Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1908-10-15
Advises Cooperative Mining.

quested your correspondents to write
articles on cooperative mining. which
i think would be the best thing that
could be done, and which think could
De zone l saw an article IN a recent
copy OF the News, saying that this
scheme could not be done, The gov
ernor OF Tennessee buys land, mineral
lands, 80 as to work cOnyicts and uses
the states money to do so. and I think
Mr.: Lewis would have the same right
10 invest any amount of the money
that lies In the treasury UNEMPLOYED.
IL could be invested in some mineral
LANDS, part of it down here in Ala
bama, build up mining camp ON the
same plan as the mining camps are in
the northern states, and have good
substantial houses for the miners to
live in. The houses here in Alabama
that the operators require miners and
their families to live in, are not as
good as the northern miners COW stall,
anu Zoe operators say that they can't
AFFORD to build such costly houses, but
they charge more rent for one of those
poor houses, or as much, as a fine
dwelling house in northern town.
You see that about all of those opera
tors belong to an operators associa-
ton, and when they see fit, they all
! agree on wage cut and say that coal
has come down. I'll is they make the
miners believe, for those operators
make no public report of their bust
ness for this reason.
A cooperative mine, owned by the
United Mine Workers, would head off
a lot OF this undermining. If the or
| ganlzation ran mine here in Ala
bama, they could afford to pay better
wages, build better houses, and make
monthly report of their mining bust
ness and have it published in the Uni
ted Miners Journal. By this plan the
miners of this state could see whether
those operators would have a right to
cut wages. This last strike should be
a great lesson to all the people all ov-
er the state. Union labor is doing and
has done great deal to make better
the conditions of labor, but those CON
ditiOns are not going to be bettered
much farther until those who lead la
Dor show moderation in their desires
and manage their organizations on a
broader plan. 1t is astounding to note
the amount Of money spent in the
fruitless efforts to bring Southern
workmen into labor organizations I'M
der the present conditions The strike
was honest. 1t was not in opposition
to unorganized labor, but against re-
duction of wages, and for conditions
of employment that were honest and
square. The strike in this state die
not fail because the operators could
not afford to pay last years scale, but
because the individual who happened
to be governor, Conner, used all tht
military powers of the state to assis
the operators and force down the min
ing price. Most conspicuous was tn,
tyrant governor with the militia a
his back, together with lot of heart
less guards armed by the corporations
The governor rode rough shod over thu
mining district and ordered his compa
ny of soldiers to cut down all tn
tents, the temporary shelters of mig
ers, their wives and children, and Ii
those people to the mercy of the word
They prayed as those soldiers TOD
their SWORDS and cut the ropes. Thu
were asked why they did this all
their answer was: 1T is ordered b,
the Governor. What do you resdet
think Of such governor of this grea
state of Alabama 1t is hard to thin,
, or believe that christian gentleman
a Sunday School Superintendent of tn
First Methodist Church, of Birming
ham, would be the cause of such heart
less and uncalled for action, as this ty
, rant has done.
oil CHI 81 nd IN in
Christ S teachings. Be wise and harm
less, perfect, equal rights and squar
deal. Daniel 2:44 says: "And in tn
days of those kings shall the God 0
heaven set up kingdom which shaI
never be destroyed, nor hall the soy
ereignty thereof break in pieces an
con. ume all their kingdoms, and
shall stand forever" Even the un
righteous Mammon is to be dethroned
! aud the people that follow Christ
teaching of God as father and be
; lieve in the great human brotherhood
shall have the dominion forever.
What a glorious condition is to b
= when this battle for square deal wi
l be won Then the prophecy will b
. fulfilled but with righteousness b
shall Judge the poor ana decide wit
. equity for the meek of the earth wit
the rod of his mouth, and with tn
= breath of his lips be shall Stay tn
, wicked. " This is wonderful tigt
for the rights of labor
Now, in conclusion, will say that
all the union men of Alabama woul
: put their shoulders to the wheel an
e push this proposition that our editC
e has made in regard to co-operatiy
4 mine, we would see change for tb
t better in our state, for it ISM any us
e to think about putting in office COY
t error who would be favorable to III
= because the operators keep the mine
a so POOR that they are not able to pa
= their POLL tax so As to have the priv
lege to vote Hence they have it the
own way. So let us all try this ne
plan by sending in petition.
VIM LOACH,
CordOva, Ala, oct. J, 1903.
r A Healthy Family.
o "Our whole family has enjoyed goo
4 1 H..