happy-go-lucky as a girl of sixteen and always refers to her direful experiences as humorous escapades.

Mother Jones only grows sorrowful and indignant when she discusses the fool factionalism among the miners and the sufferings endured by “the boys” and their wives and children, whom she knows and loves and for whom she has done organizing work in past campaigns. She has little patience with the penny-ante politics of this or that alleged leader who aspires for place or power, and when in a reminiscent mood she can relate some wonderful stories.

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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 IV: Found with Silk Strikers of Wilkes-Barre & Carbondale, Pennsylvania

20th December 202020th December 2020 Janet RayeHellraisers Journal

Quote Mother Jones Children Suffer PA Silk Mills, Cdale Ldr p6, Nov 30, 1900 ———-

Hellraisers Journal – Thursday December 20, 1900
Mother Jones News Round-Up for November 1900, Part IV
Found Standing with Silk Mill Strikers of Wilkes-Barre and Carbondale

From the Wilkes-Barre Daily News of November 27, 1900:

The trouble at the Hass-Goldsmith Silk Mill is causing a great deal of discussion in labor circles. Mother Jones, one of the most prominent agitators in this country, arrived in town last evening and had lengthy conference with the employes. She expressed a desire that the young women should arrange for a mass meeting, to which the public will be invited.

Mother Jones is in the best of health and spirits and feels elated over the success of the miners’ strike. She is an intelligent woman, and despite the fact that many disagree with her on questions agitating the public mind, they must acknowledge that she is a very clever woman. Mrs. Jones was interviewed yesterday afternoon at Hotel Hart by a News reporter. Among other things she said:

The employes of the Hess-Goldsmith mill sent for me and this evening they will come to my hotel and we will have a conference. From what I can learn the women, boys and girls, have just cause to complain. They are treated something similar to the children at the Freeland silk mills. There one boy received one cent per hour and worked 13½ hours per day. Do you wonder why the employes complain? It is not unusual to see a boy or girl prematurely aged. What is the reason? It is plain to be seen. These little ones are driven from daylight till dawn by a crowd of slave drivers who have not the slightest conception of the honor or respect due womankind. The factories steal from the parents the most desirable jewel, the light, the joy of the home-those bright faced little children. There was a time-I am sorry to say that it is fast disappearing-that she first thing asked a child in the morning by the mother was: “Dear, do you know your lessons?” But this is changed now to, “You must work hard and earn a few cents to-day.”

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Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for November 1900, Part I: Found with Miners of Pennsylvania and with Socialist of Boston

17th December 202018th December 2020 Janet RayeHellraisers Journal

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Hellraisers Journal – Monday December 17, 1900
Mother Jones News Round-Up for November 1900, Part I
Found Celebrating Victory with Pennsylvania’s Anthracite Miners

From Pennsylvania’s Allentown Morning Call of November 1, 1900:

HAZLETON, Oct. 31.-All the collieries in the Hazleton district, with the exception of those of the Lehigh and Wilkes-Barre Coal Company, Milnesville and Derringer, are in operation to-day. The Lehigh and Wilkes-Barre Company is ready to resume at once but as to-morrow is a Catholic holiday which is observed generally by Catholics, it is not likely that resumption will begin until Friday. All hands are satisfied and practically a full force of men will report for duty. Derringer is idle because of the inauguration of another strike on account of minor grievances, but it is expected that the colliery will be in operation as usual tomorrow…..

BIG MEETING AT M’ADOO.

The mine workers of the entire South Side held a parade and a big mass meeting at McAdoo to-night. Several visiting mine workers’ locals participated. Addresses were delivered by President Mitchell, George Purcell, John Fahey, “Mother” Jones and others. This was the greatest jollification meeting ever conducted on the south Side. President Mitchell was the first speaker. He concluded in time to make the 9.05 train leaving Hazleton for Mauch Chunk and points west.

MEETING AT LEADER’S GRAVE.

A monster mass meeting of miners will be held at the grave of John Siney, the great labor leader, at St. Clair on Saturday. President Mitchell and members of the national board will speak……

[Photograph added.]

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Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for October 1900, Part VI: Found Celebrating Great Victory for United Mine Workers in Pennsylvania

1st December 20208th January 2021 Janet RayeHellraisers Journal

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

Hellraisers Journal – Saturday December 1, 1900
Mother Jones News Round-Up for October 1900, Part VI
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Mother Jones Learns of Great Victory

From the Wilkes-Barre Daily News of October 27, 1900:

“MOTHER” JONES TALKS OF THE STRIKE.

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 26.-When “Mother” Jones left the coal regions for this city yesterday the strike had not ended, and it was not until this morning that she learned that the differences between the miners and the operators had been satisfactorily adjusted until April at least. This afternoon, just previous to her departure for Hazleton, “Mother” Jones called at the headquarters of the Allied Building Trades, in Odd Fellows’ Temple. She was jubilant over the result, and spoke encouragingly of the future for the coal miners and their families. She modestly received the congratulations of a number of prominent labor men.

[She said:]

It is the greatest victory in the history of organized labor. Of course, the strikers did not get all they asked for, but they have paved the way towards getting more. There is no telling what may happen in the spring, when the agreement of the operators terminated. There may be more trouble if the concessions made are not to be permanent. There never was a strike of such magnitude in which there was less disorder. Throughout there was a respect for law and order manifest on all sides.

The one deplorable feature of the great battle for human rights was the calling out of the militia by a hot-headed Sheriff. There was no more need of soldiers there that there is in this city at the present time

———-

[Photograph added.]

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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 IV: Found Marching to Panther Creek with Army of Strong Mining Women

29th November 202029th November 2020 Janet RayeHellraisers Journal

Quote Mother Jones, Army Strong Mining Women, Ab 1925 ———-

Hellraisers Journal – Thursday November 29, 1900
Mother Jones News Round-Up for October 1900, Part IV
Found with Strikers and Army of Mining Women Marching on Panther Creek

From the Hazleton Plain Speaker of October 16, 1900:

The four thousand strikers from Hazleton, Freeland and the South Side who left McAdoo at midnight last night to close down the collieries of the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Co. in the Panther Creek Valley, where operations have been carried on without interruption since the beginning of the strike, did not get at the mines but Nesquehoning was rendered idle and all the other collieries are somewhat crippled. The strikers were met on the outskirts of Coal Dale, which was their first objective point, by eight companies of the Fourth Regiment in command of Colonel O’Neill, of Allentown, and driven back into Tamaqua and the strikers who paraded the streets of that town were dispersed at the point of bayonet. The presence of the soldiers was a complete surprise to the marchers. Many of the latter returned home at noon today while others remained and will use their persuasive powers tonight to induce the men who are at work to join the strike movement. Several of the strikers were arrested.

The March Begins.

The strikers collected at McAdoo. Large crowds were seen wending their way over the hills to the South Side and when the word was passed along the line to move on it is estimated that there were about 3,500 men in the ranks.

The strikers from the upper Schuylkill region were to have met the McAdoo people at Hometown, but when the South Siders got there they were disappointed, as not a striker from upper Schuylkill was to be seen.

A delegation of about five hundred, comprising the strikers from Hazleton and the North Side, moved over the Beaver Meadow road and joined the South Siders at Hometown, a small place some distance north of Tamaqua. From Hometown the strikers marched about four abreast to the outskirts of Coal Dale.

“Mother” Jones There.

There were a number of women in line, among them “Mother” Jones and Miss Brennan, of McAdoo, who carried an American flag and who was to have led the men to the Coal Dale collieries.

The Honey Brook band and several drum corps were also in line. The band played almost continuously from the time the men left McAdoo until they got within a half mile of Coal Dale. The music had a wonderfully inspiring effect on the men and aroused people every where along the route.

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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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Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for October 1900, Part II: Found Leading Army of Women; Lattimer Now Close Down Tight

20th November 202020th November 2020 Janet RayeHellraisers Journal

Quote Mother Jones re Lattimer Raid Oct 6, 1900, Ab p87, 1925 ———-

Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday November 20, 1900
Mother Jones News Round-Up for October 1900, Part II
Mother Jones with Army of Women Shuts Down Lattimer

From The Scranton Times of October 6, 1900:

Hazleton, Pa.. Oct. 6. The striking miners here made a raid on the Lattimer colliery this morning and executed a unique coup. Sheriff Harvey, with a number of deputies and coal and iron police, were on hand to protect the miners who have remained at work at the colliery.

The company also made thorough preparations for offensive and defensive warfare against the raiders. They were determined to keep their miners at work, but they failed to count on the cunning of “Mother” Jones, who was operating with the raiders.

She, with a small band of strikers, entered the company store and persuaded the workmen to follow her out into the road.

She kept the men there talking to them, and the sheriff and his deputies directed all their attention to the woman. In the meantime other strikers made a detour of the mine property and talked with the men they found at work. As a result all of these men laid down their tools and left for home, and the mine is now closed tight…..

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Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for October 1900, Part I: Found in Pennsylvania Supporting the Great Anthracite Strike

19th November 202020th November 2020 Janet RayeHellraisers Journal

Mother Jones Speaks ed, WB PA Oct 2, WB Rec Tx p6, Oct 5, 1900 ———-

Hellraisers Journal – Monday November 19, 1900
Mother Jones News Round-Up for October 1900, Part I
Found in Pennsylvania Supporting Great Anthracite Strike

From the Wilkes-Barre Daily News of October 1, 1900:

Mother Jones, at Her Lecture Stand, Detail, Phl Iq p1, Sept 24, 1900

GAINS IN SCHUYLKILL.

POTTSVILLE Pa.,- Sept. 29.-About 1,500 miner., attended the mass meeting to-night of the United Mine Worker, of America. The meeting was addressed by President John Fahey, of District No. 9: Miles Dougherty, of Shamokin.k and Mother Mary Jones. Mr. Fahey said if inexperienced men were taken into the mines the death rate from explosions and other causes would be enormous. Statistics, he said, show that with inexperienced men the list of killed has numbered 30,-000 in twenty-five years. It is estimated that 2,000 strikers were added to the ranks to-day in this (Schuylkill) region .

———-

[Photograph added.]

From the Philadelphia Times of October 2, 1900:

MINERS WILL NOT ACCEPT HALF WAY VICTORY
———-

(Written for The Times by “Mother” Jones, the” famous labor leader.)

Hazleton, October 1.

The report that, the strike is likely to be settled without any more concessions being made by the operators is, as slated in The Times to-day, premature and should not be considered as truthful. The strike will never be called off for a ten per cent. increase alone, or even with the decrease in the price of powder. The United Mine Workers are too well organized to accept half way measures of relief.

There has not been a single break in the ranks to far. I have been all over the district and I can say the reports circulated by several operators that they have more men at work now than at any time since the strike are false. In the majority of the mines working only bosses, foremen, firemen, engineers and similar employes are at work. All of these reports are transparent dodges to frighten the men into returning to work. No one, however, pays much attention to them and they have had no effect. They are denied by the mine workers simply to prevent the unwary and those who are not familiar with what is transpiring from being deceived.

MARY JONES.

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Tag: Great Anthracite Strike of 1900