The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1905-02-02

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 esm bread for his
children. BY the Eternal. sir. a fleet
OF American men of war would assem-
Bile there. clear for action and blow
something on 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 muir.
dered by labor unlonsg How do we
try to protect the thousands OF inteill.
gent citizens who. with reason. prefer
not 10 join any labor union and be
subject to the tyranny OF the heavily
paid rulers OF the labor trusts?
Upon q firm refusal by MIR. Post 10
Join this criminal conspiracy a gen
eral boycott was ordered on Grape
Nuts and Postum all over the coun.
~ EHANA ~ +AAt SUI ANA INAtA "a
our ancestors in motion. bringing
forth the reply that has now passed
into history: I'VE refuse 20 Join any
conspiracy Of organized labor 90 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 viii 30 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 a large double column
in denunciation OF Battle Creek. call
ing It "a running sore on the face OF
Michigan" because Il would not be
come organized" and pay in dues TO
their labor leaders. The usual ooarse.
v%illainous epithcts common 20 labor
union writer's were INDUCED In.
The result was 20 weld public sen.
tment in Battle Greek for protection,
A citizens association was started,
and mass meetings held. Good citl'
zen who happened TO be members OF
local unions. In some eases 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 10 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 Ia the state OF Michigan
pays as high average wage as Battle
Creek. no city OF its sire IS as pros
porous, and no city has so large a 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-
zatlon Of the Citizens Assn with the
following preamble and constitution;
Whereas. From 1891 10 lsss the
strikes lnstigated By labor unions 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 70 the city and In a market
way delayed It's progress at that time,
and.
whereas Since the year 1894 the
citizens have been enabled. by public
sentiment. 70 prevent the recurrence
Of strikes aud labor union disturb
ances which have been prevalent else
where. and.
Whereas. The employers OF his ats
have steadfastly refused 10 place the
MANAGEMENT 0i their business under
the control Of labor unions. but have
maintained the highest standard OF
wages paid under Ike conditions any.
where In the unitcd States. and here
by unanimously declared their intent
60 continue such policy and the ON
pioyes OF this city. a large percentage
ot whom own homes and have fami
lies reared and educated under o0ndi-
tons OF peace and the well earned
prosperity OF steady employment have
steadfastly maintained their right as
free American citizens 10 work with.
out the dictation and tyranny OF labor
union leaders. tho bitter experience OF
the past Offering sufficient reason for
a determined stand for freedom and.
Whereas. The attitude Of the cit
zens on this subject has beer the
means OF preserving peaceful condi.
lions and continuous prosperity, in
marked contrast 20 the conditions ex.
listing In other cities suffering from
the dictation OF trades unionism Il 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
a Citizens Association.
CONSTITUTION
Article Name,
Article 2.-Objects.
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