Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1906-07-12
THINGS / OBSERVE

the conversation on the train. Refer
ring to- misleading statements, it was
stated ON the train tnat miners at Ira
cy City were making "a. .35 per day
when they went on strike. Let me
state here that Tracy City miners did
not go ON strike. 1t was LOCKOUT,
pure and simple. We would not say
that some men were not making this
amount. We do say, however, that if
one or more were making it they were
few and far between. We say more.
Prior to the LOCKOUT mot strike
the average daily earnings would be
much less than 81. 90 per day, even be-
fore deductions of expenses for powder
etc. In addition to this they were
not averaging more than three days
per week prior to LOCKOUT at Tracy
City and little (if any better at Whit
well.
Another misleading statement was
that lawlessness and disorder was char
geable to the union miners. Union
miners at both Whitwell and Tracy
City have been (by many condemned
before trial This is not only not
RIGHT but it is also UN-AMER1-
CAN. We repeat that we stand ready
for an impartial investigation pertain
ing to our acts as compared to those
of our prosecutors, the T. G. |. q r.
r. Co. Not a union miner has sought
at any time during the trouble to in
any manner evade the law. To the
contrary, Notwithstanding erroneous
press statements, they have been ready
to assist Town, County, State and Fed
10 %ha lnx Ia1n
ones at any time they have been called
upon. Refer to United States Marsh
lal Overall, of Nashville, and his dep
uties, or any of the Town, County,
State or Federal Officers who have
been on the ground during the trouble
at either place for proof of the above.
We say here and now that the Unit
ed Mine Workers of America are lovers
of law and order and fully believe that
| any one of its members who would
condescend or stoop so low as to be
guilty of single act of a lawless or
disorderly nature would be one of its
greatest enemies We are organized
for legitimate purposes. We are not
seeking murderers, assassins or people
guilty of acts of incendiarism fo1
membership in our organization. We
don t want them. We have no use fol
them. If we wanted that class of peo-
pie in our union we would be apt tC
send our agents to visit the slums of
the cities to gather them up as opera
tors do in times Of strike.
| took exceptions to the statement;
when made on the train that the Un
ion miners of Whitwell and Tracy City
were the cause of all the lawlessness
disorder, burning of tipples, killings
shootings, turning convicts loose, etc
hereby further register myself in de
fense of people l know by actually
living among and being one of then
for fifteen years, and perhaps before
we are through with the subject WE
shall at least show that the other sid'
are not altogether angels.
If the union men were guilty of al
the lawless acts then it appears strang
to me that under the pressure of latt
months, being under State and Fedora
lnjunctions, Notwithstanding these in
functions are of a sweeping character
that not single arrest has been mad
for even alleged violation thereof
The mandates of the Courts have beel
strictly observed even to the extent o
refraining from that which we full
believe the higher courts of both Stat
and Federal will grant to us as on
civil and moral rights
In addition to these injunctions Stat
troops have been ordered to each o
these mining camps by Hon. John
Cox, present governor of Tennessee, t
the extent of nearly six hundred solo
ierS and their officers, and not a singl
clue of any misdemeanor chargeabl
to the union miners has been forth
coming. While the soldiers were g
Whitwell, acting / presume, under tn
suggestion of a company agent, whol
, / further presume thought to make
rich haul by unexpectedly doing it tn
soldiers surrounded the miner S hall o
a Saturday morning when the unio
l miners were holding their reguls
meeting The writer was present {
? the meeting and was one of the speal
ers. The meeting was not in the lea
interfered with which was an ope
meeting attended by ladies, gentleme
and children but Immediately at I'll
close of meeting all the men were o
dered to form themselves in line arouI
the hall and consider themselves und,
arrest. The ladies and children we
allowed to pass through the yard ga
e to outside, all the others ordered
Il line uu. Then said agent, a residei
: of Whitwell, accompanied by an Office
g marched several times around the me
5 lined mp, and the former pointed OF
d to the latter what men to arres
k Twenty some odd men were arreste
searched and marched off by the sol
iers to the barracks. Notwithstan
ing this was an unexpected and u
looked for arrest nothing in the shaI
of firearm or weapon of any XII
was found on the parties arreste
:. apart from pocket knives | imagil
L the ones arrested were considered
q, be the most likely ones TO be arme
3 yet not weapon was found. The
: men were kept prisoners and queStio
~ ed at will without their having an o
- portunity TO have so much as a leg
representative present in their beha
About eighteen Of them were turn
loose at midnight and four held Ov
until Monday night or Tuesday.
addition 10 all this United States Ma
$ shalls have been appointed, and one )
$ remains at Tracy City. Yet those
le 5. officers have told me personally th
they have had the best OF treatme
from our people and have had no trC
hle with them whatever. OF course
i A nice and easy Way for These A.,