That old blood sucker,
the kaiser, ought to
be kicked off his throne.
-Mother Jones
Hellraisers Journal, Saturday December 22, 1917
Mother Jones News for November, Part II: Supports President Wilson
From the Pittsburg, Kansas, Sun of November 15, 1917:
MINERS VOTE TO REJECT THE
AUTOMATIC PENALTY
—–MAJORITY WAS 18 WITH KANSAS MINERS
OUTVOTING THE OTHER DISTRICTS.
—–Howat Stands Pat in a Fiery Speech
—–President John Wilkinson and “Mother Jones”
Urges Miners to Vote for Wilson
and Against the Kaiser
—–
Kansas City, Nov. 14.-Delegates representing the coal miners of Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas and Arkansas in convention here tonight voted to reject the automatic penalty clause insisted on by Dr. H. A. Garfield, federal fuel administrator, as a part of their working agreement. The vote was 185 to 167…
Kansas Outvoted Others.
…It was announced that the vote by districts was as follows: Kansas, for the resolution, 129; against, 11; Oklahoma-Arkansas, for 22; against, 105; Missouri, for, 34; against 51.
Howat for Rejection.
The adoption of the resolution came at the end of a day of debate in which “Mother Jones” and John Wilkinson, president of district 21, counseled against the rejection of the clause and Alexander Howat, president of district 14, vehemently urged its rejection.
“Mother Jones” and Wilkinson urged the acceptance of the clause on the ground of patriotism.
[Mother Jones declared:]
It’s our to stand by the president and the nation in this crisis. Our business now is to help the government lick hell out of the Kaiser and then we will lick hell out of the operators. President Wilson and Dr. Garfield will see that no injustice is done you through the working of this hateful clause. And I pledge myself to go before the president and Mr. Garfield and obtain relief if you want me to.
As “Mother Jones” left the platform she said:
Vote for the clause, boys, it’s a vote for Wilson and he’ll vote for you.
