The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1915-11-19
LABOR FAvoRs PROHIBITION.

Occasionally it is reported that some
representative of the labor movement
has made a statement rejecting upon
the value of prohibition. That such
statement does not voice the senti-
ments of the rank and file OF the la
Dor organizations is certain. Whole
bodies Of labor unionists have gone
on record in favor of prohibition, and
men in high official positions in the
American Federation of Labor have
been most emphatic and outspoken
against the liquor business. The Ma
tional Brotherhood of Locomotive En-
gineers, repres enting a membership OF
10000, passed a resolution in favor Il
prohibition, and the labor unions OF
Pasadena, Cal, sent out to the unions
of the nation a plea to work and vote
for the elimination of the saloon. urg'
ing the benefits they had experienced
from being in dry territory. At the
convention of the American Fedora.
ton of Labor held in Toronto in the
fall of 1914. despite the activity Of a
strong liquor lobby, the argument that
the saloon is the "workingman's club
was emphatically r%epudiated.
In various ways and on many occa-
sions the evil influence of the saloon
has been recognized and pointed out
by the labor unions OF the United
States. While the liquor interests
i have sought to convey the impression
that there was some common inter
est between trade unionism and the
manufacture and sale of intoxicants
this suggestion is repealed on every
occasion when the matter is plesent
d cd to the labor men in it's true ligh
and when the maliSn purpose of tn
l. liquor interests is exposed to view -
John Mitchell of the United Min
i Workers Of America, and formerl
Nice-President of she American FED
\ Grafton OF Labor.
Who can deny that the liquor TRAIN
is driving men and to work /
al factories, workshops and wash-tuh
who ought not to be there, and hoy
ty and girls into industrial life VIII
H. should be III school or on the pla,
to ground? The liquor traffic tends
ie decrease wages, never to inCreas
ry them. The use of alcohol makes ne
less skillful and drives men to 10y
er scales OF employment and rewar
r. Every cent spent in the liquor bus
IS. ness is wasted. There is no redeel
NV ing feature in the saloon. Go an
eft. where where its influence is felt al
NJ. you see the decentralization it bring
,il- The saloon is the enemy of the peop
or. | am against it and will do all | ~
of sibly can to put it out OF business
John B.. Lennon. Treasurer Americ
Federation of Labor.
Nd Almost every labor union scanc
can be traced to the saloons. I
W. downfall of labor union officers W
"a get drunk, neglect their duties, e
bezZle the funds of the union or S
out the union. can be traced in alm'
every cast to the saloon. 1t mea
disgrace to the union to have
va shortcomings OF Its officers aired
9" the courts OF the land and the less
it the better for the labor uni
" Every labor union should tight
saloon with all its power.-Iohn
uis Cunneen of the international Assoc
''0 ton OF Machinists.
~ Ii you want TO know where
tHe miners of America stand upon
inE temperance question. I'll tell you.
be our constitution We rave a ella
al which forbids any member TO sell
'he toXicants, even at a picnic. IN
tai what we think OF the liquor ira
iee' Some people say the saloon l:
ao' necessary evil. don't believe
that kind of doctrine. because
LIQUOR traffic tends to enslave the
are ple. to make them satisfied with
proper conditions, and keeps II
ourt ignorant, the leaders OF the ira
=. unions are called on to fight the
ant, loon.-Thomas l.. Lewis Of the In
Mine Workers.