John Mitchell left to his heirs a fortune,
and his political friends are using the labor movement
to gather funds to erect a monument to his memory,
to a name that should be forgotten.
-Mother Jones
```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Saturday August 12, 1905
Pittsburg, Kansas - Mother Jones Denounces John Mitchell as a "False Prophet"
In a speech in Pittsburg, Kansas, on Thursday August 10th, Mother Jones, the "distinguished socialist orator," denounced John Mitchell as a "false prophet," causing a storm of controversy between the local socialists and the leaders of District 14 of the United Mine Workers of America.
From The Pittsburg daily Headlight of August 11th:
SAYS SOCIALISTS DO HARM
-----
Miners' Union Officials Declare That "Mother" Jones
Is Doing Union An Injury.
------
President, Geo. Richardson, of the district miners' board, said today that a strong effort is being made to strengthen the ranks of the miners' organization in the southwest in order to meet the operators next spring with an unbroken front.
"Every effort is being made from different directions to dismember and weaken our organization," remarked the district president, and this antagonism is not coming altogether from the side of the operators. The socialists like "Mother" Jones, who made that attack on the Mine Workers last night are dong more than the Parryites and the Citizens' Alliance to undermine and disrupt the union organization of the miners. I didn't hear "Mother" Jones last night but from what I have been told, she used terms and language which will not do the U. M. W. of A. any good. In fact such agitators are doing more injury to our cause than the Citizens' Alliance and the Parryites ever have done."
------
From the Fort Scott Daily Tribune and Monitor of August 12, 1905:
John Mitchell
```````````
The socialists and the labor unions of this section have always been regarded by the socialists, at least, as having a sort of an affinity. But there is a serious clash down in Crawford county where both the socialists and the labor unions are strong. The socialists brought "Mother Jones," a distinguished socialist orator from the east to deliver a number of lectures to the union miners on socialism. She denounced their national president, Mitchell, as a false prophet, and declared that the leaders of the Mine Workers Union ought to be hanged for yielding in the big anthracite strike. This offended the officers of the miners' unions, and they denounce "Mother Jones."
-----
~~~~~~~~~~
SOURCES
The Pittsburg Daily Headlight
(Pittsburg, Kansas)
-Aug 11, 1905
http://www.newspapers.com/...
Fort Scott Daily Tribune and Monitor
(Fort Scott, Kansas)
-Aug 12, 1905
http://www.newspapers.com/...
IMAGES
Mother Mary Harris Jones
http://theadvocateonline.com/...
John Mitchell
http://commons.wikimedia.org/...
See also:
Mother Jones + John Mitchell
http://www.dailykos.com/...
Note: Mother Jones never forgave John Mitchell for his desertion of the Italian miners of the Southern Colorado Coalfields during the Colorado Coalfield Strike of 1903-04.
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Dear Readers of Hellraisers,
This year for my vacation, Hellraisers will not be as scaled back as it was for the past two vacations. This happy change is due to my new & much faster computer.
The big change that my readers will see, starting July 16th, will be the shorter length of the postings along with fewer links.
When my readers find unfamiliar names, places, or events, please use the tags along with JayRaye (in diarist section of search feature). Or just leave a question for me in the comments and I will get back to you.
When I actually leave for Minnesota, I'll let everyone know.
Solidarity,
JayRaye
Note: Vacation has started! Until Aug 7th, I'll be able to check in about twice a day. From Aug 8-30th, I'll be checking in only 2 or 3 times per week. Hope everyone keeps on Raising Hell (with the corporate powers, not with each other) until my return from Minnesota.
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Coal Tattoo - Southern Rail
I stood for the union and walked in the line.
I fought against the company.
I stood for the U. M. W. of A.
Now, who's gonna stand for me?
‘Cause I got no house and I got no pay.
Just got a worrying soul
And a blue tattoo on the side of my head
Left by the number nine coal.
Left by the number nine coal.
-by Billy Edd Wheeler
lyrics, pdf! http://www.wvmusichalloffame.com/...
``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
WE NEVER FORGET
Luciano De Santos
Joseph Vilano
Michael Calabace
Who gave their lives in freedom's cause
in the Southern Coalfields of Colorado during the strike of 1903-04.