I went West and took part in the strike of the machinists - the Southern Pacific Railroad, the corporation that swung California by its golden tail, that controlled its legislature, its farmers, its preachers, its workers.
Mother JonesRead
Little girls and boys, barefooted, walked up and down between the endless rows of spindles, reaching thin little hands into the machinery to repair snapped threads
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the harsh realities of child labor in industrial settings.
In this quote, Mother Jones vividly depicts the plight of child laborers who, with their small hands, were forced to engage in dangerous work amidst the machinery of factories. It serves as a poignant reminder of the exploitation faced by children during the industrial revolution, emphasizing the need for reform and the protection of vulnerable populations.
Themes
Child LaborExploitationIndustryReformChildhood
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a speech advocating for children's rights and labor reform.
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Some day the workers will take possession of your city hall, and when we do, no child will be sacrificed on the altar of profit!
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Injustice boils in men's hearts as does steel in its cauldron, ready to pour forth, white hot, in the fullness of time.
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I believe that movements to suppress wrongs can be carried out under the protection of our flag.
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Your ancestors fought for you to have a share in that institution over there. It's yours. See the school board, and every Friday night hold your meetings there. Have your wives clean it up Saturday morning for the children to enter Monday. Your organization is not a praying institution. It's a fighting institution. It's an educational institution along industrial lines. Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living!
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