Tag: Washington DC

Hellraisers Journal: Mother Jones to Senator Kern: “I send you groans and tears of men, women and children as I have heard them in this state…”-Plea for Investigation

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Mother Jones to Kern re Sen Investigation, Wlg Int p1, May 6, 1913—————

Hellraisers Journal – Saturday May 10, 1913
From West Virginia’s Military Prison, Mother Jones Sends Message to Senator Kern.

From The Wheeling Intelligencer of May 6, 1913:

KERN RESOLUTION CALLED IN SENATE
BUT IS HELD OVER
———-

INDIANA SENATOR GIVES WAY
TO SUNDRY CIVIL BILL
———-
And Resolution Will Come Up Wednesday
-No Reply to Hatfield’s Attack.
———-

Intelligencer Bureau.
Washington, D. C. May 5.

Mother Jones, Cora Older, at Military Bastile WV, Colliers p26, Apr 1913

The fight over the Kern resolution calling for a sweeping investigation into the Paint Creek and Cabin Creek coal mine strike conditions did not take place today in the United States senate. There was a flutter of excitement when Senator Kern late this afternoon called up his resolution. The excitement died down quickly. Senator Gallinger, interrupting the Indiana man, suggested that the resolution go over until the sundry civil bill had been disposed of, and Senator Kern agreed.

The resolution it is expected will be called up again by Senator Kern on Wednesday. He stated to the Intelligencer correspondent that he does not expect a vote will be cast against.

Senator Kern was deluged with telegrams today urging an investigation. They came from all parts of the country. He received one from “Mother” Jones, who is figuring in the spicy controversy between the Indiana solon and Governor Hatfield, and who is in the coal strike region. Mother Jones wired him as follows:

“From out of the prison walls where I have been forced to pass the eighty-first milestone of life I plead with you for the honor of this nation. I send you groans and tears of men, women and children as I have heard them in this state, and beg of you to force that investigation. Children yet unborn will rise and bless you.“

Signed, Mother Jones.

Facetious Interview.

Senator Kern gave out a facetious interview in reply to Governor Hatfield’s attack upon him. “I guess I’ll have to inlist the services of the McCoy’s,” said Senator Kern laughingly when asked about the Hatfield attack. He added that he had no reply to make to the governor’s statement assailing him. “I have never pretended to have any personal knowledge about conditions in West Virginia,” he said. “I have stated from time to time facts which were presented to me. I felt warranted from those facts in renewing the resolution put in by Senator Borah last session.

“The opposition to the investigation from various quarters has done more to arouse my suspicions that conditions are rotten, than anything else.”

[Photograph and emphasis added.]

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Hellraisers Journal: Mother Jones Speaks in Washington, D. C., Scores Inhumane Treatment of West Virginia Coal Miners

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Mother Jones, Howling Anarchy, Cton WV, Sept 6, 1912—————

Hellraisers Journal – Monday January 13, 1913
Washington, D. C. – Mother Jones Speaks on Behalf of West Virginia Miners

From the Washington Evening Star of January 11, 1913:

TELLS OF INHUMANITY
———-
“Mother” Jones Scores Treatment of
the West Virginia Coal Miners.
———-

Mother Jones, NE State Jr p2, Sept 19, 1912

“Mother” Jones, the “angel” of the  United Mine Workers and a prominent figure in the coal mining regions for the last forty years, was the principal speaker at a meeting at National Rifles’ Armory last night, the meeting being held under the auspices of the Central Labor Union.

In her address Mother Jones pronounced conditions in the coal mining regions of West Virginia worse than that of the slaves in the darkest days of the antebellum period. She declared that she had seen twenty-one innocent men out of a party of thirty miners slain while they slept by a posse made up of deputy sheriffs and detectives, and that of her own knowledge women and children of striking miners had been thrown out of their cabins, in evil weather, by the hired officers of the mine owners and forced to seek shelter under trees and in eaves of the mountains, without food for four days and nights.

“Were these things to occur in Russia or Mexico,” declared Mother Jones, “the American people would rise up in protest, as they have done on several occasions, forcing Congress to take action to prevent further murders and violence.”

Representative W. B. Wilson of Pennsylvania, for many years a high official of the United Mine Workers, presided at the meeting, and declared that he knew personally that the things of which Mother Jones told were actually true. Other speakers were J. W. Brown of the U. M. W., and Frank Hayes, a vice president of that organization. Resolutions were adopted reciting at length the alleged conditions in the West Virginia coal fields and petitioning Congress to rectify them by adopting a pending of Representative Wilson’s calling for a thorough investigation.

[Photograph and emphasis added.]

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Hellraisers Journal: From the Oklahoma Leader: “Ghost of Ricardo Flores Magon Has Appeared in Front of the White House”

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Freedom Ricardo Flores Magon,-Speech re Prisoners of Texas, May 31, 1914—————

Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday December 20, 1922
Washington, D. C. – Women’s Amnesty Committee Pickets White House

From the Oklahoma Leader of December 19, 1922:

MAGON DEATH MAY HASTEN AMNESTY
———-

(By the Federated Press.)

Mexican Revolution, Ricardo Flores Magon, SF Call p21, Sept 29, 1907
Ricardo Flores Magón

WASHINGTON.-The ghost of Ricardo Flores Magon has appeared in front of the White House [Monday November 27th], demanding of his recent jailers that other friends of freedom still shut behind American prison bars be set free before they perish.

Magon still living, and racked by disease in his cell at Leavenworth, was no burden on the official conscience. But when death a week ago commuted his 21-year sentence for saying the war was an evil thing it released forces which brought embarrassment to the White House gates.

Outraged by the crucifixion of Magon, Mrs. Elizabeth Glendower Evans, Boston; Mrs. Nathalie B. Ellis, Baltimore; Mrs. Marguerite Tucker, New York, and Mary LaFollette Tucker, Washington, appeared before the executive mansion with banners which read:

Ricardo Flores Magon, Political Prisoner, Died for Freedom, Leavenworth Prison, Nov. 21, 1922.

Mr. President, Another Political Prisoner Released, Death Is More Merciful Than the Administration, Magon Died in Leavenworth, Other Political Prisoners Are Dying From Consumption.

Mr. President, Charles W. Morse Did Not Die in Jail, Harry M Daugherty Was His Attorney, Ricardo Flores Magon, Political Prisoner, Died in Leavenworth, Attorney General Daugherty Was His Jailer.

The only crime ever committed by Magon was the writing of an anti-war article for which he was given the maximum sentence by the federal court of the southern district of California. The reason given for the failure to consider this case was on the grounds that Magon was not repentant-in other words, that he refused to renounce his views.

[Photograph and emphasis added.]

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Hellraisers Journal: Striking Miners of Southwestern Counties of Pennsylvania Still in Want, Living in Tents and Shacks

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Mother Jones, Coming of the Lord, Cnc Pst p6, July 23, 1902—————

Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday December 12, 1922
Striking Miners in Southwestern Counties of Pennsylvania Face Sever Hardships

From the Hazleton Plain Speaker of December 8, 1922:

SOME MINERS ARE STILL IN WANT
———-

UMW Strike So W PA, Evicted Miners Shanties, UMWJ p9, Dec 1, 1922
United Mine Workers Journal of December 1, 1922

Hard coal [anthracite] field miners have received word that in the Berwind fields of Somerset and Fayette Counties [miners] are still in want.

Those are union miners who are in non-union districts, their cause was not included in the Cleveland agreement and forty-five thousand miners are still on strike.

Fayette County, where many former Hazleton people are located, has a record of 1,500 evictions by the sheriff.

Logan Union 5,220 of the miners’ organized during the strike has sent out an appeal for bread to feed their hungry children. They say that their local has “suffered 384 evictions, of which 200 have been since the Cleveland agreement.” They also say that “the agreement was signed against their wish and special plea that their Coke fields should not be left out,” and that the Hillman company has been allowed to sign up for former union miners near Pittsburgh without being required to sign up in Fayette county.

This is also the case with the Consolidated Coal Company-the Rockefellers‘ property. As they have done their bit “suffering evictions, exposure in tent colonies, typhoid fever and other hard ships,” they demand of the international organization that it send them relief.

[Photograph and emphasis added.]

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Hellraisers Journal: Mother Jones Reunites in Cincinnati with General Jacob Coxey, Leader of the Army of the Commonweal

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Mother Jones re Coxeys Army, Tpk St Jr p5, June 28, 1894—————

Hellraisers Journal – Saturday December 7, 1912
Cincinnati, Ohio – Mother Jones Reunites with Jacob Coxey

From The Kentucky Post of December 5, 1912:

Mother Jones n Coxey, KY Pst p7, Dec 5, 1912re Mother Jones n Coxey, KY Pst p7, Dec 5, 1912

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Hellraisers Journal: From the Chicago New Majority: Mother Jones Sends Greetings to Illinois Federation of Labor Convention

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Mother Jones PAFL Congress, p72, Jan 13, 1921—————

Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday December 6, 1922
Mother Jones Sends Greetings to the Illinois State Federation of Labor Convention

From the Chicago New Majority of December 2, 1922:

New Majority of Chicago p1, Dec 2, 1922

Mother Jones Ill at Home of Powderly, New Maj p1, Dec 2, 1922

Mother Jones Ill at Home of Powderly, New Maj p2, Dec 2 1922

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Hellraisers Journal: Mother Jones Goes to Washington with Two City Boys Brought into West Virginia Under False Pretenses

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Kintzer re Mother Jones, WV Angel, ISR p393, Nov 1912—————

Hellraisers Journal – Saturday November 23, 1912
Charleston, West Virginia – Mother Jones Goes East with “Shanghaied” Office Boys

From The Kentucky Post of November 16, 1912:

Mother Jones with John Schell and John Wister,
The “Shanghaied” Office Boys.
———-
Mother Jones w 2 City Office Boys Brot to WV, KY Pst p1, Nov 16, 1921re Mother Jones w 2 City Offices Boys Brot to WV, KY Pst p1, Nov 16, 1912

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Hellraisers Journal: Mother Jones Critically Ill with Pneumonia at Home of Terence V. Powderly in Washington, D. C.

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Mother Jones re RR Men Haul Gunthugs n Scab Coal, Coshocton Tb OH p3, Sept 17, 1921—————

Hellraisers Journal – Friday September 15, 1922
Mother Jones Critically Ill at Home of T. V. Powderly in Washington, D. C.

From the Pittsburg, Kansas, Workers Chronicle of September 8, 1922:

FRIEND OF MINERS IS CRITICALLY ILL
———-
“Mother” Jones, 92, “Angel Mining Camps,”
Stricken With Pneumonia.
———-

Mother Jones Ill, Richmond IN Palladium p12, Sept 8, 1922

Washington, Sept. 5.-“Mother” Jones, known to coal miners the country over through her work in their behalf for fifty years, lies critically ill here.

All news of the coal strike settlement and of developments in the rail strike have been kept from Mother Jones by her doctors’ orders.

The aged unofficial leader of the miners was stricken with pneumonia following her arrival here late in July. She came to Washington to recover from a nervous breakdown, following work in the Colorado [West Virginia] mine fields.

At the home of T. V. Powderly,  secretary of the board of review, labor department, where Mrs. Jones is being cared for, it was said the aged woman has an even chance for recovery, despite her 92 years.

Once a school teacher in Chicago, Mother Jones became interested in welfare work for girls, and from that broadened her activities until she was nationally known. She was called “Angel of the Mining Camps” because of her frequent ministrations to miners, particularly during strikes.

[Emphasis added; newclip added from Richmond Palladium of Sept. 8th]

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Hellraisers Journal: Matilda Robbins Arrives in Washington with Truck Bearing Petition for Release of Political Prisoners

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Matilda Robbins ed, Ben Fletcher, p132 PC—————

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday July 23, 1922
Washington, D. C. – Matilda Robbins Arrives with Petition for Political Prisoners

From The Washington Times of July 20, 1922:

Matilda Robbins with Truck n Petition for Release of Political Prisoners, WDC Tx p15, July 20, 1922

—–

This truck, in charge of Miss Matilda Robbins, arrived in Washington yesterday, bringing a petition signed by a million persons asking for the release of political prisoners.

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Hellraisers Journal: President Harding Refuses to See Kate Richards O’Hare of Children’s Crusade for Amnesty

Janet RayeElizabeth Gurley Flynn
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Quote Kate O’Hare re War Profitters, Address to Court, Dec 14, 1917—————

Hellraisers Journal –  Wednesday May 10, 1922
Washington, D. C. – President Refuses Petitions for Political Prisoners

From the Vancouver Daily World (British Columbia) of May 2, 1922:

Childrens Crusade, in WDC, Vcvr BC Dly Wld p 6, May 2, 1922

From the Regina Morning Leader (Saskatchewan) of May 4, 1922:

Childrens Crusade w Signs, Regina Mrn Ldr p16, May 4, 1922

From the Oklahoma Leader of May 9, 1922:

[-from page 1]

CREDIT CHILDREN FOR HARDING ACT
———-
President Calls For Reports On Politicals
———-

By LAURENCE TODD
Federated Press Staff Correspondent

WASHINGTON, May 8.-President Harding has called for reports from the department of justice on the Philadelphia [?] I. W. W. cases.

News of this response to renewed pressure for release of the political prisoners was given by the attorney general’s office on Monday, to a delegation from the Women’s International league, which on Sunday adopted resolutions demanding general amnesty. Action by this national organization of women was prompted by the coming of the Children’s Crusade and the hostile reception given the children and their mothers by President Harding and his associates.

Credit for apparent anxiety on the part of the administration to get rid of the issue of amnesty is given to the children, who have touched the hearts of even the most hardened politicians and idlers in the capital. Something near indignation is manifested by the general public as it learns of the driving of these children away from the president’s church on Sunday on the pretext that the place of worship was already crowded to the limit of the fire regulations. Moving picture men pose the weary and work-bowed mothers and the tired little girls and boys, and local newspapers publish many groups of them with sympathetic comment.

The Crusaders are digging in to make the fight, however long, to change the attitude of Harding, whether they soften his heart or no.

[Reference to Philadelphia makes little sense here. Most of the families represented by Children’s Crusade were from Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri.)

[-from page 4]

CHILD CRUSADERS STAY AT CAPITAL
———-
President Refuses To See Petitions For Prisoners
———-

WASHINGTON, May 9.-Even though President Harding refused to see Mrs. Kate Richards O’Hare and the children’s crusade, the results of the trip will be far from in vain. When Attorney General Daugherty, to whom the President referred them, was seen he stated that there would no general amnesty decree, that each case would be considered on its merits and action taken only upon application for pardon being made by the “offenders.”

“We shall stay here on the doorstep of the federal government until the fathers of these children and all other political prisoners are released,” Mrs. O’Hare has announced. Living quarters have been provided by the Farmer-Labor party and the American Civil Liberties union.

———-

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