The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1905-03-11

hundreds by an organization or trust,
having for its purpose thrusting what
it has to sell (labor) upon US whether
or no.
Suppose an American in q 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, fleet
of American Men of War would assem-
Bile there, clear for action and blow
something of the face of the earth II
reparation were not made for the blood
of or of our citizens.
And what answer do we make to the
appeals of the hundreds of widows and
orphans of those Americans murdered
by laSor 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 ruiz
ers OF the labor trusts?
Upon firm refusal by Mr.. Post to
join tails criminal conspiracy q 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: 1--WE re-
fuse to join any conspiracy of organ
lied labor to ruin publishers, nor will
we discharge any of our trusted en-
ployes 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 command"
This set the writers in labor papers
crazy and they redoubled their abuse
Finally one of their oficial organs
came out with q large double column
denunciation of Battle Creek. calling 1t
"a running sore on the face Of Michi-
gan" because 1t would not become "or-
ganized" and pay in dues to their labor
leaders. The usual coarse. villainous
epithets common to labor union writ
ers 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 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 manufacturers have for years de-
clined 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 prosper us, and
no city has so large a 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 1894 the
strikes instigated 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 to the city and In q marked
way delayed its progress at that time;
and,
Whereas. since the year 1894 the
citizens have been enabled, by public
sentiment, to prevent the recurrence Of
strikes and Labor Union disturbances
which have been prevalent elsewhere:
and,
Whereas, the employers Of this city
have steadfastly 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
! to continue such policy; and the EN-.
| ployes Of this city, large percentage
of whom own homes and have iami
lies reared and educated under condi.
| tions of peace and the well-earnet
prosperity of steady employment, have
steadfastly maintained their right II
free American citizens to work with
out the dictation and tyranny of Labor
Union leaders, the bitter experience oI
| the past offering suficient reason fol
q determined stand for freedom; and
Whereas, the attitude OF the citizens
on this subject has been the means ol
preserving peaceful conditions and
continuous prosperity in marked con
| trast to the conditions existing II
other cities suffering from the dicta
ton Of Trades Unionism; 1t Is there
4 fore,
| Resolved, that the continuance o.
peace and prosperity in Battle Creel
can be maintained, and the destructive
work of outside interference avoided
under the combined effort and actioI
of all our people BY the formation o.
| Cftizens' Association,