Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1905-02-02

hundreds BY an organization or trust.
having for its purpose thrustinE what
II has to sell Tabor upon Us whether
or no.
Suppose an American in a foreign
city should be chased by a mob. cav sht
and beaten unconscious. then his
mouth pried open and carbolie 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. a fleet
Of American Men of War would assem-
BILE there. clear for action and blow
something on the face Of the earth II
reparalion 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
hy labor unions? How do We try 90
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 rui-
ers OF the labor trusts?
Upon Erm refuse. by MIR. Post tn
Join this criminal conspiracy a general
boycott was ordered on Grape Nuts and
Postum all over the country. which set
the good red blood ef our ancestors in
motion. bringing forth the reply that
has now passed into history: We re-
fuse to join any conspiracy Of orgaa-
lied labor To ruin publishers. nor Will
We discharge any Of our trusted en-
ployes upon the orders 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 in command"
This Sc, the writers in labor papers
crazy and they recoubled their abuse
Finally one of their official organs
came out with a large double column
denunciation OF Battle Creek. calling it
a running scre On the face Of Michi
gan, because II would not become or
ganized" and pay in dues 10 their labor
leaders. The usual coarse. viliainous
epithets common to labor union writ
ers were INDUCED in.
The result vas to weld public senti-
ment in Battle Greek for protection
A citizens association was started and
mass meetings held Good citizens
who happened 10 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. TOR practically all of
the manufacturers have for years de-
elined to employ union men because
of disturbances about II 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 Greek:
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 organi-
zation of the Citizens Assn with the
following preamble and constitution:
Whereas. from 1891 TO 1884 the
strikes instigated by Labor Unions in
Battle Greek resulted in the destrue-
tion of property and loss of large sums
of money in wages that would have
been expended here; and.
Whereas. these acts caused serious
damage 10 the city and in a marked
way delayed It's progress at that time:
and.
Whereas. since the year 1884 the
citizens have been enabled. by bablic
sentiment, to prevent the recurrence Of
strikes ard Labor Union disturbances
which have been prevalent eIse.Yhere:
and.
Whereas. the employers of this city
have steadfastiy 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 here
by unanimously declared their intent
20 continue such policy; and the en-
ployes OF this city. large percentage
OF whom own homes and have fami-
lies reared and educated under condi-
tons of peace and the well-earned
prosperity OF steady employment. have
steadfastly maintained their right as
free American citizens to work with
out the dietation 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
continuous prosperity in marked con
trast TO the conditions existing in
other cities suffering from the dieta-
tion Of Trades Unionism; il is there
fore.
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 action
of all our neJple ay The formation OF
Citizens Assoeiauc1,