Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 October 1908 — WILL PROSECUTE FOR COERCION OF EMPLOYES. [ARTICLE]

WILL PROSECUTE FOR COERCION OF EMPLOYES.

Chairman Jackson Issues Strong Statement Calling Attention to the Law. Reports of attempted Intimidation of employes having been brought to his attention. Chairman Jackson of the Democratic state committee, at once l .inounced his purpose to resort to the criminal laws to stop such cowardly practices. In a published statement he said: "Special Information has come to me that certain corporations find other employers of labor, whoa* names are in my possession, are attempting to coerce and intimidate their employes into giving support to the Republican party, contrary to their political beliefs. An especially offensive circular lettef, signed 'Workingmen’s Protective Association,’ Is being delivered to employes in several Indianapolis shops. This letter may not be a fraudulent device of the Republican state committee, but its distribution with the knowledge and consent of employers is sufficient to make them parties to the offense.

"The statutes against coercion and intimidation are, broad enough to cover, and dp cover, acts of the kind which the concerns whose names are in my possession have either done or permitted to be done In their establishments in the inteerst of the candidates on the Republican ticket ‘lt may. as well be understood now as at any time that neither the purchasing and law-abiding public nor the Democratic party will submit to the perpetration of these outrages on independent citizenship. A fund of $5,000 has been set aside by the Democratic national committee to prosecute all persons who violate the coercion laws. The Democratic state committee has reserved a fund for the same purpose. Besides, I will pay $25 to each person who furnishes to the Democratic state committee evidence which will contribute to the conviction of any person, firm or corporation guilty of the cowardly and contemptible crime of debauching or attempting to debauah. coerce or intimidate employes. "Not only will the specific statutes against intimidation and coercion be invoked, but every other honorable means available will be used to stop the partisan and disreputable practice to which attention is called. It is time

that Republican corportlons, firms and persons employing labor should be taught that the impudent coercion or attempted coercion of their employes will not again be tolerated, and that such a practice will prove to be disastrous to those who undertake it. Public sentiment will no longer endure this peculiarly vicious offense against American citizenship.

“The purchasing public will demand to be, and will be, informed as to the identity of the firms, persons and corporations who engage in this shortsighted and partisan business, and will from the facts, make up their minds as to who are and who are not worthy of the patronage of fair-minded persons.”