The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-01-21

pied and murdered in dozens and hun
dreds by an organization or trust, hav-
ing for it's 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
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 because he tried
to earn bread for his children. By the
Eternal, sir, fleet of American men of
war would assemble there, clear for
action and blow something off the face
Of the earth, if reparation were not
made for the blood OF one of our citi-
zens.
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 trusts9a " '.. '.+....
f. Upon. a firm refusal by Mr.. Post to
! join this criminal conspiracy, a gen.
eral 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: 1--WE re-
fuse to join any conspiracy of organ,
lied labor to ruin publishers, nor will
we discharge any Of our trusted en-
| Il 20 Lob
union. II they can make their boy
colt effective and sink our ship, we
will 20 down with the captain on the
bridge and in commando
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
ga running sore on the face Of Michi-
gan,' because it would not become
organized' and pay in dues to their
labor leaders. The usual coarse, vii
famous epithets common to labor union
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
J 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 Greek
are of the highest order Of American
mechanics. The majority are not union
members, for practically all Of the man
ufacturers have for years declined tt
employ union men because Of disturb
ances about eleven years ago, and the
union men now in the city are among
the best citizens.
l 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 proportion Of tn,
best grade of mechanics who own thei
own homes. ~ "~
= So the work peopleN massed togethe
s with the other citizens in the organiza
: ton of the Citizens ASS N with the fol
D lowing preamble and constitution:
8 Whereas from 1891 to 1894 the strike
: instigated by Labor Unions in Battl
Creek resulted in the destruction O.
/ property and loss Of large sums O.
: money in wages that would have bee,
t expended here; and, =.
9 Whereas, these acts caused seriou
damage to the city and in a marked wa
delayed it's progress at that time; and,
:. Whereas, since the year 1894 the citi
. zens have been enabled, by public senti
Anout, " pIoVeut inc RECURRENCE o
strikes and Labor Union disturbance
2 which have been prevalent elsewhere
9 and,
i Whereas, the employers Of this cit.
y have steadfastly refused to place tn
q management of their business under tn
/ control Of Labor Unions, but have main
t tanned the highest standard Of wage
paid under like conditions anywhere i
, the United States, and hereby unanim
\ ously declared their intent to continu
a such policy; and the employees Of thi
h city, large percentage Of whom ow
= homes and have families reared and edr
q Gated under conditions Of peace an
the well learned prosperity of steady en-
e their right as free. American. citizen
3 to work without the dictation an
: tyranny Of Labor Union leaders, th
. bitter experience Of the past offerin
3 sufficient reason for determined stan
- for freedom; and,
. Whereas, the attitude of the either
" on this subject has been the means {
preserving peaceful conditions and col
tinuous prosperity in marked contrast I
y the conditions existing in other cite
= y suffering from the dictation Of Trade
- =. Unionism; it is therefore,
&c Resolved, that the continuance {
r peace and prosperity in Battle Cree
" can be maintained, and the destructiy
i. work of outside interference avoide
v, under the combined effort and action
leJ all our people, by the formation. Of
D-l Citizens Association.