The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-10-08
SOUND TO THE CORE.

NSAiot''A~NNN
American labor is loyal to the core.
1t is the testimony of all unbiased Investigators who
have viewed the strike at short range that this is most
unusual contest that it is agitators strike primarily
and that those who have followed the leaders and sus
pended work have not done because they under
paid but because they were eager to get pay and
considered this good time to make the effort. 1t is
the universal testimony that among the strikers can be
found no suffering or deprivation; that their families
are well fed and well clothed and happy that the pay
envelope now contains larger than ever before
But in line with the sentiment of the popular song,
"Everybodys Doing It," large number of the employees
of the steel mills listening the siren arguments of the
organizers became convinced that this good time
to enforce demands first for union recognition and then
for increased wages and easier working conditions And
as the strike clouds gathered about the steel industry
the l. W. w. and other preachers of radicasm and revo
luton lowered like buzzards ready to take advan
age of the situation to spread their un-Amercan pro-
paganda.
With the walk-out of the union on September p
came the test of patriotism to the American workingman
The nsidous suggestion of revolution spread amongst
them Agators endeavored to nstgate deeds of violence
and thus to ignite the owder train that would cause the
big explosion for which they yearned The patriotic
stability the loyalty to flag and country and to free insti-
tutons the libertyoving independence of the American
workngman trial. If he had yielded to these
sinister influences if he had grasped torch and raised
the cry Of destruction them indeed might the republic
nave trembled.
But the American worker has through the ordeal
with credit to himself and honor to his country He has
the natural instincts of seshness which are inherent
in the human ANIMAL he is not devoid of class feeling
he is eager to gain financially and ready to take ad-
vantage of circumstances which favor him. Who, with
the normal human sympathes his breast will severely
censure him?
But when the red flag of revolution is raised when the
worker is urged to tear down the fabric of his govern
mcnt to burn destroy and snatch by force what the
law does not give him. he resists the temptation and
stands steadfas This is his country, and he will not
harm it even in the hope of getting those things for
which he yearns and strvesand the republic is safe
Standing in the halls of Congress, man for seven
years previous to his election to the House OF Keep
tive Engineers warned organized labor of the dangers of
adcaism and urged the reputation of radical leaders
who were taking advantage of labor disputes to spread
their nsdious doctrine That appeal coupled with others
Of similar import placed the strikers upon their guard
especially since it was proved that of the most infu
entail strike leaders is an l. W. W. an dan open advo-
cate of revolution.
Now reports from the of the strike tsate that
at all meetings the American flag is displayed that the
orators who plead with the to stand firm in THEN
position at the same time urge them to obey the law
and respect its authority and that everywhere loyalty
and patriotism are preached The radical leaders escheW
radicasm The rebrands Of anarchy skuk in the shad
ows, afraid to come out into the Open The l. W. W. fine
few recruits to their doctrine of revolution.
Whatever may be the cost to the strikers in forfeited
earnings industry and the country in curailed pro
ducton the steel strike has thus served to inst in the
nation feeling of confidence in its citizenship which il
will be difficult to shake in the future The American
workingman may make mistakes may be swayed by pool
advice may commit errors of judgment But the events
of the past week have served to convince his fellow c
that when it to the issue of patriotism he is
sound to the core-Washington Post