Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1904-07-21
A WORD FOR UNCLE JOE.

In reading the News of last week we
noticed an article written by Uncle Joe,
commenting upon the bible and winding
up with an article on the situation at
Whitwell." He says 1--WE are all idle"
and in which be leaves the impression
that it is the fault OF the men. 10
this we will say that If be will only at
tend the local meetings he would not
be 50 ignorant as the situation. 1t is
no fault Of the men that this place is l.
die. They have made no demands
of the company. The facts are the men
were willing to work on, pending set
Element with the t. G. !. e. R. r. Co.
The company ordered the men to bring
out their tools and timber up their
places. This was practically the same
as saying I'VE have no more work for
you unless you get further notice"
Uncle Joe says, Suppose we are idle
four months and get to go back at the
same wages of last contract, etc. He
leaves the impression that the men
were offered the old contract which is
absolutely false. How could men force
the company to work them unless they
were willing?
1t is true that Uncle Joe has a weak
place in his reasoning or he would not
have expressed himself in such a man
ner. He intimates that he would be
willing to accept reduction. 1t is moi
all work that the men want but some
pay. The object of the U. M. W. of A
is to get capital and labor together Sc
that the men can obtain enough remu
neration to educate their children and a
| the same time furnish their wives with
a five-cent calico dress to wear tt
church. According to Uncle Joe''
statement, work is all that a laboring
man needs. Wages is no object. A
way with such fallaoies
Uncle Joe says why is there NJ
money in the treasury" If Uncle 10,
will go to the Bank he Will find the 10
cal treasury in good shape. Our none.
is only paid out for legitimate purposes
AS to high taxes, we can prove to hin
that the men have been amply paid TO
all their taxes.
We will take the wages of the men il
1897, before the organization, and com
pare them with the prevailing prices 70
the last four years we will find that tn
men who received 80 cents per day i
1897, made during the last four years a.
average of $1.27 for the same wo rB
making 40 per cent, advance. Nov
for this he pays per cent. for. his pre-
lection leaving SO per cent. for hi
gain. Other work was paid in propo
ton. So you see the arguments he pre-
duced are false.
1t seems that our good friend woul
surrender everything to capital and a
low them to put the lash to him lik
the plowman does the beast of burden
and have no voice in our affairs.
Capital only wants labor to surrent
er so that they can control it as the ia
mer does his horse,
Capital and labor will only be 0
friendly terms when capital can wor
labor for nothing,
A statement is made that the men al
for destroying property at this plac
, Our organization is for the protectic
of property, not the destruction of it.
We know that the more we waste til
harder it is on the laboring world. S
we are not for destroying but for bull
ing up.
!, Finally at this place we hope to 81
, the labor differences adjusted and a
} men return to work in good cheer, al
in the end, be able to build go,
school house with large auditorir
sufficient to accom- modate the 600 chill
. rem and furnish our neighbors with Z
ornament to behold as our beautiful /
tie boys and girls go skipping hon
from school
Yours truly,