Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1906-01-04
UNCLE GID'S LETTER.

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No, the days of persecution are not
over yet. l believe the majority OF
our people are honest, love liberty and
freedom as dearly as our forefathers
did and would not deny any poor,
working man any right or privilege
they might legally possess and un-
doubtedly they have right to keep
their union and do business through
it as they may elect It is all they
have to protect them from avaricious
greed and no one save moneyed des-
pots seek to deprive them of this right.
Search and hunt where you may and
not man says them, Nay except
the money gang and those rnder their
influence. Then the question arises,
why do companys and moneyed corpor-
ations seek to deprive laboring men OF
their unions and strip them of all the
protection they have? Just sentence
answers the question. SO they can
| fleece them at their will and pleasure
and render them powerless to resist
their aggressions when they want to
increase their profits. Sweep the labor
union out of existence and what pic
mic the money gang would have! How
soon would the money power enthrone
itself and run riot over the entire peo-
pie. These labor unions are terrible
nuisance to the money power and if
they could only be destroyed, Capital
would sway the scepter more severely
than any despot of any age. The la
Dor unions are not only fighting to
maintain their own right but to up
hold and maintain the rights of all
working people everywhere. They are
the only brave, heroic men now con-
tending earnestly against pitiless foe.
Their cause merits the aid and assist
ance of all liberty loving people
They are contending alone, unaided
by any great and powerful influence
save in their own ranks, some of whom
have become renegades and traitors to
their brethren. The flesh pot of Egyp-
tian bondage was more fascinating to
them than the land of promise. Such
men have their reward, and | hope no
union man will begrudge it to them.
Traitors are never respected by good
people.
Alone these men wage the battle.
They contend against mighty foe
No soldiers on the field of battle have
ever displayed such heroic courage as
the men of Tracy City and Whitwell
are displaying and winning for them
selves applause they do not know they
are getting. 1t takes heroes to do
right and contend for the right under
such fierce opposition and they are
winning day by day decorations the
knights of old would have loved to
have worn. Many of them are unlet-
tered and unlearned Not many Of
, them have any oratorial gifts but they
} have convictions and the courage Of
their convictions. Moral courage is
one of the greatest attributes a man
can have. Most any man can have
/ physical courage, but moral courage,
friends, is far better. Now, for the
sake of your cause and the people
, among whom you live, continue to ex.
ercise that noble attribute and never
D suffer yourselves to be tempted to do G
wrong act or violate the law of youl
land. Live and act christians. Relig
ion means liberty and freedom ant
equality, recognizing the FatherhooG
= of God and the brotherhood of man
Your enemies would deny you THU
l right. They consider themselves abov,
; you, have superior rights to- you ant
they are loath to recognize a thing 81
D Insignificant as a workingman' union
Their stomachs are very fastidious anC
e great philanthropists for individualisn
and just can't swallow collectiveness
9 ism when it comes to the laboring peo
4 pie, but when it comes to them the,
have no hesitation in combining by tn
o hundreds to over awe and subdue al
s thai dare oppose them.
Well, friends, your contest may b,
long and severe but my sense and reas
on tells me you are right The princi
pie is just and fair, and believe yor
. will win. Don't be discouraged, don't
=, be disheartened The storm will spen
u its fury, a reaction will, yea, has a
!, ready set in. The great public heal
. is honest and it will turn to you an
: aid you in spite Of all the shysters ou
of Jail Already one whole town ha
- said, mo enemy of yours can be fe
= = and housed by them. They have hear
y the many ISLANDERS promulgated againi
you and they know they are false an
:, they turn to you as one man. A lit
- leayen will leaven the whole. Stan
firm Break no lawl Prove loyal I
your union! UNCLE GID.