New-York tribune., 1903-07-11
ARMY CROSSES DELAWARE
YOUNG GIRLS SENT HOME
Mother" Jones Says Her Crusade
Is against Child Labor.

Mother Jones and her army of textile
strikers from Philadelphia last evening crossed
the Delaware at Trenton, and to-day will march
on Princeton. Her crossing of the river was
rather more noisy than that of Washington and
his army, and was a hotter undertaking. Moth
err Joness cohorts would have given something
for few of the cakes of ice which made the
patriot armys voyage of more than a century
and quarter ago so perilous.
Mother Jones addressed a special meeting
Of the Central Labor Union. of Trenton. early
in the evening, and later spoke in the open
air to large crowd just south of the Battle
Monument William Thomas president Of the
Common Council of Trenton, presided at the
outdoor meeting for which the energetic drum
ming of the army" musicians collected large
crowd. Several other speakers talked to the
workingmen. who, however. were attentive only
when the shrill voice of Mother Jones was
heard. Her references to child labor and the
demOralizing influences of mill life on young
girls were received by the crowd with express
sions of approval and her denunciation OF mill
abuses applauded.
Tribune reporter yesterday visited the
''army's'' camp in a grove at Morrisville Point,
the Pennsylvania shore of the Delaware. He
found about sixty and boys lying under
the trees waiting for the vegetable soup which
was cooking over wood fire in huge copper
washboiler. They had all gone swimming in the
river in the forenoon, and had also washed their
clothing. Close b. the rude outdoor kitchen was
a pyramid Of tin cups, in which the soup was
to be served, while against a large tree leaned
the banners and numerous United States flags
which are carried while on the march. The
reporter told that the five who ac-
company the army" were resting with Mother
Jones at a neighborng house. Later three OF
the number, all neatly clad came to the camp
to assist Kelly, who described himself chief
cook and tin cup washer" with the preparation
of the meal. The foragers had come in with
liberal contributions of bread and vegetables
from MorrisviIIe and Trenton grocers and
bakers.
"MOTHER" JONES HAS COMFORTS.
''The women" said Sweeney, who seemed to
be Mother Joness lieutenant, travel by troll
ley car, and are all the wives Of men in the
band of strikers. We don't allow them to sleep
in the groves. Our advance man always looks
out for shelter for them and Mother Jones.
We've had three recruits to-day-thrce boys
sent up to US by their parents in Philadelphia.
The lads were pointed out to the reporter.
The eldest was apparently not over fifteen and
they were all veritable little old men, with
stopped shoulders and a serious expression or
countenance far beyond their years
The reporter was told that Mother Jones
was sleeping preparatory to her evening ora
tory. One of the men volunteered to conduct
the newspaper man to her lodgings, and
knock at the door of a workingman's home
brought out the housewife who said the head
of the army was awake and would be out in
a minute. Shortly afterward a rather stout
woman, apparently about sixty years old, ap-
peared Her skin is almost white as marble
and her hair is even whittier than her face. Her
lips and cheeks red. A CHEEKY greeting ana
an inquiring look at the camera soon brought
about a good understanding between the visitor
and the labor agitator
Our crusade is chiefly against child labor in
mills" said Mother Jones. Give the young
girls of the workingman's family a chance to
learn something and be something ana nan
the vice and ignorance that make mill towns
he'll will disa ppear- They cannot be anything 10
fill our hearts with pride II they go INTO Iie
mills at fifteen or younger, when they ought 10
be in the public schools Kensinston, where all
our people came from is of the worst places
in the world for child labor We had half
dozen fifteen -year-oId girls with US up TO TINS
point, all from textile mills in that hellnole;
They were all very bright and very pretty ana
would show, we thought TO the people. the pos
sibilities fer good Of giving them chance 10
become educated or for evil if consigned TO tne
moral graves we call mills. / found that thIs
roaming not good for then-that they ana
I were misunderstood. so 1 sent hFe OF theiH
home yesterday anu ne other Will go thlS even
ing. Two wrongs cannot make right, and
tuink ii wrong 20 subject these tender girls 10
the rough life and rough treatment We are
OBLIGED to undergo. Our men are all striking
skilled workmen in the Kensington textile fac
torres The, are sober and honest ana this out
i.g Is good for them while their strike lasts
Asked 4 II true that she intended 20
visit J. Pierpont Morgan and President hooseve.t
with her army. Mother Jones said: oh tIat S
only a joke Sometimes it taxes extraordinary
me ms to attract ordinars interest. Morgan aHu
Roosevelt are names thai attract attention al
once and I guess that is why 1 used them IN
talking to some reporters. Don you tAIhh tIIe!
could pe put TO worse use than 10 set people
interested in opposing child labor? We Will 20
TO Eliza beth Paterson Newark, Jersey CITY,
Hoboken and New-York. Maybe we'll see MT
Morgan and MI Roo .evelt and maybe we VII
not That story about deserLlons is all wroas
Some Of the strikers at Kensington Walked VIII
US to Torresdale and some as far as IuiIyt tomI ,a
We never intended that the whole 1our nun n
dred should go all the WY 10 New-horh' vi
even TO Trenton.
In reply TO a question as TO whether ol Hot
she would call on ex-President Cleveland a.
princeton Mother jones laughed May ue
and Inaybe not" she said. That VIII depehu'
The New-York centrals e-hour train taxes p5s
! sangers Chicago To get pest sccObitAou~-
1fone ~ Is well to apply in adyance.-AusL