Princeton in Mercer County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
March of the Mill Children
100th Anniversary
Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 17, 2011
1. March of the Mill Children Marker
Inscription.
March of the Mill Children. 100th Anniversary.
Princeton, New Jersey July 1903 – July 2003 Mary Harris “Mother” Jones. was a crusader for workers’ rights. She led several hundred children who worked in the textile mills on a march from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to President Theodore Roosevelt’s home in Oyster Bay, Long Island. Their demonstration publicized and protested the unspeakable crime of child labor. Mother Jones called upon Princeton’s mayor, H. L. Robinson, asking for permission to speak opposite the University campus. She said she wanted to speak on higher education. The mayor agreed. A great crowd gathered: professors, students, and the people. Mother Jones showed the crowd James Ashworth, who was 10 years old and stooped over like an old man from carrying bundles of yarn that weighed 75 pounds. “He is paid $3 a week and his sister, who is 14, is paid $6. They work in a carpet factory 10 hours a day while the children of the rich are getting their higher education.”, In 1906, New Jersey passed a law preventing children from working in the mills before the age of 14.
Dedicated by the New Jersey State AFL-CIO July 9, 2003.
Princeton, New Jersey July 1903 – July 2003 Mary Harris “Mother” Jones
was a crusader for workers’ rights. She led several hundred children who worked in the textile mills on a march from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to President Theodore Roosevelt’s home in Oyster Bay, Long Island. Their demonstration publicized and protested the unspeakable crime of child labor. Mother Jones called upon Princeton’s mayor, H. L. Robinson, asking for permission to speak opposite the University campus. She said she wanted to speak on higher education. The mayor agreed. A great crowd gathered: professors, students, and the people. Mother Jones showed the crowd James Ashworth, who was 10 years old and stooped over like an old man from carrying bundles of yarn that weighed 75 pounds. “He is paid $3 a week and his sister, who is 14, is paid $6. They work in a carpet factory 10 hours a day while the children of the rich are getting their higher education.”
In 1906, New Jersey passed a law preventing children from working in the mills before the age of 14.
Dedicated by the New Jersey State AFL-CIO July 9, 2003
Erected 2003 by New Jersey State AFL-CIO.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Labor Unions
Location. 40° 20.973′ N, 74° 39.664′ W. Marker is in Princeton, New Jersey, in Mercer County. Marker is at the intersection of Nassau Street and Palmer Square, on the right when traveling west on Nassau Street. Marker is located in front of the tiger statue in Palmer Square. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Princeton NJ 08542, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 21, 2011, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,113 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on July 21, 2011, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.