Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1906-07-19
THINGS / OBSERVE

We promised to have something to |
say this week to those now working in
and about the Whitvell and Tracy City
mines and coke ovens
The conflict now going on between
the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad
Co., the Tennessee Consolidated Coal
Co., the Nunley Ridge Coal Co. and
the United Mine workers of America
is one that in each case has. been and
is now forced on us by the three above
corporations Every conceivable and
conservative method was adopted by us
to try and evade any trouble but with
ont avail. It's fight on the part of
Organized Capital to try and exiting
uish Organized Labor at Whitwell
Tracy City, and vicinities. To do this
they are using Non-union Labor to
help them defeat Union Labor. When
ever this is done it generally results in
engendering bitterness between the
two classes of labor and accomplishes
their aim, namely divide labor while
they keep themselves intact and solid.
Let us us calmly and impassionately
consider this. Our falling out and Bit
terness with and to each other is to our
detriment and loss, and to the other
fellows gain. It's pretty good general
ship to try and divide or weaken the
ranks of the enemy this the above cor
porations have succeeded in doing.
They have not and are not meeting
with results as they desire, but are
buoyed with hope that in time they
will. The future alone will prove as
to whether or not they will do so. l
don't hesitate however in saying that
even if they accomplish their aim, it
would not be permanent, only temper
ary, and the men who are working at
these places today would be the next
ones to be in an industrial conflict
with these same corporations in the
future. 1t is commonly said that his
tory repeats itself. This has been and
is today true of industrial struggles.
Then why continue to permit Oursel-
yes to be so divided. We admit that
labor unions have made mistakes, they
may have made many of them, they
are composed of human beings, hence
liable to err The same is as forcibly
true of organized capital; they too,
are composed of human beings, and are
liable to, and do err. Past mistakes
ought to learn each side to guard
against the future. Is the principles
and objects of labor union right2 If SO
they are then entitled to your consider
alton and cooperation. Labor unions,
while honestly and legitimately seek
ing to advance prices and improve con-
ditions of labor also have higher and
nobler motives in view. Organization
tends to educate and elevate. We are
seeking to establish more friendly re-
lationship between employer and EN-
ployee by and through our joint meth
ods of making wage scales, ETC., which
would result in establishing greater
stability in the coal trade. Unlike our
opponents, we would like to see each
side solidly organized that the respec-
tive interests of both parties may be
protected. Let me ask those who are
working at those places today, that in
the event of the Companies temporari-
" winning out land if they do it will
only be by and through your assistance)
what have you accomplished for your
selves, and how much better do you
stand in their good books. am afraid
their consideration for you all, will be
.
many of their old time and recent
officials. That is, just as soon as they
got through with their services, ne
matter how well they had done theil
bidding, coldly ask them to resign.
Many are the officials of the T. 9. l.
81 R. r. Co., that have stepped dowr
and out during the past two years
struggle. If they have no greater con
sideration for their officers, have yor
any reason to believe they will have
any greater consideration for yourself
yes. This, in my opinion, is worth.
of passing consideration at you
hands Let me suggest that for tim
we lay down our prejudices, our NAL
, ice our bitterness, and in a cool, deli
, berate, impassionate and conservative
manner, reason together for our owl
and the people's best mutual good
Labor organizations are born of neces
sity. If no real mot imaginary
wrongs had been inflicted on labor
then there would not have been an.
cause to seek redress. When wrong
were inflicted redress was not attain
: able without organization. Labo
unions have been very helpful indeed
, to labor in the East, North and West
and in less degree to the South, nc
5 only in higher wages and better con
ditions of labor but in successfult
seeking better labor measures at tn
hands of our Legislators
: Whitwell and Tracy City have
much improved wage scale today fo
5 mining and day labor, as a direct rt
: suit of the Union. A semi-monthl
payday was gained by the union ths
n does not apply today. Recall for
9 moment the prices at Whitwell an
Tracy City for mining, day labor, etc
g of from 1894 to 1898 and compare thel
by the prices of 1903 and 1904 and not
n the contrast. The last scale of price
Y obtained under or by the unioI
namely from July 1st, 1903, to Jun
r Both, 1904, was the award of boar
y of arbitrators that was supposed to |
an impartial tribunal selected by I'll
Alabama Coal Operators Association
s and the United Mine Workers of An
erica. The former Association selectt
?. Mr.. Robert H. Pearson, and NJ
/ Charles McCrery, both of Birmingham
Alabama, the latter at that time b
e ing Vice President and General MAJ
ager Of the T. @. I. & R. r. Co. III
latter Association selected Mr.. Villa
r. Farley of Pratt City, Alabam
and Mr.. Thomas L. Lewis, of Bridg
z port. Ohio. These four. pursuant
p authority investad in them nv n