The Elbert County tribune., 1905-02-02

thrusting what Il has TO sell Clabor)
upon us whethern3r no.
Suppose an American in a foreign
city should be chased by a mob. caught
and beaten unconscious. then his
mouth pried open and carbol:c 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 of the face of the earth.
If reparation were not made fer 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 muir
dered by labor unions? How do we
try to protect the thousands of intelli-
gent 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 firm refusal by Mr.. Post to
join this criminal conspiracy gen
eral boycott was ordered on Grape
Nuts and Postum all over the coun-
try. which set the good red blood of
our ancestors in motion, bringing
forth the reply that has now passed
into history: I'VE 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 COM
| mand."
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
in denunciation of Battle Creek, call
ing 1t "a running sore on the face Of
Michigan" because 1t would not be-
come organized" and pay in dues to
their labor leaders. The usual coarse,
villainous epithets common to labor
union writer's were indulged in.
The result was to weld public SEN
timent in Battle Creek for protection.
A citizens association was started.
and mass meetings held. Good citi-
zens 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 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 pro-
| portion of the best grade of mechanics
| who own their own homes.
So the work people massed together
with the other citizens OF the organi-
cation of the Citizens Assn with the
| following preamble and constitution:
Whereas, From 1891 to 1894 the
strikes instigated by labor unicns In
Battle Creek resulted In the destruc-
| ton of property and loss OF large
sums of money in wages that would
have been expended here; and.
| whereas, These acts caused serious
damage to the city and in market
| way delayed its progress at that time;
and.
| Whereas, Since the year 1894 the
| citizens have been enabled. by public
sentiment, 10 prevent the recurrence
| of strikes and labor union disturb
ances which have been prevalent else
| where; and,
| Whereas, The employers of this city
have 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 a large percentage
of whom own homes and have fami-
lies reared and educated under condi-
tions of peace and the well-earned
prosperity of steady employment, have
steadfastly maintained their right as
free American citizens to work with
out the dictation and tyranny of labor
union leaders, the bitter experience OF
the past offering sufficient reason for
determined stand for freedom; and.
Whereas, The attitude of the citi-
zens on this subject has been the
means of preserving peaceful condi-
tions and continuous prosperity. in
marked contrast to the conditions ex-
isting in other cities suffering from
the dictation of trades unionism; 1t is
therefore
Resolved, That the continuance of
peace and prosperity in Battle Creek
can be maintained. and the destructive
work of outside interference avoided
under the combined effort and action
of all our people. by the formation OF
Citizens Association.
CONSTITUTION