The Saint Paul globe., 1905-01-17

horrible period of lethargy, which per-
mits US to stand idly by while our
American citizens are abused, crippled
and murdered in dozens and hundreds
by an organization or trust having for
its purpose, thrusting what it has to
sell (labor) upon us whether or no.
Suppose an American in foreign
city should be chased by mob, caught
and beaten unconscious, then his mouth
bried open and carbolic acid poured
down his throat, then his ribs kicked in
and his face well stamped with iron
nailed shoes, murdered because he tried
to earn bread for his children. By the
Eternal sir, a fleet of American men of
war would assemble there, clear for ac-
ton, and blow something off 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 citi-
zens 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 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 organized
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 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 large double column denun-
citation of Battle Greek, calling it "a
running sore on the face of Michigan .
because it would not become "organ-
1zed'' and pay in dues to their labor
leaders. The usual coarse, villainous
epithets common to labor union writ
ers, were indulged 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
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 paws
as high average wages as Battle Creek,
no city of its size is as prosperous and
; no city has SO large proportion of the
best grade of mechanics who own their
own homes.
So 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 destruction
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 a marked
way delayed its progress at that time
and,
Whereas, since the year 1894 the citi-
zens have been enabled, by public SEN
tlment, to prevent the recurrence of
strikes and labor union disturbances
which have been prevalent elsewhere:
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 hereby
unanimously declared their intent TO
continue such policy; and the employees
of this city, large percentage of whom
oWn homes and have families reared
| and educated under conditions of peace
ana the well-earned prosperity of
steady employment, have steadfastly
maintained their right as free American
citizens to- work without 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 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; it is therefore
Resolved, that the continuance of
peace and prosperity in Battle Greek
can be maintained. and the destructive
work of outside interference avoided
| under the combined effort and actor,
OF all our people, by the formation OF a
Citizens Association.