I reside wherever there is a good fight against wrong-all over the country.
Wherever the workers are fighting the robbers I go there.
-Mother Jones
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Sunday May 16, 1915
Washington D. C. - Mother Jones Testifies Before Walsh Commission
Mother Jones at Ludlow
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Mother Jones was called before the Commission on Industrial Relations last week and gave testimony regarding her many long years as an active participant in the struggles of working class men, women, and children to gain a better life under the present industrial system. At times she wept as she recounted the horrors of the industrial wars that she has witnessed first-hand.
Testimony of Mother Jones on May 13th
As reported by the Chicago Daily Tribune:
'MOTHER' JONES TELLS OF AID
TO 'BOYS' ON STRIKE
-----
Industrial Board Paves Way to Hear
Her Cure for Unrest;
Haywood Again on Stand.
-----
Washington, D. C., May 13-Tales of industrial wars from Pennsylvania to California during the last thirty-five years were recounted before the federal industrial commission today by Mrs. Mary Jones, the "Mother" Jones of scores of strikes.
"Mother" Jones told the history of her connection with industrial disturbances preliminary to her examination regarding causes and cures for unrest which will be undertaken tomorrow.
The commission today heard Prof. Frank J. Goodnow, president of Johns Hopkins University, and Harry A. Cyphers of South Bethlehem, Pa., on the treatment of labor in the courts, and concluded the examination of William D. Haywood of the Industrial Workers of the World...
"Mother" Jones on Stand.
"Mother" Jones was the next witness. When Chairman Walsh asked her residence she replied:
I reside wherever there is a good fight against wrong. I live wherever the workers are fighting the robbers.
Beginning with the Pennsylvania railroad strike at Pittsburgh in 1877, "Mother" Jones told of her efforts to help "the boys" in their various "fights." She told of leading an "army" about from mine to mine in the Pennsylvania coal strike of 1900, "Pulling out" the men at work.
She related a long story of strikes in West Virginia, Maryland, and Colorado. She described night marches with bands of strikers, battles with the militia, and of caring for strikers, killed and wounded, in strike riots.
The witness told of being carried out of Colorado by militiamen and of hurrying back on the heels of the escort that took her to the state line.
She described the horrors of industrial wars and at times tears streamed from her eyes as she told of the treatment of men, women, and children.
-----
[Photograph added.]
Testimony of Mother Jones, May 14th
As reported by The Washington Times:
WORKERS' WAR NEAR, SAYS MOTHER JONES
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Mother Jones with John R Lawson
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Unless the Government checks the use of the militia and private detective gunmen in labor disputes, an uprising of workers is threatened, "Mother" Jones told the Commission on Industrial Relations at its hearing here today. "Mother" Jones reminded the commission that it was an attempt to force a condition of military rule that brought on the American Revolution.
Daniel Davenport, a Bridgeport, Conn., attorney, who prosecuted the case against the Danbury hatters for the manufacturers, defended the courts against charges of bias in labor disputes. He clashed with the commission by refusing to give the names of the members of the Anti-Boycott Association, of which he is general counsel, and which was organized to prosecute the hatters' case.
Scores Agencies.
The wiping out of all private detective agencies was suggested by "Mother" Jones as one means of relieving industrial unrest in testimony before the Commission on Industrial Relations today.
"The Government should take over the detective agencies and run them honestly," the witness said. Other remedies suggested were public ownership of mines and transportation.
"Mother" Jones read a prepared statement in which she served notice that usurpation of power by militia and courts is "making anarchists out of workingmen."
"The feeling which is rising throughout the United States will result in terrible consequences if not checked, "Mother" Jones continued.
"There is no such thing as equality before the law," she continued in disputes between capital and labor."
To illustrate, "Mother" Jones said that 150 miners were indicted following the recent Colorado strike, but that operators were not indicted, though it was established in Congressional hearings that gunmen were imported, and though women and children were slaughtered at Ludlow when the tent colony was destroyed.
Strong defense of John R. Lawson, international board member of the U. M. W. A., was made by "Mother" Jones. She charged that Lawson's conviction was "framed up" by the creation of a special judge to try him.
[Photograph added.]
~~~~~~~~~~
SOURCES
Chicago Daily Tribune
(Chicago, Illinois)
-May 14, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/...
The Washington Times
(Washington, District of Columbia)
-May 14, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/...
IMAGES
Mother Jones at Ludlow
http://www.socialwelfarehistory.com/...
Mother Jones on Cover of United Mine Workers Journal
of Jan 21, 1915
http://books.google.com/...
John Lawson & Mother Jones,
Wichita Beacon, Kansas, Apr 22, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/...
See also:
Industrial relations: final report and testimony
United States. Commission on Industrial Relations
-ed by Francis Patrick Walsh, Basil Maxwell Manly
D.C. Gov. Print. Office, 1916
Volume 11: 10,067-11,260
https://books.google.com/...
10618-10645-Mother Jones
https://books.google.com/...
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THE BALLAD OF THE BALTIMORE REBELLION
(The Great Labor Uprising of 1877)
The strike had spread up west and north
From Baltimore to Pittsburgh,
Rebellion was erupting everywhere
By August the national strike was over
Crushed by gangs of federal soldiers
With 100 people gone and dead
A government sworn to uphold change
Could have made a living wage
But gave the crowd the bullet instead
Governor Carrol served the boss
Baltimore taxes paid the cost
And the railroad barons thanked the President
And Baltimore went back to normal
Poverty, fear, and fruitless toil
Destined to rise up once again
-Ryan Harvey
WE NEVER FORGET
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