Tag: July 1903

Hellraisers Journal: From the Burley WA Co-operator: Mother Jones Describes the March of the Mill Children of July 1903

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Quote Mother Jones to TR, These Little Children, Phl No Am July 16, 1903, Foner p552—————

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday September 4, 1904
Mother Jones Describes the March of the Mill Children of July 1903

From The Co-operator of September 1904:

The March of the Children.

Lena Morrow Lewis, in The Socialist, Seattle, Washington, June 19th, 1904. From notes by Mother Jones.

Mother Jones w Army, March of Mill Children, AZ Rpbn p1, July 18, 1903

PHILADELPHIA is famed far and wide as the ” City of Brotherly Love.” Churches abound everywhere, and her people look with holy awe upon the sins and vices of their sister city on Long Island Sound. And an unsuspecting and unobserving public has been quite ready to accept without question all that the City of Brotherly Love has claimed for herself.

It has remained for the wicked labor agitator to ferret out and unearth the criminal conditions that exist in this quiet, peaceful church- going city of Philadelphia, and it is only in a Socialist paper that these facts are permitted to see the light of day.

The writer is indebted to “Mother” Jones for the items contained therein.

Last summer the textile workers of Philadelphia, 125,000 men, women and children, went on a strike. They demanded shorter hours, an increase of wages and better sanitary conditions. Filthy closets and a defective sewerage system produced a very unwholesome atmosphere in which to work. Meanwhile the rest of the world wagged merrily on, and no one seemed to know or care anything about the strike, except a few labor cranks and Socialists and the owners whose profits were being affected. Not a daily newspaper mentioned the cause of the strike, nor the fact that among the strikers were a large number of children. During this time “Mother” Jones “happened” to drop into town and, as is her custom, she began to stir up matters. The public should be forced to know what these people were striking for. But strikes were such common affairs and it would require drastic measures to arouse an indifferent public.

At last she hit upon a plan. She would marshal all the children between the ages of ten and fourteen and take them on a thirty-mile march and they were to stop at every town within that radius and tell the people the story of their wrongs. Many of these children had worked in the factory since they were seven years of age and had never been inside a school room. When they were gone about forty miles they decided to go over to Oyster Bay and present their case to President Roosevelt. There was some risk connected with a project of this kind. If any of the children had sickened or died on the way, that fact would have been heralded all over the country, and “Mother” Jones proclaimed a murderer. The mills could maim and disfigure and kill scores of children annually and no mention be made of the fact. However, “Mother” Jones felt that they could afford to take chances and proceeded with the children.

As they journeyed from town to town, members of the working class provided them with food and shelter.

The children marched thru the streets of the towns, held meetings and, thru their leaders, told the story of their wrongs. Every child was keyed up to the highest pitch of enthusiasm. Every step northward was taking them farther away from Philadelphia. Some of their fathers had voted for President Roosevelt; in their eyes he was the greatest man in the United States and so they went hopefully and merrily on. When they reached Bristol the leader sent a request on behalf of the children for a permit to hold a street meeting and, when it was learned that an army of children was coming into town, a squad of policemen armed with guns were ordered to stand guard on the bridge to protect the city against the children.

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Hellraisers Journal: From The Comrade: “Child Slaves of Philadelphia” by John Spargo-Textile Mills Enslave Children

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Quote Mother Jones , March of Mill Children, fr whom Wall Street Squeezes Its Wealth, Lbr Wld p6, July 18, 1903—————

Hellraisers Journal – Monday August 3, 1903
“Child slavery’s awful curse eats at the vitals of the nation.”

From The Comrade of August 1903:

Child Slaves of Philadelphia

By J. Spargo

Mother Jones March of Mill Children, Boys w Banners, Comrade p253, Aug 1903

CHILD slavery’s awful curse eats at the vitals of the nation. But nowhere to a more alarming extent than in the City of Philadelphia. The great textile industries rest upon the enslavement of children and women. Not even in the South are conditions worse than here. At present the majority of the mills are idle owing to a strike for shorter hours of labor, and the children, or those of them who have not been cowed into submission, being on strike they are free to enjoy the fresh air. But when the mills are working the boys and girls are caged up for sixty hours a week in the unhealthy atmosphere common to these industrial hells.

The present strike in an effort on the part of the textile workers to obtain a reduction of the working hours to fifty- five per week. Although wages are miserably low they are willing to forfeit five hours’ pay if only they can obtain the desired reduction of hours.

In 1892, the year of the great panic, wages in the textile industry fell enormously. The Dingley Tariff of 1894 was to restore wages and improve conditions all round. So the workers voted for “Protection.” They continue to vote for “Protection” despite the fact that wages are still lower than in 1892, and that women and children-especially children-are employed in ever increasing numbers.

The law fixes the minimum age at which children may be employed in factories at thirteen years. The cold, calculating brutality of men deliberately passing a law permitting boys and girls of thirteen to be employed sixty hours a week is even more disgraceful than neglect of the question altogether would be. It is certain, however, that the law has very little effect so far as maintaining even the minimum is concerned.

Mother Jones w Group of Girl Strikers, Comrade p253, Aug 1903

There are said to be sixteen thousand children at work in the textile industries of Philadelphia, and it is certain that thousands of these are below the legal age. Factory inspection is of the most perfunctory kind: false certificates are not difficult to obtain, and it is easy to use certificates of older children to cover any “suspects.” Moreover, the parents themselves are, in too many cases, ignorant enough-or poor enough-to swear falsely as to the ages of their children. In thousands of cases this is exactly what happens. No one who knows anything whatever about the subject doubts that there are thousands of children between the ages of ten and twelve employed in the textile industries of this city in normal times.

On the morning before “Mother” Jones started to march to New York with her little “army of crusaders” from the Kensington Labor Lyceum, early in July, I saw a number of such children of both sexes. Whenever “Mother” or myself asked one of them his or her age we got the stereotyped reply “Thirteen!” But even if one could believe they spoke the truth, the fact remains that not a few of them had been employed for periods ranging from a few months to two years or even more. One little fellow told me how, in the factory where he worked, when the inspector came round, the smallest of them were either hidden or sent out to play. In not a few cases the “inspection” of the factory all takes place in the employer’s office as every intelligent mill worker knows.

One of the effects of child labor, the illiteracy of adults, I have observed here and in the surrounding towns and villages to a much greater extent than anywhere else in this country. It is by no means an uncommon thing to meet native born Americans of twenty-five years of age, or over, unable to read or write even their own names! What a terrible price to pay for the folly and crime of child labor!

Of course, the first break in the ranks of the strikers took place among the children. Poor children! they entered upon the strike with light hearts. To them it meant a chance to rest; to straighten their little backs. But they were in most cases easily browbeaten by the brutal bosses or their agents. I heard of several cases where mothers took their children-literally dragged them-to the mill gates and forced them inside to “scab.” One little fellow I heard of was dragged and beaten by his mother right up to the mill door when he was roughly pulled inside by a bully of a foreman who hurled a volley of curses at the cowering child. And the burden of the little fellow’s cry was “Don’t make me scab! I’ll die first! Don’t make me scab!”

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Hellraisers Journal: Mother Jones Holds Another Street Meeting in New York City and Pens Letter to President Roosevelt

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Quote Mother Jones to TR, These Little Children, Phl No Am July 16, 1903, Foner p552—————

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday August 2, 1903
New York, New York – Mother Jones Holds Street Meeting, Pens Letter to President 

From the Brooklyn Standard Union of July 31, 1903:

Mother Jones March of the Mill Children, MJ Holds Street Mtg, Brk Stn Un p3, July 31, 1903

From the Philadelphia North American of July 31, 1903
-letter from Mother Jones to President Theodore Roosevelt:

New York,
July 30.

The Hon. Theodore Roosevelt
President of the United States
Oyster Bay, Long Island

Your Excellency-

Twice before have I written to you requesting an audience, that I might lay my mission before you and have your advice in a matter which bears upon the welfare of the whole nation.

I speak of the emancipation from the mills and factories of the hundreds of thousands of young children who are yielding up their lives for the commercial supremacy of the nation.

Failing to receive a reply to either of the letters, I went yesterday to Oyster Bay, taking with me three of these children that they might plead to you personally. Secretary Barnes informed us that before we might hope for an interview with you we must first lay the whole matter before you in a letter. He assured me of its delivery to you personally, and also that it would receive your attention.

I have espoused the cause of the laboring class in general, and of suffering childhood in particular. It was for them that our march of principle was begun. We sought to draw the attention of the public to these little ones, so that sentiment would be aroused and ultimately the children freed from the workshop and sent to schools. I know of no question of to-day that demands from those who have at heart the perpetuity of this republic more attention.

The child of to-day is the man or woman of to-morrow, the one the citizen and the other the mother of still future citizens. I ask, Mr. President, what kind of citizen will be the child who toils twelve hours a day in an unsanitary atmosphere, stunted mentally and physically, and surrounded with often immoral influences. Denied education, he cannot assume the duties of true citizenship, and enfeebled physically he falls a ready victim to the perverting influences which our present economic conditions have created.

I grant you, Mr. President, that there are State laws which should regulate these matters, but results have proved that they are inadequate. In my little band are three boys, the eldest 11 years of age, who have worked in the mills a year or more, without interference from the authorities. All efforts to bring about reform have failed.

I have been moved to this, Mr. President, because of actual experience in the mills. I have seen little children without the first rudiments of education and no prospect of acquiring any. I have seen little children with hands, fingers and other parts of their bodies mutilated because of their childish ignorance of machinery.

I feel that no nation can be truly great while such conditions exist without attempted remedy.

It is to be hoped that our crusade on behalf of enslaved childhood will stir up a general sentiment and secure the enforcement of the present laws.

But that is not sufficient as this is not alone a question of separate States, but of the whole nation. We come to you as the chief representative of that nation. I believe Federal laws should be passed and enforced governing this evil and including a penalty for violation.

If this is practicable, and I believe you will agree that it is, surely you can advise me of the necessary steps to pursue.

I have with me three children who have walked one hundred miles, serving as living proof of the truth of what I say.

If you decide to see these children, I will bring them before you at any time you may set.

Secretary Barnes has assured me on an early reply, and this should be sent care of the Ashland House, New York City.

Very respectfully yours,
Mother Jones

[Emphasis added.]

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Hellraisers Journal: Senator Platt Flees Before Mother Jones at Oriental Hotel on Manhattan Beach; Army Given Breakfast

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Quote Mother Jones to TR, These Little Children, Phl No Am July 16, 1903, Foner p552—————

Hellraisers Journal – Friday July 31, 1903
Mother Jones and Her Army March to Oriental Hotel with an Elephant

From the New York Tribune of July 28, 1903:

Mother Jones March of the Mill Children, NY Tb p6, July 28, 1903

From The Scranton Republican of July 28, 1903:

Mother Jones March of the Mill Children, Scranton PA Rpb p1, July 28, 1903

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Hellraisers Journal: Mother Jones Speaks on Evils of Child Labor to Large Crowd at Bostock’s as Lions Roar in Background

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—————

Hellraisers Journal – Thursday July 30, 1903
Mother Jones Speaks on Child Labor While Lions Roar at Bostock’s on Coney Island

From The New York Times of July 27, 1903:

MOTHER JONES SPEAKS TO
CONEY ISLAND CROWD
———-
Delivers Address in a Menagerie
and Lions Interrupt.
———-
Anti-Child Labor Crusader Rebukes Young Man in the
Audience Who Smiled-On to Oyster Bay This Week.
———-

Mother Jones, March of Mill Children, NY Eve Wld p3, July 8, 1903

“Mother” Jones and her army were the central attraction yesterday afternoon [Sunday July 26th] at Bostock’s trained animal show at Coney Island. Mme. Morelli and her cage full of snarling leopards, reluctantly obeying her at the persuasion of a horse whip skillfully wielded by scarred arms, did not excite half the interest there was in “Mother” Jones and her army. Even the baby elephant that wanders about in the crowd at the entrance of the animal show excited little interest, to the intense mortification of the massive infant. The monkey tribe huddled dejectedly in the corners of their cages, and the animals indulged in long siestas with their backs turned to those who had come to admire them. They went through their performances in the steel-barred stage sullenly, with occasional exhibitions of savagery, at the idea that they were eclipsed by “Mother” Jones and her army.

The “barker” who raps a cane on his elevated desk to attract attention to the wonders of the show early in the afternoon grew hoarse in his announcements that “Mother” Jones would deliver an address at 4:30 o’clock. The building was well filled some time before the scheduled address of “Mother” Jones.

At the conclusion of the performance of the animals the stage scenery was shifted so that it was meant to represent the Colosseum, the populace high above all danger of the animals, and an Emperor on either side, with forearms extended and thumbs pointing downward, the two Emperors within easy striking distance of any beast, not suffering with rheumatism, which might prefer royal to other meat.

“Mother” Jones offered no objection to the stage setting; on the contrary, she expressed her approval. They were typical of aristocracy and her crusade is aimed against what she designates as “the aristocracy of employers.”

The official announcer heralded the coming of “Mother” Jones and her army, and they appeared in the Colosseum surrounded by bars. The idea of being caged was disagreeable to the speaker, and she positively refused to talk from “behind the bars.” A platform was therefore arranged for her outside of the cage, she standing on a board resting on two chairs. She had scarcely begun to talk when the largest lion, known as “the King of the Beasts,” set up a horrible roar, the others joining in his protest against attacks on aristocracy, even if it was of the human kind. During her remarks “Mother” Jones was constantly interrupted by the discourteous beasts. In the course of her address she said in part:

After a long and weary march, with more miles to travel, we are on our way to see President Roosevelt at Oyster Bay. We will ask him to recommend the passage of a bill by Congress to protect children against the greed of the manufacturer. We want him to hear the wail of the children, who never have a chance to go to school, but work from ten to eleven hours a day in the textile mills of Philadelphia, weaving the carpets that he and you walk on, and the curtains and clothes of the people.

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Hellraisers Journal: Mother Jones and Her Army of Child Textile Strikers Travel to Coney Island as Guests of Frank Bostock

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Quote Mother Jones, Children Build Nations Commercial Greatness, Phl No Amn, Foner p487—————

Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday July 29, 1903
Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York – Mother Jones and Her Army Guests of Bostock

From the New York Tribune of July 26, 1903:

Mother Jones March of Mill Children, Army at Bostock's Last Night, NY Tb p5, July 26, 1903

From the Indianapolis Sunday Journal of July 26, 1903
-Mother with one of her girls:

Mother Jones March of Mill Children, Mother w Girl Textile Worker, Ipl Jr p28, July 26, 1903

From the New York Worker of July 26, 1903
-Socialists plan rally to receive Mother to New York City:

Mother Jones March of Mill Children, Meeting Planned to Greet Army for July 23, NY Worker p1, July 26, 1903

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Hellraisers Journal: Mother Jones and Her Army Rest and Relax in New York City, Hold Evening Meeting Near Madison Square Park

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Mother Jones Quote ed, Suffer Little Children, CIR p10641, May 14, 1915—————

Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday July 28, 1903
New York, July 24th: Mother Jones and Amy Relax During Day, Hold Evening Meeting

From the New York Tribune of July 25, 1903:

Mother Jones March of Mill Children, Army in NYC, NY Tb p7, July 25, 1903

From the New York Sun of July 25, 1903:

Mother Jones March of Mill Children, Eve July 24 Speaks at 4th Ave & 24 St NYC, Sun p1, July 25, 1903

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Hellraisers Journal: Mother Jones Gets Her Permit; Crusaders March in New York and Hold Meeting Near Madison Square Park

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Quote Mother Jones, Children Build Nations Commercial Greatness, Phl No Amn, Foner p487—————

Hellraisers Journal – Monday July 27, 1903
New York, New York – Mother Jones and Her Army Have Their March, Hold Meeting

From the New York Tribune of July 24, 1903

Mother Jones March of Mill Children, NYC Gets Parade Permit, NY Tb p2, July 24, 1903

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Hellraisers Journal: Socialist Declare That Mother Jones and Her Army Will Parade in New York City With or Without Permit

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Quote Mother Jones , March of Mill Children, fr whom Wall Street Squeezes Its Wealth, Lbr Wld p6, July 18, 1903—————

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday July 26, 1903
Mother Jones and Her Army Will Parade in New York City, Permit or No

From the New York Tribune of July 23, 1903
-Socialist Declare Mother Jones Will Lead Parade in New York City:

Mother Jones March of Mill Children, Will Parade in NYC wo Permit, NY Tb p4, July 23, 1903

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Hellraisers Journal: Mother Jones and Her Army March from Paterson to Passaic and on to Union Hill and West Hoboken, N. J.

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Quote Mother Jones , March of Mill Children, fr whom Wall Street Squeezes Its Wealth, Lbr Wld p6, July 18, 1903—————

Hellraisers Journal – Saturday July 25, 1903
Mother Jones and Her Army March from Paterson to Passaic and West Hoboken

From the New York Tribune of July 21, 1903
-Mother Jones and Her Army Reach Passaic:

Mother Jones March of Mill Children at Passaic, NY Tb p6, July 21, 1903

From the New York Tribune of July 22, 1903
-Mother Jones and Her Army Reach West Hoboken:

Mother Jones March of Mill Children at Union Hill, NY Tb p6, July 22, 1903

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