Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-17

| erty and murder of American citizens during the
past two years is perhaps ten times the volume of
crime and abuse perpetrated by slave owners dur
ing any two years previous to the civil war; We
are in horrible period of lethargy which permits
US to stand Idly by while American citizens are
abused. crippled and murdered in dozens and hun
dreds by an organization or trust, having for its
purpose thrusting what it has to sell Oabor) upon
| US. whether or no.
Suppose an American in foreign city should 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 well stamped with iron nailed Shoes murdered
because he tried to earn bread for his children By
the Eternal. SIR, feet of American men of war
would assemble there. clear for action and blow
something of the face of the earth, If reparation
were not made for the blood of one Of our citizens
And what answer do we make to the appeals of
the hundreds Of widows and orphans Of those Amer
leans murdered by labor unions? How do we try to
protect the thousands Of intelligent 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 a firm refusal by Mr.. Post to join this
criminal conspiracy a general boycott was ordered
on Grape-Nuts and Postum all over the country,
which set the good red blood Of our ancestors in
notion bringing forth the reply that has now
passed into history: I'VE refuse to join any con-
will we discharge any Of trusted employees
upon the orders of any labor union II they can
make their boycott effective and sink our ship, we
viii go down with the captain on the bridge and
in commando
This set the writer's in labor papers crazy and
they redoubled their abuse. Finally one Of their
official organs came out with large double column
denunciation Of Battle Creek, calling it "a run
ming sore on the face of Michigan" because 1t
would not become Organized and pay in dues to
their labor leaders The usual coarse villainous
epithets common to labor union writer's. were in.
dulsed in
The result was to weld public sentiment in Bat
tie Creek for protection. A citizens association
was started and meetings held Good eiti.
In some quit the unions entirely, for there
is small need of them there.
The working people of Battle Greek are of the
highest order of American mechanics The ma
L {tv ~,
| of the manufacturers have for years declined to
employ union because of disturbances about
II years ago, and the union men now In the city
among the best citizens.
No city in the state of Michigan pays high
average wages Battle Creek no city of Its size
is as prosperous and city has large proper.
tion Of the best grade Of mechanics who own their
own homes.
So the work people massed together with the
other citizens in the organization of the Citizens
Assn with the following preamble and constitu-
ton:
Whereas from 1891 to 1894 the strikes insti.
gated by Labor Unions in Battle Greek resulted in
the destruction of property and loss of large
of money in wages that would have been expended
here; and,
Whereas, these acts caused serious damage to the
city and in marked way delayed Its progress at
that time and,
Whereas since the year 1894 the citizens have
been enabled by public sentiment to prevent the
recurrence Of strikes and Labor Union disturbances
which have been prevalent elsewhere; and.
Whereas. the employers Of this city have stead
fastly refused to place the management Of their
business under the control of Labor Unions, but
have maintained the highest standard Of wages
paid under like conditions anywhere in the United
States. and hereby unanimously declared their In
tent to continue such policy: and the employees
Of this city. large percentage Of whom own
homes and have families reared and educated under
conditions Of peace and the wellearned prosperity
OF steady employment. have steadfastly main
tanned their right a. free American citizens TO
work without the dictation and tyranny Of Labor
Union leaders. the bitter experience Of the past