The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1892-10-27
HOW LABOR cRUsHER MORGAN BROKE
UP THE KNIGHTS OF ST. GEORGE.

The following letter from laboring
man, who was formerly in the employ
of Labor Crusher Morgan OF Alliance
does not need much explanation. lt
is only con6rmatory of other letters
from other members OF tne
Knights showing Morgans bitter
hostility to the order, and his dlsposi-
tion to own both the bodies and souls
of the men in his employ. 1t is pri-
vate letter, and for that reason has
more force and value In correctly
measuring Morgan's domineering
spirit toward the men in his employ.
The letter was written to member OF
the order In Canton.
PULLMAN, ILL.,, Sept. 10, 1892.
DEAR SISTER AND BROTHER:
Your letter came to hand all right
Now, in regard to Mr.. Morgan break
ing UP the st. George lodge at Alliance,
can perhaps give you but little 1nfor-
nation. Only so far as myself and
family are concerned, and that you may
understand the better, will tell you
how it was that myself and family came
to Alliance to work for Morgan. You
see have seven sons, all musicians, and
previous to our coming to Alliance,
five of them had been playing with a
show in New York, under the leader
ship of L. Churm, Morgan's present
bandmaster. After the said Churm
had got the situation as timekeeper
and bandmaster for Morgan he wrote
my boys about coming to Alliance, Of
fering some good prospects in regard
to work and wages, so as to have their
services in Morgan's band, which had
been previously organized, These
offers were accepted by my boys, on
condition that situation was found
| for me. That was very readily COM
piled with, and was invited to move
| from youngstown to Alliance, which i
did l began to werk for Morgan as
engineer. We had been in Alliance
only a Few weeks, when the Wellington
Lodge, Sons of st. George, decided tC
have social in their lodge room, tc
which myself and boys were invited
On the Saturday night after the boys
had been to rehearsal of the orchestra
held in Morgan's pattern shop, we al
went to the lodge room and had happy
time-songs, music and recitations, OF
course. Only my family took part ir
the music. Now, whether Morgan him
self heard the music, or whether some
one else told him, we don't know. Any
how, on the Monday morning follow
ing, the boys were called on the carpet
in Morgan's Office and told that they
could not be allowed to play outside OF
his band. But the boys told him in re-
| ply, that when they were not at WORK
for him, that is, outside of working
hours, they were at liberty to play wher
and where they liked. A few days
after that we were all called to the Office
and psi off, and from that day to this
we never knew what 1t was for. How
he dealed with the members of The
lodge, after we left, those that worked
for him | don't know, but 1 can tell yor
it put me and family in bad fix foI
the time being.
| | always understood that he was very
much opposed to organizations, espec-
tally labor. am very glad to thinl
that such man as he does not repre-
sent me, at present, in Congress, and
hope he never will. / am inclined Il
believe that few, if any, Sons of st
George in Youngstown, that know me
and remember my case, will be inclined
to help him. Hoping that you will un,
derstand from this brief outline how
Morgan acted toward myself and fami
ly, and also the Sons Of st. George,
will leave you to judge. | am yours il
| &c. RICH. BALL