McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1915-11-19
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LABOR FAvoRs PROHIBITION.

LABOR FAvoRS PROHIBITION.
Occasionally 1t is reported that some
representative of the labor movement
has made 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 unfonists 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, representing membership of
10000. passed a resolution in favor CT
prohibition, and the labor unions of
Pasadena, CAL, sent out to the uniens
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 tire American Fedora
ton of Labor held in Toronto In the
fam of 1914, despite the activity of
strong liquor lobby. the argument that
the saloon is the "workingman's club"
was emphatfeally repudiated.
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
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this suggestion Is repealed on every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 present
ed to the labor men in its true light
and when the malign purpose of the
liquor interests is exposed to view
John Mitchell of the United Mine
Workers Of America, and formerly
Vice President of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor.
Who can deny that the liquor traffic
is driving men and women to work in
factories, workshops and wash-tubs
who ought not to be there, and boys
and girls into industrial life who
should be in school or on the play
ground? The liquor traffic tends to
decrease wages, never to increase
them. The use of alcohol makes men
less skillful and drives men to low
er scales of employment and reward.
Every cent spent in the liquor bust
ness is wasted There is no redeem
ing feature in the saloon. Go any
where where its influence is felt, and
you see the decentralization it brings.
The saloon Is the enemy Of the people.
| am against it and will do all pos
sibly can to put 1t out of BUSINESS
John B. Lennon. Treasurer American
Federation of Labor.
Almost every labor union scandal
can be traced to the saloons. The
downfall of labor union officers who
get drunk, neglect their duties. EN-.
bezzle the funds of the union or sell
out the union, can be traced in almost
| every case to the saloon. 1t means
disgrace to the union to have the
shortcomings of its officers aired in
| the courts of the land and the less OF
| 1t the better for the labor union
Every labor union should fight the
saloon with all its power.-John F.
| Cunneen Of the international Associa
ton of Machinists.
| II you want to know where the
miners of America stand upon the
temperance question, I'll tell you. In
our constitution we have clause
which forbids any member to sell in
toxicants, even at a picnic. That's
what we think of the liquor traffic
Some people say the saloon is 9
necessary evil. / don't believe In
that kind OF doctrine. Because the
liquor traffic tends to enslave the PEG
pie, to make them satisfied with i'm
proper conditions, and keeps them
| ignorant, the leaders Of the trades
unions are called on to fight the sa
loon.-Thomas l.. Lewis Of the United
| Mine Workers.