REBELLION IN ATHENS AND KNOXVILLE

...The resurrection is not yet...

...The Knoxvillians who think ahead of certain local interest groups may utilize this first democratic gain ax a springboard...

...6) housing and other community aid to the displaced in their new communities...

...There are still bootleggers operating in McMinn county, but they no longer operste from ths sheriff's office...

...Typical of Morton's first reactions to the job is the story reported in the Knoxville Seim-Sentintl, on February 2, describing bis visit to Knoxville General Hospital...

...Because of the aruie paper shortage The \rw l.reirr ia forced to eliminate four pages from this issue...

...All nf the leaders of the Citizens' Protective League wire under 40...

...Against this backgioiiml, is hope that the people of Athens and Knoxville may, because of the knowledge to be gained from their experiences, become firmly aware of their latent power...

...therefore, unless • brief be held for passive resistance an i the healing (or ravaging...

...And the GI slate now in office is looking forward to a city manager form of government for the community...

...This revolt had few of the dramatic elements handy for journalistic exploitation...

...leaders, in mild rebellion against GGG guiding hand-, have thus far refused to participate in the activities of that group...

...If these developments are not to take a terrible toll in human suffering, community turmoil and disrupted labor organization, they mutt be met by a constructive national policy as well as a program within tin- labor movement¦ * • A Proposed National Program Technological progress cannot bfl met by cursing the machine...

...The long-run program objective, of the CGG involvo vital and drastii civic change...

...The day after the rally, 200 recall petitions went into circulation...

...This impending development threatens the social stability of thriving communities, holds forth the danger of a new "Oakie" problem for the states and the nation, and is especially pregnant with the menace of a large mass of unfortunate people, driven by economic pressure from the farms to the cities and forced into competition with factory labor...

...It was hoped that Walker, as a creator of policy for the city government, would demonstrate the sense of responsibility held by those few...

...The next step to be realised is ths creation of a climate in which city administrators will lie able to work without political obligations and ...........I.....mi• Southern Farm Revolution By Benjamin Haskel Diretlur ol Hinurih nnil Publicity...

...To implement this they have formed a Good Government Group...

...Morton ordered all the mattresses destroyed anil new ones bought, along with a supply of sheets...

...Perhaps, for this reason, judgement of Knoxville politics will strike a different note...

...On his way out, Morton scrawled on a dirty window pane hi'Ii hts tingei, "Morton has been here...

...One month later they were turned in with 11,493 signatures...

...And so, for a short time, the nation's wires were hot with exciting accounts of how a group of veterans ousted a political machine and its hired gunmen from Athens after the thugs had attempted to prevent an honest count of the votes cast in the local election...

...Some of the more imaginative CPI...

...and then, if everything was in order, to call an election...

...But the Gla were not led by a Spartucus, they did not create a Sun State with the advent of victory...

...It was explain!' I by #ome that whether for good or bad, violence assumes a formidable place in the pattern of southern culture and tins Should dictate that the incident be filed along with the Hatfield and McGoy feud...

...The significance of the Athens affair is to be found somewhere between these two extreme views...

...But it must be made to cover ths human costs of the displacement of labor to which it gives rise, Congress and the Individual state.- must be pressed for serious considei at inn of such protective measu i es i -: ft) Dismissal wages...

...In the next few days, it was made obvious that certain people were sorry Morton ever ,ai:ie...

...they sre hiding out instead...

...Consequently, we And it necessary t« omll two pages of our Literary Section, aad "Trends" by Listen M. Oak, plus other features...

...Here again is the threat of replace, iiieiil "f an old machine by a new one...

...Although not enough time has elapsed to test these possibilities, the latter is a pregnant one...

...In retrospect, however, it is clear that although the Battle of Athens, and the eviction by recall election of the Mayor of Knoxville, were indeed followed by certain political and social reverberations elsewhere in toe nation, they were feeble, and in many instances, bravado without substance...

...The only charge was "noncooperation," or, more simply, Mayor Walker's inability to control the city manager...

...effects ot time, then the CIs were justified in their action, and the people of Athens, for their sanction, are also to be commended...

...What is especially noteworthy is the increase in the net annual migration from the South froirt" 100,000 a year in the depression l»:(0's to 300,000 a year in the 1940V Internal migration in the South also reached record heights during the war years when it totaled 1,800,000 and reflected substantia) movements from farms to cities...

...After three months of service Morton was fited by Cas Walker and five other councilmen...

...the change took eleven mum,tin to effect...

...Migration out of the South, and within the South from farm to city, is nothing new...

...The labor movement would do well to plan the organized transfer of trade union membership so thst farm union members are plsnfully inducted Into unions of the industry into which they goFinally, the labor movement must win theso people over by wsrtn concern and-" ¦ levited ifforts to case their hardships through lalior relief funds to help them In resdjusting themselves...

...5) transportation allowances for the displaced, related to the whole program of refraining and reemployment...

...The Battle of Athens, in McMinn County, Tennessee, was spectacular and in keeping with the spirit of a postwar year which found almost everyone either fearful or hopeful that the "boys wouU run things," as they had declared they would...

...Accustomed as they have been ti> a bare subsistence, they may be used as a floating mass of cheap labor to undermine the labor standards already developed in the industry of the South and the nation...

...Morton insisted on a tour of the Negro unit at the hospital, and there he found patients using mattresses that weie horribly filthy, and sleeping in beds without any sheets...

...Since the days when Loubj Brownlow was Knoxville's first city manager, there have been a few other capable individuals responsible for the city's management...

...The eviction of Cas Walker, Mayor of Knoxville, was accomplished entirely by the use of the electoral process...

...His simple appeal was accepted widely, and Cns was elected mayor by the people, taking oflice January 1, 194...

...2) extending unemployment insurance coverage to agricultural workers and increasing the .minimi nf insurance: (3) placement of displaced farm labor in other «ork, preferably in the South...

...To many, the whole affair was just another Shoot m...

...This will also I 'p them withstand the excessive economic pressure which may compel them to he, an unconscious foro: in undermining our unions jrhd labor standards...

...In this experience, too, there are possibilities which may mar a successful performance...

...Viuiii1: Kimxvillians showed thut they are inteiested in betti r local government...

...There Was bloodshed in Athens, but it was at S minimum...

...Real aid must lie given to the National Farm Labor Union of the AFL to spread i organization and influence throughillt Ho i mi ,1 anas, sm that the people ultimately pushed off the land will not be forced to lieeome union-busters and breakers of union standards wheifthcy reach the mills and the factories...

...Hut there i- the ical possibility that the GGG will be cuntiollcd almost wholly by individuals who supported the recall only be cause fas Walker stood between them and a realization of dollar-for-dollai value foi the taxes that they paid to thinly...

...Hut after eight months of delay, the election was held, and Walker and two of the othei councilmen wcra defeated...

...This attitude mitigated against an intelligent appraisal of the event...

...But there is the possibility that some of the group may either ally themselves in the future with the McMinn County Republican machine, or build a machine of their own...

...Two men who were elected on the GI slate were removed from office recently because they signed a statement attesting thst a'new machine h'»l been already established...

...Presentation of these petitions to the County Election Commission compelled that body to process the documents, to determine and certify the legality of the petition...

...Tho Knoxville (.mimI Government Croup hns now absoibed the ("PL...

...A rally was attended by 2,000 citizens, and a Citizens' Protective League was formed to seek a recall of Walker and it was agreed that the group would disband after achievement of the objective...

...Every cheap dodge was used by Walker to circumvent the will of the people by stalling the work of the Commission...

...A SoMKWHAT similar rsbelllon took pUco last year In Knoxville, Tennessee...

...SORRY...

...For this he was kept out of the political picture until he rebelled and winked up his own machiui...

...His family in Louisville was lluatertfed...

...It is Important, therefore, to search for the true implication* of these episodes...

...But Morton continued with his many activities exposing inefficiency In the city's affairs and recommending drastic revision...

...Walker and the other city councilmen (the mayor is appointed by his colleagues in the council) announced the installation of Paul Morton, formerly assistant to the city manager of Louisville, as the new city manager...

...Next week, wa shall again return lo our regular twealy-page size and shall agate prsaeal all of the features omitted Ibis week...

...Far i emoved from the misty-eyed approval, another interpretation of I lie event was depressing...

...Horry, bat Ihis temporsry emergency is plainly beyond oar central...

...The means used to secure popular government in the town Has absolutely necessary...

...Knoxville reacted immediately to the outrage...

...And the nation touted tha Athens (lis with enthusiastic acclaim...

...In 1944 and 1945 he seemed to be an honest crusader fighting the highly inefficient and sometime corrupt city management...

...Morton came with outstanding qualifications...

...A Program for Labor TllE IhImm movement, however, will not lie hIiIm tu rely solely mi such a governmental program to avoid the smashing of union standards and of unions themsel ves...

...A machine controlled the electoral process and there was n<i relief offered to the community from any other governmental source, either state or federal, to insure a fair count of the votes cast...

...Rebellion in Athens and Knoxville Postwar Political Change In Tennessee By Mortimer Slaiman Well-known Analyst of Southern Problems DURING 1946 political change took place in two East Tennessee communities, awakening hope that this was really to be a year of moral and political resurrection...

...Vnilrtl Tr\lilv UhiI.,-i\ ../ fmen.o [ill,) KNOXVILLE.— Southern labor, industry ami government Had better brace themselves for a sever" siiock which will hit them with terrific impact soon It is estimated that a few million agricultural workers will be pushed off tlx- farms of the South m the next live yeais as a result of the mechanization of agriculture — through the introduction of such new machines as the mechanical cotton picker and the sugrr cane harvester and the mecham?itinn of rice culture...

...The action involved was not display of physical force, and the factor of spontaneity was lacking...

...On that same day...

...It will require the foresight and wisdom to bettrin a program of education among farm lalsir now, while they are mi the land, to make them conscious of the value of trade unionism...

...4) establishment of placement offices with trained personnel, and liaison with the labor, lain, and industry groups involved to plan the movement of farm workers from (he land to new job...