The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-07-20

peCLN OF an lmpaESAbfel plckeI felHe.
Willis Is not a polished orator by any
means, but he has the gift of earnest
ness and he stated the case forcibly.
Willis Stands by the Law.
brothers and Sisters he said, I'VE
have just returned from long con-
ference with Governor Van SAINT and
he has told us that we must abandon
the blockade before the plant or else
he will take steps to have 1t removed.
That means that the militia will be
turned upon us, and the arrival OF the
militia means that we have been caus-
ing state of riot sin this town. I
would not tolerate riots, and ! do not
intend to be responsible for one In
this city tomorrow.
II told the men to leave the block
ade Monday evening, at the instance
of the governor, but it is evident from
the state of affairs that the men differ
on the question, SO I have called this
meeting to see where we all stand.
There has been talk within the ranks
that am a GUTTER. am no gutter
and will be the last man to go into
that plant unless the strike is settled
favorably. AS president Of this
union, I intend, comrades, to stand by
| the cause to the end, but thru 1T all /
want you to be law-abiding and I
want to be laW-abiding myself.
! Moral Suasion Enough.
Governor Van SAINT told us that our,
4 actions during the last few days have
/ amounted to a riot, and unless we
/ stopped at once he would have to look
upon it as such and deal accordingly.
IT told the governor, brothers and sis
i tiers, that would stand by the law,
and if we cannot stand by the law, /
/ for one must step down and out. We
! have gone along In this way as far as
we can go. The governor told us that
we could use moral suasion and that
4 pickets could stand about in order to
use such suasion. If good men stand
1 on the picket lines tomorrow morning
4 there will be just as many men stop
4 ped from entering that plant as there
were this morning when the men stood
. in blockade.
eve will allow no one to sneak thru
the pickets at the outside points All
that want to enter the plant must do
SO openly and manfulIy thru the main
gate. The regular picket line will be
placed at the outsidespoints tomorrow
to keep out anyone who would enter
the plant without facing an appea.
from the union men.
"The attorney general read to us the
!, riot act, and theresults which we may
bring upon ourselves and our families
should we continue, by other thar
moral suasion, to prevent anyone from
. entering the plant.
independents in Line.
, Men among, dyeus before me de
clared that / am a gutter because
allowed the clerks to enter on Monda.
morning. While you have been think
: for your benefit. During the last tw,
days I have got all the Independent
plants but one to accept the uniol
label, and $50 labels have been dis
e tributed. With this closing declara
: ton that am with you until the YER
e end, now appeal to5you to Judge an
\ discuss the situation for yourselves.
$ w. ]. Bly,, Joe. Seaman, James Ken
/ nedy and Peter Stakey, who had &C
: companied Willis to, the governors of
flee, verified his statements in regar
O to the chief executives position an
= the legal status of the blockade.
- In the general discussion which fol
:, lowed, the revival Of conservatisr
+ + was strongly indicated by the chill
- reception accorded the remarks of on
speaker who counselled killing non
unionists. An unqualified motion t
raise the blockade received only fort
= votes.
To Win Peacefully.
NO one viii try to- enter evens if W
- do raise the blockade, said Willis 8
- ~ the count was announced. vs,ez4
!. A striker quiclxlApIsioined:
We do not have a blockade. w
- - are behaving NIGEL and let. US do ju:
- what we are doing"
Il am not going to stand forAs
blockade returned Willis. The Ia
reads that 1t is equal to a riot. / hay
never. been in riot, and do not inten
to bein one now. XII.
r Whats the mater with our const
tuition, what's the ruling Of the n:
La tional union?'' were the cries that al
swered him.
"Our constitution does not call f,
z rioting. T have a family whose respe
I honor and revere, and will not ris
- it in a riot. Fellow men, 7 will on
- do what my conscience can stand"
"A The effect of his speech was spol
- taneous. One striker who appeared
IT voice the sentiment of the majori
o. then replied:
o. eve all expect to win out. The
= let us go about it peaceably. L
- - there be no division among us. O.
~ only hope is to pull together. AS so
e. as there is division then the cause
Ia lost forever. Let us stand by the law
A motion WAS made that the strike
i follow the instructions of their pre-!
~ dent and abandon the blockade pen
~ ing word from their national pre-!
"a dent, Michael Donnelly. This mott
70 was carried by a rousing majority.
mt VAN G A Nr1 X EE,Dc TAR