The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-07-16
No Charge Against Them, Their
Only Offense the Crying of
Their Wares AS They
Always Did
POLICEMAN STATIONED
AT DOOR OF TIMES
Street Merchants Asking Square
Deal, Join Federation of
Labor

Backed by millions OF capital and
1000 policemen. unhampered by any
belief in fair play or the needs OF the
child merchants of the street, The De-
tyoit News is in full charge on the
liberty and rights OF livelihood claim
ed by the newsboys of the city. alm
The ragged little chaps who stand
and run on weary feet through win
ter's snow aud summer heat, day af-
ter day, with a copper penny the max
imum and minimum of their indus
trial labors, are to be- arrested, cuffed,
threatened and ground into defeat II
the power OF capital, political pull
and the Detroit police department can
encompass IT,
The boys have dared TO ask that
The News recognize their business
ability I'm that ii return TO them the
purchase price OF the papers that the
boys are unable to sell, as has been
customary. At best, the reward OF
the boys for the long hours in all
sorts OF weather, amid the dangers OF
the streets, is but a few cents Should
sudden storm sweep the city and
prevent the boys from selling their
wares, they are left with a useless
stock on their hands and their tiny
profits for two or three days are
swept into nothingness.
The News, unable to find men mean
enough or other boys disloyal enough
TO attempt strike-breaking has swung
| its political whip over the heads or
the police department and, listening
TO the masters voice the police have
Joined hands in the efforts of The
News TO suppress the facts In the case
by attempting to stop the sale OF The
detroit Times by arresting the boys
who sell IL. The Journal. docile and
compliant re usual when the News
wants q ottSpay to pull the chest
nuts out OF the fire. was so busy seek
ing scarlet naughtiness at Belle Isle
and on the streets OF the city, that
II overlooked the woes OF the little
statesmen entirely.
Brawny detectives and uniformed
giants Wednesday swept down on
half a dozen newsboys whose crime
consisted OF selling The Times In
stead OF The News, and took them
TO police headquarters where they
were held at the command of Inspec-
tor High without any charge against
them or without booking. The boys
although half an hour after they were
taken into the station the inspector
called up The News and asked IL he
should release them.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
asked a newspaper If 1t should RE-
| LEASE PRISONERS!
A typical instance OF the fight oc-
Cured at the corner OF Shelby and
Jefferson-ave., Wednesday evening.
when THREE SGX-FOOT POLICE
MEN seized tiny, ragged little chap
Of about eight years OF age and es-
corted him TO the station A mob or
/ citizens and other boys followed them.
freely expressing their opinions of the
proceedings.
You are in mighty small business"
said a wellknown Detroit citizen to
the officers.
I'VE know it," said one OF the blue
coats in shame, but we have had our
orders
Because The Times OF Wednesday
dared TO print the facts in the matter,
Just as Il would any item OF news.
The News descended upon the police
department and applied for the SER
vices OF a uniformed policeman who
was stationad at the circulation door
OF The Times ready 10 arrest the frst
! boy that dared call his wares.
The Times instructed the boys as
they bought their papers not to call
the papers until after they had left
the vicinity of The Times. and the
| boys obeyed orders. The police, how
ever. followed them TO the city hall.
Organized labor in Detroit has
taken an active interest In the mat
ter, and Wednesday night the boys
we're called together in the hall OF the
Federation OF Labor. and there ar
ticles OF agreement were drawn up
and signed by the boys. They have
now an established union and viii be-
come affiliated with the American
Federation OF Labor as rapidly as it
is possible 10 take the official steps.
Joseph Barnett. one OF the news
CONTINUED ON Page TvO.D