The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1905-02-02

dozens and hundreds by an %organiza-
ton or trust, having for its purpose,
thrusting what it has to sell Qabor)
upon us whether or no.
Suppose an American in a foreign
city should be chased by a 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, a fleet
or American Men of War-would assem-
bic there. clear for action and blow
something off the face of the earth, If
reparatlon were not made for the
blood of one of our citizenss
And what answer do we make to the
appeals OF the hundreds of widows and
orphans of those Americans murdered
by labor unions? How do we try to
protect the thousands Of intelligent cit
zen 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 gen
eral boycott was ordered on Crane
Nuts and Postum all over the country,
which set the good red blood of our
ancestors in motion, bringing forth the
reply that has now passed into history:
we 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 make their boycott
effective and sink our ship, we will go
down with the captain on the bridge
and in command"
This set the writer's in labor papers
crazy and they redoubledn their abuse.
f1nally one Of their official organs
came out with a large double column
remuneration of Battle Greek, calling
1t "a running sore OF the face of Mich
lgan,' because it would not become
organized and pay in dues to their
LABOR leaders. The usual coarse, vii
alnous epithets common to labor
union writer's were INDUCED in.
Ihe result was to weld public senti-
ment in Battle Creek for protection. A
citizens association was started and
mass meetings held. Good citizens who
happened to be members of local
unions, IN some cases quit the unions
entirely, for there is small need of
them there.
The working people Of Battle Creek
are of the highest order of American
mechanics. The majority are not union
members, for practically all of the
manufacturers have for years declined
to employ union men because of dis
turbances about eleven years ago, and
the union men now in the city are
among the best citizens.
No city in the State of Michigan
pays as high average wages as Battle
Creek, no city of its size is as pros
porous, and no city has so large a pro-
portion of the best grade of mechanics
who own their w homes.
50 the work people massed together
with the other citizens in the ~organiza-
ton of the Citizens Association with
the, following preamble and constitu-
ton:
Whereas, From 1891 to 1894 the
strikes instigated by Labor Unions in
battle Creek resulted in the destruc-
tlon OF property and loss of large sums
OF money in wages that would have
been expended here; and,
Whereas, These acts caused serio11s
damage to the city and in a marked
way delayed it's progress at that time:
and,
Whereas, Since the year 1894 the
cltlzens have been enabled, by spublic
sentiment, to prevent the recurrence of
strikes and Labor Union disturbances
which have been prevalent elsewhere:
and,
whereas, The employers of this CITY
nave steadfastly 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 any.
where in the United States, and here.
by unanimously declared their intent
to continue such policy; and the EN-.
ployes of this city, d large percentage
OF whom own homes and have families
reared and educated under conditions
OF peace and the well-earned prosneri.
ty of steady employment, have stead.
tasty maintained their right as free
American citizens to work without the
dlctation and tyranny of Labor Union
!, leaders, the bitter experience Of thu
past offering sufficient reason for I,
7 determined stand for freedom; and.
2 whereas, The attitude Of the citizens
on this subject has been the means 81
preserving peaceful conditions Yand
continuous prosperity in marked con.
trast to the condition existing in othe,
cities suffering from the dictation a.
, Trades Unionism; it is therefore
! Resolved, That the continuance 3,
peace and prosperity in Battle Creeb
: can be main. lined, and the destructive
work OF outside interference avoided
under the combined effort and action
Of all our PEOPLE, BY the formation d
sIa Citizens Association