Mother Jones Speaks to Striking Coal Miners
Mother Jones Speaks to Striking Coal Miners
August 15, 1912
“I live in the Untied States, but I do not know exactly where. My address is wherever there is a fight against oppression…. My address is like my shoes: it travels with me.… I abide where there is a fight against wrong,” remarked Mary Jones in her infamous speech, “Mother Jones Speaks to Striking Coal Miners”, on August 15, 1912 as she addressed William E. Glasscock, Governor of the State of West Virginia (Jones 69). Mary Harris Jones, benevolently known as Mother Jones, dedicated her life to the inequalities that coal miners and children faced during this era. Despite her many hardships she took a stand for making a progressive change. Mother Jones, a motivation speaker and activist, inspired others to take a stand for transformation. Jones’ life work arose from the ashes when she became involved with the Knights of Labor. Her career as union pest, wandering wherever workers needed organizing, renewed commitment, or publicity, began with a Pittsburg railroad strike in 1877 (Jones 286). She was born less than 50 years after the end of the American Revolution. She was alive when Andrew Jackson was president, and she sometimes quoted from speeches she heard Lincoln make (Jones 5). As an orator, she was loved and respected by many. However, her fearless and stubbornness caused her hardships along the way. Within “Mother Jones Speaks to Striking Coal Miners” her use of repetition and metaphors emphasizes and simplifies her points as she addresses her supporters. Her use of repetition throughout her speech provided assurance in motivation to the intimidated coal miners. She continued to fight for the cause and motivate the demoralized until a transformation occurred.
Mother Jones was born May 1, 1830, in Cork, Ireland and she was a descendant of Irish freedom fighters (Jones 286). She experienced many hardships throughout her life. In 1867, her husband (an iron molder and union organizer) and four children
August 15, 1912
“I live in the Untied States, but I do not know exactly where. My address is wherever there is a fight against oppression…. My address is like my shoes: it travels with me.… I abide where there is a fight against wrong,” remarked Mary Jones in her infamous speech, “Mother Jones Speaks to Striking Coal Miners”, on August 15, 1912 as she addressed William E. Glasscock, Governor of the State of West Virginia (Jones 69). Mary Harris Jones, benevolently known as Mother Jones, dedicated her life to the inequalities that coal miners and children faced during this era. Despite her many hardships she took a stand for making a progressive change. Mother Jones, a motivation speaker and activist, inspired others to take a stand for transformation. Jones’ life work arose from the ashes when she became involved with the Knights of Labor. Her career as union pest, wandering wherever workers needed organizing, renewed commitment, or publicity, began with a Pittsburg railroad strike in 1877 (Jones 286). She was born less than 50 years after the end of the American Revolution. She was alive when Andrew Jackson was president, and she sometimes quoted from speeches she heard Lincoln make (Jones 5). As an orator, she was loved and respected by many. However, her fearless and stubbornness caused her hardships along the way. Within “Mother Jones Speaks to Striking Coal Miners” her use of repetition and metaphors emphasizes and simplifies her points as she addresses her supporters. Her use of repetition throughout her speech provided assurance in motivation to the intimidated coal miners. She continued to fight for the cause and motivate the demoralized until a transformation occurred.
Mother Jones was born May 1, 1830, in Cork, Ireland and she was a descendant of Irish freedom fighters (Jones 286). She experienced many hardships throughout her life. In 1867, her husband (an iron molder and union organizer) and four children
Cited: Appeal to the Cause of Miners in the Paint Creek District. Abingdon/Cambridge: Helicon, 2007. Print. Bannan, Helen M. “Jones, Mary Harris.” American Women Writers: A critical reference guide from colonial times to the present. Ed. Taryn Benbow-Pfalzgraf. 2nd ed. Vol. 2. Deltroit: St. James Press, 2000. 286-287. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 2. Mar. 2010 Fethering, Dale. Mother Jones the Miners’ Angel. United States of America: Southern Illinois University, 1974. Print. “Jones, Mary Harris [Mother Jones].” Industrial Revolution Reference Library. Ed. James L. Outman, Matthew May, and Elisabeth M. Outman. Vol. 2: Biographies. Detroit: VXL, 2003. 69-78. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 2 Mar. 2010 Steel, Edward. The Court-Martial of Mother Jones. Kentucky: The University of Press of Kentucky, 1995. Print.