This is the fighting age.
Put on your fighting clothes.
-Mother Jones
Hellraisers Journal, Friday August 17, 1917
Mother Jones News for July, Part I: Blamed for Riot
During the evening of Thursday, July 5th, Mother Jones spoke on behalf of striking street carmen in Bloomington, Illinois. She was blamed for the riot which broke out following her speech.
From The Daily (Bloomington) Pantagraph of July 6, 1917:
Bloomington this morning is practically under martial law following one of the wildest nights of rioting in its history. Troop G, First Illinois cavalry from Peoria reached the city at 7:30 a. m. over the Big Four under the command of Captain Thomas J. Simpson. There were 58 men and three officers. They proceeded immediately to the B. & N. power house at the intersection of Roosevelt avenue and the Big Four tracks, where they pitched camp.
Several more companies of troops are on their way to Bloomington from Chicago and will reach here about noon……
The “Mother Jones” Meeting.
“Mother” Jones, it is said, closed her address by telling the men “to do something.” With this incentive hundreds of men and women gathered in front of the Eagles hall apparently waiting for a leader….
