Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1908-09-02
CONSERVATISM NEEDED

TRACY CITY, Tenn, Aug. 29.--It
looks very much like a strike at Coal
mont is going to be on next week
From the best information obtainable
it seems the Sewanee Coal Company
has very little excuse for going to war
with the union at Coalmont The Lo-
cal there has never assumed to run the
Company's business or interfere with
it, outside of fixing the scale of wages,
and why it refuses to treat with the
union is question the public would
like to have answered The men at
Coalmont ale entitled to and will have
the public sympathy. The union there
has never arrogated to itself any overt
acts, or shown any disposition to do
so, and it has been admitted by men
in authority in the company that the
company controlled the union. If this
be so, what excuse can the company
have for forcing trouble on the men by
refusing to consider their claims ,as un-
lOll lilVll VII ullO NhSp btdlb utn
again, if memory serves me right, I've
never heard of the union men at that
place objecting to the company EN-
ploying who they pleased. Thoy've
been liberal and conservative and,
further, I've not seen any scurrilous
letters from Coalmont against anybody
So they've made no enemies along
these lines and the men who take their
places will do so from pure wantoness
and without an excuse. | believe in
right The men of Coalmont have GER
tainly treated men in their own call
ing right, as well as the company. I
believe the above is a fair representa-
tion of the question at Coalmont. The
mistake is in the company, to my no.
tion, and l hope she will see it and
treat with her employees fairly. My
write-ups are given from an unpreju-
diced standpoint and | am confident if
the union will abstain from threats
and all lawless acts and insulting
writeups, the Sewanee Coal Co will
fail to carry its point Working men
are not easily duped against men who
treat them fairly and squarely, and
the Coalmont men are friendly and
kindly disposed, which makes them
strong antagonists. Kindness is the
strongest weapon labor can WELD and
my advice is to use it for all it is
worth. If this policy is adopted and
! lived to by every union man at Coal
D mont they will win. Use generalship.
A&e so good and kind to men taking
our places that they will join you.
Zen can t resist kindness. It's almost
$upossible. Why, | know men who
Pught the union at Tracy City simply
get revenge and nothing else. Kind
s, gentlemen, if trouble comes, i;
policy, and keep all insulting let
p out of print Mix and minglC
Eith them as though there was NJ
Strike, and educate them in the doc
rine of real unionism and I'll venture
Syou'Il win the victory.
IN Well, of course, some folks as usual
"a will kick at "Uncle Toms advice
and say this that and the other, bu
!, who are they, after all? Very small
= specimens, to be sure. Kindness i
= one of the strongest weapons labor has
and the only one worth considering
: Preach kindness from the housetop ant
+ be friendly and win the victory ant
n keep out of wrangling.
The union has lost strike after strik
: for failing to use its cardinal principle
l Cancellation or friendship. Treat me-
> who work just as You do each other i
E the plan. You can hold the fort a
It Coalmont by friendliness toward al
Il men and let your friendliness meal
, something. Abstain from the very az
% pearance of wrong doing, is the idea
Il Now, if strike does occur | hop
y all the nonuniOn miners will hands o.
as | am confident the company has n
{ lust cause for this assault on its men.
y UNCLE TOM.
d P. S. Ha, ha Well, folks, I'm nc
q a preacher. Some liar started that
guess. My friend, Pedro" of En-
pire, Ala, has certainly misconstrue
my letter. I've never at any tim
~ abused the principles of unionism, BIT
a have referred to them as being prost
~ tuted or corrupted. believe he is
=, gentleman, and if he will re-read a
of my letters in Mrs. Grundy'' an
=, the News he will not charge me {
sr abusing the principles of unionisn
-. I'm not preacher, either as son
, mountain liar has started. Just
- plain old man that regrets the prost
os tuition Of uuionism and has the con
, age to criticize men for doing it, that
all II. t