The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-06
COERCION LIE NAILED
SOUTH BEND MANUFACTURERS Of
FER To PROSECUTE ALL CASES.
Putnam County Lockrfdges Not i'm the
silver Band Wa gon-Great Rally
Held ut Columbus.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special TO the Indianapolis Journal.
SOUTH BEND, Ind, Oct. 5.-The present
campaign in the interest of sound money
in this city has had injected into it charges
of coercion. These limitations have been
freely made against certain employers of
labor who desire that national honor shah
be sacredly preserved and that the stars
and stripes shall not in any way be de-
graded. These charges against manufac-
turers in South Bend have not been con-
fined alone to the city. but have found their
way out into the world and have made it
necessary for one of the largest concerns
here, which is one of the largest in the
United States. to make a direct and in
every way satisfactory answer. The insti-
tuition referred to is the case factory Of
the Singer Manufacturing Company. This
company received from Mr.. s. Lavender,
of Rutland, Marshall county, Indiana, an
employe of the Nickel-plate railroad, under
date. of Sept. 30, a letter in W lich Mr.. Cav
ender says:
1t is reported here, by parties having
relatives working in your shops, that every
pay DAY some men are discharged for no
otner reason than that they are Demo-
Gratis, or free-silver advocates; also that
men wishing to join in silver parades or
demonstrations had to wear masks to pre-
vent Identification by their employers. and
SO prevent their being discharged. Please
49, -C NAAO tAS OI111 SALC II Iil1I Z 10 Oil
ether side, because, as an employee of the
N1ckel-plate, l have had the same accu-
Satlon against the officials put at me; that
had to talk gold. not talk silver, or get
discharged. This is not true"
The reply to Mr.. Lavender was signed by
Mr.. L. Pine, manage of the case factory
for the Singer Company, anu was as fol-
lows:
Replying to your esteemed favor. we
nave to say that the reports you mention,
relative to the discharge of any of our
employees for political reasons. are with
quire about the religious. political or other
opinions or beliefs Of any of our employees.
The only standard by wh.ch they are
judged is their qualifications as mechanics,
and their conduct as men. These being
Sd tlsfactory to us, their continuance in our
employ, depends entirely and solely on the
demand for our products
The foref1en of our various departments
here entertain diversified views en- political
departments, and to all of them is granted
the same freedom of opinion and action irt>
dividually that the stockholders and off,
GERS of our ompany enjoy. Anything short
of this would be un-American, and we are
glad TO be able to assure you that in no
instance has the indicated course been de-
parted from in the treatment of our en-
ployes, by our foremen or by our COM
pany.'
The knowledge of these charges and in,
tjmations of coercion have also been forci-
bly, called to the attention of every manu-
facturer in the. city. The result has been
they have passed a set of resolutions as
follows:
Whereas, 1t is reported that certain man.
ufacturers of this city are using coercion
and trying to compel solEo of their en-
ployes to identify themselves with political
parties contrary to their preferences ana
wishes,
Resolved, BY the manufacturers whose
names are appended hereto, Thai such re-
ports are utterly without foundation and
incapable of proof, and that SAID manufac-
turers will furnish the funds necessary to
prosecute any case that may be Justly
brought against any of the undersigned fer
attempting to un1uiy influence any Of their
employees as above charged"
These resolutions are signed by the lead
ing and largest manufacturers In the city.
The list of signatures includes the follow
ing firms:
South Bend Woolen Company.
Indiana Paper Company.
A. c. Staley Manufacturing Con1Eany.
Colfax Manufacturing Company.
South Bend Chilled Flow Company.
O'Brien Varnish Company.
Oliver Chilled Plow Works.
Singer Manufacturing Company.
Sandage Steel Skein Company.
pany.
Stephenson Manufacturing mpan
South Bend Pulley Compeuy.
The Economist Plow Company.
Sibley & Ware.
The Miller-Knoblock Company.
Studebaker Bros. Manufacturing Com
pany.
Birdsell Manufacturing Company.
Hodson, Stanfield & Co.
Bissell Chilled Pillow Works.
Winkler Bros.