Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1911-12-14
SOCIALIST PARTY
GOOD ENOUGH
Brothers, and Fellow Workmen:

/ ECliOW W.
We are here assembled to consider
and decide for ourselves one of th,
most important questions in our exis
tence, viz: the formation of a new
political party or affiliation with {
party already formed and in workine
order. Hitherto it has been a cardina
principle of nearly all labor organiza
tiOns to keep strictly out of politics,
believing that all just demands would
somehow be satisfied without our act.
i've attention to politics.
But while we were dreaming and
placing our faith in the old parties,
there rapidly developed system Of
class legislation and law execution
wherein the total want of all consider
alton for the producers of wealth was
SO apparent that laboringmen with one
accord, concluded that they must as
sert themselves politically, or become
the abject slaves of the exploiting
rich. A few of the causes which led
us to this decision are the following.
You are all acquainted with the ar
rest and illegal Kidnapping of our
brothers, Haywood, Meyer and Petit
bone. You all know the part played
by the subsidized periurer, Orchard,
and the premature verdict of Gun
desirable Citizens" handed down from
the White House by Teddy in spite Of
the law both common and statutary
which regards a man innocent until he
has been been proven guilty. You all
know that the innocence of these men
was clearly proven and verdict, of
"Not Guilty" returned. And, later,
we see United States Senator who
was the prosecuting attorney in these
cases, and, as such, had witnessed the
unhappy effects Of such kidnapping,
frame bill in Congress to stop such
lawless acts.
We see the hand of the Merchants
and Manufacturers Association in
their National Conventions advice to
President Taft to use his utmost ef-
forts to kill the 8-hour law. which the
convention characterized as "unecon-
omical, vicious and dangerous. And,
my brothers, no one doubts that that
association furnishes much of the mon
ey that elects the President and ma
jority of the Congressman. Hence
what chance has the 8-hour law2 The
last session of Congress so changed the
S.hour law as to compel letter carriers
to work any number Of hours per day
from Dec. Is to Jan without pay
for time worked over the eight hours
per day.
Again, certain law known as the
Sherman Antitrust Law was enacted,
making all combinations in restraint
of trade Illegal and criminal, and a
certain we'll known Oil Co. and To-
bacco Co. were found guilty. But the
highest court in our land gave those
companies six months and an exten-
sion OF time in which to be good and
reform, letting them continue to vio-
late the law and even encouraging the
said Oil Co. while it was so violating
the law, by letting the Government
for oil to that Company,
thereby making the Government ac-
cessory after the fact in the crime.
Now it transpires that the Railroads
bear strike, and straightway Presi
dent Taft declares that such an act
would violate the Sheman Anti trust
Law, and that the government would
deal quickly and effectively to stop
any and all strikes. Does anyone for
aninstant believe, as in the Trust cases
above referred to, the Supreme Court
If the United States would give the
eaders of strike msnths plus an
extension of time in which to reform,
and in the mean time continue the
strike And, why not, unless this
country has one law for the rich and
another law for the poor The poor
produce the wealth of the rich where