Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1906-06-21
THINGS I OBSERVE

Quietly riding through the DeautiIui
Sequachee Valley sometime ago on the
night south bound train, an open con-
versation was overheard by the writer
as well as by all in the car, pertaining
to the differences existing at the min
ing camps of Whitwell and Tracy City
The parties that opened up and dis
cussed at considerable length, the above
differences, were three travelling men
whose information Of the matter was,
to say the least, very meagre and,
though different in their opinions,
were not without their respective pre-
JUDGES. The writer having what he
believes to be fair and reliable inform
alton from each side, was more than
ordinarily interested in the discussion;
and at the proper time, courteously
asked if he might take part in the dis
cussion, which was freely consented to.
Statements were made that were very
much misleading relative to the min
ers' side. Hence my reason for writ
ing on the matter.
The subject proper was the Tennes-
see Coal, Iron & Railroad Company
versus the United Mine Workers OF A
merica. The latter came in for its us
ual share of condemnation and the
former for it's usual share of praise.
1t was repeatedly intimated that the
union miners were the cause of the
lawlessness and disorder at both Whit
well and Tracy City and insinuated
that the burning of the Whitwell tip
pie was the work of unknown union
men and that the shootings and kill
ings at these places were the dastardly
and outrageous doings of union miners.
1t was also stated by one of these
travelling men that the incendiarism
of 1892, of turning convicts loose,
burning stockades, etc, were charge
able to the same parties.
The writer was resident of Whit
well during the time of the convict
troubles and has some slight knowledge
of that struggle, as well as the present
trouble at these two places and does
not desire to be in the least unfair in
his expressions to either side of the
controversy, but does desire to do his
part to check the circulating of such
erroneous and misleading statements.
, 1t may, however be we'll before pro-
ceeding further to ask ourselves the
!, following three questions in their or
, der list. Who is the Tennessee Coal,
Iron and Railroad Company I'd.
Who is the United Mine Workers of
America, or who are the Union Miners
of the above mining camps, viz: Whit
we'll and Tracy City1 Bird What is
the cause of the present trouble at each
i camp.
First The Tennessee Coal, Iron
! and Railroad Company is an organiza-
tion or institution of combined or col
l lective capital engaged in the mining
: and shipping of coal, coke, ore and
lime stone and makers and shippers Of
pig iron, steel, etc. It's original char.
, ter was granted by the Tennessee Leg
islature in 1860 and at its inception
= was what we would term home in
stitution or organization, composed OF
stockholders who were very largely,
(if not entirely citizens of Tennessee.
It's stockholders, directors, Executive
committee and executive officers were
largely Tennesseans Its birth place
was at Tracy City. Hence in speaking
of the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Rail
road Company, under its original char
ter we were speaking of home folks
and of home institution whose stock
holders were familiar with their EN-
ployees. and their employees familiar
with their employers, As this organ
ization, or institution, grew and de
veloped it increased it's capital by ad
ding other stockholders, who wert
largely foreign to the state of Ten
nessee, and the south, and foreign Il
their employees, neither parties, EN-
ployers or employee knowing each 9th
err. Such was the growth of the T. G
/. R. R. Co., that Tennessee became
the small part of their operations
They became one of the largest (if no
the largest corporations of the south
| but no longer composed of Tennessee o
| Southern Capital, as the following will
| clearly demonstrate. In the year 1900
| the executive management of the 7
J CT. & r. R. Co. were composed o
- board of directors numbering seven
teen in all. OF these fourteen wer
of New York, two of Tennessee ant
one of Alabama, and executive com
J mittee of ten, all of which were o
New York, executive officers seven il
number all of Tennessee and Alaba
ma Sometime after this the execu
tive officers were so changed that
was demonstrated beyond all doub
. that the T. c. l. 81 R. r. Co was n
longer under the CONTROL of Souther
capital or Southern management
Today it IS very questionable that an
old time stakeholder or officer is i,
any way connected with the 7. c.. ]
\. q r. r. Co. SO that when we as
ourselves today the first question, viz
, What is the T. G. /. & R. R. Co.
we are led to say, it is an Organiza
tion, or institution of combined G