The San Francisco call., 1905-01-17

idly by while our American citizens
are abused. crippled and murdered in
dozens and hundreds by an organiza-
ton or trust, having for it's purpose
thrusting what 1t has so 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
OF American men of war would as
semble 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 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 sub
1ect to the tyranny of the heavily paid
rulers 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: I'VE
refuse to join any conspiracy of or
ganiZed labor to ruin publishers, nor
will we discharge any of our trusted
employees upon the orders of any labor
union. If they can make their boy
colt 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
it "a running sore on the face of Mich
igan," because 1t would not become
"organized", and pay In dues to their
labor leaders. The usual coarse. VII
famous epithets common to labor un-
ion writers were INDUCED in.
The 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 un-
ions, in some cases quit the unions
entirely. for there is small need for
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 prosperous,
and nc city has so large a proportion
of the best grade Of mechanics who
own their own homes.
So the workpeople massed together
with the other citizens in the organi-
zation of the Citizens Association with
the following preamble and constitu-
tiofl:
Whereas from 1891 to 1894 the strikes
instigated by labor unions In Battle
Creek resulted In the destruction of
property and loss Of large sums of
money II. wages that would have been
expended here; and,
Whereas, these acts caused serious
damage to the city and in a marked
way delayed it's 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 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 the 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 percent
age of whom own homes and have
families reared and educated under
conditions 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
a determined stand for freedom; and.
Whereas, the attitude Of the citizens
on this subject has been the means of
preserving peaceful conditions and con-
tinuous prosperity in marked contrast
to the conditions existing 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 un-
der the combined effort and action of