Evening journal., 1905-01-17

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 witli iron
nailed shoes, numbered 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
action and blow something of the face
of the earth, IL reparation were nat
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 cit
liens 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 a 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 win we
discharge any OF our trusted employees
upon the order 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 ian
command"
This set the writers 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 Creek Mich. calling
il "a running sore on the face OF Michi-
gam" because it would not become ''or-
ganized" and pay in dues TO their labor
leaders. The usual coarse, villainous
epdthets common to labor union writ
ers were dndulged 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 here.
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 man
lufacturers have for years declined to
employ union men because Of disturb
'ances about IL 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 at Battle Creek
, no city Of dts size is as prosperous, and
no city has 50 large a proportion Of the
own homes.
SO the work people niassed together
: with the other citizens in the organiza-
ton Of the Citizens Assn with the fol.
) lowing preamble and constitution:
Whereas from 1891 to 1894 the strike.
) instigated by Labor Unions in Battle
5 Creek resulted in the destruction Of
> property and loss of large sums oi
} money in wages that would have beer
. expended here; and,
. Whereas, these acts caused seriou,
1 damage to the city and in a markel
way delayed its progress at that time
and,
1 Whereas. since the year 1894 tn,
E citizens have been enabled, by pubnl
sentiment, to prevent the recurrence o
c strikes and Labor Union disturbance.
r which have been prevalent elsewhere
e and,
Whereas. the employers OF this cit,
p have steadfastiy refused to place tn
D mana cement of their business unde
4 the control OF Labor Unions, but hav
I maintained the highest standard o
y wages paid under like conditions any
e where in the United States, and hereb,
= unanimously declared their intent L
I continue such policy; and the employe
OF this city, a large percentage Of WHOM
, own homes and have families reare
4 and educated under conditions Of peac
e and the welcomed prosperity o
h steady employment, have steadfastl
= maintained their right as free AmeId
q can citizens 20 work without the dicta
ltion and tyranny Of Labor Union lead
e ers the bitter experience Of the pas
4 Offering sufficient reason for a deter
5 mined stand for freedom: and.
Whereas, the attitude Of the citizen
e on this subject has been the means q
Il preserving peaceful conditions and con
il tinuous prosperity in marked contras
q to the conditions existing in other CIT
" les suffering from the dictation {
Trades Unionisin; Il is therefore.
y Resolved, that the continuance {
l. peace and prosperity in Battle Cree
= can be maintained, and the destructiy
e work OF outside Interference avoide
l. under the combined effort and action Z
y AL our people by the formation OF
: Citizens Association.
a CONSTITUTION
q Article Name.
Article nhsoctc