Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1908-10-01
MADE QUICK RESPONSE.

In another column we print sug-
gestion from A. L. Griffith, of Pell
City Ala, regarding the formation of
a cooperative mine, and telling where
local bodies of coal lands lie. This is
along the subject on which we asked
for letters from interested parties,
miners or not, and we are glad to see
Mr. Griffith respond SO promptly.
1t is very evident that something
must be done for the laboring class,
and the union so far has done more to
keep wages up and even raise them,
than anything else. But like many
other good things it has met with re-
sistance, and the coal mine operators
have banded together in a strong or
ganization to defeat it at every turn
and eventually break it up. This has,
so far been practically done in the
South, and probably will extend over
the entire country The coal operators
have the money to do things with just
now, and every time they down a un-
ion they make off of the union man
the amount it took to defeat him.
Just at present the union miners con-
troll more money and can control still
more money than they perhaps ever
will, and now is the time to invest it
in some scheme that will keep the or
ganization alive, and working for bet
ter things So while they have the
funds they should not waste any more
of them by maintaining strikes, which
is useless expense, but rather feed
their men and buy coal lands for them
to develop comparatively. We do not
care where they buy or who they buy
from, and have no interest in the mat
ter one way or another than to see the
men led into some other channel than
strife and confusion, and into one that
will result in their betterment in ev-
cry way. The only plan, we think, is
to abandon the strike idea-you cannot
force the rich-and take up the devel-
opment idea by comparatively embark
ing in the coal mining, coke making,
and eventually iron making business,
owning their own mines, works and
stores and dividing the profits cooper
atively pro rata to the amount earned
by each individual with no one en-
ployed except member of a coal min
ers' union or some other union. If
ha cd mt /
would be well to drop the idea of a
band of men ever getting the right
recognized by the mine owners of Sc
curing a contract to furnish so much
muscle at a stipulated price.
We want more letters, especially
from miners and union officials on this
subject. Let us have them and adj
vance to better things.
Complaint is made that a cores
pondent has been too gay i'll his etfus-
ions from Whitwell, and investigation
has also proven the fact that he has
used the names of others to cover his
identity. The News is very sorry this
has happened, but as we are not per-
sonally acquainted with the character
and reputation of every young man
and young lady in Whitwell and vicin-
ity, of course we cannot decide wheth-
er an item of such going together to
church or socials is proper or improp-
er However, we shall do our best to
avoid such occurrences in the future,
even if it is necessary to throw out
apparently good matter to do so, to
avoid possible error 1t will soon be
necessary for us to secure sworn sig
nature of each writer, keep it on file
here, and compare carefully, with the
signature sent in before printing ar.
ticles of personal mention, so great is
the wave of deceit and falsehoOd that
affects some people sometimes.