Strike bulletin. (Clinton, Ill.) 1913-1915, 1915-04-14
A STAB IN THE BACK

tried call off the strike and by doing put the
illinois Central and Hartman lines the fair list
make scabs of the thirtyfive thousand who have
gallantly fought for unionism-and make heroes
out of the scabs in the bull pens. Mr. Wharton sent
for me to come to ST. Louis Mo-. and there he told
me that the Department wanted the Strike Bulletin
to lay off from attacking the grand lodge officers for
sending vote to call off the strike refused to
be traitor the rank and file then. and have not
changed my mind since
The grand lodge officers had an idea that the
Strike Bulletin belonged to them. | was publishing
the Strike Bulletin for ALL of the men on strike and
have always thought that the columns Of paper
belong much to the man who wears overalls as to
the who lives off of him. The Strike Bulletin
may be compelled to suspend because of lack Of
money to pay the printer but it will never cease
be the paper of the rank and file as long as have any
thing to do with it.
The Department is guilty of at least one deliber-
ate lie in its attempt to kill the Strike Bulletin In the
second paragraph of the Department. circular you
will notice the following words
This letter bears the official seal of the Illinois
Central System Federation and while gotten out in
Clinton. Ill., enclosed in envelope bearing the
Chicago. ILL.,, post-mark etc.
If your lodge received a letter to which, \ signed
the name of Attorney Comerford. by examining the
envelope you will find it is postmarked Clinton Ill.,
and you will thus have positive proof that the Depart
ment lied in an effort to make appear that sent the
letters to Chicago to have them mailed. | do not
know why they told this silly lie. any more than |
know why they sent out the cowardly circular.
Now please read paragraph three of their cir
cuar and you will have the real reason for the attack
upon me. 1t reads:
"The Strike Bulletin Is NOT endorsed BY the Dc.
partment or any Of the affiliated organizations, and
the puose Of this circular i to aequant you with this
fact together with the methods adopted by E. Per
con in an effort to secure financial support"
Why does the Department take pains to advise
the labor that the Strike Bulletin IL not
dorsed by ita The Strike Bulletin the paper of the
men on strike and has fought for the Isn't this
hint to kill the Strike Bulletin because it has chosen
to fight for all of the rather than do the bidding
of those whose salaries went while suffered in
the trenchesa
But you will note they say this letter sent
out by me to financial support Yes to secure
financial support to maintain the Strike Bulletin
to maintain Carl E. Person. | have never expected
nor wanted pay for serving the No one knows
this fact better than the grand lodge officers | am
not in the labor for what can get out OF it.
The little money had saved up at the time OF the
strike have put into the fight and have done cheer
fully The only reason have urged support for the
Strike Bulletin is to keep up the fight.
The only thing that has been said against me
even by the Plug Hat gentlemen of the Department
is that in my eagerness to continue the fight sent out
a letter and signed Comerford's name to it, for the
worthy purpose of getting subscriptions to the Strike
Bulletin so that we would not be forced to shut down
and give up the ghost. | would have expected such
ILL l. II. C>ckral hut