SNIPPET: A passionate spokesperson for the rights of workers and anti-child labor laws in the United States, Mrs. Mary(HARRIS)JONES ("Mother Jones"), born into a poor farming family in rural Cork in 1837, fought to bring attention to these issues through letters, inspirational speeches and marches. (See her 1903 letter to President Theodore Roosevelt below when he was visiting in Oyster Bay, NY). "I (have) no abiding place," she once said, "but wherever a fight is going on against wrong, I am always there." She always attributed her fearlessness and radicalism to her Irish heritage. After losing her husband, George JONES and four children in a devastating yellow fever outbreak in 1867, I believe, in Memphis, TN, and losing her dressmaking business in the Great Fire of 1871, in Chicago, this diminutive but decidedly spunky lady turned her attention to labor activities full time. Mary was repeatedly arrested and confronted with threats against her life. She was 91 when she worked her last strike. The "Angel of the Mines" died at 94 in 1930. In his eulogy the Rev. J .W. McGUIRE said, "Wealthy coal operators and capitalists throughout the United States are breathing sighs of relief....Mother Jones is dead." Her Letter -- "NY, July 30, 1903: The Hon. Theodore Roosevelt, President, U.S.A. Your Excellency: Twice before I have written to you requesting an audience that I might lay my mission before you and have your advice on a matter which bears upon the welfare of the whole nation. I speak for the emancipation from mills and factories of the hundreds of thousands of young children who are yielding up their lives for the commercial supremacy of the nation. Failing to receive a reply to either of the letters, I yesterday went to Oyster Bay, taking with me three of these children that they might plead to you personally. Secretary Barnes informed us that before we might hope for an interview, we must first lay the whole matter before you in a letter. He assured me of its delivery to you personally, and also that it would receive your attention. I have espoused the cause of the laboring class in general and of suffering children in particular. For what affects the child must ultimately affect the adult. It was for them that our march of principle was begun. We sought to bring the attention of the public upon these little ones, so that ultimately sentiment would be aroused and the children freed from the workshops and sent to school. I know of no question of to-day that demands greater attention from those who have at heart the perpetuation of the Republic. The child of to-day is the man or woman of to-morrow, the citizen and the mother of still future citizens. I ask Mr. President, what kind of citizen will be the child who toils twelve hours a day, in an unsanitary atmosphere, stunted mentally and physically, and surrounded with immoral influences? Denied education, he cannot assume the true duties of citizenship, and enfeebled physically and mentally, he falls a ready victim to the perverting influences which the present economic conditions have created. I grant you, Mr. President, that there are State laws which should regulate these matters, but results have proven that they are inadequate. In my little band are three boys, the oldest 11 years old, who have worked in mills a year or more without interferences from the authorities. All efforts to bring about reform have failed. I have been moved to this crusade, Mr. President, because of actual experiences in the mills. I have seen little children without the first rudiments of education and no prospect of acquiring any. I have seen other children with hands, fingers and other parts of their tiny bodies mutilated because of their childish ignorance of machinery . I feel that no nation can be truly great while such conditions exist without attempted remedy. It is to be hoped that our crusade will stir up a general sentiment in behalf of enslaved childhood, and secure enforcement of present laws. But that is not sufficient. As this is not alone the question of the separate States, but of the whole Republic, we come to you as the chief representative of the nation. I believe the Federal laws should be passed governing this evil and including a penalty for violation. Surely, Mr. President, if this is practicable - and I believe that you will agree that it is - you can advise me of the necessary steps to pursue. I have with me three boys who have walked a hundred miles serving as living proof of what I say. You can see and talk with them, Mr. President, if you are interested. If you decide to see these children, I will bring them before you at any time you may set. Secretary Barnes has assured me of an early reply, and this should be sent care of the Ashland Hotel, New York City. Very respectfully yours, MOTHER JONES." The president's secretary, B. F. BARNES, responded by saying that the president was not unsympathetic to her cause, and that an anti-child labor law was passed under his administration when he was governor of New York, but there was nothing the president could do on a federal level. JONES vehemently disagreed and went on to campaign against ROOSEVELT in 1904. -- Excerpts, "Letters Of A Nation," ed. A. Carroll (1997) and "1001 Things Everyone Should Know About American History," E. T. O'Donnell (2002).