Tag: June 1911

Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for June 1911, Part II: Found Pleading Cause of Striking Miners of Westmoreland County

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Mother Jones, Greensburg PA Cmas 1910, Steel 2, p83—————

Hellraisers Journal – Thursday July 20, 1911
Mother Jones News Round-Up for June 1911, Part II
Found Pleading Cause of Striking Miners of Westmoreland County 

From The Indianapolis Star of June 28, 1911:

WOMAN PLEADS FOR MINERS
———-

“MOTHER JONES TELLS TALE
———-
Describes Hardships of Pennsylvania Strikers,
but Urges Board to Encourage Men
to Continue Fight.

Mother Jones crpd ed, WDC Tx p5, June 18, 1910

Following an address by “Mother” Jones, known to all miners of the country, members of the executive board of the United Mine Workers of America yesterday adopted resolutions relative to the strike in the Irwin district in western Pennsylvania, where about 6 000 mine workers have been out for a year and a half.

Mrs. Jones, who is 79 years old, has spent most of her time in the strike region during the past year and is thoroughly familiar with conditions there. She told the members of the executive board of the hardships which the miners and their families have endured during the strike and urged the board to adopt resolutions commending the strikers and advising them to continue the fight.

Her address had the desired effect upon the members of the board, and a committee was appointed to draw up resolutions.

PLEDGES CONTINUED SPPORT.

The resolutions provide that the executive board indorse the strikers and urge them to continue their fight, and the board pledges its continued support to the miners. It is also provided that a general meeting be held in the region, at which a vote is to be taken to ascertain if a majority of the miners favor the continuance of the strike

The miners organization is spending about $90,000 a month to support the families of the strikers. It is said that the operators refuse to recognize the organization in the district and will not consider any compromise.

Francis Feehan president of the Pittsburg district and a number of organizers also appeared before the board yesterday to present their views on the strike.

“Mother” Jones expects to return to the Irwin district soon to continue her work among the families of the strikers.

—————

[Photograph added.]

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Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for June 1911, Part I: Reporting on Pittsburgh Protest Rally on Behalf of McNamara Brothers

Janet RayeEugene Victor Debs
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Quote Mother Jones, Powers of Privilege ed, Ab Chp III—————

Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday July 19, 1911
Mother Jones News Round-Up for June 1911, Part I
Found with “Characteristic Style” at Rally on Behalf of McNamaras

From the Appeal to Reason of June 3, 1911:

Solidarity at Pittsburg.
[Mother Jones Speaks.]

By Telegraph to APPEAL.

Mother Jones crpd ed, WDC Tx p5, June 18, 1910

Pittsburg. Pa., May 27.-The most tremendous labor demonstration Pittsburg ever saw occurred tonight. Thirty thousand indignant working men and women marched through the principal streets in protest against the kidnaping of McNamara, congregated at west side and yelled themselves hoarse at every telling point made by the speakers. Hundreds of policemen guarded the streets in squads and mingled with the monster crowd.

Socialists, Industrial Workers and craft unionists were thoroughly united on this occasion and all made the very earth tremble with their yells of defiance. The spirit of solidarity prevailed as it has never been known to prevail before, and Pittsburg is alive to its power. The echo will be heard in the morning to the cell doors of the victims in Los Angeles and to every nook and corner of America. Capitalists will realize once again that they have to deal with an aroused and awakened class. The chant was started tonight by Comrade Debs that was used in the Moyer-Haywood case “If McNamara die, twenty million working men will know the reason why.”

The first speaker of the evening was Comrade Fred H. Merrick, who is under indictment for libeling a Judge here in Pittsburg. Debs followed, and not only described the McNamara case in detail, but also analyzed the Pennsylvania strike and reviewed the great strike of the Pennsylvania railroad employes. His force and eloquence inspired the multitude and something will drop if the enthusiasm of the crowd was an indication.

Mother Jones in characteristic style appealed to the assemblage to be men and stand together, both on the political and economic field. De Leon, of New York, also spoke.

GEORGE D. BREWER.

———-

[Photograph added.]

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Hellraisers Journal: Mother Jones Writes to Peter Powers; Tells of Women and Children Thrown into Rat-Infested Jail

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Mother Jones, PA Strike Greensburg Women Sing Jail, Ab p146, 1925—————–

Hellraisers Journal – Thursday June 29, 1911
Mother Jones Tells of Women and Children in Rat-Infested Jail 

From the Evansville Press of June 29, 1911:

PETER POWERS TALK
-WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIGHT JAIL RATS.

PA Miners Strike Westmoreland Sadie Baker in Jail crpd by G Gardner, Ark Dem p6, June 20, 1911

Gilson Gardner’s story of women and girls thrown into a vermin-infested rat-hole called a jail because they “disturbed the peace” by beating a tin can and singing at a strikebreaker in Westmoreland-co, Pa., is not overdrawn.

I have just received a letter from Mother Jones, “the angel of the miners,” who has gone into Westmoreland-co, Pa., to lead in the unequal fight of the impoverished men, women and children against the gigantic corporations.

[Writes Mother:]

There were three generations in jail because they could not pay $10 apiece in fines to a corporation ‘squire, who might as well have demanded $10,000 as $10. There was a mother, her three months’ old baby and a grandmother besides two little children who could not walk, huddled together in a foul prison fighting off rats. Can such conditions prevail in Russia? I doubt it. I know they would not be tolerated in monarchial England or Germany. The men of this nation who permit such outrages are cowards.

The so-called judge who sentenced the women and children to jail without mercy is an ardent church-goer. Last Sunday 2,000 miners and their wives and children marched-it’s an old custom and second nature of miners to hold processions. The church people sent the Cossacs to tell us not to play the band or do any singing, as they were praying. Perhaps if we had disobeyed we would nave been in contempt or court.

PA Miners Strike Westmoreland Women n Babies in Jail by G Gardner, Ark Dem p6, June 20, 1911
Mrs. Dot Smith, Aged 19, and Her Three-
Months-Old Baby, Sentenced to 20 Days
in County Jail For Beating a Tomato Can
and Making Sarcastic Remarks While
a Scab Was Passing Her House.

[Photographs and emphasis added.]

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Hellraisers Journal: From the Appeal to Reason: Elizabeth Gurley Flynn Arrested in Philadelphia for Talking Unionism

Janet RayeElizabeth Gurley Flynn
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Quote EGF, Heaven n Hell, ISR p617, Jan 1910—————

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday June 25, 1911
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Arrested for Talking Unionism

From the Appeal to Reason of June 24, 1911:

EGF, ISR p606, Apr 1911

Gurley Flynn Arrested in Philadelphia

The police arrested Elizabeth Gurley Flynn while talking unionism before the Baldwin Locomotive works at Philadelphia, the other day, and that will help some. The bosses are blind as bats, for they are helping the agitation more than all we Socialists can do. In fact we could make poor progress if they were not such fools as to show the workers they are the kind that we Socialists proclaim them. They furnish the proof. She was held in $400 bail, took down the court proceedings in short hand, and went to the cell for free speech sake. The mass of men who were listening intently could hardly be restrained from knocking out the police for their brutality. It made many Socialists when no other kind of an argument could.

[Photograph and emphasis added.]

From the Spokane Industrial Worker of June 22, 1911:

EGF Acquitted Disturbing Peace in Phl, IW p2, June 22, 1911

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Hellraisers Journal: Rebels Surrender to U. S. Army Officers at Tijuana; General Mosby and His Men Are Prisoners

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote R Magon Viva Tierra y Libertad, Regen p2, May 13, 1911—————–

Hellraisers Journal – Saturday June 24, 1911
General Mosby and Rebel Army Defeated at Tijuana

From The San Francisco Call of June 23, 1911:

Mex Rev Rebels Defeated in Baja, SF Call p4, June 23, 1911

John R Mosby, IWW, General Baja Magonista Rebellion of 1911, wiki
John R. Mosby

TIA JUANA, Cal., June 22.—Armed resistance to the authority of the Mexican government in Lower California has practically ceased. General Jack Mosby and his men, comprising the second division of the Mexican liberal army in Lower California, are prisoners of Company D, Thirtieth infantry, U S. A., Captain Frank A. Wilcox commanding. 

About 100 men in all surrendered at the line, all Americans. They report their loss in the battle with 500 Mexican troops under Celso Vega, jefe politico of Lower California and Colonel Miguel Mayot, as three killed and one dying.

The dead are: George Morgan, Fred Rogers, Frank Smith.

Mortally wounded: Captain Holland of troop C.

Wounded and disabled: Lieutenant Barkalo, shot in groin.

The rebel prisoners of the United States troops were taken to San Diego this afternoon and conveyed to the guardhouse at Fort Rosecrans to await disposition of their cases by the government at Washington. In the meantime they will be treated as prisoners of war.

The rebels were divided into five troops, A, B and C, about 155 in all, Americans; and D and F, Mexicans, about 75 men. So far the Mexicans have scattered below the line, and some of them are said to be fleeing before scouting parties of the Mexican troops.

The loss of the Mexican force, at a late hour this afternoon, was not known, but it was believed to be heavy. B troop of the rebels at one time was within 50 yards of the federal firing line, and it is believed many Mexicans were killed at that time.

The Mexican force under Vega and Mayot occupies Tijuana, Lower California, this afternoon.

According to stories told by the rebel prisoners at the American troop camp the Mexican federal force had three machine guns and one field piece in action against them. The field piece was using canister and shrapnel alternately, they say. It was the machine guns and field piece that caused the retreat of the rebels.

The federal force was well placed three miles from Tijuana. It occupied hills commanding all approaches from Tijuana, and, greatly outnumbering the rebels, made an attack a forlorn hope at best.

The battle lasted little more than two hours and was witnessed at a distance by a great throng of spectators from San Diego and intermediate points. 

—————

[Photograph and emphasis added.]

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Hellraisers Journal: From the Industrial Worker: Life and Work of James Kelly Cole, Martyr of Spokane Free Speech Fight

Janet RayeFree Speech Fights
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Quote James Kelly Cole, Martyr Spk FSF, ISR p557, Dec 1909—————

Hellraisers Journal – Friday June 23, 1911
Poems of James Kelly Cole, Martyr of Spokane Free Speech Fight

From the Spokane Industrial Worker of June 15, 1911:

THE LIFE WORK OF KELLY COLE
—————

By Frank Bohn.

James Kelly Cole, Cover Rev Writings Poems ed w text, 1910

James Kelly Cole was killed in a railway accident at Tomah, Wisconsin, November 17th, 1909. He was on his way to take part in the Spokane free speech fight and was riding free.

At that time I wrote a short letter in the [New York Socialist] Call, drawing attention to the self-forgetfulness which led to the untimely death of this young comrade. To me he was simply one of many who were then fighting for freedom of speech in Spokane and elsewhere. I had not even learned his name. It is therefore a peculiar pleasure to discover that, dying in the cause, he left us something very much worth while. A little book of poems entitled “Revolutionary Writings” suggest to us the deep loss suffered by the movement when he went to his death.

His picture as well as his poems makes one regret not to have known him personally. He was a representative of a type-the type of idealistic young Americans of both sexes who are now thronging into the Socialist movement. He was fortunate in having had educational advantages. He had been a student at one of the Chicago High schools and abundant leisure during his youth afforded him opportunity for wide reading on a variety of subjects.

The most significant feature about his personality and his work was the revolutionary spirit. His intense hatred for misrule coupled with his desire for emancipation from wage slavery once led him into a tactical error. He was forced to spend more than a year in the federal prison at Leavenworth, Kansas.

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Hellraisers Journal: Gilson Gardner: Mothers and Babes Locked Up in Rat Infested Jail at Greensburg, Pennsylvania

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Mother Jones, PA Strike Greensburg Women Sing Jail, Ab p146, 1925—————

Hellraisers Journal – Thursday June 22, 1911
Greensburg, Pennsylvania – Mothers and Babes Locked Up in Rat-Infested Jail

From the Arkansas Democrat of June 20, 1911:

MOTHERS AND BABES TO JAIL
———-
In Famous Westmoreland Coal Strike,
Which Has Been in Progress Nearly
18 Months, Company is Said to be
Taking Severe Steps to End Trouble.
———-

(By Gilson Gardner.)

PA Miners Strike Westmoreland Women n Babies in Jail crpd by G Gardner, Ark Dem p6, June 20, 1911

Greensburg, Pa.-(Staff Special.)-The famous Westmoreland coal strike, which has been in progress nearly a year and a half, has reached a new stage. To win, the coal companies now find it necessary to send mothers with babes and little girls to the county bastile.

A little crippled girl, 14 years old, was sitting on the front porch of her home when the village scab went by on his way from work. The little girl began to laugh at the scab and to sing, “Will There Be Any Stars in My Crown?” For this the town constable, Pat McDonough, in behalf of the Westmoreland Coal Company, swore out a warrant and had it served by the deputy constable. The little crippled girl was arrested, taken to Irwin, a village two miles away, where she was brought up before the local justice of the peace-“Squire” H. L. Meeroff. Tho squire found the cripple girl guilty of “breaking the peace” and sentenced her to the county jail for 20 days. So the prisoner was taken 10 miles to Greensburg, where she was locked up in a jail provided for hardened criminals.

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Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for May 1911: Found in Pittsburgh Speaking at Huge Protest Rally on Behalf of McNamara

Janet RayeEugene Victor Debs
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Quote Mother Jones, Powers of Privilege ed, Ab Chp III—————

Hellraisers Journal – Saturday June 17, 1911
Mother Jones News Round-Up for May 1911
Found in Pittsburgh Speaking at Rally on Behalf of James McNamara

From The Pittsburg Press of May 28, 1911:

BIG RALLY BY HOSTS OF LABOR
———-
Demonstration Against McNamara “Kidnaping”
Transformed Into Meeting in Favor
of the P. R. R. Strike
———-

DEBS, “MOTHER” JONES AND DE LEON SPEAK
—–

Mother Jones crpd ed, WDC Tx p5, June 18, 1910

One of the biggest labor demonstrations ever known in this community took place last night around the old bandstand in West Park, North Side, where from over 6,000 persons, mostly workingmen, gathered to listen to vehement addresses protesting against the arrest and “kidnaping” of Secretary James [John J.] McNamara, of the Bridge and Structural Iron Workers. Widely-known Socialist leaders, among them Eugene V. Debs, “Mother” Jones and Daniel de Leon, were the principal speakers of the occasion.

The demonstration, which was originally instituted in behalf of McNamara, was transformed by the remarks of Mr. Debs, before the meeting was half an hour old, into a rally in the interests of the striking Pennsylvania Railroad shopmen. Debs urged every man and woman present to throw the weight of his or her influence in favor of the strikers.

The meeting was preceded by a parade half a mile long from the Labor Temple on Webster avenue to the Allegheny parks. Probably 4,000 men were in line. In the van was a large squad of the city mounted police. The procession proper was led by the local Socialistic organization, members of which turned out in large numbers. The strikers from the Twenty-eighth street shops of the Pennsylvania Railroad came next in order, and a big delegation from the Ormsby shops, on the South Side, formed the rear.

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Hellraisers Journal: Elizabeth Gurley Flynn Wins Fight for Free Speech in Philadelphia for Second Time

Janet RayeElizabeth Gurley Flynn
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Quote EGF, Heaven n Hell, ISR p617, Jan 1910

—————

Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday June 14, 1911
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Elizabeth Gurley Flynn Freed

From The Philadelphia Inquirer of June 13, 1911:

WOMAN SOCIALIST FREED
———- 
Court Grants Appeal From
Magistrate and Remits Fine

EGF, ISR p606, Apr 1911

Appealing from the decision of Magistrate Scott, who fined her $10 for obstructing the highways, Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, a labor organizer and social worker, received a favorable decision from Judge Kinsey in Quarter Sessions Court yesterday by having the magistrate’s action reversed and the fine remitted.

This is the second time within a week that Miss Flynn has succeeded in having the court overthrow the action of the police of the Twentieth and Buttonwood streets station. She was arrested twice while speaking in the vicinity of the Baldwin Locomotive Workers.

———-

[Photograph and emphasis added.]

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