The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1905-03-25

thrusting what Il has to sell 0abor)
upon US whethervor NO.
Suppose an American In . foreign
city shsald be chased by . mob. caught
and beaten unconscious. then his
mouth pried open and carbolic acid
poured down his throat. then his ribs
kicked in and his face we'll stamped
with iron nailed shoes. murdered be-
cause he tried to earn bread for his
children. By the Eternal. sir. feet
Of American mon Of war would assem-
BILE there. clear for action and blow
something Oh the face Of the earth.
II reparation were not mode for the
blood Of one Of ouY citizens.
And what answer 90 we make to the
appeals Of the hundreds Of widows
and orphans Of those Americans muir
dered by labor unions? How do We
try to protect the thousands of intelli-
gent citizens who. with reason. prefer
not to Join any labor, union and be
subject to the tyranny Of the heavily
paid rulers Of the labor trusts?
Upon q hrn refusal by Mr.. Post to
Join this criminal conspiracy gen.
eral boycott was ordered on Grape
Nuts and Postum all over the eoun-
try. which set the good red blood Of
our ancestors in motion. bringing
forth the reply that has now passed
into history: I'VE refuse to Join any
Conspiracy Of organized labor to ruin
publishers. nor will We discharge
any OF our trusted employees upon the
orders OF any labor union. II they
can mako their boycott effective and
sink cur ship, No will 20 down with
ths captain On the bridge and In com
mand."
This 81 the writer's in labor papers
crazy and they redoubled their abuse
Finally ono Of their official organs
came out with large double column
In denunciation Of Battle Creek, call
ing It - running sore on the face Of
Michigan" because 1t would not be
come organized and pay in dues to
their labor leaders. The usual coarse
villainous epithets common to labor
union writer's were INDUCED in.
The result was to weld public sen
timent In Battle Creek for protection
A citizens association was started
and mass meetings held. Good .citi
gems who happened TO be members Of
local unions, in some cases quit the
unions entirely for there is small need
of them there. D.
The working people of Battle Greek
are Of the highest order Of American
mechanics. The majority are moi
union membsra, for practically all Of
the manufacturers have for years de
ciined to employ union men because
Of disturbances about eleven year,
ago, and the union men now in the
city arc among the best citizens.
No city in the state Of Michigan
pays ~ high average wages as Battle
Creek. no city Of it, size IL ~ pros
! porous. and NO city has so large a pro
portion Of the best grade Of mechanics
who own their own homes.
= So the work people massed together
With the other citizens Of the organi
zation Of the Citizens Assn with the
following preamble and constitution:
Whereas, From 1891 to 1894 the
strikes instigated by labor unicns in
Battle Creek resulted in the destruc
tion Of property and loss of large
sums of money in wages that would
have been expended here; and.
Whereas. These acts caused serious
damage to the city and in \ market
way delayed its progress at that time
and.
Whereas. Since the year 1894 the
citissns hsvs been enabled. by public
sentiment, TO prevent the recurrence
of strikes .and labor union disturb
ances which have been prevalent else.
where: and,
Where's, The employers Of this city
have steadfastly refused to place the
the control Il labor unions, hut have
maintained the highest standard of
wages paid under IKE conditions any
where in the United States. and here
by unanimously declared their intent
10 continue such policy: and the en-
ployes Of this city, large percentage
Of whom own homes and have fami.
lies reared and educated under condi-
tions OF peace and the weli-earned
prosperity Of steady employment. have
steadfastly maintained their right as
free American citizens to work with.
out the dictation and tyranny of labor
union leaders. the bitter experience of
the past 0snering sufficient reason for
q determined stand for freedom: and
Whereas, The''attitude of the ctti.
zens on this subject has been the
means Of preserving peaceful eondi.
lions and continuous prosperity, in
marked contrast to. -thsy conditions ex-
listing in other oities suffering from
the dictatiou Of trades upionism: IT is
therefore
Resolved. That the continuance of
peace and prosperity in Battle Greek
can be maintained. 'and the destructive
work Of outside Interference avoided
under the combined effort and action
of all our people. by the formation of
. Citizens Association.