Yesterday I was reminded on the Book of Faces of a poem I wrote six years ago. It does a great job of capturing the aura of recent events, so I thought I should maybe share it again.

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Sunday January 30, 1916
Indianapolis, Indiana - U. M. W. of A. Convention Pauses for a Poetical Tribute

Before adjourning for the day on Saturday January 22nd, delegates at the Miners' Convention were entertained with a bit of poetry:

Delegate McAlester, District 12–Delegate Loftus has written a poem upon the occurrence here the other day and we would like to have him read it.
Delegate Loftus—Delegate McDonald's name and Delegate Germer's will appear. I would like to know if they have any objections to having it read. No objection being offered, Delegate Loftus read the following:

THE PEACEMAKER.

It was just a little resolution,
Didn’t amount to very much
Brought on a very wordy war
'Mongst the Irish, Scotch and Dutch.

They used many personalities,
Which I always deemed a curse;
Had Mother not just happened in
It might have been much worse.

We have thirteen hundred delegates
Who represent labor's cause,
And many joined in the chorus
By giving great applause.

When the battle raged the fiercest—
Words shot back and forth like stones—
In stepped a goodly lady,
Our splendid Mother Jones.

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Saturday December 23, 1905
From the Appeal to Reason: A Poem for Mother Jones by Ellis B. Harris

From the Appeal of December 16, 1905:

MOTHER JONES
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Here's to you, Mother, Mother Jones.
Foe of the sabre,
When Justice, reigning, Wrong dethrones,
Helped by Love's labor,
Among the comrades we extol
Thy name shall blazon on the scroll,
In memory of one great soul,
Dear, kindly neighbor.

When the sky falls softly
And the heavens roar

Don't forget to say goodbye

As you wander the earth
Wearing only your soul