The Pascagoula chronicle., 1920-01-17
ADDRESS
The GOVERNOR

AT lerGely attended meeting of rep
resentatiye citizens Monday night the
following self-eXpanitory letter was
formulated, signed and directed to the
retiring and incoming governors Of the
State:
"Pascagoula, Miss, Jan u, 1920.
"Gov. Theo G. Bilbo,
Hon l.. M. Russell,
jackson, Mississippi.
"Gentlemen--We note from the press
that one G. Fl. F'ranck, formerly of
Pascagoula, and who because of his
constant agitation and high handed
conduct here for past two years or
more has been detriment to the city's
progress and development, and con-
slant source of annoyance to every in
dustry, was invited by public meet
ing, composed Of all classes of citizens
including some seven or eight hundred
union men, among whom were the in
ternational representatives oforganized
labor of all the crafts, to leave the city,
has been in Jackson making represen-
tations of his martydom, and exemp.
larry conduct here, and that he has Sc
cured the pledge of the outgoing and
incoming Governors to investigate,
etc
1t seems the State Federation of
Labor accepted his evidence of the mat
ter and exonerated him, while there
were hundreds of good union men here
and the heads Of the various crafts,
who would have gladly testified to the
facts in the matter. About three
months loss of time in one year to some
2500 laboring men, as a direct result
OF his conduct, is an indictment from
which he cannot escape, and the judg-
ment can rest solely on the testimony
of union men alone.
There is magnificent ship build
ing plant here constructing steel ships,
5000 tons and up employing a large
number of men, and which is spending
millions of dollars annually, 1t is the
life and existance of the city. Its re,
naming here depends upon its ability
to compete with other similar plants
fb ron ph II 4
this and lose two or three months a
year, brought about by the nagging
and annoyance of irresponsible parties
who never work themselves, and have
a mania for interfering with those who
do, and who are satisfied and content.
I'VE enclose copy of the action of
the citizens, taken in the open, incmd-
ing the statement of the representa-
tives OF organized labor of various
crafts. That he leave Pascagoula and
remain away, was, and is, imperative
for Pascagoula's interest There was
and is no fight here on unionism or
organized labor. No distinction made
against any man because of his afflia-
tios or associations, but there is a de-
termined resolve among all classes of
our people, that the interests of the
city and community shall not be de-
stroyed by agitators or trouble makers
whose usual purpose is to rule or ruin
without regard to the rights and priv
ileges of others.
without making charges against
any specific person, there has occurred
here from time to time in the last year
notes threatening citi-
zens lives, threats to run out certain
laboring people working for the city,
pecan grove of Fred Lindinger cut
down at night, horse of police given
glass, boycotts against merchants and
others, and general cowardly threats
against officials.
"These things do not exist in Amer
lea, and especially in Mississippi, ex-
cept when the ]. w. w. or Bolshevist /
has taken root, and is the direct result |
Of such peoples propaganda.
"The above is recited only to sug-
gest that there are two sides to this
matter, and as you have, according to |
the press, promised to investigate, we
deem it proper and timely to make the
above statement, assuming all the re- I
sponsibility that may develop from any
our action and conduct
having been open and above board,
and subject to the scrutiny of the
world"
More than one hundred signatures
of leading citizens were attached to
the letter, and numerous signers
licnatch of the letter