Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1906-10-18
UNCLE GID'S LETTER.

have a picture hanging in my home
that has a history. 1t was taken by
w. Z. Tillett the 4th day of July,
1887. The picture represents the K
Of L. 8 in their parade and barbecue
at that time in the town of Tracy
City, Tenn. At the head of the col
umn you can see the Winchester band
in their bright new uniforms and
waving plumes. Just in front and
near the center of the column you can
see Capt A. D. Hargis, Chief Mar
shall of the day, mounted on a grey
horse. Just in front of the band
stands. their NJ. W., 7. F. Carrick,
with his hands clasped in front of him.
Looking down the long line then you
see old Glory as she proudly floats on
the breeze held loft by the hands of S.
P. Graham and close by it is the beau
tiful banner of the X. of L. You
closely scan the column of those sturdy
knights and you note their cheerful
countenances and faces full of hope.
You can see in that column many fac
es that will never be seen again on
earth.
They have gone hence while there
are many faces who have lived to see
quite change take place in the affairs
of Tracy City. AS look at the pic
tire memory revives and | fondly re-
call the days when Tracy City was in
the zenith of her glory; when every
body was friend to everybody else
and everybody had a fine time
There were then no prejudices,
no animosities, no friction between
employer and employee and the
whole town was permeated with peace
and good will
The picture is relic of the past and
shows in language louder than words
what prudence, reason and common
sense will do fof community. Not
only has this picture refreshed my
memory but it points to other things
as monuments accomplished by the no
BILE knights during their life as an Or
ganization, to wit: the College, the
getting of their groceries delivered at
the homes of the people, a reduction in
rents. L. A. 1855 was the influence
of securing labor committee in both
the upper and lower house of the gen.
eral Assembly of Tennessee, Peter Be
dow being the Pictorial Representative
from Marion and Grundy counties, in
troduced the resolution by request of
T. F. Carrlck, the NJ w. of said as
sembly. Then again, these same K.
of L. asked the legislature in conjunc-
ton with the W. G. 7. U. and other
good citizens for the adjustment of
Tracy City's charter, SO as to get rid
of the saloons that infested the town.
J The Legislature did as requested and
from that day there has been no liquor
legally sold in Tracy City. The organ
ization won for itself the respect of
outside people and cultivated peace
and good will toward their employees.
Almost every good thing that the peo-
pie of Tracy City have received and
been of lasting benefit was brought
about by the K. of L. and not single
thing that was obtained was ever got
by coercion or even threat. No man
can recall those days and say truthful
ly that times were not good much
better than in 1906 Many of our citi-
zens have talked to me and are sorry
of the sad condition as they now exist.
Our boys and girls have grown up,
entering young manhood and woman
hood, and have never tasted anything
much save strife and confusion. They
do not know how peaceful and harmon
ious was everything under the juris-
diction of the K. of L. They know
but little, if anything, about the good
times existing when the picture was
] taken. Neither do they know the old
men as l know them. l fear. they look
!. on many of them as enemies to the
cause of labor l believe every old cit
! izen, who was a X. of L., still has
J. away down in his heart kindly feel
I ing for the working man and while
/ they have stood aloof and not been in
i the forefront, we must remember that
!, they never desert the working man,
l. but were kind.of laid on the shelf by
the workingman himself and today w
are enjoying benefits brought about BY
/. those men. They were help to nj
and we were to them, or at least
trust we were. The picture disclose
many things | had nearly forgotten
and brings anew to my mind the bes
= and most thoughtful men who belong
ed to L. A. 1856, with their adyic,
and council and how by their conser
yative plans and methods they sough
to cement and link together employe
and employee. The employer that keep
in friendly touch with their employee
will never have strike. The knight
a often invited Col. A NJ Shook to Wis
it them in their meetings and he Otter
J did so. and.so.did Col. E. o. Nathurst
That was the policy of the Knight
to keep in touch with their employer
and as your writer has some experience
}. in labor matters he thinks the polio,
for employer and employees to pursu