You ought to be out raising hell. This is the fighting age. Put on your fighting clothes.
-Mother Jones
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Tuesday November 10, 1903
From The Arizona Republican: "SILENT MINES" in Colorado
Formal Beginning of Strike in District 15
THE TIE-UP IS COMPLETE
The Struggle Will Be a Long One But Both Sides Are Prepared fot It
-"Mother Jones" Is Now in the Field
Trinidad, Colo., Nov. 9.-The strike of the coal miners of district No. 15 of the United Mine Workers of America is now on in full force, and indications point to a long struggle. This morning only a very small per cent of the men reported for work and the tie-up is complete in Las Animas county, the largest producer of District 15, Starkville, Gray Creek, Engleville and Sopris, the largest producing camps went out to a man.
At union headquarters tonight all the officials were jubilant over the outlook and more than pleased at the number of non-union men who went out with the union. Since Saturday night nearly 2,000 men sent their names to the union. Out of nearly 3,000 employed in this county, it is claimed that less than one hundred reported for work. These are at Hastings, Delagua and Primero, Victor fuel camps, and it is openly stated that if any trouble occurs in this district it will be at the above camps.
"Mother" Jones is doing more than all the balance of the organizers to bring the men into line. Union headquarters was very busy today. William Howells, president of District 15, said tonight, "You can say that the men in this section went out to a man and the tie-up is more complete than we thought it would be. We have a right to feel good over the large number of non-union men who joined us. Eighty per cent of the men have gone out in Huerfano county and also in Colfax county, N. M. We nor the Colorado Fuel and Iron company officials dreamed that the strike would be of such magnitude."
SOURCE
The Arizona Republican
(Phoenix, Arizona)
-of Nov 10, 1903
Photo: Great Thoughts Treasury
http://www.greatthoughtstreasury.com/...
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Monday November 10, 1913
Seattle, Washington - Convention of the American Federation of Labor Begins Today
The National Convention of the American Federation of Labor began today in Seattle. This description of the labor leaders and delegates, now gathered together in that western city, was provided by the Sunday edition of The Lincoln Star:
"Seattle is some town; the American Federation of Labor convention is going to be some series of vital sessions; you of the west are fortunate in having our eastern errors as an object lesson by which to profit."
Thus spoke Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labor, at his headquarters in the new Richmond hotel today, in discussing the big convention which meets here Monday morning. "We expect a most interesting convention," continued President Gompers, "and appreciate the interest being shown in our meetings...."
Close to 700 delegates from every state in the union and the provinces of Canada representing in the neighborhood of two and a half million working men and women, are on hand for the convention Monday.
Practically all the men who figure largely in the national and international organized labor movement are here. They are: President Samuel Gompers, confident that he can hold the insurgents in check; Frank Morrison, secretary of the federation and Gompers' right hand man; John Mitchell of the miners, who announced his retirement from the American Federation of labor, though he will not sever his connection with organized labor; Max Hayes, of the international typographical union of Ohio, the leader of the insurgents host; and many others.
Though no one questions that Gompers will be re-elected, it is thought he will not completely dominate the delegates as he did a year ago at Rochester, when two of every three voted with the Gompers "machine."
There will, it is stated, be a determined fight on the floor by the insurgents for the initiative and referendum, though Gompers will fight it with all his resources.
SOURCE
The Lincoln Star
(Lincoln, Nebraska)
-of Nov 9, 1913
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Sunday November 10, 2013
From Mother Jones:
I am not blind to the short comings of our own people, I am not unaware that leaders betray, and sell out, and play false. But this knowledge does not outweigh the fact that my class, the working class, is exploited, driven, fought back with the weapon of starvation, with guns and with venal courts whenever they strike for conditions more human, more civilized for their children, and for their children’s children.
SOURCE
The Autobiography of Mother Jones
-ed by Mary Field Parton
Charles H Kerr Pub, 1990
http://www.marxists.org/...
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Oh, Freedom-Pete Seeger's 90th Birthday Concert
Oh, freedom!
Oh, freedom!
Oh, freedom over me!
And before I'd be a slave
I'll be buried in my grave
And go home to my Lord and be free