Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1904-09-08
"UNCLE Joe" MAKES ANSWER TO "UN-
ION MINER" IN DEFENSE.

News to answer one Union Miner,
who in his haste has put before the pub
lie lot OF very untrue statements. He
says that he was reliably informed that
l took job in 1902 with the surveyors
at reduction Of 25c a day, and threw
John Farmer out of job for which he
received 81. 80 day.
/ wish to tell Union Miner" that his
informant was not reliable. The truth
is this. For all work done in the val
ley and on the side of the mountain l
received S1.5O a day, and for all work on
top of the mountain received $1.75 a
day, and any one who is interested
enough to inquire can ask o. w. Monroe,
the engineer in charge of the work, and
will abide by his word, and what is
more never did at any time ask for the
job, nor did | know but what John
Farmer had quit, as he told me he was
going west in a short time. l am a
friend to John Farmer. and never had
any desire to do him or any other man
such injustice as is charged by Union
Miner.
AS to the rule here allowing the mine
committee to assist the mine foreman
in selecting men to dig coal, and also
the number Of men that should be put
on, say it can be proven by as good
men as live in Whitwell and they are
union men, that the rule was formula
ted in and by the union and presented
to the officials and fought by them, bu,
was finally conceded. This can be
proven by as good evidence as is in
! Whltwell, and union men at that. The
unreasonab bleness OF his statement IL
easily seen by any intelligent person.
No company would ask their employees
to dictate to them on such business, and
moreover, "Union Miner" what about
the case OF Walter Num- after he came
from Orme? Did not the mine foreman
put him to digging, and did not the un
ion stop him, and leave him without
employment? How about Walter Par
ker? Was he not stopped from work a
No. by the union, and left without
employment for some weeks? And al
because the union had not given its con
sent for them to be employed. AM
were not the last men put on at Whit
we'll put on by the mine foreman AM
superintendent over the protest Of tn
UnionP How about g. w. Smith, wa
he not bounded out of an entry by tn
union for no cause and thereby put in
room where he could not make as much
And still union miners say they neVe
tried to enforce this rule. l say the
did and it can be proved by good men
AS to the salary OF John Mitchell. |
not only equals but far exceeds tn
Presidents salary. The President ha
the government of over 7O,0OO,0 900 an
Mitchell less than 100000. Now l d
not wish to cast any reflection on tn
character of any individual as "Unio
Miner" seems to desire to hurl at me
but do have the right as an America
citizen to give my opinion on any sui
ject, and more especially where my il
terests are involved and as believe th
organization of the U. M. W. of A. a
managed is detrimental to the commo
! good of all people. This brings th
question why do l oppose it, which
will endeavor to answer. AS carried o
at Whitwell there is an element who d
| not accord US the privilege to o.
pose any of their pet notions as is plail
, ly seen in answers to my letters, and
you do you are liar, blackleg, con
pany suck and all such names. The
! seem to think that they are entitled
= all privileges, and, to show the patrio
ic spirit of some of them, they mac
= the assertion that when Whitwell star
ed they would see that did not wor
(ha, ha, such nonsense) and again whe
Whitwell was idle two years ago gre
number of men went to Dunlap and Il
Dunlap boys did not kick at their crow
ing the place, so far as have Learned
but when Dunlap stopped the Dunli
men could not get work here becau
the Union would not agree to give the
work although the mine foreman al
superintendent were disposed to gil
them work.
Finally the uperintendent told IL
bank committee that he was going
put men to work, and did so regardle
of the committees protest. And NOR
r over there is expense here to favor Il
men, which could be avoided with b
little trouble, and would enable ii
a company to give better wage If su
. expense was rid of. When there W
. no union men who were Industrious a
i wished to could go into the mine at al
J. hour they wished to, and by so doll
s. could load more coal, but the on
whose sweetest sleep was an hour aft
sunrise said this will never do" "wl
So-and-so loaded $50 tons Of coal Ia
month, aud this will work against US
a contract"
After the union took charge at VIII
4 we'll all tAls was changed, and the rul
= allow no man to 60 in the mines befo
= / uevan and ha u,ust c,-,a ~