The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1905-03-16
z g S VI | {

thrusting what 10 has 10 sell Oabor)
upon US whether or no.
Suppose an American in 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 earn bread for his
children. BY the Eternal, sir, feet
OF American men of war would assem-
BILE there. clear tor action and blow
something OF 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 unions? How do we
try to protect the thousands OF intelli-
gent citizens 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 gen
| eral boycott was ordered on Grape
| Nuts and Postum all over the coun-
try, which set the good red blood OF
| our ancestors in motion. bringing
forth the reply that has now passed
into history: we refuse 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 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 il "a running sore on the face OF
| Michigan" because it would not be.
come organized" and pay in dues 10
their labor leaders. The usual coarse
,itiainous ePith~te e-------- a. i->i- -
union writer's were INDUCED in.
The result was to weld public sen
timent in Battle Creek for protection
A citizens association was started
and mass meetings held. Good citi'
zens 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 de
| clined to 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 in the state of Michigan
pays as high average wages as Battle
Creek, no city of its size is as pros
! porous, and no city has so large pro
portion of the best grade of mechanics
who own their own homes.
So the work people massed together
with the rther citizens of the organi
zation of the Citizens Assn with the
following preamble and constitution:
Whereas, From 1891 to 1894 thu
strikes instigated by labor unions II
Battle Creek resulted in the destruc
tion OF property and loss Of large
sums OF money In wages that woul!
have been expended here; and,
Whereas. These acts caused serious
= damage to the city and in marke
way delayed its progress at that time
and.
Whereas. Since the year 1894 tn
citizens have been enabled. by publ,
sentiment, 10 prevent the recurrence
of strikes and labor union disturb
ances which have been prevalent else
where; and,
Whereas The employers of this cit.
have steadfastly refused TO place tn,
, management of their business unGe
the control of labor unions, but hav,
maintained the highest standard o
wages paid under like conditions any
where in the United States, and here
by unanimously declared their inten
+ to continue such policy; and the EN-
ployes of this city. large percentag
of whom own homes and have lami
lies reared and educated under condi
tions of peace and the well-earne,
: prosperity of steady employment, hav,
steadfastly maintained their right a
free American citizens TO work with
out the dictation and tyranny of labo
= union leaders, the bitter experience o
the past Offering sufficient reason 70
a determined stand for freedom and
Whereas, The attitude Of the citl
gems on this subject has been tn,
! means OF preserving peaceful condi
tions and continuous prosperity. il
marked contrast to the conditions ex
isting in other cities suffering from
the dictation Of trades unionism: it 4
therefore
Resolved. That the continuance O
! peace and prosperity in Battle Creel
! can be maintained. and the destructly,
} work of outside interference avoide,
, under the combined effort and actor
OF all our people. by the formation o
a Citizens Association.
CONSTITUTION.
Article Name