The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-09-23

dlSchargtnE men because they were at
Inflated with a labor organization and
this was not denied but to the con-
trary an official remarked to one Of
the men, If you want this informa-
ton to carry into the courts, we will
tell you very plainly that WE CON
troll THE COURTS TOO" a state
ment easily believed waen current
history in Alabama and other states
traversed by the road is recalled
committee selected from several
SHOPS on the system endeavored to
have conference with the manage
ment at Louisville but audience was
denied them and every one of the
committee with one exception was
discharged before he returned home
Three days after the strike was call
ed there were 642 men Out-19 coming
out OF the Pensacola shops Only
127 of this number were members of
the l. a. of NJ
The strike has been notable in
many respects. The desertions from
the ranks have been practically nil.
twenty-five of the nOn-union and
tWenty-tour union men having re-
nounced their allegiance to the strik-
ers and returned A small percent
age indeed considering that the strike
was called almost upon the eve of the
most severe industrial depression the
country has experienced
1t has been an expensive fight for
the company as attested by its re-
port for the first eight months of the
strike in which it is shown that the
extra expense entailed in operating
the road was s., 293. S440G- The stTik-
ers too have found it expensive but
funds have come from all over the
country Information is not at hand
giving the entire sum expended by
the machinists but the local lodge No.
$50 has paid out for picket ser
vice at the PENSACOLA shop the sum
OF SlO32-13, exclusive of the amount
received from the Grand Lodge
Throughout the strike pickets have
been maintained at the local shops
there being about thirty on the sys-
tenn and that these men have been
busy may be sUrmised when it is
stated that at one point on the road
1925 men had been employed or had
applied.
In the early days of the strike an
attempt was made to bribe Mr. J. D
Buckalew, third vice-president to call
the strike off by an offer of $4,000.
Probably the chief contributing cause
to the defeat of the machinists has
been the hard times"-the greatest,
most potential strikebreaker toilers
have to contend with.
From the thousands thrown out of
employment the l. e n. has been able
to get class of men efficient enough
TO combat its striking employees.
The strike on the l.. & n. was not
the result of any one mans impulse
but was the elimination of long
bourne wrongs and a feeling of ty-
ranOus oppression manifested by the
corporate power The immediate
cause being the insane and arbitrary
order that maehinists employed by
the L. & n. should not join a labor
OTganiZatiOn-an edict sufficient to
arouse the Americanism in the breast
of any worker This defeat is &C
cepted by the men with no regrets but
justifleS them in crying out.
Oh 10 be free from labor's grind
For a lessening of Life's turmoil.
Ye Masters of perverted mind
Why will We lash those who toll?
They long for taste OF the comforts
of life
The comforts they do create
They weary of this une1ding strife
Rewarded by curse and hate.
They grovel and slave. labor and toll
? That We, in wealth may dwell
But the day will dawn when they will
Your efforts their souls to sell"
S. d. BENNETT. JR