The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-12-13
President of Jackson L'br
Co. Talks of Conditions
at Various Camps in
Southern States.
Head Men Will Not Tole-
rate Conditions Alleged
to Have Existed.
CHARGES OF PEoNAeE DISTRESS
ING TO ALL THE OFFICERS, ES-
PEcIALLY TO z. S. cRoSSETT.
WHOSE LIFE HAS BEEN PRAc-
TIcALLY DEVOTED TO AMELIoR,
ATING THE CONDITION OF IA.
BoRERs IN HIS EMPLOY.


J. W. Watzek, of Davenport, Iowa,
president of the Jackson Lumber Co.,
of Lockhart, Ala, and who is also
treasurer OF the Fordyce Lumber Co,
and the Crossett Lumber Co., was in
the city last evening arriving at IL
o'clock and departing for the north
on the midnight train He has just
returned from an extended visit to
European cities, having reached New
York on Sunday last, and came at
once south in order that he might be
ably to fully advise himself relative
to the charges of peonage that have
been made against employees of the
Jackson Lumber Co. Mr.. Watzek was
seen by representative of The Jour
nal and asked for an expression of his
views regarding the charges that had
been made that peonage existed in The
camps near Lockhart and talked free
ly regarding the matter He was es-
pecially desirable to put himself and
the other gentlemen, who are associat-
ed with him in the vast business of
the lumber concerns with which he is
connected, in the right light before the
southern people, and, in this connec-
ton gave the following interview:
Wished to Be Put Right.
Myself and the gentlemen who are
associated with me in the ownership
of The Jackson Lumber Co. and other
companies doing business in the
southern states most sincerely desire
to put ourselves right with the south
ern people. We have been doing bust
ness in the south for the past fifteen
years and are going TO stay in the
south and We would be the last ones
to antagoniZe labor for We need labor
and we believe that labor needs us
"The charges of peonage are dis
tressing to all Of us. but especially
so to Mr.. Z. S. Crossette, vice presi.
dent of the company. whose life has
been, in great measure, devoted 10
philanthropic works and whose every
effort is and has been the ameliora-
ton of the condition Of the laborinS
men employed in the various enter
prises with which he is connected.
Mr.. Crossett, in addition to being
vice president of the Jackson Lumbel.
Co., is president of the Fordyce Lun-
Der Co., and vice president of the
Crossett Lumber Company and c. W.
Gates and myself are associated with
him in all of these enterprises, and
two other companies The five com
panies employ in the neighborhood of
five thousand men and, until the
charges were made against the men
employed at the plant of the Jack
son Lumber Co. there has never been
anything but the highest praise for
the conditions that obtained at tho
various plants and camps We operate.
Ii Is fact that We have prided our
selves that tha conditions at our
camps were the best to &c fou1d any
where and il has always heon our en-
deSvor to make the men c0raforta
hle. contented and happy as far IL va,
in our power TO do go.
The Crossette Camp.
when we first started the Fordvcs
Lumber Company. fourteen years AGO,
Mr.. CTossette was in favor of having
reading rooms and club rooms for the
men and has always interested himself
in their welfare When the Crossett
Lumber COMPANY was formed and
ramed ia his honor he was particular.
" pleased and has given the men OF
the comDanv n club house that cost
him over 10000. which contains bill
lard looms reading rooms a ladies'
parlor and BUFFET where light lunches
may be had The club building also
contains large auditorium where lec-
lures are given from time to time and
which has stage where entertain
ments of various kinds are occasion
ally given. This club has nearly 700
members. all employees of the Cros-
sett Lumber COMPANY. and the mrn-
acement OF Il je entirely in the hands
of the men Mr. Crossett was so
much pleased with the success Of the
club that. this Christmas. he is going
TO give the men l9rge swimming
tank and bowling alley.
Club II Lookhart.
T mention these things in order
that YOU nlav sec that contrary "a
bein.- nartios 70 such conditions &c ere
alleged tn have existed at the Lock.
hart cannps. we ore WORKING in exactly
the bprnsiie direction II Is our desire
TO neke every one of our EMPLOYEES
contented and hanny and no man has
ever baAn ipnosed unon IN anv man.
ne- WITH our kD"wlAdoe and consent.
II has been the inton'inn Of orr com
parv 10 huil1 = chr bnHso Cor The
.,,.or - T.ocFhart nnF thir wiz prnhn-
bI- 10 do1~ IN 80 49, s-'4,.~o
AS n tho condit'"-- thef are nj
fce7tinr~d NJ Firth PassA