Why had his mother gone to the trouble of bringing him into the world if the most exciting moment in his life was having been made lame by a bayonet?

~ Félix J. Palma

Félix J. Palma Ambition Boredom Child Labor Excitement Funny Humorous War

She was shocked when she followed her aunt and cousin down into the city proper. The streets were crawling with people, all hurrying to and fro, mindless of one another. They brushed by with barely even a glance, stepping down into the busy roads between horse drawn buses and draymen’s carts with such confidence, seemingly oblivious that they could be run down at any moment. Children dodged in and out amongst them, ragamuffins all, some barefoot.

~ Lillian White

Lillian White Child Labor City Class England Fiction Historical Inequality Manchester Mill Romance Struggle Victorian Women Workers

They began work at 5:30 and quit at 7 at night. Children six years old going home to lie on a straw pallet until time to resume work the next morning! I have seen the hair torn out of their heads by the machinery, their scalps torn off, and yet not a single tear was shed, while the poodle dogs were loved and caressed and carried to the seashore.

~ Mary Harris Jones

Mary Harris Jones Child Labor Children Dogs Poodles

Democracy is supposed to be ‘of the people, by the people and for the people’. Capitalism is ‘of the capitalist, for the capitalist’. Period.

~ Jerry Ash

Jerry Ash Capitalism Child Labor Democracy Economics Great Depression Industrial Revolution Industry Labor Military Mill Workers Miners Mining Political Poverty Robber Barons Slavery Social Sweatshops Unions Yellow Journalism

Honey, it isn’t democracy that runs this country. Capitalism rules. It does no good to reason with the capitalists or their politicians. This is a class war. We have to stir up the American people, the lower class. Some of the better-off lower class do show some sympathy for us when they’re smacked with the facts. And when they voice themselves collectively, good things happen.” — Mother Jones

~ Jerry Ash

Jerry Ash Capitalism Child Labor Democracy Economics Great Depression Industrial Revolution Industry Labor Military Mill Workers Miners Mining Political Poverty Robber Barons Slavery Social Sweatshops Unions Yellow Journalism

I am a citizen of this country,” I declare, “and Mr. Mayor, tonight I will be a citizen of this city when I put my shoes under my bed. The courageous men, women and children who are with me (blocked from crossing the bridge into NYC) are also citizens of this country and will be sleeping near their shoes too. I want them with me tonight, here, in the city of New York. We are all American citizens.” — Mother Jones

~ Jerry Ash

Jerry Ash Capitalism Child Labor Democracy Economics Great Depression Industrial Revolution Industry Labor Military Mill Workers Miners Mining Political Poverty Robber Barons Slavery Social Sweatshops Unions Yellow Journalism

What the hell’s the matter with you men? Are you cowards as well as stupid? You boys make me sick. I’m done with you. You hear me? I want you to go back to your places now and stay with your children until I say you’re needed.“Tell your wives and your older children to bring with them dish pans and cooking pots. Tell them to bring their stirring spoons and ladles. Tell them to carry a mop over their shoulders. We’re goin’ to march on that mine and we’re going to stand guard to see that no scabs are allowed in. Do you hear me?” — Mother Jones

~ Jerry Ash

Jerry Ash Capitalism Child Labor Democracy Economics Great Depression Industrial Revolution Industry Labor Military Mill Workers Miners Mining Political Poverty Robber Barons Slavery Social Sweatshops Unions Yellow Journalism

Go home now,” says I. “Keep away from the saloons. Save your money. You are going to need it.”“What are we going to need it for?” asks a voice from the crowd.“For guns and ammunition,” says I.

~ Jerry Ash

Jerry Ash Capitalism Child Labor Democracy Economics Great Depression Industrial Revolution Industry Labor Military Mill Workers Miners Mining Political Poverty Robber Barons Slavery Social Sweatshops Unions Yellow Journalism

To the RKO motion picture camera at her 100th birthday party: “I pray for the day when working men and women are able to earn a fair share of the wealth they produce in a capitalist system, a day when all Americans are able to enjoy the freedom, rights and opportunities guaranteed them by the Constitution of the United States of America.” — Mother Jones

~ Jerry Ash

Jerry Ash Capitalism Child Labor Democracy Economics Great Depression Industrial Revolution Industry Labor Military Mill Workers Miners Mining Political Poverty Robber Barons Slavery Social Sweatshops Unions Yellow Journalism

Turning back to the crowd I say, “I am duty bound to make this plea, but I want to say, with all due respect to the governor here, that I doubt seriously that he will do — cannot do — anything. And for the reason that he is owned, lock, stock and barrel, by the capitalists who placed him here in this building.” — Mother Jones

~ Jerry Ash

Jerry Ash Capitalism Child Labor Democracy Economics Great Depression Industrial Revolution Industry Labor Military Mill Workers Miners Mining Political Poverty Robber Barons Slavery Social Sweatshops Unions Yellow Journalism

That’s got to stop,” says I. “The idea of any blood-thirsty pirate (Mexican President Diaz) sitting on a throne and reaching across the border to tromp on our Constitution makes my blood boil.” — Mother Jones

~ Jerry Ash

Jerry Ash Capitalism Child Labor Democracy Economics Great Depression Industrial Revolution Industry Labor Military Mill Workers Miners Mining Political Poverty Robber Barons Slavery Social Sweatshops Unions Yellow Journalism

I go back to the union man and say, “Sir, this is a house of God, not a proper place for a union meeting. I have some things to say today that God would not want to hear in His own house. Boys, I want you to get up, every one of you, and go across the road. I want you to sit down on the hillside over there and wait for me to speak to you.

~ Jerry Ash

Jerry Ash Capitalism Child Labor Democracy Economics Great Depression Industrial Revolution Industry Labor Military Mill Workers Miners Mining Political Poverty Robber Barons Slavery Social Sweatshops Unions Yellow Journalism

What do you see out there?” I ask. “Pittsburgh,” he replies. Now I laugh. “No, young man. What you see is hell with the lid taken off.” — Mother Jones

~ Jerry Ash

Jerry Ash Capitalism Child Labor Democracy Economics Great Depression Industrial Revolution Industry Labor Military Mill Workers Miners Mining Political Poverty Robber Barons Slavery Social Sweatshops Unions Yellow Journalism

Well, honey, it’s capitalism that brings out the meanness and greed,” says I. “Our founding fathers did a decent job of framing our democracy. They wrote the Constitution and added a Bill of Rights that intended for people of all classes to enjoy the freedoms the Constitution offers. But capitalism came along without a constitution or a bill of rights and the industrialists grabbed unrestricted power. The capitalists wrote their own ‘Declaration of Capitalism’.” — Mother Jones

~ Jerry Ash

Jerry Ash Capitalism Child Labor Democracy Economics Great Depression Industrial Revolution Industry Labor Military Mill Workers Miners Mining Political Poverty Robber Barons Slavery Social Sweatshops Unions Yellow Journalism

Before child labor laws, there were businesses that treated their ten-year-old employees well. society didn’t ban child labor because it’s impossible to imagine children working in a good environment, but because when you give that much power to businesses over powerless individuals, it’s corrupting. When we walk around thinking we have a greater right to eat an animal than the animal has a right to live without suffering, it’s corrupting.

~ Jonathan Safran Foer

Jonathan Safran Foer Animal Rights Child Labor Ethics Nonfiction Vegetarianism