Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1907-01-31
GOOD, SOUND UNION TALK.
Editor News:


Editor News:
| notice in your last issue, your
statement that you want reasons given
and arguments produced in writing ON
questions affecting the Miners Union.
Now, think you are right in this. /
never have read an argument produced
against the United Mine Workers that
had any bottom to it.
Since the founding of the miners
organization the price of coal digging
and company work around the mines
have increased % per cent in favor of
the working man. Now, this is true
and vet we ind working men whose
minds have been prejudiced against
their own interests, and are in some
instances, striving to pull down wages
and bring on conditions that will bring
hunger and want to their children
The reward they receive for these
efforts is only smile and commend
alton from those company authorities,
who are paid big salary for this
smile and commentator. These men
who are paid these salaries are lust do
ing the bidding and carrying out the
orders of corporation, which has no
common interest with the welfare of
any of us-union or nOnunion. They
have no vital interest in anything else
but the accumulation of millions of
dollars from the sweat and Drawn of
the workingman. They cannot be cred
tied with any other motive than to
persuade men in course against their
own interest in favor of the company's
| interests.
The public will bear in mind that
the T. G. l. Co. locked its men out of
the mines at the end of their last CON
tract, for the reason of the decision of
an arbitration board called to meet in
Alabama in the year 19O3-in which
decision Judge Gray, Chairman of the
arbitration board, rendered his decis-
ion in favor of the United Mine Work
ers of America Up till this decision
day workmen were not receiving the
amount of wages that were being paid
in other sections, and paid by other
companies.
This decision brought on the lockout
at Whitwell and other places against
the Union. Since that all the people
in and around the Whitwell mines,
who are not employed, know that the
financial status of our community is
not near so prosperous, and our mar
ket has been greatly impaired, which
shows conclusively that the United
Mine Workers improved the conditions
of all the people who were adjacent to
the mines while the T. C. l. Co. was
giving them employment.
Since the lockout it has been the pol
icy of the T.. G. l. Co to exterminate
these workmen who have made the
company all the money they have ac-
crued since their organization
This seems unholy that men who are
good citizens and practical miners
should be forced to leave their homes
and firesides and seek employment in
other localities, when the only crime
they plead guilty to is: Their effort
to better the condition of their fellow
man, regardless of his position in life.
This crime is submitted to by the Uni
ted Mine Workers.
This war of determination calls our
minds to the history of Spain. At one
time she was the proud monarch of all
the world. In the vain glory of this
Spanish Monarch she instituted an in
human warfare among her subjects
and persisted until very recent date
Her own citizenship waged warfare
against the Jews until they were all
exterminated by emigration. The eli
max of her inhumanity reached its re-
NTH when the battleship Maine was
blown up in Havana harbor and we all
know what Uncle Sam did to her was
plenty.
Russia is fast following in the foot
steps of Spain, and her lot need not be
mistaken.
What is true of a nation is much
more true of an individual or corpora
ton.
Spain has become the laughing stock
of the world as power, and Russia is
on the visible highway to the SAME
goal.
Any calamity that befalls a nation
individual or corporation for inhumar
practices, are just retributions, for Goo
says, Vengeance is mine
j. NJ. GRIFFITH,
/ President Local U. NJ. w. of A..
No. 2S7.
TSTESViLLE.