Hellraisers Journal: “Organized Labor” by John Mitchell, President of the U. M. W. A., Reviewed by The Wall Street Journal

31st October 20232nd November 2023 Janet RayeHellraisers Journal

MJ Quote Solidarity —————

Hellraisers Journal – Saturday October 31, 1903
Review of John Mitchell’s Book, “Organized Labor”
-from The Wall Street Journal of October 28, 1903

Organized Labor; Its Problems, Purposes, and Ideals
and the Present and Future of American Wage Earners
-by John Mitchell, President of the United Mine Workers of America
American Book and Bible House,
Philadelphia, PA, 1903

Prominently placed in the October 28th issue of The Journal is a long review of “Organized Labor,” the recently released book by Mr. Mitchell. The review takes up a full column of the front page and about a quarter of a second column, and contains a surprising amount of praise for the labor leader, if not for all of his ideas:

Mr. John Mitchell, president of the united mine workers of America, has published a book entitled “Organized Labor.” It is interesting, first because its subject is now uppermost in the attention of the public, and secondly, because its author has within a year loomed large in the public eye, by reason of the great anthracite coal miners’ strike of 1902. Mr. Mitchell’s book, therefore, deserves more than the merely perfunctory and passing notices which it has received in the press generally.

It is on the whole well written, temperate in its criticisms, moderate in its claims, and fair in its general judgments. Conservatism is very much the keynote throughout, and the work as a whole serves to strengthen the opinion formed by most fair minded people after the coal strike that Mr. Mitchell may be counted among the ablest most responsible, and most far-sighted of the labor leaders in power to-day. His book is in the main a plea for the principles of trade unionism….

[Emphasis added.]

The Journal then goes on to list Mr. Mitchell’s principles of trade unionism as:

1) Trade unionism seeks to represent the interest of the working class, the workingman should identify his union with his class, and the working man owes duties to his class just as to his country.

2) Trade unionism stands for collective bargaining and is opposed to the individual contract.

3) Trade unionism seeks to secure a “definite minimum standard of wages, hours and conditions of work” for all workers in any given trade.

4) Trade unionism demands equal rights with employers “in determining how, when, with whom, at what time, and under what conditions work shall be carried on.”

5) “The trade unions..have nothing which is not free to all, which may not be shared by any and every capable workman.”

6) Trade unionism seeks to enforce the union shop in order to protect the union contract. (Or, as The Journal put it, trade unionism seeks “the monopolization of work for union men by enforcing the union shop..”)

7) Trade unionism seeks permanent industrial peace by means of trade agreements (the union contract.)

The Journal supports the right of the workingman to organized and bargain collectively, but is greatly troubled that allegiance to class should be valued as highly by a worker as allegiance to country, and calls this idea “a deep and dangerous fallacy.” The Journal also takes a stand against the “union shop,” failing to understand that without a “union shop,” the union contract that they so laud as leading to industrial peace, cannot be enforced.

The review ends with this recommendation:

While we totally disagree with Mr. Mitchell on the points discussed above, we can safely recommend his book to those who desire to inform themselves respecting the whole question. If we have in any way misrepresented his position we regret it heartily. We are fully as anxious to understand him as he is to be understood.

—————

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Hellraisers Journal: Testimony of Miners, Wives and Children, of Pennsylvania Anthracite, Brings Commissioners to Tears

21st December 202221st December 2022 Janet RayeHellraisers Journal

Quote Mother Jones, Evicted Miners Baby Dies on Roadside, Evl Jr Ns p3, Sept 28, 1902 —————

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday December 21, 1902
Scranton, Pennsylvania – Misery of Miners’ Lives Describe Before Coal Commission

From the Butte Labor World of December 19, 1902:

The other day members of the strike commission wept when a miner told his simple, straightforward story of incredible ill-treatment-of inhumanity that astounded the judges.

The veil was raised a few inches higher-and the commissioners were astonished as they looked beyond. Bishop Spalding swung around in his chair, turning his back upon the courtroom to hide his tears. Assistant Recorder Mosely made no attempt to hide his. Judge Gray’s face was white and there were hard, indignant lines about his mouth as he echoed the words of the coal trust lawyer: “Yes, that is all,” adding, “and it is enough!”

If there be lower depth of human misery than those in which these miners live they have never been fathomed.

Millions have wept over the sorrows that plied upon Jean Valjean, but Victor Hugo’s hero was never a more heartrending type of misery than was old Henry Coll [Call] as he told how he had bent his back under the brutal yoke of men who have posed before the country as philanthropists and claimed a God-given right to this positions as employers of labor.

Coll had had every bone in his body, except his neck, broken in the service of these people; and after the strike had been turned out of his house-a poor place, it is true, but the only home he knew-with a sick wife, her hundred-year-old mother, his son and the children to two comrades who had been killed at work, and with whom he in his charity had shared his home. They had been turned out at a moment’s notice into the cold street to perish. His wife had died as the result of the exposure and he had just come from burying her to tell his story.

Then there was the tale of Kate Burns. Her husband had been killed also working for these taskmasters, and to live she had sent her little boys to the breakers. There they had slaved for 78 cents a day, but never received a cent of pay in fourteen years, their earnings being applied by the company to paying the rent, while she, by washing and scrubbing, had earned barely enough to support the little family.

It is the rich men who imposed hardships like these upon those who work for them that refused to arbitrate and insulted the president when he suggested it.

But the veil is up and the horrors behind it are being laid bare for all the world to see.-N. Y. American.

—————

MARKLE’S SLAVES TELL OF THE EVILS
———-

Tuesday, December 9, was a day of horrors at Scranton, Pa., for those who listened to the evidence before the strike commission. The pathetic stories of the former witnesses were almost forgotten as the stories of still more unfortunate slaves of the miners were told.

John Markle, who had almost achieved the reputation as the philanthropist of the coal field, was not present to contradict, the stories of his employes, nor was there any legal representative to attempt to discredit these stories or to soften their influence upon the members of the commission…..

[Emphasis added.]

Note: the article goes on to describe testimony from:

Mrs. Kate Burns, widow: husband killed in mines, children forced to work in mines, forced to go to work washing and cleaning as soon as baby born.

Henry Coll: Evicted with wife, children and very elderly mother-in-law, had been severely injured in mines, wife ill when family evicted and died shortly thereafter.

Michael Baker: age 18, had frequently been clubbed, beaten and sworn at by breaker boss.

Ella Chippe [Chippa], widow: husband died in mines, son (Andrew) forced to work as breaker boy, son’s pay taken to pay debts, baby born after death of husband.

Mary Ann Raber, widow: husband killed in mines with Mrs. Chippe’s husband, four children to support, son sent to work in mines,

Testimony given by miners proves that they are over-charged for doctor’s fees, for powder, and underpaid for the coal they mined due to coal cars continually increasing in size. Price of groceries increased by 30% since 1900.

—————

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Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts and Doings of Mother Jones for November 1902, Part II: Found in Baltimore, Maryland, and with Striking Miners of West Virginia

19th December 202219th December 2022 Janet RayeHellraisers Journal

Quote Mother Jones to Wayland fr WV Wind Blows Cold, AtR p4, Nov 1, 1902 —————

Hellraisers Journal – Friday December 19, 1902
Mother Jones News Round-Up for November 1902, Part II
Found in Baltimore, Maryland, and in New River Strike Zone of West Virginia

From the Baltimore Sun of November 21, 1902:

MOTHER JONES IN TOWN
———-
Miners’ Friend Calls On Officials
To Stop Immigration.

Mother Jones, the friend of the coal miners, arrived in Baltimore yesterday unannounced. She proceeded at once to hunt up Mr. Thomas A. Smith, chief of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, introduced herself and started to make known the object of her visit.

[She said:]

I have come here for the purpose of putting a stop to immigrants being brought into this country and employed by coal operators to take the places of the regular miners in the New River district of West Virginia.

Chief Smith laid aside his eyeglasses and took a quiet survey of Mother Jones, who had seated herself in a chair and was tapping the floor impatiently with her foot. Before Mr. Smith could make any statement Mother Jones began to give him and his assistant, Mr. Jacob Schoufarber, a full detailed account of the alleged indignities suffered by the miners at the hands of the operators. After she had finished he statement Mother Jones was referred to the office of the United States Immigration Bureau at the Custom House.

Mother Jones reached the Custom House in due time and was met by Assistant Commissioner Stump. To Mr. Stump she repeated her complaint, and Mr. Stump told her that if she could furnish the bureau with the names of immigrants who had been employed on the other side by the coal miners he would be very glad to look into the case.

“The proper course for you to pursue, madam,” he said, “is to write to Commissioner General F. P. Sargent, giving him all the data you can obtain in the matter.”

“Yes,” said Mother Jones with a long sigh, “that is just what I was told to do with Mr. Powderly when he was in office, and Powderly is a pretty good chap and I believe he kept his seat warm while he was in office.”

“But Mr. Powderly is not there now,” said Mr. Stump, “Mr. Sargent Is in charge.”

[Said Mother Jones:]

Oh, yes, I know him too; he is a jolly old chap, but he has let more immigrants into this country than even Powderly did. These mine owners are a sharp crowd to deal with. They have their agents on the other side and they coach the immigrants what to say when they come here. They are not shipped direct to the coal mines, but are sent in through Wheeling and other points, and when they get there they are herded in stockades with guards all around them and we cannot get anywhere near them.

Mr. Stump reminded his visitor that the proper person to receive her complaint would be Commissioner-General Sargent. She then left the office.

Mother Jones is a little woman, short, but stockily built, with iron gray hair, and speaks very forcibly. She has been called “Mother Jones” by reason of her interest in the welfare of the miners.

[Photograph added.]

From The Chattanooga News of November 27, 1902:

STRIKERS BRACE UP
———-
“Mother” Jones Puts New Heart and Life
Into West Virginia Coal Miners.
———-

Charleston, W. Va., Nov. 27.-The strikers in the New River mining field are making their last stand, encouraged by the magnetism of Mother Jones, who arrived there from Scranton, Pa., where she had expected to testify before the anthracite strike commission.

The West Virginia strike began June 7. It fizzled in the Fairmont field because of the federal injunctions issued by Judge Jackson. A few months ago settlements were reached in the Pocahontas and Kanawha regions, where the men gained notable concessions.

It would be hard to find a more determined band of men than the New River strikers. It was to this field Gov. White sent state troops during the summer and there followed the evictions of thousands of families. The cold weather has been a severe test, but the men are determined to win.

New River has a larger output than any other in West Virginia field and at least 5,000 men are involved in the strike. The United Mine Workers’ Union is caring for them and President Mitchell may soon assume direct charge.

John Richards, president of district No. 17, United Mine Workers, has tendered his resignation, it is understood, under pressure from his conferees, who represented to him that he was the only man who had stood between the miners and operators. The operators absolutely refused to treat with Richards, but intimated that a settlement could be reached if he were out of the way.

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts and Doings of Mother Jones for November 1902, Part II: Found in Baltimore, Maryland, and with Striking Miners of West Virginia” →

Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts and Doings of Mother Jones for November 1902, Part I: Found Speaking in New York City, Standing with Strikers in West Virginia

18th December 202218th December 2022 Janet RayeHellraisers Journal

Quote Mother Jones to Wayland fr WV Wind Blows Cold, AtR p4, Nov 1, 1902 —————

Hellraisers Journal – Thursday December 18, 1902
Mother Jones News Round-Up for November 1902, Part I
Found Speaking in New York City and Standing with Striking Miners of West Virginia

From The Comrade of November 1902:

Mother Jones at Cooper Union, New York City, October 18, 1902
by Ryan Walker

———-

Frank Sieverman and Mother Jones

From The Brooklyn Daily Eagle of November 1, 1902:

MOTHER JONES’S LECTURE.
———-
Discussed Social and Political Topics
at the Criterion Theater.
———-

“Mother” Jones lectured before a good sized audience last evening in the Criterion Theater on social and political topics. The audience was evidently in sympathy wiih her views, for she was frequently interrupted with applause and her introduction was the signal for an ovation that must have been flattering to the venerable organizer.

“Mother” Jones is a well preserved woman of perhaps 60 years, with bright blue eyes and clear complexion, and she speaks with great force and earnestness.

Dr. Charles Furman presided at the meeting and introduced “Mother” Jones. Some enthusiastic socialist leaped up on his seat and called for three cheers for the speaker and they were given with a will.

“Mother” Jones began her address by saying the movement of the present day was along lines of progression laid down by the sages years ago, and everywhere along the line of battle the cry was forward. “To move forward is the object of socialism, and to help you in this movement is why I am here to-night.”

In referring to the recent coal miners’ strike in Pennsylvania “Mother” Jones said John Mitchell was one of God’s own noblemen and she flayed the operators in no uncertain tone. Referring to her arrest and incarceration in West Virginia, “Mother” Jones said she had been blamed by a great many people because she shook hands with the judge who sentenced her to jail. “Why shouldn’t I do so?” she cried. “The judge was not to blame. He was a victim of environment and had to perform his sworn duty to carry out the laws as he found them.” Continuing, the speaker said neither of the old parties could be trusted because both were capitalistic.

In many respects her address was disappointing. She presented no new arguments and her discourse did not differ mainly from the usual pronouncements of socialists-that is, condemnation of capital. J. P. Morgan came in for a good share of the speaker’s attention and many of her witty sallies in reference to him evoked hearty applause.

From the Appeal to Reason of November 1, 1902:

All newspaper reports to the contrary notwithstanding, the miners’ strike in West Virginia is by no means over, and a hard fight is being made in a number of districts where the operators refuse to make any concessions. “Mother” Jones writes from Montgomery, W. Va, that the utmost suffering prevails there, in consequence of the harsh measures taken by the “Christian men to whom God in His infinite wisdom has given the control of the property interests of this country.” She says: “We have fifteen hundred families of coal miners thrown out of their homes by the capitalist cannibals, and now camping on the highway. We should not talk so much about evictions in Ireland. Free America eclipses Ireland.”

—————

From Mother Jones.
Montgomery, West Va., Oct 5, 1902.

Dear Wayland: Here I am in the midst of industrial warfare with all its horrors. The wind blows cold this morning, but these cruel coal barons do not feel the winter blast; their babes, nay even their poodles dogs, are warm and have a comfortable breakfast, while these slaves of the caves, who in the past have moved the commerce of the world, are out on the highways without clothes or shelter. Nearly 3,000 families have been thrown out of the corporation shacks to face the cold blasts of winter weather. Children look into your face and their looks ask, is this what we are here for?

Is this the doctrine Jesus taught? Is this what he agonized for that frightful night in the Garden of Gethsemane 2.000 years ago? When you look at this picture of suffering, and then look into the homes of the Barons, with their joy and pleasures that these helpless people have given, then I ask Bishop Potter how he can howl “all for Jesus” on Sunday and on Monday morning drink wine at $35.00 a bottle, and sing all for Baer and Morgan.

In Pennsylvania its “shoot to kill,” in Virginia, it’s injunction them to death: Everywhere you go, you step on an injunction. Step on the Monstrous injunction. There yells a corporation lap dog, if you step on the R. R. T. the R. R. Detective yells, “Get off here, on injunction company property.” If you go into the river some one yells out “I own half that River.” Well, said I, for God’s sake give me a chance to make a deal with Peter, perhaps he might lend a rope down and swing me in the air. They will have an injunction on that soon. If you go on the public highways, to say “all for Jesus,” with a crowd of strikers, it is an unlawful assemblage-no one can do that but Potter and Morgan-you must be a sky pilot, an looking for Morgan.

MOTHER JONES.

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Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts and Doings of Mother Jones for August 1902, Part II: Judge Jackson, “Poor Old Man With Old Ideas,” and a Poem by O. L. Ford

10th September 202211th September 2022 Janet RayeHellraisers Journal

Quote re Mother Jones, OL Ford, Typo Jr p86, July 15, 1902 —————

Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday September 10, 1902
Mother Jones News Round-Up for August 1902, Part II
Mother Jones Describes Judge Jackson; “Mother Jones” by O. L. Ford

From The Scranton Times of August 8, 1902:

POOR OLD MAN WITH OLD IDEAS
———-

SO “MOTHER” JONES SPEAKS WHEN REFERRING
TO JUDGE JACKSON, OF WEST VIRGINIA.
———-

HE MEANS ALRIGHT BUT HE’S
OLD FASHIONED
———-

The Distinguished Woman Arrived in the City at Noon Today to Address a Meeting in North Scranton-Will Leave for West Virginia Tomorrow, Where She is Positive Miners Will Score a Victory.

“Mother” Jones, probably the second strongest force in the United Mine Workers’ organisation, arrived in the city at noon today. “Mother” Jones came from West Virginia, where she has been a conspicuous figure in the labor troubles in that state. This afternoon she is making an address to a mass meeting of strikers in St. Mary’a hall, North Scranton.

John Fallon, of Wilkes-Barre, a member of the executive board of the Miners’ union, accompanied “Mother” Jones. He was also one of the speakers at the North End meeting this afternoon.

When seen at the Delaware & Hudson depot by a Times reporter “Mother” Jones expressed herself as greatly pleased to be in Scranton again. During the past sixteen months she has been working among the miners of West Virginia.

“Mother” Jones will return to West Virginia.

[She said in this interview:]

We have not given up the fight there. The majority of the residents of West Virginia never really knew what a laboring man’s organization was, and now we are attempting to enlighten them.

I am sure we will win out there. It cannot be denied that we have a very formidable obstacle in our path as regards the weapon the capitalists have found in the courts-injunction proceedings-but we have the grit and the determination, and we will win. They are good fighters in West Virginia, that is, the laboring men there are.

“Mother” Jones was asked what she thought of Judge Jackson, the West Virginia jurist who sentenced a number of miners to a lengthy period in jail.

[Said Mother Jones:]

Oh, Judge Jackson means all right. He is an old man, however, and he has old ideas. He never knew what a laboring organization was, and when he sentenced these men his old-fashioned ideas prevented him from viewing the matter in a just manner. As I said in Indianapolis, he means well, but the poor man has been asleep for 40 years. Some day he will awake.

“Mother” Jones called attention to the important admission made by a prosecuting attorney in one of the West Virginia courts. “We have had the militia and the iron and coal police here,” said this man in arguing an injunction proceeding, “but injunctions have proven to be the strongest aid to the coal operators.”

District President Nichols met “Mother” Jones and Board Member Fallon at the depot and accompanied her to her hotel.

[Photograph added.]

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts and Doings of Mother Jones for August 1902, Part II: Judge Jackson, “Poor Old Man With Old Ideas,” and a Poem by O. L. Ford” →

Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for July 1901, Part I: Found Returning to Scranton and Hazleton from St. Louis, Missouri

9th August 202130th July 2021 Janet RayeHellraisers Journal

Quote Mother Jones, Contented Slave, St Louis Pst Dsp p3, June 17, 1901 —————

Hellraisers Journal – Friday August 9, 1901
Mother Jones News Round-Up for July 1901, Part I
Found at Scranton and Hazleton, Pennsylvania

FromThe Scranton Times of July 1, 1901:

“MOTHER” JONES IN TOWN.
—-

Mother Mary Jones, one of the national organizers of the United Mine Workers of America, is again in the city. She arrived this morning from St. Louis. She intends to remain here only a few days.

This is the first visit of “Mother” Jones to this city since the settlement of the silk mill strike, which was brought about through her untiring efforts. She appears to be in the very best of health.

—————

[Photograph added.]

From the Hazleton Plain Speaker of July 3, 1901:

Celebration at Nuremburg.

One of the biggest Fourth of July celebrations in the region will be held at Nuremburg, where the United Mine Workers, who are at the head of the affair, have left nothing undone to make it an occasion long to be remembered by the citizens of the town. National Secretary Wilson, of the United Mine Workers, and “Mother” Jones, the lady organizer who is known to every miner in the anthracite coal fields, will be the speakers. Large delegations of Mine Workers from this city and the surrounding towns will attend.

“Mother” Jones in Town.

“Mother” Jones, who will be among the speakers at the Nuremburg demonstration tomorrow arrived in town today.

—————

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Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for June 1901, Part III: Found Speaking to Mine Workers of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania

11th July 202111th July 2021 Janet RayeHellraisers Journal

Quote Mother Jones, Love Each Other, UMWC Ipl IN, Jan 25, 1901 —————

Hellraisers Journal – Thursday July 11, 1901
Mother Jones News Round-Up for June 1901, Part III
Found Speaking to Mine Workers of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania

From the Wilkes-Barre Times of June 11, 1901:

National Board Member Fred Dilcher and “Mother” Mary Jones returned to Scranton yesterday morning from Lykens and Williamstown in Dauphin county where they made a number of addresses to Mine Workers on Friday and Saturday. They will remain here during the week.

[Drawing of Mother Jones added.]

From the Wilkes-Barre Record of June 11, 1901:

PRESIDENT MITCHELL IN SCRANT0N.

President John Mitchell of the United Mine Workers arrived in Scranton yesterday afternoon from Indianapolis. President Mitchell’s visit to Scranton is for the purpose of appearing as prosecutor in the case of criminal libel against Richard Little, the editor of the Scrantonian, and which is on the trial list for to-day.

District president Nicholls, Fred Dilcher and “Mother” Jones also arrived in Scranton and will confer with President Mitchell during the week with reference to labor questions.

From the Scranton Tribune of June 11, 1901:

HE MAY NEVER BE TRIED
———-
Libel Case Against Richard Little Will Not
Be Called Today. Conference Last Night.
—–

The libel case against Richard Little, editor of the Scrantonian, in which President John Mitchell, of the United Mine Workers, is the prosecutor, will not be tried today. It is possible It will never go to trial.

A conference for the purpose of effecting a compromise was held last night, at the St. Charles, in President Mitchell’s room. It was arranged for during the afternoon.

The conference lasted from 8 o’clock until 2 o’clock this morning. There were present President Mitchell and his attorney, Joseph O’Brien, and Editor Little and Attorney John F. Scragg.

About 11 o’clock the door of President Mitchell’s room was opened and all the assembled labor leaders invited in. In response to the invitation came National Organizer Fred Dilcher, “Mother” Mary Jones, President T. D. Nichols, of District No. 1; President Thomas Duffy, of District No. 9; Secretary John Dempsey, Organizers Robert Courtright and Nicholas Burke, Committeemen Henry Collins and J. J. Kearney, of District No. 1; Martin D. Flaherty, of the American Federation of Labor, and D. J. Keefe, president of the International Association of Longshoremen, who is now developes is the mysterious “Mr. Guernsey” of last fall.

Nothing would be given out from the conference except that the case would not be tried to-day…..

From the Shenandoah Evening Herald of June 11, 1901:

“Mother” Jones, accompanied by two Philadelphia newspaper men, visited the county jail Sunday afternoon, and spent some time with the Oneida rioters.

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Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for June 1901, Part I: Victorious Scranton Silk Mill Strikers, “Gave Their Masters a Good Hammering”

9th July 20218th July 2021 Janet RayeHellraisers Journal

Quote Mother Jones, St L Lbr, Apr 13, 1901 —————

Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday July 9, 1901
Mother Jones News Round-Up for June 1901, Part I
Found Describing Victory of Scranton Silk Mill Strikers

From the International Socialist Review of June 1901:

The silk weavers’ strike at Scranton, Pa., which was directed by Mother Jones, and which has been pending for many months, was won by the workers, while the strike at Paterson, N. J., was lost, owing largely to the fact that the courts issued an injunction against the women and children, and the police assaulted them for attempting to persuade scabs to refuse to work. “Mother,” besides organizing for the unions, is now putting in some spare time in forming unions of domestic servants.

—————

We have just received the following letter from “Mother Jones,” which we must again offer in place of the promised article. We feel sure that our readers will appreciate the reason for the delay:

Dear Comrades:

I owe you an apology for not writing to you before. You know I had a strike of 4,000 children on my hands for three months and could not spare a moment. If that strike was lost it meant untold oppression for these little helpless things. They came out victorious and gave their masters a good hammering. I could not write a thing for June, but will for July.

I have had a very hard winter’s work, but have done just as much for socialism as if I were writing articles. One very cheering feature is that the cause is growing everywhere. I have been landing plenty of literature In the hands of the boys.

[Drawing of Mother Jones added.]

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Hellraisers Journal: International Socialist Review: Mother Jones and the Silk Mill Strike at Scranton, Pennsylvania

15th June 202115th June 2021 Janet RayeHellraisers Journal

Quote Mother Jones, St L Lbr, Apr 13, 1901 —————

Hellraisers Journal – Saturday June 15, 1901
Mother Jones Leads Silk Mill Strikers to Victory at Scranton

From the International Socialist Review of June 1901:

The silk weavers’ strike at Scranton, Pa., which was directed by Mother Jones, and which has been pending for many months, was won by the workers, while the strike at Paterson, N. J., was lost, owing largely to the fact that the courts issued an injunction against the women and children, and the police assaulted them for attempting to persuade scabs to refuse to work. “Mother,” besides organizing for the unions, is now putting in some spare time in forming unions of domestic servants.

—————

We have just received the following letter from “Mother Jones,” which we must again offer in place of the promised article. We feel sure that our readers will appreciate the reason for the delay:

Dear Comrades:

I owe you an apology for not writing to you before. You know I had a strike of 4,000 children on my hands for three months and could not spare a moment. If that strike was lost it meant untold oppression for these little helpless things. They came out victorious and gave their masters a good hammering. I could not write a thing for June, but will for July.

I have had a very hard winter’s work, but have done just as much for socialism as if I were writing articles. One very cheering feature is that the cause is growing everywhere. I have been landing plenty of literature In the hands of the boys.

[Drawing of Mother Jones and emphasis added.]

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Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts & Doings of Mother Jones for May 1901, Part II: Found Organizing Servant Girls of Pennsylvania and Miners of West Virginia

12th June 202112th June 2021 Janet RayeHellraisers Journal

Quote Mother Jones, re Servant Girls Organizing, Kvl TN Sntl p5, May 23, 1901 —————

Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday June 12, 1901
Mother Jones News Round-Up for May 1901, Part II
Found Organizing in Pennsylvania and West Virginia

From The Muncie Daily Times of May 16, 1901:

SERVANT GIRLS’ UNION.
———-
Mother Jones’ Rules For Kitchen
and Nursery Work.

“Mother” Jones is preparing to organize a servant girls’ union at Wilkes-barre, Pa., as well as in Scranton and has drawn up these rules, says the New York World, which the union will enforce at each, “place:”

Ten hours’ work a day and no more.

An increase in wages according to the the size of the house and the work required.

No one shall work for less than $3 a week.

Cooks shall not act as ladies maids or take care of babies.

Nursegirls shall not be required to act as cooks.

It shall not be necessary to stay in nights while the mistress goes out.

If more than ten hours work a day shall be required, a double shift must be employed.

An amusement room shall be furnished for the girls so that they shall not be required to sit in the kitchen all the time.

Visitors shall be allowed to call upon them any night they are off duty.

Wages must be paid every week.

They shall have the privilege of putting their clothes in the family wash.

Their meals shall be the same as those of the family.

Bedchambers shall be large, airy and well heated.

—————

[Photograph added.]

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Tag: Scranton PA