The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1920-11-19
BOYCOTT
AROUS|NG
ATTENTION
Thurston Interview in Times
Awakens Interest in I'm
fortunate Local Business
Situation Existing.

Widespread comment was noted in
Hammond today as the result of an
interview by J. NJ. Thurston, a rubber
salesman, in these columns last night
in which Thurston both criticized and
praised Hammond and its institutions.
This newspaper acknowledges a num-
Der of phone calls and letters from
critics of the salesmen-s criticisms but
in the main public sentiment holds
that he hit the bullseye.
One letter dealt with the interview
eds expression on the strike situation
and said: 1T looks TO me as il this
boycott could be dealt within some
way without putting citizens in the
position of debating what they shall
buy and where they shall buy 1t. To
take away a mans union card because
he makes a purchase In a store where
he has been a customer ever since ne
has been in the town because that
store is picketed and try to force him
TO buy in a store that is not picketed.
that does not obtain for the best inter
ests of the city and cooperation of It's
people"
BOTH SIDES LOSE BY BOYCOTT.
A busy professional man when in
terviewed by Times representative
OH MS lucas on the DuSlHtSb SITUATION
deplored the strike and its subsequent
boycott. I believe" he asserted that
there must be some great misunder
standing on the situation. The bust
ness boycott IS a sad mistake. The
employer will not gain by 1t and it hurts
labor as well 1 do mot believe that
any business Interest," in Hammond IS
opposed TO the organization of labor,
and boycott has a bad aspect. Moth
ing Is gained by it in the long run.
Public opinion generally feels that
man who has sunk his money in
business ought to have the freedom of
conducting his own business his
business needs. Surely no one has
better knowledge Of II than he him
self ss- s-Aaza--z-s-saa-
COOPERATION THING NEEDED.
When " p. Place, agricultural agent
for Lake county. spoke at the Cham
Der OF Commerce luncheon yesterday
on the great need of cooperation be-
tween the city and the farmers. ne
voiced a sentiment among the busi-
ness men who would ike to see CO.
operation in the city itself between
various civic institutions and cooper
alton between organizations. Business
men applied IL to the friction in the
matter Of picketiRg between stores
that have been put on the unfair list
and organized labor. IF we are to
have cooperation in Hammond" said
one OF them and all pull together for
the Improvement of our community
why have this unfortunate situation
embarrassing the whole town and
bringing about rift which II may
take a long time TO do away with"
DEPLoREs HARASSING.
In a statement obtained by a Times
representative from well known
Hammond man whose fairness Is
proverbial he deplores. the fastening
OF the boycott incubus on the depart
ment store merchants. He said. there
is one important consideration which
should be borne in mind. 1t is re-
grettabla that In these days Of read
justment and falling prices that these
merchants who are harassed by this
boycott and who have always been
ready to give helping hand to every
thing that obtains for the good and
prosperity of Hammond should have
at this time TO contend not only with
the economic trend which as we all
know is somewhat painful, but also
picket and boycott situation which
only brings out the fact that their
employees are all satisfied and that they
are treating labor just as fairly as
they have always treated II. Per-
sonally I do not believe that union
labor likes to be controlled th4s
way and the merchants themselves
cannot help but feel that there is an
existing attempt TO coerce them and
fake their business out OF the own
hands"