The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-01-17

Gentlemen cry peace, peace, but
there is no peace" said Patrick Henry.
That was the situation this morning.
In the little sleepy village of Bristol,
which has in the past known peace as
its middle name, there was anything
but peace, for the first battle in the
milk war was staged there this morn
ing; it. was the first battle SO far as
this county is concerned, but the
farmers were rising in concerted ac-
tion together with>their fellow milk
producers over the state line in Lake
and McHenry counties.
The farmers are asking six months
contract at the modest price of S275
a hundred pounds for milk which is
Tetailed in Chicago at the price of
$6.44 a hundred pounds. The milk
buyers have refused the price, theirs
being $3.50 a cwt for three months.
And today the war is on.
Fight Staged in Bristol.
This morning no milk was spilled
in Bristol, but blood was drawn in "a
. pitched battle between the farmers
sticking together for their price and
the individuals who insisted on car
rying their milk into the Bowman
plant, and thereby injuring their cause,
as is claimed.
Teams. trucks and cars lined the
street to the dairy, and before seven
o'clock several hundred milk produc-
ers had assembled. Anyone bringing
milk TO the plant was forced to run
the gauntlet Of these determined and
angry men, bitter with the bitterness
of the farmer who feels he is given
no reasonable return for his product,
but is ground into the very soil he
so tirelessly tills. =
Guenthers in the Battle.
Leslie Guenther, driving q team of
horses, arrived with wagon-load Of
milk. He ran the course through the
narrow street, out-riding the protests
of his fellow farmers, deposited his
milk safely and came out of the dairy
plant with empty cans.
1t was on the return trip that a
scrimmage took place. An effort was
made to stop young Guenther but he
refused to halt. Then some one
seized the bride of the nearest horse
and sought again to parley with. the
young farmer,
eve only want to talk with you,"
cried the man.
According to a report of the incl
dent, Guenther> applied his whip
rather freely, not only upon the horses
back, but upon the back of the man
seeking to Ndetain him.
Leslie was pulled off the truck and
giving a drumming it is said, and just
L.. Il Il L L
seat, his father, Charles Guenther,
ran out of his meat market and be-
labored the @man whom he believed
had struck the son.
Confusion reigned. Sheriff Pabst
who had been summoned a little
earlier, was already on his way to-
gether with Undersheriff Knipfer.
Finds An Angry Mob Waiting.
When Sheriff Pabst arrived he
found a group of angry and belliger-
ent men. The Guenther incident had
infamed them TO action and most of
the men were armed with some i'm
plement. There were then over two
hundred gathered, but in their bitter
mood the crowd seemed larger and
more menacing.
AS each truck or team of horses
drove up with load of milk, it was
stopped by the picket squad. Most
of the drivers were good natured
about the hating, and all except Leslie
Guenther withheld their milk
Sheriff Pabst suggested that meet
ing be called in the town hall and
there he and others addressed the
gathering, The sheriff explained the
value, of peaceful picketing and in
fuence, assuring the crowd that their