The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1917-08-03
Mr.. Rozier Thinks
We Are "InsBad"

The Times management has been
feeling pretty good since our first ar
ticle in regard to the trouble in the
Lead Belt This feeling has been aug
mented considerably by the numerous
congratulations and expressions of
friendship the management has re-
ceived from many who should be IA
miliar with the cause of that trouble.
The opinion had been unanimous that
The Times article expressed the ex-
act facts. And now, the apparent
findings that are being made by the
Grand Jury, which have not yet been
made public, appears to be right in
line with the article that appeared in
this paper the week succeeding the
Lead Belt trouble.
But on last Friday afternoon, Hon.
E. A. Rozier of this city, whose prin-
cipal business is attorney for some of
the lead companies, called at this Of
fee and stated that he would have to
insist that his professional card and
subscription to this paper be discon-
tinued; that the paper had gone en-
tirely too far in its misrepresenta-
tions of the cause that lead up to the
recent labor troubles; that he Jconsid-
cred its course as nothing less than
anarchy; that it was not the first
time this paper had gotten on his
nerves." but that this time it had
kicked clear outside of the traces,"'
and that he could not tolerate it fur
ther, or words to that effect.
When he had finished, we informed
hat h ,sn,1.A
privilege to remove his patronage from
this paper; that it was also our priv
ilege to conduct this paper as we
thought and felt was for the best
good, not only for ourselves, but for
the people in general; that it was al
ways our pleasure to publish the
truth in this ppaer, and that our
write-up of the trouble in the Lead
Belt, which occurred a week previous,
was the exact truth, as we saw it at
that time; that we felt, and still feel,
that this is the time for all Americans
to stand Loyalty for America and
Americans, and that the present war
perhaps caused us to express our
selves more forcefully than we would
have done at another time.
Our visitor then said that he did
not concede to any man more sterling
loyalty to America than he possessed.
The writer replied that he had heard
Mr.. Rozier's "loyalty" spoken of. This,
In brIief, was the substance of the in
terview. 1t was President Wilson,
was it not, who recently warned
against getting profit" and patriot
ism" mixed There Is often real dan
ger of just such things happening, es-
pecially in these strenuods times. OF
course we could hardly expect to se-
cure Mr.. Rozier's consent that we
viewed the late trouble in the Lead
Belt from the correct viewpoint. Our
viewpoint and his is somewhat re-
moved from each other in regard to
such matters, as they arc also in re-
gard to the "various other things"
which had grated on his nerves, such
as The Times rendering valuable as
sistance in regard to getting the
mining properties tax assessments
raised considerable, at least a couple
Of times.
No, Mr. Rozier, you and The Times
could never view such
things as the labor conditions in the
Lead Belt in the same light, especially
while you are in the employ of the
lead companies-and The Times is
not. While we are absolutely in IA
Vor of giving the lead companies a
square deal, we are going to continue
to insist that American workmen
that district be given the
same square deal-and that both deals
De kept absolutely square. The lead
do not own a dollar of
stock in The Times corporation
something but few other papers in
st. Francois county can truthfully
;ay), and the present editor still
stands, as he has always stood, for a
square deal between man and man,
of the financial position of
either. We will try to get along with
,ut Mr.. Rozier's support, and the num-
erous compliments which have been
pouring in upon US gives US additional
rope that We will get along somehow.