Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1906-05-17
UNCLE GID'S LETTER.

My dear non-union friends has your
Uncle Gid ever refused to speak to you
when he met you? Has he ever given
you bad advice or council? Has he
not told you time and again there were
silly folks, both in and out of the un-
ion, and you tell me that if the union
had treated you right you wouldnt t
be scabbing and that you know union
men could all be at work if they would
give up their privileges and if the un-
Ion gets licked you know that it will
hurt you. You tell me this in priv
ate conversation, even going so far as
to say that you don't want the union
whipped Are you honest? Do you
mean what you say? If so why and
what excuse have you for not allying
yourself with the union? Oh, they
won't speak to me. Have l not told
you there were silly folks? think SO,
time and time again. Then you say,
why, Uncle Gid, they have abused me.
Certainly so, I know, but what do
care for some loggerheaded fools that
are in the union. Such fools never act
from principle and still they imagine
they are the whole thing. l am for the
principle and don't propose to cut off
my nose to spite my face. You tell
me the company says they will respect
your committee and say it is right.
Certainly they will, for they are smart
enough to know it. has no power to
back it up All the objections they
have to the U. NJ w. of A. is its pow
er to compel them to respect it. That's
all. They don't charge them with be-
ing law breakers or anything of the
kind They leave that for you to do.
You say you are free. Certainly but
what does your freedom amount to-?
Can you and will they let you organ
ize and do business through your Or
ganization? Not much Then where
is your freedom in working for such
companies? Don't you realize that
you have lost certain rights and priv
ileges and are doing yourselves injury
and every other working man? Is that
right? Is it American and does that
kind of conduct aid in the emancipa-
tion of the worlds workers from the
hand of oppression2
am free man, wear no man col
lar, and | have never seen the day a
company could prostitute my liberty
and privilege as they see fit. I am nc
Esau nor Ishmeal, neither do lust fo1
, the flesh pots of Egypt nor worship at
the shrine of the golden calf One of
you fellows quote whole lot of scrip
ture. What a pity he didn't know
some scripture when he was such a rec
hot union man. The devil quoted
scripture too and think all of his fol
lowers take more delight in it thar
church members. I'm Jew enough tC
believe that is very wicked dom
g think any man has the sanction of Goo
in using his word as common thing
; but am digressing.
We have some nice, genteel scabs
s Men like. They are misled and de
luded. Some are scabbing whom hac
S no idea ever would do the like. | be
lieve they will quit think they arr
too good friend to the cause of labo
t to continue. I know they are not sat
d isfed but feel that they are doin
wrong. Quit, men. and don't do it
4 ,
It work for companies, especially thos
who have no respect for the ibert
p and privilege Of its employees. SO fla
. as am concerned such a company ca
: want men or do without.
OF course we all know that Just til
% least bit of oppression on the scabs q
y they are called, and they will qui
They won't stand it and some woul
- - quit now if they knew the unio
Q would help them. Well, they mus
quit first, as the union, am told,
enjoined so she can't help you unit
you iberate yourself. Get your shacl
n les broken off That is why son
don speak The freedom of speech
W enioined, so don't get mad at the boy
st They want to obey the law, B,
:, where is your freedom? You boast
" that old bloodhound that is aroun
to Well, of all the fools that ever hv'
IN we working men are the biggest, figh
ing each other to please little Q
n ne company. Gee whizl let's all MAJ
friends and tell tine companies to go
ng Hades. Here is my hand. Pass tn
around for endorsement.
ss UNCLE GID.
~ cTno cpIIupi INH