Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1885-07-22

Of this assembly. if he were an officer
knows that If he were sworn to d.
these things he must do them. Now
gentlemen, all | have 10 say is tina
hindering other people from working
if they wish to work. is against tn
laws. Do not work yourself if yo'
do not like the hours or the terms o
payment. Not to work yourself j
entirely legal. but to hinder other
from working is illegal. As the Gov
ernor of the State Of Michigan be,
of you that you will not violate tn
law. / have nothing To say to yol
about the ten or eleven hours. sim
ply tell you what the law of Michigan
is aud that you must not violate il
and / am sure you do not wish to d.
so. Now, gentlemen. let me tell you
same plain truths. There are il
every community men who are con
stantly stirring up strife. 1t is so il
all classes Of life. 1t is SO in tn,
laboring classes. 1t is so in the mer
camille classes. Now, let every mar
work and think for himself. b.
your own leaders, gentlemen, ant
don't be led by any blind man, VIII,
cares nothing for YOU, except to have
you hurrah for him. | thank you
sincerely. gentlemen, for inviting m,
to speak to you. | would that
could solve the matter for you.
thank you for the cordial welcome
you have given me here, and hope
that you will try and come to some
conclusion that will settle this ques
tion here without loss of property oI
life. Gentlemen. / came here only
to counsel moderation, and l ask. in
the name of humanity. in the name
of the people of this State, that you
will not violate the laws. that you will
do no unlawful or violent act to any
man or any property"
Judge Marston being present, near
Gov. Alger. was asked to speak and
he responded. He stated that he had
in his day been a laboring man. and
recognized the right of every man tc
quit work when his contract with hi,
employer had expired. He said
"You have said you will obey the
laws Of Michigan. / then ask you
again if any mill tomorrow or to-day
makes a contract with men willing t.
work at whatever wages or number OF
hours it may be, will you support the
mill,owners and the laborers in their
work. [Cries of no, no.] Then l tell
YOU the pledge you made to your
Governor is q false one. Then tell
Won you are violating the laws of the
State. [Cries of MOI | beg leave
ia differ from you, men. Let me
tell you where you stand. You have a
right to make contract for ten
hours. and l would sustain you in it
But when any number of men wish
to work ten, eleven or any number OF
hours you have no right to prevent
them, and the moment yon attempt il
you are violating the laws of this
State; and let me state to you what
the consequences will be. then you can
do as you please. / tell you to-day
and mine will not be the hand that
will do it. so surely as you attempt to
prevent men from working so surely
will the man who attemDt it be ar
rested and punished under the laws
Of this State. d. you say there is
not the power? Do you say there is
not the power to do it? The Sheriff
Of this county has but to call upon
the Governor and he will respond
You may like it or you may not.
beg of you, laboring men. don't take
this into your own hands"
The Governors review of the situa.
ton caused him to issue orders for
part of the State troops. Four COM
panies from Detroit were sent to Bay
City, and the companies from Alpena,
Port Huron, Flint and Saginaw
were ordered to Saginaw. A
proclamation was issued at Bay City,
by the Mayor, forbidding crowds from
assembling on the streets.
July Is. The State troops, to the
of little over 300, besides
the local companies, arrive at the
Valley. Dc. Blinn, selfappointed
leader of the strike, arrested, but
cannot find bail.
During the strike several attempts
were made to settle the matter by ar.
bitration. The strikers submitted the
following:
Resolued, That we. the saw mill
men of Bay City and West Bay City,
demand from our employers:
/. That ten hours shall constitute
u days work.
2. That we be paid the same
wages as heretofore paid for eleven
hours.
3. That we be paid every two
weeks.
4. That all men now out shall be
reinstated in their former positions
and no discrimination made in the
future against men because of their
with this movement.
The mill owners replied with the
following:
Whereas, The mills of Bay Coun-
ty have been closed by means of
force and intimidation by men not
in the mills, and
Whereas, The announcement is
made that the mills shall not be run
except by the adoption of rates Of
wages and hours of labor dictated nv
men other than the employees of the
mills. and
Whereas. The city authorities have
thus far been unable ito protect the