Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-04-22
The EDlCT.

The state Trade ami Labor Assembly }
Issues "a Manifesto Against the Cham
PiOn Company.
A. a result OF the meeting of the leglS-
lative board OF the Ohio State Trades and
Labor assembly m Columhs last Saturday.
the following has been printed in circular
form and will be distributed through the
state
AN ATrEAI To THE PEOPLE or ONO AND
To All. or" N\iZEp LABOR
ENEKNwHETE.
For some weeks past We the undersigned
meIubeTS of the Legislative board ot the
Ohio State Trades and Labor assembly,
representing the various labor organizations
of the state. have been investigating the
troubles existing between the employers
and empluye~ of the Champion works
OF Springfield Ohio. owned and con
trulitd 10y William y. Nht"lrN
and others. and We mud that in time of
profound peace, when thrrr were neither
troubles nor rumors of trouble between the
employers and employees of said Champion
works, the said employers caused inquiry to
De made Of all their employees as towhether
or not they belonged to the order of knights
vi l4dbtl. anu ala illtfNt R hii'"a'"
themselves Ia be members Of said "rganiZa-
tiou were at once discharged. The sole
I, ason assigned for their discharge Was be-
q; Use of their connection with this order
Ne also tind that since the Inauguration
of this lurk-Out the workiugmen of Spring
field, both organized and unorganiZcd.
MANY of the manufacturers. the merchants.
the ministers of the Gospel, and the people
generally. have earnestly endeaN"red {" 81
cur. an amicahlp adjustment Of the trouble.
Members of the general executive board Of
the Knights of Labor have visited Spring
field and, in a personal interview with said
W y Whitelry. asked that "A settlement he
made by arbitration or any other honorable
method. All these efforts and these pro
po>al> have been rejected 10y the said com
uany, and the one condition Strenuu>lN in
sisted upon that before entering again INTO
the employ Of that company each employee
must obligate himself tn renoumCe allegiance
to the order of the Knights of Labor OF
any other labor organization.
We believe that the discharge Of these
men for the reason stated Is contrary to the
letter and spirit of American institutions.
detrimental to the best interests of society,
destructive to personal liberty. and direct
insult 10 the intelligence Of the people
Ii was government 10y arbitrary power
that led TO the separation of this from the
mother country. The largest personal lib
erty consistent with good government has
been the motto of the American people
since the foundation of the government. We
regard the action of the Champion company
A. violation of the rights and privileges of
American citizens and a re-e>tahliShment
OF the arbitrary principles against which
our fnrefatherS fought IsIr system of wage
slavery under the conditions laid down by
the Champion company is more Odi0uS than
the coolie system of labor and a> ndiouS a.
the chattel system which led To the war of
the rebellion.
In view of the facts above set forth. and
after the rejection of all honorable efforts Ia
compromise or amirahIy adjust the differ
enceS between the corporation and It's form
er employees, we appeal Ia all fair minded
men. all lovers "f justice, all friends of free
government. and all those who abhOr Sla-
very in any form and every form, 10 with
hold their patronage from said Champion
company until such time as said company
mamifeStS a willingness Ia treat its employ
eeS a. free American citizens. and in Il
spirit of fairness adjust the present diff
Guilty by the methods prescribed by the laws
of Ohio arbitration.
y. K. HY>EII, Prest..