Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1893-12-21
The Progress of Intimidation.

ditch, are employing the policy of in
timidation for all it is worth. They /
are trying hard to Brighten Congress
into disregarding the mandate of the
people.
The attempts at intimidation are
made as far as possible through en-
ployees. The employers threaten
reductions of wages if tariff reform
occurs, and order their workmen to
send petitions to Congress not to dis
turb the tariff. Others reduce wages,
but hold out the hope that they will |
90 up again if the Mckinley Bill is
not repealed. Meantime, very few of
those who are reducing wages have
followed up that action by putting
down prices.
A very fragrant instance OF this
policy has just occurred at South
Norwalk, Connecticut. In the EN-
ploy of the Norwalk Iron Works there
were eight Democrats, who had been
kept at work on account of their SUI
perior skill. The other day each of
them received this notice
South Norwalk, Conn, ID &c. g.,
1898. We will not need your servi-
ces after this day. This action is
forced upon the management, not by
any reason of dissatisfaction witty your
work, but in view of the hostile tariff
legislation it is not advisable to con-
tinue the ordinary rate of manutac-
ture. Do not neglect 10 take at once
any job offered elsewhere, as We can
not give any encouragement regard
ing future employment.
NORWALK IRON WORKS.
+. HILL, General Manager.
This letter, along with the fact that
all the men discharged were the only
Democrats employed in the mill, was
pretty good evidence of the reason for
their discharge. To make the matter
palmer, however, oral declarations
were added. The manager said the
discharged men helped to make the
tariff, and asked why should they not
be made to feel the result of it. One
of the toremen when asked why Billy
Simons, one of the best workmen, had
been discharged, replied; Hes one
of those damned smart Democrats,
and Hill wants TO give him a chance
to study up on the tariff
Though the Democrats were singled
out for discharge, the Republicans re-
ceiyed a gentle reminder by a small
reduction in wages. They formed a
political club during the campaign
and did their share of marching and
shouting, but for all that, the temta-
ton to make little money at their
expense was too much for the mana.
ger.
This hit at the political indepen-
dence of the workmen did not work as
well as had been expected. The
people of Norwalk took it up, and the
denunciation of the action of Manager
Hill, who owns so per cent of the
stock of the mill, was not confined to
Democrats. A public meeting was
held, and the discharge of the men
was denounced as an exhibition Of
partisanship and pronounced bigotry, |
and as ''inimical to the Fundamental
principles of American citizenship"
The company began 10 realize that
the boycott was a weapon with
double edge, and expressed a fear
that the business Of the mill would
suffer in consequence of the action
taken. The manager undertook TO say
that it was remarkable coincidence"
that the men discharged were all
Democrats, and messengers were sent
TO them with offers of reinstatement,
which, however, they Indignantly
rejected. In the meantime, the dis
charged men have had offers of EN-.
ployment from other sources.
1t appears that the pretense that
business had fallen Off was not true.
The manager, in a card to the Nor
walk papers, admitted that the mills
were running full time, and that he
was expecting to run nights. A son
of the manager is quoted as saying:
Father says the works were never
put to such test. They are ninety
days behind on some orders and are
going to run nights"
We have deemed it proper to give
the history of this case with some de-
tail, because it shows the character Of
the efforts that are making to prevent
the saccess of the policy for which the
people voted. 1t shows how much
dependence there is to be put in the
declarations of men who are now
shouting calamity merely because they
wish to perpetuate the class privileges
which they were permitted 20 secure
for themselves in the Mckinley Bill
Courier journal.