Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1921-12-09
INFLUENCE OF CORPORATIONS

Pocahontas, Va, Dec. 7.-One who
has lived in n town where q corpo-
ration is predominant knows where
Of l speak in this article. Wheie
there are. several corporations condi-
tions may be different. Certainly 1t
has been tho experience of those who
have lived in the town of Pocaho,.-
tas that person who Stands in"
with the Company" can get alon.
better than those who do not. This
means the coal company of course
No one ever questioned the fact that
the coal companies the largest ta.>
payers. the largest employers of
labor, and entitled to the proper con-
s Iteration due them as such. But ltI
has been amusing Mt times to see
men in the employ of the coal COM
pany who seemed so concerned about
the company's interests, when real
ly it was their own job they were
moro concerned about And when
their job was gone it was pitablc in
some instances to witness the plight
of these men Even the officials of the
coal company could not have proper
respect for man who was wilins
to lick their boots in order to hold
his job. And certain outsiders who
had observed them while they had
their position could have little less
than contempt for them. Some who
held responsible and lucrative posi-
tions with the company were down
and out as soon as they were fired.
When the coal company ceased To
find use for them they usually had
to leave town. They held high head
while times were good, i.e., when
thy were drawing their fat salaries,
and some of them seemed to spu, ii
the common people of the town. But
pride goeth before destruction, and
n naughty spirit before q fall Their
full was great when it came, as it
will come to all who are of that dis
position. The people of the town
have seen good many little men
placed in positions of responsibilit,
and as general rule it did not make
them an bigger. And when they used
their positions to their own advai.
tage and to over ride their fellows
or endeavor to make them do their
bidding the people of the town did
not have much sympathy for them
when they fell. One is reminded just
here of that solemn passage of scrip
turc Therefore | will laugh at your
calamity, will mock when your fear
cometh." 1t is puzzling to understand
the psychology, if that is the proper
term, of men in positions of respon-
sibility, who will sacrifice honor and
principle, to say nothing of self re-
spect, to do the bidding of those
oh CHER up" Even the coal company
sooner or later lost respect for them.
, And III some instances the ones high
or up are more or less domineering.
When this is the case the same spi-
rit may pcrvade the entire organiza-
ton. The head of the coal company
n Philadelphia or New York has III
ways cut large figure in local af
fairs. His policies are, of course,
carried out in the works at Pocahoh-
tas. The local superintendent or gen
eral manager also wields strong
influence in the affairs of the coal
company and in the people of the
community. His position necessarily
brings him into more or less contact
with the entire community. espe, :
tally with employees of the company
4 who take all their grievances to him.
The superintendent is usually n broa,l
minded man, of practical knowledge
and experienced in handling men
When this is not the case matter !
do not go on just right. Another
scriptural passage "When the wick
, ed rule the people mourn" applies IL
affairs of this kind as elsewhere. The
domineering type will have some
friends. but his enemies will be leg.
ION. One man who served as superin.
tendent Mt Pocahontas was shot from
ambush in another state later OH
presumably by enemies he had made.
The old saying that capital is yer,
\ sensitive is a well known truth. And
. it has been frequently demonstrates
| at Pocahontas. 1t was an easy thing
!. for one to find himself in the posi-
ton of Fighting the company" AM
it was an objectionable offense, AM
one that did not have to be proven
A faint suspicion was often suffic.
lent. The company expected loyalty
on the. part Of its employees. No one
j blamed them in the least for desir
} ing that their employees be loyal. Il
e is essential for the success of the
i. business. And nothing so >stings al
q employer so much as the discovery
that trusted employee is found t,
be disloyal. But there are certain
rights that are sacred to every lib
& erty loving individual and some time
y individuals found themselves unable
8 to follow the wishes of the leaders
y OF the company in certain matter
6 when they were not. at heart. dis