Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1903-05-20

the men 10 do who have been preclpi-
tated into idleness through tbs hasty
action of the officials OF the orders to
which they belong, whether through
Ignorance or vicious intent, is to return
10 work. In q correspondence, be-
tween a committee from the Jackson,
Tenn, Commercial Club, an organi-
cation which seems to be active 10 it's
efforts to get into the game and do
something, whether It is prompted by
pbilanthropic intent or for mere pub
liclty We cannot Judge, and Manager
Clarke, we see that Mr.. Clarke still
retains his most cordial and friendly
feelings toward his old associates and
co-workers, and says that be is per-
fectly willing that such of the men as
have not interfered with the COM
pany's property OF the movement Of
it's trains, or with the men who re-
NAMED in the service, may come back
to the service to all any vacancies
that still exist. Daily q good many
have been returning, and It seems to
ne but the part Of wisdom that all who
can should do so. There is no rule
under which those who return can be
legltimately branded as scabs or act.
ing In bad faith by thus returning.
The strike was lost the hour It was or
dered, because there was no ample
reason for It's occurrence. All strikes
are lost when they are ordered, be-
cause they are wrong in principle and
destructive of harmony between en-
ployer and employee. The mar who
appeals to one who is out on this strike
and urges him to be loyalto his order,
is simply appealing to him to permit
want to enter his home, and follow q
wrong. the writer Of this article las
taken as many degrees as any man in
this section OF country, in one Of the
greatest frsternities history has ever
recorded. He prizes the privilege &C.
corded him thus as highly as any 9TH
or man could but, he would say to
any one now undecided as to his duty
between an order to which he belongs
or to his family, il the question should
be presented to him today to resign
all connections with this prided order,
or to neglect the high ties of q parent
or protector Of the loved ones Of his
home, he would accept the former
cheerfully and without hesitation, It
is but true human nature. IL is manly.
The officers of the unions who or
der these strikes, are taking no chan
ces on distressing their families. They
do not toll, but draw pay for looking
after those who do, ami the more
trouble they are able to bring to the
front, the higher their salaries become,
and the more Of their kind Of work
they have to perform.
We are 80 intently In earnest in this
matter, since It ONE so close home
to us, that we scarcely know how to
tease discussing it. With go many
different degrees of force it appeals
to the intelligent mind. In every i'm
portant town along the line Of railroad
affected, there r happy homes of
men who are interested in this issue.
When these men laid down their pos
itions, every source of income for
those homes ceased. The comforts of
their families came to a sudden close,
and for what reason2
Let Us look at the workings which
have brought about such a result A
labor organization is hike any other
association of men. It's purposes are
for the good OF it's votaries. Are they
always guarded to this end? Not by
any means, and here Is the reaso (:
There are always to be found 10 any
body Of people, in any community, in
any lodge, church or society, charac-
ters whose emotions are not directed
toward a betterment Of their surround
ing. In the church they are known
as the designing h~yPocrites. In the
lodge, club, or society, they are dis
turbers Of the peace and smooth sail
ing of the whole. In a labor Orgsni-
cation, they are known as agitatorI.
They are never satisfied, but contin-
ually seeking to get up a row and tear
down the friendly relations existing
between the employer and the opera
tor. The fifteen hundred men EN-.
ployed on the Mobile and Ohio Rail-
road never met and discussed what
course should be pursued In order to