Hellraisers Journal: Whereabouts and Doings of Mother Jones for July 1902, Part IV: Judge Jackson Severe on the Miners, Releases Mother Jones with Lecture

19th August 202219th August 2022 Janet RayeHellraisers Journal

Plea for Justice, Not Charity, Quote Mother Jones —————

Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday August 19, 1902
Mother Jones News Round-Up for July 1902, Part IV
Judge Jackson Severe on the Miners, Releases Mother Jones with Lecture

From The Pittsburg Press of July 24, 1902:

Parkersburg, W. Va., July 24.-There was the most intense interest in the crowded room of the United States District Court this morning when Judge Jackson began reading his lengthy decision declaring “Mother” Mary Jones, the angel of the miners, and seven other organizers of the United Mine Workers and four Hungarians to be guilty of contempt of disregarding his injunction of June 19, against holding a meeting or creating a demonstration at or near the Pinnickinnick mine of the Clarksburg Fuel Co., or near the residence of miners at work. Judge Jackson, after concluding his decision, sentenced the defendants as follows:

Thomas Haggerty, 90 days in jail; Wm. Morgan, Bernard Rice, Peter Wilson, Wm. Blakeley, George Bacon, Thomas Laskavish, 60 days each. “Mother” Jones’ sentence was passed till afternoon. It is said she will receive a stiff fine and will not be jailed. Albert Repake, Joseph and George Roeski and Steve Teonike, Hungarians, passed until the afternoon session.

Judge Jackson stated that the defendants would not be sent to the same jail. District Attorney Blizzard sprung a sensation by immediately filing an affidavit that Secretary Wilson, of the United Mine Workers of America, had violated the restraining order by making an inflammatory speech at Clarksburg July 7, and at Fairmont July 8. His arrest was asked. Judge Jackson made an order that Wilson be arrested and brought within the jurisdiction of the court. Wilson is said to be in Indianapolis.

Jackson’s huge frame shook with emotion as he dramatically emphasized portions of his decision to “Mother” Jones, who was the center of attraction……

[Photograph added.]

From The Pittsburg Press of July 25, 1902:

LECTURE BY JUDGE TO “MOTHER” MARY JONES.
———-
Told Her She Most Obey the Law or Suffer.

Parkersburg. W. Va., July 25.-Thursday, after he had suspended sentence on “Mother” Jones, Judge Jackson started to lecture “the miners’ angel.”

“It must be distinctly understood,” he said, “that you must obey this injunction. If ‘Mother’ Jones is the good woman they say she is she will obey law and order. I will not send her to jail to pose as a martyr, nor shall she break into jail.”

Mother Jones arose and dramatically declared that she did not ask the mercy of anybody; she was simply trying to do her duty as she saw it, and whenever the court wanted her it could send for her. “I hope we will both meet on the other side of life when we die,” she finished, and at this Jackson smiled and the audience broke into applause. “Mother” Jones then went to the bench and shook hands with Judge Jackson, both smiling. “Now take my advice and go back home, keep the peace and obey the law,” Jackson softly said to her.

“Oh. but I must keep up the fight as long as I live,” she replied.

“Well, don’t fight In my district,” was the judge’s parting shot.

—————

Mother Jones Undaunted.

Parkersburg, W. Va., July 25.-Mother Jones says she will continue to work in behalf of the miners of West Virginia [as an organizer for the United Mine Workers of America] in spite of Judge Jackson’s threat that if she does he will have her arrested again and sentenced. She says she is doing her duty and fear of jail will not prevent her from continuing along that line.

[Photograph added.]

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Hellraisers Journal: United States v Haggerty et al., Judge Jackson Rules Against United Mine Workers of America, Part II

29th July 202229th July 2022 Janet RayeHellraisers Journal

Plea for Justice, Not Charity, Quote Mother Jones —————

Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday July 29, 1902
Parkersburg, West Virginia – Judge Jackson re “Organizers” and “Agitators”

From The Pittsburg Press of July 24, 1902:

JUDGE WAS SEVERE ON MINERS
[…]

Parkersburg, W. Va., July 24.-There was the most intense interest in the crowded room of the United States District Court this morning when Judge Jackson began reading his lengthy decision declaring “Mother” Mary Jones, the angel of the miners, and seven other organizers of the United Mine Workers and four Hungarians to be guilty of contempt of disregarding his injunction of June 19, against holding a meeting or creating a demonstration at or near the Pinnickinnick mine of the Clarksburg Fuel Co., or near the residence of miners at work. Judge Jackson, after concluding his decision, sentenced the defendants as follows:

Thomas Haggerty, 90 days in jail; Wm. Morgan, Bernard Rice, Peter Wilson, Wm. Blakeley, George Bacon, Thomas Laskavish, 60 days each. “Mother” Jones’ sentence was passed till afternoon. It is said she will receive a stiff fine and will not be jailed. Albert Repake, Joseph and George Roeski and Steve Teonike, Hungarians, passed until the afternoon session……

[Photograph and emphasis added.]

Ruling of Judge Jackson, July 24, 1902:

UNITED STATES ex rel. GUARANTY TRUST CO. of NEW YORK
v. HAGGERTY et al.
(Circuit Court, N. D. West Virginia. July 24, 1902.)

[Part II of II]

In the case we have under consideration the bill alleges that there is a combination of persons who are known as “organizers,” “agitators,” and “walking delegates,” who come from other states for the purpose of inducing a strike in the soft coal fields of the state of West Virginia; that their object and purpose is to induce persons who are not dissatisfied with the terms of their employment, and who are not asking any increase in their wages, to cease work for their employers, thereby inflicting great damage and injury upon them. It is to be observed that a very large portion of the miners in the employ of the Clarksburg Fuel Company do not want, in the language of one of the agitators who is enjoined, “to lay down their picks and shovels and quit work.” I do not question the right of the employes of this company to quit work at any time they desire to do so, unless there is a contractual relation between them and the employer which should control their right to quit. At the same time I do not recognize the right of an employer to coerce the employes to continue their work when they desire to quit. But can it be said that where a conspiracy exists to control the employes, as in this instance, either by threats, intimidation, or a resort to any other modes usually accompanying the action of strikers, that such action upon their part is not only illegal, but a malicious and illegal interference with the employer’s business? The question is its best answer.

While I recognize the right for all laborers to combine for the purpose of protecting all their lawful rights, I do not recognize the right of laborers to conspire together to compel employes who are not dissatisfied with their work in the mines to lay down their picks and shovels and to quit their work, without a just or proper reason therefor, merely to gratify a professional set of “agitators, organizers, and walking delegates,” who roam all over the country as agents for some combination, who are vampires that live and fatten on the honest labor of the coal miners of the country, and who are busybodies creating dissatisfaction amongst a class of people who are quiet, well-disposed, and who do not want to be disturbed by the unceasing agitation of this class of people.

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Hellraisers Journal: United States v Haggerty et al., Judge Jackson Rules Against United Mine Workers of America, Part I

28th July 202228th July 2022 Janet RayeHellraisers Journal

Quote Mother Jones, Injunction Shroud, Bff Exp p7, Apr 24, 1909 —————

Hellraisers Journal – Monday July 28, 1902
Parkersburg, West Virginia – Judge Jackson re “Organizers” and “Agitators”

From The Pittsburg Press of July 24, 1902:

JUDGE WAS SEVERE ON MINERS
[…]

Parkersburg, W. Va., July 24.-There was the most intense interest in the crowded room of the United States District Court this morning when Judge Jackson began reading his lengthy decision declaring “Mother” Mary Jones, the angel of the miners, and seven other organizers of the United Mine Workers and four Hungarians to be guilty of contempt of disregarding his injunction of June 19, against holding a meeting or creating a demonstration at or near the Pinnickinnick mine of the Clarksburg Fuel Co., or near the residence of miners at work. Judge Jackson, after concluding his decision, sentenced the defendants as follows:

Thomas Haggerty, 90 days in jail; Wm. Morgan, Bernard Rice, Peter Wilson, Wm. Blakeley, George Bacon, Thomas Laskavish, 60 days each. “Mother” Jones’ sentence was passed till afternoon. It is said she will receive a stiff fine and will not be jailed. Albert Repake, Joseph and George Roeski and Steve Teonike, Hungarians, passed until the afternoon session……

[Photograph and emphasis added.]

Ruling of Judge Jackson, July 24, 1902:

UNITED STATES ex rel. GUARANTY TRUST CO. of NEW YORK
v. HAGGERTY et al.
(Circuit Court, N. D. West Virginia. July 24, 1902.)

[Part I of II]

1. INJUNCTION.—GROUNDS—COMBINATION TO INDUCE STRIKES.

The power of a court of equity may be invoked to restrain and inhibit by injunction a combination which is formed to induce employes who are not dissatisfied with the terms of their employment to strike for the purpose of inflicting injury and damage upon the employers.

2. SAME.

While employes have the right to quit their employment whenever they desire, unless contractual relations exist between them and their employers which should control such right, the action of third persons, having no interest in the contracts between workmen and their employers, in conspiring to control the action of the workmen and to induce them to strike by means of threats, intimidation, or a resort to any other modes usually employed in such cases, is an illegal and malicious interference with the employer’s business, which a court of equity may properly enjoin where it is necessary to prevent irreparable injury.

3. SAME—Violation—CONTEMPT OF COURT.

Defendants, who were alleged to be unlawfully interfering with the business of a coal company and its employes by attempting to incite the latter to strike, were enjoined from assembling together, in camp or otherwise, at or near the mines of the company, or at or so near the residences of its employes, as to disturb, alarm, or intimidate such employes, so as to prevent them from working in the mines, or to prevent or interfere with them in passing to or from their work at the mines, or in otherwise interfering with them as the employes of the company.

After being served with the injunction, defendants assembled and held an open-air meeting within 1,000 feet from the opening of the mine, and within 300 to 400 feet from the residences of the miners, and in plain view of both. It was also near where the miners were obliged to pass in going to and from their work, and 150 feet from the company’s property. At such meeting violent speeches were made by defendants, in which they stated that the injunction did not amount to anything, and would not stop them; that, if they were arrested, others would take their places; and they criticised the court for granting an injunction, stating that the judge was a tool of the company, and no attention should be paid to his order, but that the miners should be made to lay down their tools and come out. It was shown that such meeting disturbed the miners, who were afraid of violence, and that the works would be blown up; that they had no disagreement with their employer, and a large majority of them did not desire to strike, but many said they would quit work unless they could be protected.

Held, that such action by defendants was a violation of the injunction, and a contempt of court.

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