The Powerful Life of Mama J With a tongue of fire and a heart of gold, Mary Harris Jones fought for the underdog and was a mother to all who needed her. Her personal hardships lead her to fight for exploited children and other workers, giving her the street name Mother Jones. A strong believer in traditional values Jones fought for women and children to be out of the work place. Mary Harris was born in May 1837 in Ireland. In search for a better life Jones and her family moved to Canada when she was a teenager and then the United states later in her like. She received a Catholic education and worked as a dressmaker until the treacherous year 1871. In this one year Jones lost her husband and four children to yellow fever; shortly after her shop burnt down. These horrid events lead her to a new life of activism. Jones then worked for the Knights of Labor and United Mine Workers. Her main crusade being to end child labor; for she could not save her own children so she felt obligated to save those exploited by robber barons. Her main disgusts being the mutilation many children experienced due to working on faulty machines. She also raised awareness of the disease and psychological damage that the dank coal mines caused. She also fought for shorter workday and an increase in hourly pay. Jones believed that children under 14 should not be allowed to work. Her care for children and maternal appearance gave her the name Mother Jones in 1897. Mother Jones had very