Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1906-11-29
UNCLE GID'S LETTER.


contract, the contractor getting So
cents per ton, delivered on cars Near
ly every team is employed hauling coal
in wagons. | believe every man will
be employed. see no sign of any dis
elimination by the company. Well,
the company, L guess, knows that
when men enter contest of any kind
they seek to win out. I hear that some
have been turned down, but don't
vouch for the truth of the rumor.
People up here have Jared very well
for the last two years and more, and
while they failed to win, from the best
information | can get they are not
shedding any great amount of tears ov-
er their defeat, as I-said sometime
ago, as the News readers probably re-
member, that the contest was not one
of wages but one of right. In fact
the fight was one more to, force the
recognition of the District and Nation
al officers than anything else. The
men here stuck like leech and did
not need any tar or glue to make them
stick, either. But when the District
and National officers threw up the
sponge, the men really had no case in
court, for they always were satisfied
with the wages offered by the 7. G. I.
Co. Some are sore over their desertion
by the National officers and are very
much disgusted at them, so much so
that doubt whether they will ever
place any more confidence in a labor
union. At least some tell me they new
er will, but SO far as that is concerned
they don't know. Oppression makes
men change their minds and no man
knows the future. In our irritations
we say things that are sometimes for
eign to our future actions when they
come.
The company has chance to make
the men here friends, if it wants them
to be- Kindness is the safest and sur
est policy to keep down friction and
confusion There is nothing that will
beat it. So far as holding men off for
what they said during the contest is
very silly. Even in heated political
. contest men say things that are not
right and very ungentlemanly. | don't
think the company will get that little
and low down. 1t may but can't be-
lieve it will for the reason | think il
is composed of bigger material. 1t has
won and it has won over men worthy
of its steel, but to humiliate them il
the method of despots and tyrants.
am trying to give straight and cor
rect synopsis of the situation as | SEE
it at this time, regardless of whom i
pleases or displeases. I don't propos,
to mistate the situation or talk from
what rumor says, and so honestly be
lieve that all will get work in the nea,
future. In regard to lawless acts com
mitted, believe that the guilty shoul(
be ferretted out and punished. That i
my position on that. l would like t.
: know and am anxious to know the cul
prits If that would come to light i
would be relief to me and many 9th
ers.
J Now, | want to say that the lesson
though costly, should be appreciated s.
that in the future such rough place
might be avoided, also | think Mrs
Grundy made mistake when she sal
many would have to leave here to ge
work. No man has to leave thi
mountain unless he wants too. Th
mining business is not overburdene
and l don't think it was good policy t
make any such assertions. With thi
mild rebuke think we should endeav
or to allay all prejudice and frictio
and bring about harmony for l knov
the miners are not so far apart as som
= would have us believe That knoN
and the only split was over the Nation
= al and District officers at the first
S They or a part thought they coul
+ manage all their own business locally
S Well local self government is very d.
mocratic. Now, if any one sees thing
different, that is all right, but don
fly in a passion at the truth.
Well, Uncle Bill Dooly, am a dye
q in the wool fox hunter, bred and born
4 One can trace my hunting procliviti,
g back to my great grand parents on bot
d sides of the house. So guess I can
V by hunting honest. / am an old reb
V soldier, a democrat politically, and
l. Methodist by persuasion and Chri
,r tian by choice or by the new brit
n Try TO advocate what l believe is f,
a the best, regardless of friend or fo
!. want to be honest with myself al
then to all men, True to God, hon
and country. Have seven childreI
/ four boys and three girls; all marri,
lie except Charley, Mas baby boy. no
te Is years old, and the girls Uncle Bi
I'd are casting goo goo eyes at him, b
Il I've kinder got in bluff on them.
m Well, Uncle, I've % grandchildre
s eleven boys and eleven girls, and VIII
b. they all come TO see grandpa | tell v
e. it's sight Only two hounds, Bi
; and one fyst to go in andbring the fC
n. es out, and pony TO ride huntin
or Bill, I'm a friend to my countI
When me and the old gal started @