Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1905-02-03

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 well stamped
with iron nailed shoes, murdered be-
cause he tried to earn bread for his
children. By the Eternal, sir, fleet
of American Men of War would assem-
BILE there, clear for action and blow
something off the face of the earth II
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 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 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: eve 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 &C
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 organ!
came out with large double column
denunciation of Battle Creek, calling i
"a running sore on the face of Michi
| gan" because it would not become cor
| ganized" and pay in dues to their labo
leaders. The usual coarse, villainou
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 was started ant
mass meetings held. Good citizen
who happened to be members of loca
unions in some cases quit the union
entirely, for there is small need O
them there.
The working people of Battle Creel
are of the highest order of American
mechanics. The majority are no
union members, for practically all @
the manufacturers have for years dc
clined to employ union men becaus
of disturbances about II years ago, an
the union men now in the city ar
among the best citizens.
No city in the state of Michigan pay
as high average wages as Battle Creek
no city of it's size is as prosperous, an
no city has so large a proportion of tn
best grade of mechanics who own the
own homes.
So the work people massed togethe
with the other citizens in the organ
zation of the Citizens Assn with tn
following preamble and constitution:
Whereas, from 1891 to 1894 tt
strikes instigated by Labor Unions
Battle Creek resulted in the destru
ton of property and loss of large sun
of money in wages that would hay
been expended here; and,
Whereas, these acts caused serio,
damage to the city and in a marke
way delayed it's progress at that time
and,
Whereas, since the year 1894 Il
citizens have been enabled, by publ
sentiment, to prevent the recurrence
strikes and Labor Union disturbance
,, which have been prevalent elsewher
and,
Whereas, the employers of this ci
, have steadfastly refused to place Il
! management of their business und
!, the control of Labor Unions, but ha'
! maintained the highest standard
wages paid under like conditions an
where in the United States, and her
;; by unanimously declared their inte
= to continue such policy; and the ell
: ployes of this city, large percenta
of whom own homes and have fan
q lies reared and educated under conc
tions of peace and the well-earn
prosperity of steady employment, ha
:, steadfastly maintained their right
y free American citizens to work wit
out the dictation and tyranny of Lab
" Union leaders, the bitter experience
= the past Offering sufficient reason
II determined stand for freedom; al
q Whereas, the attitude OF the citize
W on this subject has been the means
preserving peaceful conditions a
\ continuous prosperity in marked &C
l. trast to the conditions existing
r other cities suffering from the die
~ tion of Trades Unionism; 1t is the
10 fore,
/. Resolved, that the continuance
20 peace and prosperity in Battle Gre
ve can be maintained, and the destruct
v, work of outside interference avoiC
~ under the combined effort ard act
d, of all our people by the formation
Id Citizens Association.