The day book. [volume], July 25, 1914, NOON EDITION, Image 5

About The day book. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1911-1917

Image provided by: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, Urbana, IL

                
r-iiiWi-'-'f -f''rr3'wftv Vsi? YvtM1!'
ONE MAN'S OPINIONS
BY N. D. COCHRAN
The Past of Mother Jones. I have
received an interesting note from H.
H. Kohlsaat, former publisher of the
Record-Herald and Inter-Ocean, con
cerning charges made against Mother
Jones in a speech in congress by Rep.
George J. Kindel of Colorado. Mr.
Kohlsaat's note is as follows:
My Dear Mr. Cochran: Until I
read the enclosed I had always sup
posed "Mother Jones" was a real
friend of the men, WOMEN AND
CHILDREN who suffer during
strikes, and respected her for her
humane efforts to alleviate suffering.
This is a terrible indictment to charge
her with being a procuress and
keeper of a house of ill-fame. Do
you know whether it is true or not?
Yours sincerely,
H. H. Kohlsaat.
I am glad Mr. Kohlsaat wrote that
note to me and gave the inspiration
for this opinion. In the first place,
it shows that Mr. Kohlsaat's heart is
in the right place, because he respect
ed Mother Jones when he thought
her the real friend of men, women
and children during strikes, when her
humane efforts were directed toward
the alleviation of human suffering.
Enclosed with the note was a copy
of the Congressional Record contain
ing the speech of Congressman Kin
del. In this speech the Colorado con
gressman quoted extracts from a
Denver publication known as "Polly
Pry," in which reference was made
to Mother Jones and others who were
billed to address a union labor mass
meeting at the Coliseum the night
of Jan. 3.
The issue of "Polly Pry" of Jan. 2,
1904, referred to the mass meeting to
be held the next day to be addressed
by Moyer, Haywood, Mother Jones
and others. No reference was made
to the past of any of the men speak
ers, but space was given to what pur
ported to be the record of Mother
Jones; and the charge was made that
in the Pinkerton detective office there
is a record which shows that back in
1889 Mother Jones was a "well
known character" in the redlight dis
trict of Denver, Omaha, Kansas City
and Chicago.
The issue of "Polly Pry" of Jan. 9
(evidently a weekly publication) re
ported that Mother Jones didn't ap
pear at the mass meeting on the pre
ceding Sunday, and then proceeded
with additional charges against the
character of Mother Jones back in
1889.
I will not repeat the vile charges
made in those, two issues and then
spread upon the records of congress
by a cowardly congressman, who was
evidently representing the Colorado
mine owners while supposedly repre
senting the people of Colorado.
I have given the main charge, how
ever, so as to have my readers un
derstand my answer to Mr. Kohlsaat.
This is my answer:
I never heard of the charges be
fore and do not know whether they
are true or false. I would not believe
psuch charges, however, on the au
thority of a publication whose very
name indicates its character and
whose policy toward a woman friend
of labor indicates the vicious coward
ice of its editor.
But even if every charge made by
the cowardly tools of the mine own
ers of Colorado were true it would '
not alter my opinion of Mother Jones'
great service to humanity or lessen
my respect for her nobility of char
acter. Mother Jones is an old woman, well
pasj; 80 years of age; and a remark-r
ably well-preserved woman for her
years. I had a long visit with this
heroine a few weeks ago, and she im-'
pressed me as being the most sin-'
cere an ablest labor leader I had ever
met She FEELS the suffering of the 5
men, women and children who suffer '
because of our industrial injustice, r
and I am satisfied she would gladly
give up her life for oppressed hu-.
manity. J