The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1912-08-23
MILL OPERATIVES E
VIEW ON POLIT-
CAL SITUATION.
(Spartanburg Hecald.)


Taking advantage of the opportu-
nifty you so kindly offer to us mill
people to express through your
columns our views of the present
political situation l wish to set forth
a few facts relative to the position
of us mill people in the fight. Among
others, 1 heard the talk of C. L.
Blease at the court house on Fri
day night, August 8, when he ad-
dressed a bowling crowd of young
men and boys, the greater part of
them mill operatives. 1 have read
speeches made by anarchists, but I
many such speeches as he made,
never heard anything like it, and
trust l never shall again. Coming
home to think over his talk I realize
more and more how dangerous a
doctrine it was that he set forth.
His whole talk was nothing less
than a malicious effort to array la
Dor against capital, and to embitter
the hearts of the working class
against their employers. Any man
who loses this, / care not who he
may be, is the worst enemy that la
Dor has. Every one of us who labor
for cotton mill companies know that
our presidents, managers and super
lntendents are our best friends.
There is no fight between us, and
God grant that there may never be.
The "poor working man" can never
hope to win the respect of the erich"
by fighting him. OF course, those
of us mill people who have brains
of our own, and who use them to
think and reason with, know that
such rot as Blease belched forth is
used by him solely in the hope of
gaining our votes. He has it figured
out that we are a set of crooks and
fools, but he is mistaken. There are
some poor, misguided folks at our
mills who always allow some one
else to do their thinking for them,
and for these few we have nothing
but the deepest pity and compassion.
There are others among us who have
no moral character, and it is this
class who "would vote for Coley,,' no
matter what he might say or do.
This class, like the sinner who has
sinned out his day of grace" we do
not bother about. 1t is to the think
ing,, hardworking, respectable class
that we wish to appeal in a few
questions. Let us look at the matter
airly and squarely for just a mo-
ment.
II. Mr.. Blease has said that mill
owners, presidents, ETC., are our en-
emies. They are beating us down.
He (Blease) is our only hope of sal
walton. When you, Mr.. Operative,
get sick, or your family gets sick,
to whom do you go for favors-the
company" or Blease?
2. When that little child of yours
died who helps you buy a coffin and
helped you bury it? Did Blease or
the company?
3. When you got sick and had to
be out several weeks and there was
no money and the groceries ran low,
to whose store did you send for "ra-
tions"? Did Coley send you aid
then?
4. For the past several years our
mills have been making no money,
and have been forced to shut down
for several weeks. While this was
done who fed you and your family?
Did Coiey or the Company?
5. If, after the election, you and
me and hundred of others should be
thrown out of work how long do you
think c. l.. Blease would feed US?
How long could our wives anl chill
dren camp in the front yard of the
governors mansion?
6. Every Sunday or Monday many
of our mill presidents and superin-
tendents pick up the paper and look
to see how their baseball team came
out in the Saturday game. They are,
of course, always glad to see their
home team win. When you went
around getting up money for that
team who helped you the most? Did
Blease or the company?
The above are just few things
which our worst enemy, the mill
presidents and owners are doing to
throttle" us poor workingmen. The
mill operatives of the Piedmont has
no truer friend than the mill presi-
dent and mill officials. Look what
Parker has done for his operatives
at Monaghan and Victor. No church
is doing just as much. No church
is built at mill without the compa-
ny's aid. What rot to say that these
men are our enemies. Of course we