The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1902-07-25
nMother'' Jones
Strenuous Career.
Born in Ireland and Has Been
Agitator All HerLife.

The following write.upo Of "Mother"
Jones was published in the New York
Tribune:
smother" Jones, of labor agitation
fame, who was arrested in West Vir-
gini for trying to assembled crowd of
striking miners, and thus violated an
Injunction, has been known among
labor unions for twenty years. She
conducts her followers to victory or
defeat in labor agitations with a Jean
ne d. Arc enthusiasm.
g Mother Jones is a labor agitator
OF the tirebrand order said a man
from the anthracite region in Penn.
sylvania recently. Where strikers
are to be encouraged, funds raised for
unions, workers to be organized, capt.
Stal TO be attacked, Mother Jones is in
her element and urges her point with
a vigorous personality and searching
voice. She possesses all the qualities
OF the successful labor agitator. She
is shrewd, she knows what will arouse
the workers. she can create enthusi-
asnl and she is clever enough not to
20 TOO far. Her value in working the
men up to the necessary pitch is rec
ognized by the unions, whoemploy her
for that purpose.
Although ffty-eight years of age,
Mother Jones is as vigorous and full
of fire as ever She is slender of tig-
ure and has white hair, wrinkled
face, keen eyes, prominent chin, high
cheek bones, a coarse voice, and a Wig
orous manner. She is full Of facts,
figures, and fight, and her strong
warm handshake is that Of the walk
ing delegate.
"Her constant association with the
shorny handed son OF toll has made
her somewhat like him. Her person.
atty is more that of the man than of
the woman. In. public life, in the
midst Of the rush of organization, of
hard fought strike, she shows none of
the softness and the sweetness OF a
woman, but she gets at the hearts of
the men. She has more influence
over them than most of the leaders,
and she Is a more welcome speaker.
Others may counsel mild measures
not she. She hits right from the
shoulder at capital, and calls it the
enemy of the workingman. 1t may
not be logical, but it wins attention
and arouseS enthusiasm. She makes
Rim FIGHT it as she vigorously,
numerically. No half way measures
for her.
ut is her policy to select the dirti.
est and meanest looking miner on the
street and walk with him, talking
about his condition and the tyranny
Of the operators. She will lead the
.boys' in wild cheering, she will march
with them in professions, reaching for
the dramatic and spectacular effect.
She will also go to their homes and
confab with the wives and children,
arousing them to talk unionism or
strike to the husbands and brothers.
/" Mother Jones was born in Cork,
Ireland, and had to flee with her
father to thiscountry when he became
concerned In some political agitation
for freeing Ireland. She was then
eight years old and the fight made a
strong impression on her mind. The
family went to Toronto, where she
was well educated, and early began to
develop the talent for debating which
has never deserted her. AS young
woman she attended public meetings
for the discussion of all sorts of sub
iects. She taught for time and
then married George Jones, molder
and a union man. AS wife she did
much to encourage his union, and she
got other women interested. She can
claim some credit for the founding OF
the woman's auxiliaries whichare now
a feature of many labor organizations.
AFTER six years of married life her
great sorrow came, yellow fever TAX
ing her husband and four children
within a week, Then she first took
an active part In labor matters, and
soon developed into full-fledged agi-
tator. She has since devoted her life
to the work. She has fought Chinese
immigration in California; has studied
9Bor conditions in England, Ireland,
Germany, France, Austria and in
every state in the union; has worked
in the cotton mills Of the south to
secure practical knowledge Of condi-
tions, and then fought for their i'm
provement; labored during the great
strike in Chicago, and marched with
Coxey's army In brief, Mother
Jones has been prominent in every