The Meridian Tribune (Meridian, Tex.), Vol. 36, No. 13, Ed. 1 Friday, August 22, 1930 Page: 6 of 8
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THE MERIDIAN TRIBUNE
Memorial to Labor’s Grand Old Man
^as^^r^ FOLIr
MACEZYAC ISLAND MICE,
Model of triangular monument to the late Samuel Gom-
pers, proposed for a Washington site set aside by congress.
Labor organizations throughout the country have contributed
to the $120,000 building fund.
Men and women cannot live during working hours under
autocratic conditions, and instantly become sons and daugh-
ters of freedom as they step outside the shop gates. The ex-
periences of the habits of the shop are indelibly ground into
the souls and minds of the workers. Democracy must come
in the factory and the shop before it can be realized in the
life of the nation. So long as the factory boss has irrespon-
sible power to hire and fire, to dole out the lowest wages for
which men and women or children can work, his employees
have no rights that must be respected, no sense of self-respect
or dignity, no real freedom. Long hours of work, low wages,
insanitary conditions of work and waste of human power af-
fect not only the workers, but their home life, their children
and their children’s children—SAMUEL GOMPERS.
Showing space on which the monument is to stand,
at Massachusetts avenue and Tenth street, in the
heart of the National Capital.
^S^ AMA221CNZYAC
%
By ELMO SCOTT WATSON
WT AVE you a “Lovers’ Leap” in
your locality?
If you haven’t, then it’s
%
unique, and you might well
capitalize upon that fact and,
in advertising to tourists the
attractions of your region,
assure them that "this is the
only place in the United
States which does not have
among its scenic beauties a
Single Lovers’ Leap.”
, Just how many of these places there
are is unknown. But start anywhere
tn the East and drive West and you’ll
find plenty of them. There’s one be-
tween Little Falls and Danube, N. Y.,
a rocky hill overlooking the Erie canal
and the Mohawk river. Visit Starved
Rock park between Ottawa and La
Salle, III., and you will be shown a
rocky projection "from which an II-
lini warrior and his sweatheart leaped
to death in the river, rather than de-
liver themselves into the hands of
their enemies.” Visit Independence,
Iowa, and they will tell you that Ce-
dar rock, near Quasqueton, is also
called "Lovers’ Leap” where "the In-
dian lovers, Wapsie and Pinicon, from
whom the Wapsipinicon got its name,
are supposed to have plunged to their
deaths in the swirling waters of the
river.” And out in Oakdale, Calif.,
they will sell you a post card picture
of “Lover’s Leap on the road between
Oakdale and Knights Ferry where a
mythical Indian maiden committed sui-
cide by leaping into the river."
While nearly every township or
■county can boast of at least one Lov-
ers’ Leap, Mackinac island in northern
Michigan has the distinction of having
two places where love’s young dream
found a tragic ending. The guide books
will, tell you of “Lover’s Leap—This
lone pinnacle rises to a height of 145
feet above the waters of Lake Michi-
gan about a mile west of the main part
of the city. The legend which gives it
its name is that in the long ago the
beautiful Lotah, an Indian maiden of
the Oibway tribe and only daughter of
a famous chief named Wawanosh,
watched from this height the depart-
ure of her lover, named Geniwegwon,
with a war expedition across the wa-
ter; and to the rock she came day
after day to await his coming. At
last, the party returning without him,
brought word of his death and the
distracted maiden not caring for life
any longer leaped from this cliff: the
lifeless body was found by her father
at the foot of the precipice the eve-
ning after.”
Then there is Robertson’s Folly,
where "‘Tis told that a young and
beautiful Indian girl was wooed and
won by this dashing young Lieutenant
Robertson, but the poor maiden soon
learned that he was to depart for the
East at an early date to marry a white
girl. He granted her a last farewell
meeting, at this their trysting place,
and in a desperate struggle she suc-
ceeded in precipitating him and her-
self over the cliff.”
But if you want the story of a Lov-
ers’ Leap with a wealth of detail, go
to Linn Creek, Mo., where there has
been handed down from pioneer days
this tale of Lovers’ Leap above the
clear waters of the Niangua river be-
fore, it flows into the. murky Osage:
"A century ago the mighty Osage
and Shawnee tribes dwelt along these
streams. They were fighting enemies,
and bones of big-framed giants, war
Clubs of stone, rusted arrow-heads of
crudely fashioned metal and other
wsunus
20 TARSIZAR IAR
ZIDERENDEICA TO WA
signs ot struggle have been round for
years by plowboys as they turned over
the rich alluvial soil along the river
bottoms.
“Grey Eagle was then a medicine
man of the Shawnees; his daughter
was Laughing Water. A young war-
rior of the Osage tribe came up the
racing waters of the Niangua in his
canoe on a pleasant day, and stopped
before the birch bark tepee of Grey
Eagle. The head of the young war-
rior flaunted his eagle feathers; a deer-
skin shirt and leggings, and buckskin
moccasins encased the form of this
young giant. Tails of wild animals
hung from a wampum belt and a bow
and arrow swung across his broad
shoulders. These intimate details have
been carefully preserved in connection
with the world-old story of ‘love at
first sight.’ ,
“Laughing Water rose gracefully to
welcome him, but she reckoned with-
out her haughty father, to whom the
sight of an Osage was poison ivy. But
none the less, Laughing Water had a
mind of her own, as daughters of a
tribal chieftain should have, and she
encouraged the shots from the love
arrow of the Osage warrior.
"Day by day the young couple
roamed the forest or floated on the
silvery waters of the Niangua, Laugh-
ing Water sang like birds in tree tops,
or laughed till the forest rang with
melody as her lover related his sto-
ries of wonderful adventure. Then as
now, lovers it would seem were prone
to spread a glamour around their
past.
"The Osage warrior came to friendly,
terms with the Shawnee braves, as
their bitter jealousies vanished before
evidences of his skill as a fisherman
and hunter and prowess as a warrior.
They took him into their council, but
old Grey Eagle would not mix medi-
cine potions that would enable him
to become a son-in-law.
“Courtship of this pair lasted during
the summer, and every means of win-
ning the father’s consent proved un-
availing. Laughing Water .was urged
to flee the tribal domain and become
one of the Osage people. But her
Shawnee blood would not permit, so
the young couple decided since they
could not live together they would die
together. Thus united in the land of
the great silence their love would be
unhindered by the wishes of a medi-
, cine chief.
“Face to face and hand to hand the
Indian lovers plighted their everlast-
ing troth, sought a high bluff on the
river beneath which the waters formed
a great swirling eddy, cast themselves
far into the channel and no trace of
them was ever discovered.”
A similar detailed account of an-
other Lover’s Leap, which bears the
more prosaic name of Jump mountain,
was told in a recent issue of the
Lexington (Va.) Gazette, prefaced
with this editor’s note: “The follow-
ing article has been contributed by a
friend who is satisfied that the ac-
count is historical;”
LOTERSIEAP, z^^ OAKDALE,
CALIFORIITA
FIGHT FOR PEACE
FORCED ON LABOR
"At a distance of about three miles :
from the Baths, and easy of access, is
the Jump, one of tiie mountains that
form the Goshen pass, gradually rising
in height until at the distance of a
mile and a half from the river it ter-
minates abruptly, making a depth to appear at first blush to be a Daras
the bottom below of two thousand ical suggestion, but the fact is that
feet, and presents a view as extensive
as interesting.
"The valleys of the Baths and Walk-
er's creek were once the favorite
hunting ground of the Cherokee tribe.
While out on a hunt on one oc-
casion, the Cherokees ventured in
what is now known as the little Calf
Pasture, to which their neighbors, the
Shawnees across the mountain, claimed
an exclusive privilege. They were or-
dered off, and refusing to go, a fight
ensued, which ended in a discomfiture
of the Shawnees, who proceeded at
once to collect and assemble their
braves for another trial at arms.
"After several fights the Cherokees
were finally driven through what is
now known as Goshen Pass, and con-
tinued the fight around the base of
the mountain only to be renewed in
a more sanguinary form on the high-
lands of Walker’s Creek.
"There the Cherokees organized for
the last and final conflict. The
Shawnee warriors had concentrated—
the onset was made—the war-whoop
was sounded, and a defiant shout
rang back as a welcome. The arrows
whizzed as so many winged messen-
gers of death, and the tomahawk
whirling through the air, doing its
work of blood, was accompanied with
a yell of exultation which noted an-
other brave had fallen.
"Amidst the scene of carnage and
death, far above the noise of battle,
its savage yells and its death shouts,
a wild shriek was heard, and an ap-
parition, with streaming hair and out-
stretched arms, was seen flying
through the air from the mountain
summit, only to disappear mysterious-
ly at its base. This strange and super,
natural sight was witnessed by the
warriors
struck,
aroused,
cil was
smoked.
below. They were awe-
Their superstition was
The fight ceased. A coun-
called. The calumet was
The tomahawk was buried.
A peace was concluded. Both parties
believing that the Great Spirit was
angry, and had hid his face under a
cloud. From enemies they became
friends, and as a pledge of future
reconciliation, collected and buried
their braves in one common mound,
near the junction of Walker’s and
Hay’s creeks.
“The incident which had caused a
cessation of hostilities was as tragic
as singular. The Cherokees, aware
that the fight would be a severe one,
had sent all their squaws and pap-
poose some distance to the rear, ex-
cept a pretty Indian maiden, whose in-
terest in a young chief had induced
her to climb a mountain acclivity
nearby, from which she could witness
the stirring scenes below In the hot-
test of the fight, beholding her chief,
whose warwhoop was as well known the practical, logical and sound thing
to her as his warlock, fall by the hand ^y merely thinking about it. We must '
of a fierce Shawnee, in a moment of work for It and fight for it, and con-
despairing love, with one wild shriek, stitute a platform upon which we can
leaped from the mountain top into the attract and hold the public confidence
abyss below, following her favorite and challenge without fear of defeat
chief to better hunting grounds. From the attention of the employers and in-
this incident the mountain obtained vestors in industry of America,
the name of Jump. The Indian Finally, to fight for peace is neither
mound almost level with the ground, paradoxical or unsound, but consti-
is well remembered by some old tutes, in the judgment of the writer,
persons in the vicinity when it the very life of industrial prosperity
was 30 or 40 feet high, showing the and happiness for all of the elements
mortuary list on that occasion of the of the world for the present and for
Cherokees and Shawnees to have been the future.
Employment Agencies
France had the first public employ-
ment agencies or bureaus, it is
thought. In 1843 such bureaus were
established in Paris. The first private
agency of the kind was established in
1885 and the first in this country in
Ohio five years later.
large.”
• by Western Newspaper Union.,
By GEORGE L. BERRY,
President International Printing
Pressmen’s Union.
We shall fight in order that peace
may prevail.
To fight for the purpose of estab-
lishing and maintaining peace would
appear at first blush to be a paradox-
the most vital struggle confronting the
workers of America is that which in-
volved permanent peace and the elim-
ination of warfare in industry.
The inherent inclinations and am-
bitions of the workers is for peace
because, from the records, we learn
that the pain and sacrifice in all of
its aspects attendant to wars—indus-
trial and otherwise—in the past have
been absorbed by the workers; hence
consciously or unconsciously, the
workers seek peace and are gradually
evolving a state of mind that will
justify their fighting for it.
The general public, made up of sym-
pathizers of the organized labor move-
ment in the main, prefers peace in in-
dustry. The general public, like all,
profits most by peace and loses most
by warfare.
The great majority of employers in
all industries in America, in the judg-
ment of the writer, will indicate with
George L. Berry.
enthusiasm their desire for .peace, but
the unfortunate part about the atti-
tude of the employers is that they
want peace calculated by 'heir own
terms and conditions which, of course,
is no peace at all because of the utter
human impracticabilities attendant to
such a plan.
The organized workers of America
challenge the employers to meet them
in a campaign for practical peace, a
campaign for the eradication of
strikes and lockouts and any other
forms of concerted action purposing
the stoppage of business upon which
we are all dependent. The organized
labor movement of America appeals
to the public for support in the estab-
lishment and maintenance of practical
peace to the end that the waste oc-
curring in industrial warfare may be
eliminated.
But we cannot succeed in doing even
1
FORCE OF LABOR
UPLIFT IS SHOWN
BY ITS PROGRESS
By the Late Samuel Gompers
Down the ages file the crowds of
common people, so patiently, so unob-
trusively, so submissively that dumb
pain catches the heart in response to
the human tragedy and pain of the
dwarfed lives and suppressed powers.
Though the march of the world’s toil-
ers hurts with its pain and its pathos,
yet it brings cheer, gladness and en-
couragement. Today, though the com-
mon people dig and delve, go down
into dark and weary places, do the
work necessary to the intricate organ-
izations that supply social needs, yet
many of them are able, comfortable
and happy past the conception of for-
mer ages. And how? The labor move-
ment.
In some guise, with varying ideals,
the labor movement has existed wher-
ever there has been need and oppres-
sion of the workers. It has led them
up from slavery to freedom, through
the gate of freedom upon the infinite
possibilities of free life that stretch
far, far away in the unfathomed fu-
ture.
And what is this labor movement?
It is a living thing with soul and spir-
it, and a personality all its own.
Those that are weary and heavy-laden
cast their burdens upon it, straighten
the bent back and ease the aching
muscles. In new-found freedom they
look up—and see the higher levels and
purer heights just beyond. Men and
women that hunger and thirst stretch
out their hands and receive that which
satisfies the present physical needs.
As the pangs et distress become less
J sore, mind and heart are freed of the
1 burden of existence, ready for things
1 of the spirit. Those made restless and
i alert by unsatisfied longing turn to
1 this great human movement and there
find a response to their craving for
something that is true and honest,
practical, yet idealistic.
To keep full and strong this tide of
energy, to rouse the purpose and de-
termination to strive for yet more and
more, is the great purpose of Labor
day. Let the workers meet together,
review the things done, realize the
mistakes and the victories, take coun-
sel with each other, to inspire to press
onward and upward.
Now more than two million strong,
the trade union movement of America
is a great force in the forward move-
ment for human progress and welfare.
Increased members and power bring
increased responsibilities. The labor
movement will bear the responsibility
with dignity and wisdom befitting its
high ideals and purposes; it will meet
opposition and many obstacles in its
struggle for the abolition of wrong,
for the attainment of right, for the
establishment of human brotherhood.
But the organized labor movement
will win; it must win, it cannot fail.
The triumph of labor for justice and
humanity is assured. It is writ not
only in the stars, but also in the hearts
and minds of the masses.
First National Labor Body
The National Trades union, formed
at New York city in 1834 as a federa-
, tion of local unions and of the cen-
tral bodies in different cities, was the
first national organization of workers
in the United States. It disappeared
after the panic of 1834.
LET PUBLIC KNOW
STAND OF LABOR
By JOHN J. MANNING.
Secretary-Treasurer Union
Label Department, A. F. of L.
Labor has more strength than ever.
It has a bigger mission than ever. It
plays a bigger part in social, indus-
trial and political life. Labor per-
forms a social service as well as the
physical service of toil.
The heroism and loyalty displayed
by the pioneers of the great labor
movement for the uplift of human-
kind are indelibly stamped upon the
social, economic and moral progress
of our country. Indeed, when the his-
torian of the future writes of the
past fifty years, one of the brightest
pages will be that of the activities of
our movement for human betterment.
But great as this service has been
and deeply as it is appreciated, we
cannot rest content with past achieve-
ment, but we should give the best
that is in us so that the many press
ing problems with which we are now
confronted may be satisfactorily
solved.
Organization, education and pub-
licity are the trinity, coupled with
real co-operation, ‘ which will aid us
more than anything else in their solu-
tion. Attendance at meetings; secur-
John J. Manning.
ing new members is real organization
work; to inculcate a thorough knowl-
edge of what our movement stands for
in each and every member, is real edu-
cation; to let the general public know
what we stand for and the service
we have rendered society by our ac-
complishments, is real publicity.
The American Labor movement is
the only movement in the world which
uses the union label, shop card and
working button to designate the prod-
uct of its members or where they ren-
der service. By demanding that these
emblems be displayed whenever we
make a purchase of goods or service,
we will be rendering real co-operation
to all who are enrolled in the great
army of organized labor.
The use of these emblems by any
employer indicates that he is in har-
mony with our demand for industrial
democracy. Industrial democracy is
founded upon a trade agreement, and
it is only through such an agreement,
under which the workers have an
equal voice with the employer in es-
tablishing standards for conditions of
labor, that this democracy is secured.
Let us, therefore, on the day dedi-
cated to labor, resolve that if we have
been negligent in our duty to the great
cause in which we are enlisted, we
will gladly assume our share of this
work in the future, to the end that,
we will merit the heritage given us
by our prodecessors.
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The Meridian Tribune (Meridian, Tex.), Vol. 36, No. 13, Ed. 1 Friday, August 22, 1930, newspaper, August 22, 1930; Meridian, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1630314/m1/6/: accessed August 15, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Meridian Public Library.