Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-05-30
THEIR FIGHT
Innocent Citizens Intimidated by
Friends OF Strikers.
ROYCOIIlSC OF Many BUSINESS MEN
Wsmsa Annoyed ana Frightened by
COMMITTEES. Who Refuse - Make
hnowB rhsir Sames-A Coed
Workman Forced out of = Job.

Amcng the cases of boycott that have
been reported Is one from us Barclay
e., where Mrs. ;. W. Ross keeps
boarding house. MIR. Ross until Thurs
day held position with +. Burkhsrdt,
the furniture dealer a. ll9 Canai-st.
The story of their trouble, told by Mrs.
Ross. IS as follows: ''Soon sftef the
strike was declared some OF the nom
union men who had taken positions
with the street car company came TO
our place to secure board, and were sd-
mltted. Their bills were paid regularly
and they were n every way decOrons
and respectable. Soon afterward | was
waited upon by committee OF street
car men and advised TO discontinue
boarding "scabs" My husband and
talked It over. but could not see any
justice IN the demand. Then We began
TO have trouble IN getting our supplies.
We placed AT order Tor some provisions
with Van Every x Co., grocers and
meat men AT % Canal-st. We were no.
tied that our order could not be filled.
The same result followed our order at
Shaws. tea store Just north of Van
Eyery's. We have had TO 20 10 places
where We were unknown ami secure
groceries and meat and carry them
home by market basket. The Western
Beef and Provision Company IS one OF
the places where we Went.
Called Her a Dirty "seab."
The treatment we have received has
been outrageous. Last week quite 3
number OF the street car men came
here and told Us of the trouble they
would make Us. Not only that, but
one Of them right here IN my own
house called me dirty ''scab." This
morning some one had placed big
sgn on the front of our house, reading
''Scab Boarding House." We don't
want any trouble or notoriety, but feel
that we have been subjected 10 imposl-
ton. Last night my husband. who was
employed at +. Burkhardts, was dis
charged for the reason that We boarded
non-uElon men,"
Confirmed by y Grocer.
Mr.. Van Every was called upon, and
in response to the question as to what
the facts were in the case, replied:
Yes, we have refused 10 sell Mrs. Ross
any more goods, but not because we
had been notified not TO. We do a
strictly cash business, and Mrs. Ross
wanted to pay her bill weekly. make
10 bones or saying, however, that feel
1t 4 matter of wise business policy to do
as the laborng men might dictate III
such matters. They form thelprlnclpal
part OF our trade | was requested not
TO sell Mr.. Augustin of the Hall Stree,
House, and can't do IL very wd IL" Mr..
Shaw stated about the same reasons,
saying that he did business upon cash
basis, and could not give even short
credit to unknown parties.
Why Ross Was Dischar ked.
In regard to Samuel Ross and the
loss OF ms situation, Mr.. Hurkhardt
said; "Yes, l had to discharge Mr..
Ross yesterday. Two days a1o union
man came to me and sald MIR. Burk
haTdt, YOU have man in YOUR employ
who IS keeping scab boardersI | advise
you 10 let aim 20 and IL will save you a
boycott. | didn't discharge him then,
Hnd didn't like to at all. He did his
work we'll and faithfully and was per-
fect!y competent. Next day the man
cav me again and asked me If | had
vet discharged Ross. | replied that |
had not, for | needed his help badly,
and had no one 10 take his place.
was told that a new man would
he supplied 10 take hls position. | felt
that doing business on Canal-st. with
ms class of patronage | could not af-
ford 10 do otherwise. SO last night had
u talk with Mr.. Ross, and explained
the situation. He told me he didn't
want to make any trouble for me. ana
would not feel hard for ms discharge.
That ne aud his wife had good income
from keeping bosrders and could not
afford To give them up. 30 let him
90.
The Action Explained.
The Central Labor Union officials say
that the action of the union man VINO
notified MIR. Burkhardt was not the re-
suit Of special commission; that a
member of the Harness-maker's Un-
ION No. 81 volunteered TO see Mr..
Burkhardt and did so. The harness
maker was seen. but refused hrs name
saying. that he didn't want it 10 appear
IN PRINT, that they were hav-
ing some trouble 10 their un-
ION, and il might make Il un-
pleasant for him. The names of
the committee that waited on Mrs
Ross was also refused; that they were
Keeping a continual lookout tor all
"scsb" boarding houses, but didn't care
10 have much publicity connected with
u. IL was stated that Mr.. Burkhardt
came TO the Central Labor Union 20 get
another man and that one of them, ex-
Yerienced in the business. offered his
services. That Mr.. Burkhardt was not
coerced aud that another good man
would be supplied HIM at a moment 5
notice. lt was stated that be discharged
the man of his own free viii, having
first gwen the option of hIs dlschaTging
the "scab' boarders or leaving the Job.
As Ross stated he was making $50 a
week, he preferred % quit.
Further aeycott incidents.
Miss l. n Hsrtner, dressmaker at 80
NanrOe-st., received an anonymous
communication yesterday. warning her
not 20 patroniTe the street cars any
more. Mrs Rnbedew. l56 Barclsy-st
wss also notified that she must not re-
tain her "scab" bosrders, as she had
been boarding them tor long time, IN
some cases two years. She refused and
expisned 20 the committee. Nothing
further was done about the matter. bus
she SAYS she has expected trouble ever
since Her husband : employed a,
Van Every's grocery, snt she says that
Ia expects they vii te forced - give
hn hls discharge. - FAR nothing has
been done about it.
Tn,srsday evening the little son a
" Fh Cumnln lng- on Hail street was
hart by a stone hurled az car which i
m sssd. " b. Turk, one of the cas-
A