Tag: March 1901

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

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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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:

Mother Jones, Drawing, SDH p4, Mar 9, 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

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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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:

HdLn re UMW Hazltn Conv, Phl Tx p1, Mar 13, 1901

John Mitchell, Prz UMW, Phl Tx p1, Mar 13, 1901National 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.

[…..]

UMW Officers, Mt, Dilcher, etc, Phl Tx p7, Mar 13, 1901

[…..]

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

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Mother Jones re Child Labor AL 1896, ISR p539, Mar 1901———-

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:

ISR Mar 1901

Civilization in Southern Mills
———-

T Graphic, ISR p539, Mar 1901

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.”

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

Hellraisers Journal: From the Social Democratic Herald: Sketch of Mother Jones, Publications of Charles H. Kerr

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote JA Wayland, Mother Jones, AtR p1, Mar 17, 1900———-

Hellraisers Journal – Friday March 15, 1901
Chicago, Illinois – Sketch of Mother Jones, Ad for Publications of Charles H. Kerr 

From the Social Democratic Herald of March 9, 1901:

Mother Jones, Drawing, SDH p4, Mar 9, 1901———-AD for ISR fr SDH p4, Mar 9, 1901

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Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for February 1901, Part III: Found Standing Firm with Striking Silk Mill Workers of Pennsylvania

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Mother Jones, Stt Dly Tx p3or5, Feb 23, 1901———-

Hellraisers Journal – Monday March 11, 1901
Mother Jones News Round-Up for February 1901, Part III
Found Standing with Striking Silk Mill Workers of Pennsylvania

From the Wilkes-Barre Record of February 20, 1901:

“MOTHER’ JONES IN TOWN.
———-

ADDRESSES A LARGE AUDIENCE AT THE B. I. A. HALL.
———-

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

“Mother” Jones arrived in town yesterday and addressed the striking silk mill girls at B. I. A. Hall. There was a large attendance and her address created much enthusiasm. P. J. Boyle, president of the Central Labor Union, presided and a number of other labor leaders were on the platform, among them president Duke of the Pittston C. L. U.

“Mother” Jones was introduced by Mr. Boyle and she said in part:

This presents on one side a deplorable picture of greed and avarice and on the other side a new chapter in progress and civilization. In labor’s dark and dismal days past she has had her heavy burden. Labor, and labor alone, has made the American nation great, has built State houses and mansions, has raised civilization, but all the while has overlooked her own best interests. The greatness of the nation she showed-that the Mississippi Valley alone is capable of supporting six hundred millions of people. Then why is it necessary to suffer so much and work so hard for a crust of bread.

Babies are taken from the cradle to the mill. The great commercial American nation cannot be built on the bleaching bones of American children. School is the proper place for children, and those who try to place them there are called anarchists. There are millions of helpless slaves held in the hollow of the hands of a few and we propose to set them free. No longer the lash of the black slave is heard, for his wail touched the heart of the nation. The wail of the factory girls will yet touch the heart of the nation. We have wondered why the pulse of the nation has not long since throbbed. It is an appalling picture, but the spirit of greed has been so well implanted in the commercial world that the picture does not appeal to the factory owner.

She illustrated the pains that are taken to care for animals, but the deplorable condition of children is never noticed.

Here in Wilkes-Barre you have a lot of little children who ought to be in the school room. These children are paid low wages and even then do not know how much they will receive until they receive their envelopes. If they are docked and ask the reason they are discharged. If they form a union to protest the leaders are told to seek work elsewhere. The silk manufacturers unite to keep up the price of silk and why then should not the girls who produce the article unite to keep up the price of labor?…..

———-

[Photograph added.]

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Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for February 1901, Part II: Found Speaking to Striking Silk Mill Workers in Scranton, Pennsylvania

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Mother Jones, Fight n Keep On, Hzltn Pln Spkr p4, Nov 15, 1900———–

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday March 10, 1901
Mother Jones News Round-Up for February 1901, Part II
Found Speaking to Striking Silk Mill Workers in Scranton, Pennsylvania

From The Philadelphia Inquirer of February 16, 1901:

Mother Jones n Silk Strikers of Scranton, Phl Iq p2, Feb 16, 1901

Special to The Inquirer.

SCRANTON, Pa., Feb. 15–The hard silk workers held a meeting this afternoon at Carpenter’s Hall, at which announcement was made of the coming of “Mother” Jones, of the United Mine Workers, on Monday evening next, when she has agreed to address a mass meeting of silk workers at St. Thomas’ Hall. She comes here at the request of the United Mine Workers. It has been twice announced and twice officially denied that she was coming, the leaders of the silk workers not being aware of the wires being pulled by Secretary Dempsey, of the United Mine Workers…..

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Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for February 1901, Part I: Found Speaking in Cleveland, Ohio, and Headed to Scranton, Pennsylvania

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

Hellraisers Journal – Saturday March 9, 1901
Mother Jones News Round-Up for February 1901, Part I
Found Speaking in Cleveland, Ohio, at Labor Lyceum Meeting

From The Cleveland Leader of February 11, 1901:

SOCIALISTS AND SINGLE-TAXERS CLASH 
———-
They Talk Sharply at the Labor
Lyceum Meeting.
—–

“MOTHER” JONES PRESENT.  
—–  
She Starts the Ball Rolling by a Talk Favoring Socialism…
—–

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

The Socialists and the Single Taxers crossed swords yesterday afternoon at the meeting of the Labor Lyceum. Mrs. Jones, of Chicago, who took a hand in the coal miners’ strike last summer and became known a “Mother” Jones, was at the meeting and told how she helped settle the great strike and incidentally espoused the cause of Socialism. This did not suit the Single Taxers. They did not propose to see their pet theory trampled in the dust, just on the eve of a campaign in which an apostle of the single tax idea is to play a leading part.

After “Mother” Jones had spoken for nearly an hour, James Vining took the floor and said that while he did not think that the Socialists were on the right track, he

SYMPATHIZED WITH THEM

for the reason that they were working for the cause of humanity……

“Mother” Jones spoke at length about the coal strike, and among other things declared that men were not brave and had acted the part of cowards during that struggle.

[She said;]

It takes courage to win a fight like that and I was disgusted at the cowardice of the men. I never knew what fear was. Why, I remember one time when I said I would conduct a meeting, some of the leaders of the strike warned me that violence would be used against me. I said I wasn’t afraid and proceeded. The afternoon preceding the meeting I was told that the mine bosses were intending to 

SET DOGS ON ME.

That proved to be true, but I was prepared. I bought a pound of meat and cut it into small chunks. Every time I saw a dog approaching I threw a piece of meat at him, and he picked up the meat and ran away. By the time I commenced to speak the only dog present was one mining boss.

After the meeting, in an interview with a Leader reporter, Mrs. Jones said:

The miners are much better off than they were before the strike. They are earning more money, and don’t have to pay so much for powder.

They, moreover, have the privilege of buying their provisions where they choose. What is of more value than all this, however, is the fact that those unfortunates have been awakened to the fact that their souls are their own, and that they are not slaves.

They have learned that it lies in their power to better their conditions if they will only do so. Their condition is still pitiable, but I think that from now on their course will be upwards instead of sinking into deeper degradation.

Mrs. Jones left last evening for Scranton, Pa., where she has been taking a hand in the strike of the factory girls.

———-

[Photograph added.]

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Hellraisers Journal: International Socialist Review: “Civilization in Southern Mills” -Mother Jones on the Evils of Child Labor

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Mother Jones re Child Labor AL 1896, ISR p539, Mar 1901———-

Hellraisers Journal – Friday March 1, 1901
Mother Jones Remembers “Civilization in Southern Mills” of 1896

From the International Socialist Review of March 1901:

ISR Mar 1901

Civilization in Southern Mills
———-

T Graphic, ISR p539, Mar 1901

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.”

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: International Socialist Review: “Civilization in Southern Mills” -Mother Jones on the Evils of Child Labor” →