Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1905-02-04

a permanent condition of peace, pros
perity and steady employment to the
people of Battle Creek.
Second-To energetically assist in
maintaining law and order at all times
| and under all conditions.
Third-To protect it's members in
their rights to manage their property
and to dispose of their labor in legal,
lawful manner without restraint or in
| reference.
Fourth-TO insure and permanently
maintain fair. just treatment, one with
another, in all the relations of life.
Fifth-To preserve the existing
right of any capable person to obtain
employment and sell his labor. without
being obliged to join any particular
church, secret society, labor union or
any other organization. and to support
| all such persons in their efforts to re-
| sist compulsory methods on the part
Of any organized body whatsoever.
SiXth-To promote among employ
ers spirit of fairness, friendship and
| desire for the best interests of their
| employees. and to promote among work
| men the spirit of industry, thrift, faith
| fulness to their EN- plOyers and good
I citizenship.
Seventh-To so amalgamate the
| public sentiment of all of the best
citizens of Battle Creek, that a guar
antee can be given to the world of
| continuance OF peaceful conditions,
| and that under such guarantee and
! protection manufacturers and capital
! lists can be induced to locate their bust
ness enterprises in Battle Greek.
| Then follows articles relating to
] membership, officers, duties, etc, etc,
| etc.
This constitution has been signed
by the great majority OF representa-
| tive citizens, including our wOrkpeO-
pie.
| number of manufacturers from
other cities, where they have been
suffering. all sorts of indignities, in
convenience and losses from the gen.
eral hell of labor union strikes, pick
| citing, assaults and other interfer-
| ence, proposed to move. providing
! they could be guaranteed protection.
The subject grew in Importance I'M
| til it has reached a place where abso-
| lutte protection can be guaranteed by
the citizens OF Battle Creek on the
| following broad and evenly balanced
terms which guarantees to the work
man and to the manufacturer fair
ness, justice, steady work and regular
| ity OF output.
| The newcoming manufacturer
| agrees to- maintain the standard rate
| of wage paid elsewhere for like serv-
| ice, under similar conditions, the rate
to be determined from time to time
! from well authenticated reports from
| competing cities. The tabulated wage
reports issued by the Government
Department of Commerce and Labor
can also be used to show the standard
/ rate and it is expected later Oh that
! this government bureau will furnish
| weekly reports of the labor market
| from different centers, SO that the
workman when he is ready to sell his
| labor and the employer when he is
ready to buy, may each have reliable
| information as TO the market or ruling
| price.
The newcoming manufacturer also
agrees to maintain the sanitary and
| hygienic conditions provided for by
| the state laws and to refrain from any
| lockouts to reduce wages below the
| ~ NAAO
right to discharge any employee for
| cause.
The Citizens Association on its part
agrees to furnish, in such numbers as
! it is possible to obtain, first-class
workmen who viii contract to sell
! their labor at the standard price for
such period as may be fixed upon.
| agreeing not to strike. picket, assault
| other workmen, destroy property, or
| do any of the criminal acts common
to labor uniOnism. Each workman re-
| serving TO himself the right to quit
| work for cause, and the Citizens As
| sociatiOn further pledges its mem
! bers to use its associated power to
| enforce the contracts between en-
| ployer and employe. and to act en-
masse to uphold the law at all times.
| The new industries locating in Bat
| tie Creek will not start under any sort
| OF labor union domination whatso-
| ever, but will make individual con-
| tracts with each employe, those con-
tracts being fair and equitable and
| guaranteed on both sides.
| Thus from the abuses of labor
unions and their insane efforts to ruin
| everyone who does not obey has
evolved this plan which replaces the
] old conditions of injustice, Iockouts,
strikes, violence, loss of money and
property. and general industrial war
fare, and inaugurates an era Of perfect
balance and fairness between en-
ployer and employee. a steady continu-
| ance of industry and consequent pros
perity. The entire community pledged
by public sentiment and private act to
restore to each man his ancient right
to peace, freedom and the pursuit of
happiness.
Other cities win be driven to protect
their workpeople. merchants and citi-
zens as well as their industries from
the blight of strikes. violence and the
losses brought on by labor unionism