The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-10-13
STIRS UP
A TEMPEST
The Dismissal of Twelve Of the
Principal Employees
Of One of st. Louis Biggest De-
partment Stores
Because They We're Believers
Tn Free Silver.
MATTER is TAKEN UP
And VIII Come Before the Mis-
souri, Courts.
The Missouri Law Furnishes
Such Action.
MATTER is TAKEN UP
And VIII Come Before the Mis-
souri, Courts.
The Missouri Law Furnishes
Such Action.

Such Action
St. Louis. Mo. oct. 1s.-No incident Of
this presidential campaign has aroused
the interest of the people of St. Louis to
such an extent as the action of Mr.
Dougald Crawford. proprietor of d.
Crawford & Co 5 department store on
Broadway and Franklin avenue. in dis
charging twelve men for the plain and
expressed reason that they were believ-
ers in the free coinage of silver.
The Democratic state committee took
the steps Immediately to have the law
enforced against Mr.. Crawford A
thousand dollars We're subscribed to a
fund to defray the expenses of prosecu-
tlOn in ten minutes after the committee
met Eminent counsel was retained
without delay to conduct the prosecu-
ton, and the opinion is well nigh uni
versal that Mr.. Crawford Will be legally
punished.
Meetings of various organizations
have been held and resolutions of an
OminOus character have been published.
Informal gatherings of ladies have re-
solved to contribute their share to the
peoples rebuke BY patrOnizing only
such estab blishments as do not attempt
to cOerce their employees
The resentment Of pOpulace is stern
and deep. The Crawford case is re
garded as an aggravated one, and the
people are in no mood to suffer it to
pass unrebuked. There is no disposi-
tion to treat Mr.. Crawford unfairly, but
there is a determination that he shall
get exact and absolute justice.
1T is fight now" said Chairman
Cook OF the Democratic state commit
tee. Ito determine whether or not the
voters OF Missouri may exercise the
right of suffrage
whether the laws of the state may
be trampled under foot by an employer
of labor. or whether they We're placed
on the statute books to be obeyed by
rich and poor alike
"By every means in our power we
propose to prosecute Crawford for his
violation of the law
IF the statements made to our com
mittee are correct-and I have no rea-
son to doubt their correctness-thei in
vestigation now being made viii be
promptly followed by vigorous proseeu-
I'VE have shown our faith in the mat
ter by retaining Ex-Governor Charles P
Johnson. With him viii be associated
Lee Meriwether and Charles A. No
land"
50 general. is the feeling among the
workingmen that they should speak out
against intimidation of employees that
there has been q spontaneous move
nent started for a monster meeting to
be held tonight at the Oriental theater-
A general call has been issued inviting
every one to attend. The meeting viii
be strictly nOn-parUsan-
The signers are mostly representa-
tives of labor unions, acting in their
individual capacities. The Trades and
Labor union at its meeting yesterday
decided to investigate the facts as al
legged but no report could be made until
next sunday
Mr.. Fl. ID. Porcher, one Of the buyers
for the book department. In crawford
big store, in an interview, 1hus tens
the story Of his discharge
About IL O'Clock MI Cfa Wlofo came
into the DOoS depdfllliell anu cameo
me to where ne vas slstlalils- w n5i
came up Mf- t-iStFN lotd setlu- lliasi-
stand you are TOR sllNer- My reply vas
that he was NOT mislllI llIoiiils @ sQ - - lHsit
can't work in this house. You will have
to get out Of it and work for some free
silver man. and walked away 1t
came SO suddenly and seemed So ridic-
ulous to me, that Went PACK 70 my
desk finished a little work that Z was
doing, and then Went over 70 see now
the matter stood IN the mouse as re-
CARDS the other employees ulscoNeted
that the buyer OF the glove department.
Mr.. GradWohl, had Just Deeh nred' ana
so I saw at once that II was serious
matter
Meeting MI JoiIl StaWIOI1' tAe JUL
lor members OF tte Il4ll' sIsAeu MN II
was discharged he asked me Whal
about told nm MT ~ CRAWFORD haG
told me that if was for freesilver Imust
20 and work for q free silver man. lie
said. of course. that's S lt If you are a
silver man; for he has just fired De
Neaux, buyer for the notions; Grad
wohl Of the gloye departrnent L EloEyeTs