The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-08-07
Boycott Is Threatened.

cnamDer TIE AdHhdIo DuoiieoS 4hOh . 90
ISOLATION last night proceeded to do the
business of promoting the welfare of
Manzato-as they denominate it. Among
other things done this star chamber
crowd passed resolution threatening
to place boycott upon the newspapers
whose opinions do not happen to coincide
with those possessed by few men who
appear to have secured the mastery of
the association in question-or the rem
nants of an organization which was
brought into existence two years ago
for the purpose of blacklisting those who
may not be in their commercial favor.
As a prelude to the resolution the
lighting committee reported that the
only obstacle in the way of its success
and the only thing it has to contend
with was the attitude of the daily news
papers of the city"
Then came the adoption of the follow
ing resolution: .
that the daily newspapers were antago-
nizing the best interests of the citizens
and business men by the course they
had taken in opposing the businessmen's
plan, and that withdrawal of patron
age from such newspapers as continued
such course be recommended
The Free Press is not informed as to
the name of the so-called business man
who introduced the resolution. His name
is kept from the public, it being an IL
lustration of the star chamber methods
pursued by this organization which
claims to be doing so much for Man
kato's good.
Such 4 resolution and threat to boy
colt the daily newspapers of this city
comes with rather poor grace from a
body of men who claim to be organized
to promote the interests of Mankato,
but who meet in secret, who do not pos
sess the manhood to step out in the
open and have their discussions on muni
cipal affairs conducted in a manner fair
and above board. These men should have
lived in the days when conspiracies were
incubated in devious passages difficult of
access, and deeds were planned under
the cover of darkness.
The Free Press does not propose to
mince matters now that the association
has thrown down the gauge of battle.
In the first place this paper proposes
to exercise the right OF free speech
which the constitution of this great gov
eminent grants it. 1t has taken stand
on this lighting question which it be-
the people of Mankato We're its policy
to be adopted by the council, but at the
same time giving others the privilege of
disagreeing and does not threaten to place
a boycott upon those who give express
sion to their opinions. None but per-
sons of narrow and contracted minds
would refuse others the privileges which
they ask for themselves.
The Free Press has not misrepresent-
ed the plan Of the business men. What
has been said of it in the news columns
of this paper has come from members OF
the association committee, and if mis-
statements have gone out the commit
tee and not the newspaper are to be
blamed. The Free Press reserves the
right to express itself editorially on the
plan 1t has done so openly and without
malice
For nearly half a century The Free
Press has been published in AIankato
and it has never missed an opportu-
nifty to advocate what it believed to
be for the best interests of the people.
This paper has lent its assistance to
the upbuilding of Mankato and Blue
Earth county, and were it to receive
the proper compensation for such labor
its 6ank account would be swelled to
larger proportions than it is. Notwith-
standing the fact that this paper has
labored hard to place before the world
the advantages of this city and county
and in return has not been paid accord
ing to the amount of good it has done
for the community, it proposes to
keep right along with the work, regard
less of the threat of boycott. Should
The Free Press at any time have an
opinion to express the public can depend
upon it that that opinion will be express
ed
The Free Press Printing company is
something of an institution in Manka-
to. This concern employs a large num-
Der of wage earners and the weekly sal
airy list is considerably larger than paid
out by some of the men who now threat
en- to boycott it, This money is distri-
buted among the business houses in this
city The Free Press Printing company
pays tax in Mankato and this is not a
small item. The Free Press pays a
considerable sum each month for light
ing, and it is as earnestly interested Il
this lighting question as those who