Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1920-05-26
ORGANIZED LABOR
Its Unfair and Un-American Attitude
Clearly Exposed


lumbia Herald is of marked import
ance because of the logical attitude 1t
assumes on the question OF sound
Americanism as against the anarchlS-
tic attitude of organized labor In this
state. We are publishing this not as
boost or a defence of Gov. A. h.
Roberts, for he needs none, but we
do wish to support every movement
and commend every act that stands
for human rights and equality of all
men to labor undisturbed and with
entire freedom to belong to any or
ganization, of lawful character, or
to refrain from belonging to such or
ganization. The Herald says:
"Organized labor in Tennessee will,
if it follows the advice of the State
Federation Of Labor, oppose Gov. Rob
erts for reelection. Gov. Roberts Is
not to be opposed because of the fiscal
policy of his administration; he is not
the object of opposition Of the fedora
ton by reason Of any shortcomlng OF
his administration. The sole and only
reason given for the hostility OF or
ganized labor is that the governor has
kept the oath of his office and as chief
executive Of the state has attempted
to assert the sovereignty of the state
and execute it's laws. This is the sin
gle offense for which the governor Is
to be denied for customary endorse
ment Of second term.
"In support of its charge that the
governor, by reason Of his hostility to
labor is unfit for reelection, the
federation cites the organization of the
law and order league Of Tennessee,
which it, with fragrant disregard OF
the truth, declares was organized to
oppress labor and reduce it to 'serf-
DOM 1t would have been wholly to
the credit of the governor II he had
organized and been the charter mem.
Der of the law and order league OF
this state, but decent regard for the
facts forbids that claim. The law and
order league was organized during
Gov. Rve's administration and fol
lowed an especially outrageous and
unusually fragrant example OF MOB
violence. Labor, organized or unor-
ganized. was in no sense involved In
that lynching and in the organization
of the league there was no lntlmatloh
from any speaker that the right or Ia
bor to organize or work individually
was in any sense in the minds OF any
one.
"After Gov. Roberts inauguration
the state law and order league did hold
several meetings. They were all at
tended bv a leading member OF the
State Federation of Labor, and no
| word was ever uttered at any OF these
meetings either by the governor or
any member Of the league that could
| he. by the widest stretch OF the mag
| nation. construed into an attack upon
union labor. Witnesses from all parts
Of the state will testify to the truth OF
this statement Gov. Roberts attended
all of the meetings, one OF which, AT
the capital last fail, was entirely open
TO the public, and while he dld an
nounce in unmistakahIe terms his de-
termination to, so far as was WlIhlh
| his power, execute every law upon the
statute books, he never once lntimated
that he believed there was one law
for organized labor and another Tor
unorganized labor. He lnvelghed
AGAINST all forms Of lawlessness.
"Gov. Roberts greatest sin, IN the
owes of the labor ag1tators, was the
nreseryation of law and order at Knox
Vile during a street car StrlKe thele
| last fall. The governor dld not use
his power to coerce any one. he never
once dedied labor the right to strike,
hut when the street car operators dulI
their Jobs he insisted that IL oCher
American citizens wanted these JOBS
thew had perfect right to ootall,
them. He did announce that lives and
nronerty in Knoxville would be pro,
tected If it should be necessary TO can
into service all the resources OF Che
state and he made good this declara-
tion. In doing this he performed a
verv disagreeable but stern duty. ne
could not have done anything else
dishonoring his state. ho
"There should be and there must be
no classes in Tennessee. Our laws
should be executed against all ailKe;
without violating his oath Of office ana
Membership in any order, fraternity,
church. organization or capltallst muSI
give no one immunity that every otheI
Citizen does not enjoy. If memoersnlp
in a labor union gives or confers upon
anv citizen special privileges. to 1lot
and raise hell that other citizens 90
not enjoy, then the labor union nnao mus
90 90 When one citizen in Tennessee
bv reason of adherence to any sect
creed or faction, enjoys freedom from m
rosnon ns;hility for his lawless acts, that