The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-10-03

for Attempting to Form Union
Henry Is "A Corporation Lawycr-His
Maiden Work in the Legislature.
Organized labor has no more bitter or
persistent enemy in the state of Indiana
than Charles L. Henry of Madison coun-
", who is the republican candidate for
congress in this district, and who has
been made the standard-bearer of that
party in this congressional district to op-
pose the reelection of Congressman By
mum.
Mr.. Henry is no secret enemy, but dur
ing the past fifteen years has openly and
in the most pronounced manner attacked
organized labor in every form and has
omitted nothing that could give it
blow. At his home in Anderson his opposi-
ton to even the principle labor organiza-
ton has long been known and whenever
Mr.. Henry has been assailed on this ac-
count by the democratic organ of that
county there has been no denial or no
response. Editor Dory Biddle Of the An
derson Bulletin, who has always been an
intimate friend of Mr. Henry. and whose
paper has been the Henry organ. is now
running a non-uniOn paper. During the
past week his union printers struck on
account Of his persiSting in the employ
men Of nOn-unlon labor and he is now
running MS paper as a nOn-union office.
In view OF this fact, therefore. the no.
torious opposition of the republican can
didate for congress to organized labor in
all its forms is being kept as quiet as
possible by his friends and those who
would benefit by his election. But the
union woTkmen Of Madison county are
fully acquainted with the facts, and now
that labor IS making the most persistent
nght OF It's history. when il Is even bat
Ting for life itseif when ii is mubilZing
for the purpose of making Itself an i'm
portant factor in the national elections
of the future and when il is, as never
before, wedding out those who are its
enemies, they are up in arms against
the man who has the temerity to ask
for their suffrages.
A Corporation Sympathizer.
Charles L. Henry is recognized not
only by his character. associations, bus
mess relations and inclinatiOns. but by
his history as distinctively a corporation
sympathizer He is man who could be
of vast assistance to the corporations Of
the country were he given a seat among
the lawmakers and clothed with legisla-
tive power; therefore he is being backed
by the corporations Of the Seventh dis
trict and will receive their money and
command Of language and pleasing ad-
dress. he is fitted as few men are for full
filling the duties OF corporation advo-
cate
In business he has baen successful by
sacrificing even his intimate friends and
by waging a merciless battle against
labor organization. Upon retiring from
the window glass business last year he
publicly announced that he would never
again have a cent of his money invested
In hrfG
controlled by the id tyranny Of or
ganized labor" This statement ne l..Ade
not once but a hundred times upon the
streets Of Anderson. His previous and
subsequent stand regarding labor is in
conformity with such a remark.
He subsequently acquired the owner
ship and control Of the Anderson street
railroad company. which was afterward
converted into an electric line The
motOrmen in his employ in July of last
year desired 20 form union for tha.r
protection. Mr. Henry soon heard of the
movement, and further that 4 meeting
would be held the following Friday night
in the court house. There were seven
motormen who were active in advancing
the movement. Mr.. Henry at once sent
his superintendent u them. and n adj
vised them to abandon the project To
one Of the m0tormen the superintendent
used the following language: Now, 1
don't want u see YOU fired, but il Won
persist you will be turned out You know
that Henry is 'pizen' against this organ
tied labor business" The men refused to
be br0wbeaten and announced that they
would hold meeting and organize the
union. The next morning every one Of
them was discharged and Mr. Henry re-
fused to give them accommodation.
But these are only few of the in
stances that will be shown in every de-
tail in the columns Of The Sentinel. The
record Of the republican candidate Il very
embarrassing to the leaders Of the party
and every means possible is being re-
sorted to that the hostility Of Mr. Henry
to labor may be kept from public notice
at least until after the election. when 1T
will be too late for organized labor to de-
fend itself from the power which he
would be able to WELD against it. He
has succeeded in preventing his employees
from joining the ranks Of organized labor
by holding out the menace Of instant dis
missal. and on his street railroad one
man is now compelled 10 do the work of
two. The motorm5n must also act as
conductor. and any complaint at the
double work or the long hours imposed
IL met with instant discharge.
Active Against Labor.
The opposition Of Mr.. Henry to or
ganized labor was first made publicly
manifest at the time he first took pub
lie office. He was made law-maker of
the state Of Indiana in 1880, and on Jan
6. 1881. first sat in a legislative body as
the avOwed tool Of corporation power
sworn to give, II possible, a death blow
TO organized labor. That he made him.
self active in the work OF that legislature
Is proven by the fact that before he had
been in his seat three months he was
largely instrumental in securing the pass
age % a bill which made mere threats
crimes against the state and punishable
by a fine not exceeding 81, 600 and by i'm
prlsonment in the penitentiary for a term
not exceeding twenty-one years. Mr..
Henry was the chairman Of the con-
ference committee that recommended this
bill 70 the legislature for passage, and
throughout Its course through the senate
urged its immediate passage, which he
was able to secure. 1t went upon the
statute books Of the state and became a
law, and was allowed to remain a law
until 1889. when IL was repealed by
democratic legislature.
The official record Of the doings Of the
Indiana legislature Of 1881 shows that the
celebrated conspiracy law was introduced
!ibto the house Feb. IL, 1881, and was
passed by that body. Mr.. Henry had
just taken his seat as. a member Of the
senate. Albert 6. Porter was gov
ernor. The bill was submitted to the
senate for Its approval and some changes
were made in the other sections, but not
In the two making strikes a conspiracy
and punishable with the enormous pen
atty attached. The house refused TO con-
cur In the amendments made by the
senate. at the same time asking that a