The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-02-04

having for its purpose ~thruSting what
it has to sell (labor) upon us whether
or 10.
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 rlos
kicked in and his face well stamped
with iron nailed shoes, murdered pc
cause he tried to earn bread for MS
children. BY the Eternal, sir, a feet
of American Men of Wal would assem-
BILE. there, clear for action and bloW
something off the face of the earth II
reparation we're not made for the blood
of one Of our citizens.
And what answer do we make to the
appeals Of the hundreds of widows ana
orphans of those Americans 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 rul-
| ers 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
motion, bringing forth the reply that
has now passed into history: I'VE re-
fuse to Join any conspiracy of organ
lied labor to ruin publishers, nor Will
we discharge any of our trusted en-
ployes upon the orders of any labor
union. If 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 redoubled their abuse.
Finally one of their official organs
came out with a'large double column
~denunciation of Battle Creek, calling 1t
"a running ore on the face Of Michl-
gan" because it would not become or,
ganized" and pay in dues to their labor
leaders. The usual coarse, villalnous
epithets common to labor union writ
ers were INDUCED in.
The result was to weld public senti-
ment in Battle Creek for protection,
A citizens association vas 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 de,
clined to employ union men because
of disturbances about II years ago, ant
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 prosperous, ant
no city has so large a proportion of the
best grade of mechanics who own theil
own homes.
So the work people massed together
with the other citizens in the organi
cation of the Citizens Assn with thu
following preamble and constitution:
Whereas, from 1891 to 1894 thu
strikes instigated by Labor Unions il
Battle Creek resulted in the destruc
ton of property and loss of large sum
of money In wages that would havl
been expended here; and,
Whereas, these acts caused serious
damage to the city and in a marked
way delayed its progress at that time
and,
Whereas, since the year 1894 tn
citizens have been enabled, by publ
sentiment, to prevent the recurrence o
strikes and Labor Union disturbance
which have been prevalent elsewhere
and,
Whereas, the employers of this cit,
have steadfastly refused to place tn
management of their business unde
the control OF Labor Unions, but hay
maintained the highest standard o
wages paid under like conditions any
where in the United States, and here
by unanimously declared their inten
to continue such policy; and the EN-
ployes of this city, a large percentag
Of whom own homes and have fami
lies reared and educated under condi
tons of peace and the well-earne
prosperity OF steady employment, hav
steadfastly maintained their right a
free American citizens to work with
out the dictation and tyranny of Labo
Union leaders, the bitter experience G
the past offering sufficient reason TO
a determined stand for freedom: ant
, Whereas, the attitude OF the citizen
!, on this subject has been the means G
preserving peaceful conditions an
continuous prosperity in marked cor
trast to the conditions existing /
other cities suffering from the dicti
, ton Of Trades Unionism; 1t is there
. fore,
Resolved, that the continuance
, peace and prosperity in Battle Cree
. can be maintained, and the destructis
work Of outside interference avoide
i under the combined, effort and aetio
|. 81 ali our people by the formation (
d q Citizens Association