Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1899-03-16

promptly discharged Tor aemahu'hB
their money when due.
In fact this arbitrary way Of dealing
with the men in every respect was car
ried to such an extent, and so we'll
known to all the men, that the men
would say to each other in a joking
way: III you don't like it bring out
your tools"
Bon Air is an incorporated town, al
though shere is but one store doing BUSH
ness there that being the company's
store.
The corporation governments run on
the same principal Hs the mines, For
instances The Board OF Aldermen elect
ed a man for Recorder land still holds
him) who 10 an infidel, believing in
neither the word Of God nor Jesus
Christ This man has uniform fine OF
s.. 60 for almost any offence from drunk
enness to pistol carrying and the fine
comes out on the offenders statement
as assumed accounts.
The above grievances and others not |
mentioned were the grounds for organ
izing local Union OF United Mine |
| Workers Of America at Bon Air. We /
| organized Local Union 59l at Bon Air.
Dec. IS, 1898. The Company having as
certained that the men were organizing
called meeting Of the men at which
meeting they told the men that they
must sign an iron clad contract by Feb
ruary lst and all men not submitting to
such iron clad contract would get no
more work at Bon Air. After a few
days they posted notices in which they
stated that all men who would not by
February LIST sever their connection
with the Local Union, give up their
charter. and destroy their seal would
be discharged at once, which threat they
carried out to the letter. All men re-
fusing to comply with such unscrupul-
GUS demands receiving notice after a.
bove date to vacate their houses within
ton days or legal proceedings woNd be
instituted to dispossess them. Be it
known that all houses in Bon Air be-
long to tho Bon Air Coal, Land & Lum-
Der Company, and the lands they own
being estimated at IS 600 acres.
' On account of above unwarranted pro-
ceedings many men have been compell-
cd with their families to tear up and
move in the midst OF severe winter and
seek work at other places, while a
large majority of US are settled a
, round Bon Air in shacks of our own
building, houses such as we could get OF
or any places to shelter our loved ones,
and we are determined to contend foI
the work that is rightly ours, for Oul
liberty and our freedom. The lockout
= is not settled, and all reports to the
= contrary are unwarronted falsehOods
q Whenever this matter is settled the
y Union will notify the public of the
. same. Therefore we appeal to the law
= abiding and liberty public to as
= sist us in this great fight we are waginG
q in defense of our wives and children
y and for our rights and privileges as law
abiding citizens of the State OF Ten
+. nessee against an INSCRIPTIONS corpOr
"a alton that would destroy that liberty
r. loving spirit so dear to every American
h heart, and would rob us of our rights a.
+ American citizens, and would rob GU
II wives and our children of the supper
ts that is justly theirs.
h We sincerely hope that this cirCula
will receive a careful reading by tn
public and that we will not he con
>, demned without hearing.
- We, the undersigned, agree that tn
~ above is correct statement OF condi
" tionS that have existed and now exis
at Bon Air.
?, c. CRAvENs, Pres.
JOHN c. GRICE, Chm.
- S. L. LOWRY, Sec. & Treas
- WILEY PARKER, Vice Pres.
o NJ. J. SHELTON.
Executive Board of Local Union No. IS
U. NJ. w. A.
: Bon Air, Tenn, March ., 1899.