The Knoxville independent. [volume], September 29, 1917, Image 4

About The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current

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THE KKOXVIIXS IliDSPSND.-
Fhi Knoxvillslnrftf indent
GEO W. FORD, EDITOR.
718 GAY STREET.
OFFICE PHONE (OLD) 296
RESIDENCE PHONE (OLD). 686
EnUred at thi postoffice at Knox
ville, Tenn., as second-class matter.
Subscription Rates, by mail, one
vaa 11 DO aiv mnnfhu fiO panti
tir monihi. 26 nnti: single codib.. 1
if
2 Mits. I The problem of civilization has been
to provide avenues through which
"No man living are more worth wealth can change hands. In buying
be trusted than those who toil up fro.. ttnd selling, and through which the re
poverty, none less inclined to take or sources of the earth can be made of
touch aught which they have not hon-' service to mankind.
estly earned." Abraham Lincoln.
UNITED MINE WORKERS OF
AMERICA.
District It.
Headquarters, Pineville, Ky.
Graysville, Tenn. '
T. J. Smith President
Graysville, Tenn.
P. P. Lynch Vice President
Soddy, Tenn.
T. M. Gann Secretary-Treas.
Pineville, Ky.
INTERNATIONAL BOARD MEMBER
John Jeffrey Pittsburg, Ky.
EXECUTIVE BOARD.
Geo. Branam Soddy, Tenn.
John Mcllquhan Pittsburg, Ky.
Joe A. White E. Bernstadt, Ky.
Ben Delph Ar Jay, Ky.
Alf Martin Soddy, Tenn.
AUDITORS
Thomas Brown ..East Bernstadt, Ky.
Robert Gann Soddy. Tenn.
J. D. Tinsley Pittsburg, Ky.
TELLERS
Richard Lowe Jellico, Tenn.
J. D. Posey Soddy, Tenn.
Henry Patterson .Pittsburg, Ky.
DELEGATES TO TENNESSEE
FEDERATION OF LABOR
T. J. Smith Graysville, Tenn.
Alf Martin Soddy, Tenn.
Thos. M. Gann Knoxville, Tenn.
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE FOR
TENNESSEE
T. J. Smith .Graysville, Tenn.
DELEGATE TO KENTUCKY FED
ERATION OF LABOR
John Jeffrey Pittsburg, Ky.
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE FOR
KENTUCKY
John Mcllquhan Pittsburg, Ky.
LABOR DURING WAR.
Muat Play Its Part Manfully and Ob
aerva Its Contracts.
A call to laboring men to "play our
part In the war manfully' with "un
stinted loyalty to these UnUed States"
has been issued by John P. White, In
ternational president of the United
Mine Workers of America.
"The government Is demanding co
operation orgunized effort between em
ployer and employee to meet the conn
try's war requirements," Mr. White
said; "The eyes of the world are fo
cused to see how quickly and efficiently
the government's demands will be
met
"The proud boast of every trade
unionist should be unstinted loyalty to
these United States of America. Ob
servance of contracts should be the aim
of every member as well as every onion
official. We must play ir part in the
war iuaiumiy ana wen. avery legiti
mate endeavor should be exercised be
fore a tleup In any trade results.
"We must keep pace with time. Go
forward, not backward. Ungrudging
ly give the best that is In us, If we are
to expect the best In return. Condi
tions are being transformed overnight;
we must meet these new demands, safe
ly and sanely.
"No matter how difficult It may seem
or exacting the task, labor must strive
to preserve Intact during the war the
principles of collective bargaining.
When the curtain falls on the world's
most deplorable slaughter In history,
when the sound of shot and shell shall
be heard no more, and reconstruction
begins to rehabilitate the shattered
areas of the world to a normal state,
let It be said of organized labor that
every measure of industrial democracy
enjoyed when we started out to make
the world safe for democracy has been
maintained.
"There is no sound reason for pessi
mism la the ranks of labor if we are
awake to opportunities. The fearful
and hesitant will find comfort In giv
ing their unbounded loyal support. So
let us cement our hopes out of mutual
Interest and hope for worldwide uplift
worldwide peace the expressed 'aim
of the war.' "
United Mine Worker
ir. thnnsnnd six hundred and twen
tv-one local unions are affiliated to the
I
International, ana tne eomumuu
TRADE UNIONS
AND PROSPERITY
Higher Wages For ' Workers
Msan an Increase In Industry.
DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH
The Mora Monty In the Hand of the
Mast of the People the Greater Will
Be tho Demand Tor Product Or
ganized Labor Haa Dona Muoh to
8pad tha Prograaa of Civilization. '
It's a late day to be arguing about
the good the labor unions have done
for the American commonwealth. '
If our civilization has merit It Is be
cause It Is bringing to the many the
advantages that once belonged only to
a few.
A state Is neither civilized nor pros
perous when all the wealth and ma
terial comforts belong to a small aris
tocracy, while the mass of the people
are prostrate In poverty. , As civiliza
tion advances the possessions of the
common man Increase. As these In
crease the state becomes stronger.
Neither gold nor coal Is of value un-
less It can be used.
Before a sale can be made there must
be a buyer. Before a man can become
, a buyer he must have the money with
which to buy.
Unless he has this money the coal
and Iron must remain unmlned, the cot-
ton and silks unwoven Into cloth be
cause there Is no demand for them.
So the manufacturers of goods and
the sellers of goods are confronted
with the necessity of placing more
money In the hands of the common
man, who is the buyer, In order that
they themselves may prosper.
As a part of civilization they have
been working blindly, often unwilling
ly and with many blunders, at the task;
of providing more buyers in the world.
But while this slow process has been
In motion a new great force has made
itself felt.
This Is the demand of the common
man himself for the means to buy tho
products of the manufacturer and the
goods of the retailer In order that he
and bis family may live In comfort
The worker came to realize that he
himself had a thing of value to sell
a thing of such value that the coal and
Iron In the earth, the silk In the cocoon,
the cotton in the boll, were worthless
without It This thing of value was
his labor.
So the workers joined together In
unions and bartered their 'labor as the
merchant bartered his goods. Labor,
before that, had been the only thing
in the world on which the buyer al
ways fixed the price. The shoe mer
chant named the price at which his
shoes should sell, the steel manufac
turer named the price at which his
rails should sell, but the worker, offer
ing his labor In the market always
had to take the price the buyer named.
With the coming of the unions. labor
began to find Its place with other com
modities of value in the world, and the
workers were able to bargain over the
price at which It should be sold, just
as the retailer bargains with the manu
facturer, and the manufacturer with
the producer of raw material.
The result of this was that labor
brought a higher price. The workers
had more money to spend.
Higher wages for the worker meant
that hundreds of thousands of yards
of woolens and millions of pounds of
manufactured foods and countless tons
of building materials were being sold
for which there was no demand until
the worker got the money to buy them.
This meant an Increase Iff Industry
throughout the land. When a few are
rich and the rest of mankind Is near
starvation the manufacturer and the
retailer are In a hard way because the
amount of their product that a few
can use is very limited. ' When a vast
number of men and women are able
to buy comforts and luxuries then de
mand is high and prosperity reigns.
In the organization of our social and
Industrial system the producer of raw
material the miner and the grower of
crops, the manufacturer, the whole
saler, the retailer and the buyer are
welded firmly together In a mighty
chain of trade.
A chain Is just as strong as its weak
est link and no stronger. The strength
ening of the weaker links means the
strengthening of the whole chain.
It la in strengthening these weaker
links that the labor unions have
brought material benefit not only to
the worker, but to the manufacturer
and merchant and miner, whose prod
uct the worker buys.
As tha worker Increases In prosperity
the whole nation Increases In prosper
ity because the wealth of the land
which otherwise would lie Idle be
cause of lack of ' demand Is brought
Into usefulness.
Just so far as the labor unions suc
ceed in raising the level of all work
ers the level of welfare of all Industry;
will be raised. '
The more wealth that la in the hands
of the mass of tha people the greater
will be the demand for the products
of the earth, and the less wheat and
corn and Iron and coal and wood will
He unused and unsold In our land.-
San Francisco Pally News.
LADOR UNIONS TO
END MILITARISM
Workers of United States and
South America In Movement.
PLAN A GREAT CONGRESS
American Federation of Labor Not Al
lied With Paaoa Propagandist, but
la Warmly Supporting Preparedneel
In Defense of Nation Idea of Move
ment la Pan-American Federation.
Committed to a program of prepared-!
nesa for the defense of the United
States, the American Federation of La
bor has embarked upon a movement to
band the working men of the western
hemisphere Into a pan-American feder
ation to resist In their respective coun
tries a dominance of militarism.
Indorsement of the project has been
obtained from all of the Latin Ameri
can countries, - and correspondence is
now being carried on with these na-f
tlous by a conference committee located,
In Washington looking to the holding)
In Washington in the near future of a,
great congress, at which every country
In the Americas would be represented
and a permanent organization would!
be effected. ' i
The proposed federation will have as
Its nucleus the 3,000,000 organized la
borers of the United States and the
more than 1,000,000 enrolled in the fed
eratlons of the Latin American coun
tries. . i
While the federation now contemplate
ed would Include only organized labor
In North, South and Central America
and the islands of the West Indies,
this move is the first step toward
world federation that would embrace
all nations and strive for common!
alms.- This truly international devel
opment must wait however, for the
restoration of peace In Europe. '
Resistance to military dominance of
any one of the pan-American countries
over any other is the primary purpose
of the proposed federation. It has
other aims, however, that look to pro
motion of material benefits under It
policy of peace. I
Through its efforts Its promoters
foresee pot only an establishment of
fraternal relations between the several
countries included, but a stimulation
of commerce and the establishment of
closer trade relations generally. I
The conference or provisional com
mlttee which Is now established in the
American Federation of Labor building,
Washington, is composed of Samuel
Gompers, president of the American
Federation of Labor, chairman; Jol
Murray of California, secrete rv...
Santiago Iglesias, representing ttt Or
ganized workers of Porto Hico, and
Carlos Loveira, representing the organ
ized workers of Yucatan, Mexico, f !?
In launching this movement the
American Federation of Labor was not
allying itself with peace propagandists
and antlpreparedness elements in the
United States. Reminded that the
declarations against militarism might
leave this impression, Mr. Gompers said:
"Any Inference drawn from the man
ifesto which we have issued setting
forth our plan that we are against pre
paredness for defense is unwarranted,
I am a member of the advisory com
mission of the council of national de
fense and spent every day of a recent
week in conference with that council,
"We are taking every action for pre
paredness in defense of the rights and
Interests of the people and the nation.
"We hope by our organization of the
Pan-American Federation of Labor to
prevent the exercise of military domi
nation of any one of the pan-American
countries over another. We hope to
give the peoples of each of the Latin
American countries the opportunity of
Working out their own problems and
developments so that the Latin Amerl
ean republics may co-operate for tha
common defense and have opportunity
of attainment of the highest ideals of
all our peoples."
Carlos Loveira and Baltasar Pages,
Mexican representatives of labor, have:
toured all of the Latin imerlcan coun
tries In the interest of the proposed
federation, and Mr. Loveira said that
absolute assurances of co-operation had
been obtained from the heads of organ
Ized labor in each country visited.
One of the principal benefits which
will Inure to the United States through
the establishment of the federation,
Mr. Loveira believes, will be the eradl
cation of the impression held by many
Latin Americans, particularly the
masses, that the people of the United
States are obsessed with commercial
ism and "dollar chasing." This impres
sion, he added, has militated strongly
against a permanent trade development
with the Latin Americans. A closer
relationship, he declares, is necessary
to promote trade between tho Unit!
States and her sister republic.
eoooooooooooooooo
O ' o
O TRADE UNIONISM. f
0 ; o
o Trade unionism hat been the o
0 great revolutionizing force that
o has secured opportunities for 0
o better lives and work for those o
0 who work. o
o The unions are the schools of o
0 thd workers where they learned 0
0 the lessons of democracy and in-
0 dependence. ft )
0 May aU of America's workers o
0 take adraatage of the opportuni- o
o ties of 1917 to organize the yet o
o unorganized and to strengthen o
0 the unions of those who are on o
0 the battle line for labor. '
oooooooooooooooooo
FROM ALL PARTS
OF TENNESSEE
Reports of Interesting
Events Boiled Down
for Hasty Perusal.
Dyersburg. Bob Hatch, a negro
bootlegger, was killed here while at
tempting to evade arrest.
Shelbyville. Elder John T. Smith,
of - Sparta, is conducting a revival
meeting at the Christian church in
this city. "
f
Lynchburg. William A. Gore, one
of Moore county's wide-awake farm
ers of the Second district, sold 49 hogs
for 11,515.
Gleason. The second contingent of
Weakley county's army quota, recent
ly selected, were honored with a rally
and barbecue at Dresden.
Ripley .--Charles McNeil, farmer,' Is
in jail here, charged with the kiHing
of Charles Cannon, planter, and, the
shooting of his 15-year-old son.
Murfreesboro. The Central high
school of this city opened with an
extra large attendance. On the open
ing days there were 171 present.
Jackson.' The Jackson Trades and
Labor Council adopted unanimously
a resolution favoring the location of
the military camp in Madison county.
Memphis. J. J. Losier, former post
master at Jackson, and well known in
state political circles, died at his home
here, following an .illness of a few
hours from paralysis.
Murfreesboro. Tennessee college
opened the school year here with an
unusally large attendance, the school
having enrolled more students on the
first day than durlngany entire year
of its existence except that of last
year.
Knoxville Through the discovery
of two mountains of chert in Knox
county, the use of which has been of
fered to the road commission, Super
intendent of Pike Roads John Doug
lass estimates that he will save the
county more than $50,000 annually.
Bolivar. A. M. Kahn and T. A. Par
ran met with a serious accident while
returning from Jackson in an auto
mobile. While crossing the levee Just
north of Bolivar the lights of the car
went dead, and in the darkness the
machine plunged down a 30-foot em
bankment
nton' City. Valuable walnut logs
from the bottom of Reelfoot Lake,
where they have lain slnoe the great
earthquake whioh felled them and
formed the lake in 1812, have been
shipped to an eastern factory for the
construction of airplanes and hydro
airplanes Is a report from the lake
territory. -
Dyersburg. Two thousand citizens
were at the train to see the Dyer
county selective draft soldiers entrain
for camp. The boys met at the court
house and marched to the train in a
body, headed by the B. M. C. band.
They were given an ovation on leav
ing. Forty-two men were in the party.
Knoxvllla The Southern Railway
employes say that the Increase to be
granted on salaries of clerks Oct. 1
will amount to 10 or 12 per cent. One
hundred and sixty-five men will be af
facted on the Knoxville division, it is
stated.
Halls. A mother's love failed to Im
press her son to the point of pushing
his claim for exemption from the Unit
ed States army. He wrote to the fed
eral appeal board, insisting that he is
big, strong and healthy, and that he
wants to go to war. "My mother is
having an exemption claim fixed up in
an appeal which she will send you.
ask the board to pass my case and re
fuse to allow these claims. My moth-'
er is not dependent on me. I believe
every honest American who can ought
to go out in defense of his country."
Alamo. The Maccabees of Tennes
see will hold a state convention In the
city of Dyersburg on Tuesday, Nov.
6. There are a large number of tents
and each tent will have a representa
tive to this convention.
Obion. B. A. Harris and Lloyd Pee
ler of Dexter, Ky., were Instantly kill
ad when an automobile in which they
were riding was struck by an I. C
passenger train at a crossing about
half a mile north of Obion. Part of
the car was hurled into an adjoining
field.
UNITY OF LABOR.
Unity of labor means that ev-
every organized worker shall be
engaged In one common union
movement because, whether or
ganized by trades or industries,
a question entirely subordinate'
to the fundamental necessity of
unity, there should be no divi
sion of labor's ranks.
There should be only one la
bor movement in a nation, and
in the United States and Canada
that movement is the American
Federation of Labor, and in ev-
ery trade or Industry that move-
nient is the union affiliated with
the American Federation of La-
bor. a
5q . Making cifo Flag
Wilbur
Your Flag and My flag" ; ' j
How did we maKe the.flag? I
By rule?
By compass, and square, and line?
With pattern,andthread,and the sempster's tool,
To follow the plain design?
Was it only the lore that the draftsmen Knew
That gave us the red, and the white, and blue?
How did we maKe the flag?
Not all I
By measuring stitch ajid seamt "';'.-..
For part of it came from a country call 3 I
And part of it is a dream
Is a vision that led brave souls aright.
And gave us the red, and the blue, and white.
How did we maKe the flag?
In peace
. We fashioned it fold on fold$ 1
Tr wnr ft was hlenrl with the cfrfm eanrice
The drums in their summons rolled.
Twas the courage aliKe of the quicK and dead
That gave us the blue, and the white, and red.
How did we maKe the flag?
'Twas thus i
It came to its grace and worth j A
Through all that is good in the souls of us '
The banner has had its birthj
'Twas the holier strength of the purpose true
That gave us the red, and the white, and blue.
Thus have we made the flag?
Ah, no! !
By colors that will not fade,
By sinuous sweep and by deathless glow,
Tis us that the flag has made!
And it whispers today
"You must hold me high
"MADE Iff
WhafstheUse?
Why not pledge yourself to
use "Made In America"
goods exclusively?
American irtisans can
equal the handiwork of any
other country. .
There's no reason why
prices should be higher and
many reasons for keeping
the money at home.
The billions that go to Eu
rope will now keep all
American workmen em
ployed. You do your part.
Danbury Hattera' Fund.
John W. Sculley of New Vork, na
tional president of the United Hatters
of North America, recently stated that
the American Federation of Labor.
Which has raised funds to reimburse
the defendants in the anti-boycott suit
of D. E. Loewe & Co. against members
of the Hatters' union, would not make
a settlement with the plaintiffs by the
payment of a cash amount. The fed
eration, Scuiley said, would permit the
attorneys for Loewe & Co. to proceed
to foreclose the property under attach
ment and reimburse the defendants for
their loss.
Send Us Tour Job Printing.
BNesbtt
sutAor of v',.,. ;
1
to each star-told states
and must Keep me great!'
AMEHICA"
' Sharea With Kmpioyeaa.
The Penn Tobacco company, .Wilkes
barre, Pa., one of the largest independ
ent concerns in the country, has an
nounced a new1 method of profit shar
ing with Its employees. Under ap ar
rangement In effect Jan.. 1 the employ
ees will receive a bonus proportionate
to the cash dividends of the stockhold
ers. . The dividends on $1,000,000 capi
talization are now 4 per cent payable
quarterly. Under the Penn plan every
time there Is a dividend declared for
the stockholders the percentage of div.
ldend will be 'applied to each employ
ee's salary..,,'
bershlp is 282.102.
t ' w do J rrtnOnjr it ajar oricet
, . . . .