Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1906-01-25
UNCLE GID'S LETTER.

O'~N~NND~v~N~~VSNVN
/ notice that some of the correspond
ents, in writing on our labor troubles
are very much in the dark as to the
causes. One asserts he would run his
own mines and workshops or blow
them up Poor fellow, he is more to
be pitied than scolded-pitied for his
dense ignorance. Oh he is Just the
kind of man that feels his self-import-
ance and no man must dictate OF him.
He must be supreme. He must nix
wages and proclaim the conditions. He !
is the it, He fought nearly four years
for the privilege of doing as he pleas
es.
Now, l would like for this would-be
philosopher to point out to me a single
intelligent union man that wants his
union to dictate. assume and control
the Company's business. | know this
charge is made frequently. Now let
me tell you something. Don't you
know the Company was responsible
for the burden that was put on the un-
ion and told the foreman that What
ever the committee said went and
" to give them rope enough and they
would hang themselves Yes SAID
the foreman. but in hanging them
selves they will hang somebody else.
This was scheme concocted to bring
the union into disrepute and make it
odious and some men belonging to or
did belong to the Tennessee Consollda'
ted Company, know the above state
ment is true and will not deny it.
The fact is, gentlemen, if you will
take the pains to search out the truth
before rushing into print and making
assertions and statements, you will ind
your letters will have a better tone.
Your Uncle Gid kicked at the union
for assuming such burden but men
are grown up children and can be
spoilt Just about as easy and they have
been sinned against more than SHINING.
Ignorance of what unionism is begets
brutality towards it.
The Clifty Creek Coal Co. displays
its ignorance of what the union Is and
told falsehood in the discharge OF
those miners. They say non-union
man has no right to accept work at a
union mine. Well, your Uncle Cid,
worked at union mine until the lock-
out and no union miner questioned my
right. Like all the other charges made
against organized labor, anything to
array non-union labor against the un-
ion men! That's the idea Several
non-union men worked in the same
camp where | worked without being
questioned Let the truth be told at
any cost. SO this like other lies, can
be refuted.
All honest men are not to be lured
into fighting men whose ambition is to
better conditions and if the enemies Of
union labor will take peep behind
the curtains where the plans and
: schemes are '"concocted to destroy it,
: they would never utter another sland
erous charge or repeat one made
against it. Your uncle Gid has been {
close observerand he has some little in
sight into matters and knows some O.
the inwardness of the thing, and som'
folks are very much troubled becaus,
: they know l do know, and they know
further that may take it into my oil
n grey head to hew to the line.
0 Now, gentlemen, state your charge
specifically and be sure you have goo,
j. proof, for If you don't I'll wake yov
q up. Now, the intelligent union maj
J. acknowledges mistakes have been mad
and acts committed that they coul
v not help or even knew anything abou
= and no set of men regrets the hellis
lawlessness done and sought to be lai
) at their doors more than they do.
o They have been under espionage a
il the time and not single act is charg
cable to them, even the shots said
ia be fired at the Sheriff of Grundy coun
If ty, was not done by union men, but b
l. a scab and outsider. Oh what halle
luiah the enemies of the union woul
If raise if they could just get some unio
man into serious trouble Well, IL
70 union has lost all her riff-raff The
have deserted and gone, for which
m extend my hearty congratulation to Il
union! Gone to scabbing.
Or UNCLE GID.