Pantechnicon; Joan Hamlin

Good evening and welcome to the knight magazine on entertainment the arts and ideas commentator Louis Lyons is with us tonight along with actress Joanne Hamm on an especially prepared portrait of American women. I'm Melanie Stout. John Hammond is a familiar face on the Boston stage on television screen and a familiar voice to listeners of the family drama radio series the spider's web. Joanne has performed nationally as well most recently in her one woman onstage performance titled No borrowed stream a kaleidoscope of American women brought to life through their own words. Some of the women in her on stage performance are very well known such as Louisa May Alcott and Mary Baker Eddy. Others perhaps not so well-known in history but women who were remarkable in their perceptions and abilities considering the context of the times in which they lived. Ya. Wow.

I think a woman should be thanking God made her. Channel 4 No borrowed stream. Susan B Anthony wrote that in 1857 in an article entitled The true woman in which she gave some of her unconventional answers to the question What should a woman be. Hers was one of the more strident voices raised in the mid-nineteenth century debate that was heating up over women's roles a debate that has continue till the present with escalating for and even ferocity. But the true woman of whom Miss Anthony wrote was only beginning to appear toward the latter half of the 19th century. The push for legal equality social independence and the political clout of the ballot box were still far from realities and in the early days of our country they weren't even dreamed of. But despite the odds against them remarkable American women from the 17th

century on have made valuable contributions helping to break the hold of religious persecution and intolerance or participating courageously in the fight for independence in the 18th century. But these are specially prepared portraits will be of women in the 19th century a period of incredible ferment. It took many forms of physical expansion of the country in the westward movement. The political turmoil that tore the country apart in the Civil War the emerging scientific age the women's rights movement launched at Seneca Falls New York in 1848. The influx of immigrants to the country to be exploited by industry. And the labor movement that exploded as a result of that exploitation. And bubbling beneath the surface a growing discontent with orthodox religion. Well women were involved in every aspect of this turbulent century. One.

Anyway. One of the large dreams of the 19th century had been for better working conditions and higher wages for the workers. And one of the first union organizers was a woman Mary Horace Jones known to her devoted followers as Mother Jones. She had come to America via Canada and started this unusual career at the age of 50 and spent the next 50 years of her century of living helping working men women and children. She would travel from one community to another usually on foot dressed in widow's black organizing strikes. Well often when she arrived in a town the militia would be called out. Although she carried no weapon but along happened

once when a judge asked her who had given her a permit to speak in public she replied in her funny falsetto voice. Patrick Henry Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. Mary Harris was born in Cork Ireland and I come to America after a father who had preceded his family to the new world became an American citizen has her father's work on a railroad construction crew took him to Toronto. She grew up in Canada. She was trained as a teacher and dressmaker in practice both professions in Chicago and then in Memphis Tennessee where she married in 1961. Her husband was an iron motor and staunch member of the Aryan Motors Union. Then calamity struck.

In 1867. I had a fever epidemic swept to Memphis. One by one my four little children sickened and died. My husband caught the fever and died. I sat home alone for a night such grief. No one came to me. No one could. Other homes had been stricken this mine after she had helped nurse the ill till the plague ended. She returned to Chicago and went again into the dressmaking business. But the Chicago Fire of 1871 destroyed all she owned and she sought shelter with other refugees in the old St. Mary's Church on Wabash Avenue. While staying there she wandered into an old tumble down fire scorched building where the Knights of Labor held meetings and she began to spend her evenings there listening to the speakers. I learned about the labor movement and from the time of the Chicago Fire I became more and more engrossed in the labor struggle. I had

cited to take an active part in the effort to work on people to better the competitions under which they worked on land. More and more mother Jones's interest centered on the plight of miners. Mostly immigrants who are pouring into the country in the mid 19th century and were easily exploited by the big mining companies. They worked underground cruelly long hours sometimes 14 a day and lived in company owned shacks which weren't fit for their pigs as Mother Jones described them. So she went from one mining town to another organizing strikes and finding unique ways to foil the managers when they tried to bring in nonunion workers or scabs. One time a strike had been going on in

Arnett Pennsylvania for four or five months and the men were becoming discouraged when an organizer sent for her. The company had tried to bring in the hated scabs. I told the men to stay at home with the children for a change and leave the scabs to the women. Hi Argand I stole army off women housekeepers. Ha my given day they were to bring their mops and brooms and they are me what charge the scabs at the mine. I decided not to go up to that mine myself because I know they would arrest me and not what just route the RV. I was selected as a leader an Irishwoman of a most picturesque appearance she had slept late and her husband told her to hurry up and join the army. She grabbed a red petticoat and pulled it over at the cotton nightgown she wore one black stocking and one white one. She tied a little red fringed over a wild red hair. Her face was red her eyes were mad.

I looked at her and thought she caught her eyes all rumpus. I said to her you will lead the army up to the mine. Now take that tin dish pan you have with you and your hammer. And when the scabs come then you will begin the hammer and how they're ready to chase the scabs why they are much sun brooms. Why don't you be afraid of anyone up the mountain side hollerin and yell and she led the women and when the scabs came. He began believe none the tin dish pan and hot are on hand all they are made joined in whether how the scab started runnin down the hill followed by the women with their mops and brooms. From that day on the women kept a continual watch at the mines to see that the company did not bring in scabs here for a day the women came with a mop or a broom in one hand and a baby in the other wrapped in a little blanket and they went to the mines and watched not to no one went to heaven. And all night long

they watched. After months of terrible hardship that strike was won. Before I left the union held up victory meeting the women came from my round in a rage and snowstorm. But all children try to land on their skirts and babies under their shawls. I hear twice a night for a joy and great celebration that those were the days before extensive use of gunmen and military chain and police clubs. There had been hope that Chad there had been no riots hand-up victory was told to the women with their mops and brooms. Mother Jones compassion was particularly aroused by the plight of working children in the spring of 903 she went to Kensington Pennsylvania where 75000 textile workers were on strike. At least 10000 of

them were children. Every day she saw these children come into the union headquarters some with their hands off some with up are missing some of their fingers off at the knuckle they were stooped little things round shouldered skinny. Many of them are not over 10 years of age. Although the law prohibited them work and before they were 12. But the law was poorly enforced and the mothers of these children often swore falsely as to their children sage explaining it as a question of perjury or starvation for the fathers had been killed or maimed at the mines. When Mother Jones once asked the newspaper men why they didn't publish the facts about child labor in Pennsylvania they said they couldn't because the mill owner had stock in the papers. Well you've got stock in these little children said I and only arrange a little a publicist. And publicize he she certainly arranged after holding meetings where people could

see these undernourished and maimed children. She organized a tour a kind of Children's Crusade. They started from Philadelphia planning to go with the children to President Roosevelt on Long Island to ask him to have Congress pass a law prohibiting the exploitation of childhood. She thought that President Roosevelt might see these mill children and compare them with his own who were spending the summer on the sea shore hit Oyster Bay. The children were very happy having plenty to eat taking baths in the brooks and rivers every day. I thought when the strike is over and they go back to the mills they'll never have another holiday like this. All along the line of march the farmers drove out to meet us with wagon loads of fruit and vegetables. Their wives brought the children Claussen money the Antara but trainmen would stop their trains and give us free rides.

At one town the mayors said they couldn't hold a meeting because he did not have sufficient police protection. These children have never known any kind of protection Your Honor I said. And there you took I would without it. He let us have our meeting. At last we marched him to Oyster Bay. But the president would not see us and he refused to answer my letters. But our march had done its work. We had drawn the attention of the nation to the Harmers of child labor. It may seem a contradiction that despite her own emancipated ways Mother Jones was never a suffragette. Once when she was invited to speak at a dinner for 500 women she describes how she startled them by saying that.

Most of you women are crazy about women's suffrage. Yes I think that kingdom come will follow by and functions men both women. You must stand a far free speech in the streets. That's what I told them. How can we piped a woman when we haven't got off vote. How I never had vote said I had I've raised hell all over this country. You know how do you know how to write. Hell you don't need conventions and our voice. I'm going to be honest with you a sincere women of our work and far vote for women. I went to Colorado I have had the vote FOR TOUR jet All right Asians handle work and men and women are in slavery. Some of the women gasped at her one or two left the room. I told the women I did not believe in women's rights or men's rights Bagchi any your men

rights. Mary Harris Jones died in November 1930 a few months after her 1 100th birthday having been active working for coal miners of West Virginia. When she was 94. Her devoted followers wasted little time grieving for Mother Jones. After that span of life rather they took her advice to pray for that dead but fight like hell for the eleven she had done just that and helped in no small measure to protect the human rights and human dignity of the American worker. This is Joanne Hamlin. I have presented a portrait of Mary Harris Jones

taken from my theatrical program. No borrowed stream. A kaleidoscope of remarkable women from America's past. This segment has been one of a series especially prepared for WGBH radio. Cold. Actress Joanne hummin and her portrayal of women excerpted from her on stage performances titled No borrowed stream. Now Louis Lyons with his views and commentary the spelling of five and a half million gallons of oil over 100 miles of our offshore waters with the break up of the tank I guess is a marine disaster that strains the imagination. Its effect on the biology of the sea sterilizing its food sources may not be measured for a generation where the transport of oil an increasing requirement of our

industrial civilization this huge oil spill may be an omen of a threat to the future of mankind. Add to that of the nuclear the so-called law of the sea prove to future protection the master of this tank a heavy record of violating the law with impunity comparable to that of the mugger preying on our city streets. Well Jimmy Carter rounds out a cabinet with a rare blend of talents and political philosophies. And he's achieved some in political arithmetic to include two women and two blacks with three appointments. Patricia Harris appointed to the housing Post yesterday feels a double bill. A black woman she is also a composite of independent lawyer with government experience as a former United Nations delegate and ambassador to Luxemburg a politician conservative enough to have headed the Credentials Committee of the Democratic National Convention of 972 that turned

down reformers but cochairman also the National Women's Commission for civil rights. The Conference of Mayors protested she's had no experience with city problems. She herself says of her profession of law that is the last refuge of the generalist. But she said on the 969 National Commission on the causes and prevention of violence Minority Report then defended nonviolent civil disobedience. That she said may prevent rather than cause violence. As a student she had joined citizens against segregation segregation like the other woman cabinet member Juanita quips. Mrs. Harris holds directorships in big corporations. Mrs. Cripps is the first woman member of the New York Stock Exchange but their corporate connections are leavening influence a balance to bankers alliance and woman thought they were meant to acquire their share of distinctions Mrs. Harris reportedly has 32 honorary degrees. Mrs. Cripps recently received North Carolina State medal its highest

award this for service on state commissions on aging and manpower. Carter found an alternative to John Dunlop who he said satisfies George Meany. This isn't Fred Marshall of the University of Texas who shares Dunlops field as a labor economist. But with an interest in minorities that labor complained was missing in Dunlop Marshall's book suggests this on the problems of black unemployment and migratory workers. Marshall said even as the president appointed him secretary of labor that he would present the strongest case for appealing the section of the Taft-Hartley Act that permits the anti-union right to work laws that are endemic in the southern states that supported Carter. Just as he passed over Dunlop. So Carter bypassed James Schlesinger to appoint his original choice for secretary of defense Harold Brown. Over the strident objection of those who held Brown not tough enough on the soffit competition in arms.

Brown now president of California Institute of Technology has served as secretary. He believes in negotiating arms containment with the Russians. But he reacted to hawkish criticism yesterday with a blunt statement that we must have a strong defense supporting our vital foreign policy commitments. It must be so perceived by our own people and the rest of the world. But like Carter and they like Admiral Zumwalt Brown believes that our defense can actually be strengthened by cutting a lot of the waste expenditure proposed. Carter is reported to want to head a new energy department of Congress or authorize one. Meantime to bring him into the White House as his consultant on energy the one top cabinet position on filled is h e w and the word from planes is that kind of choice for it is Joseph Khalaf onno who was an aide to President Johnson. President Kennedy is a theater CERN's and is said to be the choice to head the CIA. Both women appointees have come out of early poverty as also

the secretary of agriculture Baghlan Minnesota farmer three term member of Congress who brings innovative ideas to a department that has been run by but. And Ezra Taft Benton caught his discovery a bug on his Mondale's contribution vegan runs a 600 acre wheat farm near the Canadian border. He helped his father on a smaller farm after studying at the State Agricultural College but defeated by crop failures Berglund and his young wife went to Florida to find work. She is a waitress here in construction. He was fired for union activity returning to Minnesota he worked as organizer for the National Farmers Union that took him into politics in the farm a Labor Party in Congress he has fought but to save the food stamp program has pushed legislation to clean up grain inspection. He's a nonbeliever in the small farm the family farm to help the rural life can be maintained he believes so the dispersal of industry into the country to provide part time

wages to part time farmers. He would have government policy encouraged such a development. Many would call this an illusion but it may bring innovation to the rural economy. Carter's cabinet making has been by by far the most open process ever. Nearly every choice has been leaked in advance the leaks clearly intended. One of his staff says controversy over his choices helped his final judgment. The choice of three of the first dozen from his own state of Georgia sounds a little parochial. These included the first black appointment young and the choice most bitterly objected to by blacks. Bell. Carter's repeated his defense of Bell as attorney general. But it looks like a flaw in his selections Belen 1060 was a political supporter of Kennedy for president and Kennedy appointed him to the federal bench that left it after 15 years to earn more money as a law partner of a close confidant of Carter and resumed his political activity to support Carter's campaign

as a judge's record on civil rights has been mixed. The civil rights organization the poor mixture his support of Howard Carr as well as a Nixon appointee to the Supreme Court showed him insensitive to the evidences of cause was racism. Through the turbulent 60s he was slow to respond to desegregation. Even now he's only considering resigning from two clubs that exclude Jews and blacks though Carter says he hoped his cabinet members would give up such affiliation. While his colleague on the southern federal bench Judge wisdom became a martyr to his commitment against segregation. Judge Bell concentrated on cooperation cases. Crowder says Bell ultimately will be seen as a superlative choice. This of course was true of Hugo Black but his early Klan membership was an aberration of his you Bill is called a great mediator which to the NAACP spells compromiser. Carter is evidently impressed

with Bell's record as an administrator as well as he has with some other of his appointees. But Bell's appointment suggests a blind spot in Carter's sensibilities. The death of Mayor Daley is called The End of the big city buses he ran Chicago through an organization that regulated rather than govern the city while sustaining such national and state connections as needed to protect the fiefdom. His organization provided the complex of services that despite occasional eruption of dissent kept most of the inhabitants complacent. The experience of New York and Boston and San Francisco makes one wonder if any such metropolitan aggregate can be managed short of boss ism. What substitute will be found for it. Chicago with its continental vented site maintained an economy that could sustain the political tribute bus isn't required but would be too expensive for less dynamic cities. The political sensitivity that the job developed had made daily almost a soothsayer say on elections. He instantly

called the primary when that settled it for Carter. Other politicians fell in line. But at 74 Daley had failed to carry Illinois for Carter as he had four years earlier for Kennedy. He seems unlikely to have a successor announcement by Egypt and Syria that they're forming a joint political leadership comes as the ribbin government of Israel falls over an eccentricity of internal politics. The rigid National Religious Party with which Robin's Labor Party had an alliance forced a no confidence vote on a challenge that the government had let a reception to an American delegation impinged by a few minutes on the Sabbath. Robin barely beat off a no confidence vote. Then he dropped the three cabinet members of the theological militants. But that left him without a majority and he resigned a new election in six months as prescribed. This however gives Rubin a chance to seek family support for the Geneva negotiations that the Arab merger aims to force on Israel.

They are a merger may equally be aimed at isolating the radicals. Quite a feat of Libya. Another first for women is the road scholarships. The list announced today is 13 women among 32 appointed for a year of study at Oxford. Cecil Rhodes established the scholarships in one thousand two distributed among the British Commonwealth and the United States. A grand gesture of imperialist promotion the scholarships were designated as well for men. Last year the British Parliament allowed an amendment making women eligible. It took 73 years. It took just six years he had opened the name and fellowships at Harvard to women in 1945 the year after President CONAN of Harvard and President Ada Comstock of Radcliff had signed an agreement opening Harvard classes directly for women. Harvard had been a stag institution until war economies forced joint classes present Conant then explained the unregenerate alumni that have it accepted co-education only in practice

not in theory. I. Commented on the law in the book and I think this is a little stark.