Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 February 1905 — Result of Boycott. [ARTICLE]

Result of Boycott.

The only place in the United States that guarantees freedom from strikes, lockouts and labor warfare is Battle Creek, Mich. The story? The work people, merchants, lawyers, doctors and other citizens became aroused and indignant at the efforts of tbe labor unions throughout the country to destroy the business of one of our largest industries —the Postum Cereal Co., Lt’d, and at the open throats in the official union papers, that the entire power of the National and State Federations of Labor was being brought to bear to “punish” the Industries of Battle Creek, and particularly the Postum Co. This sprung from the refusal of C. W. Post to obey the “orders of the unions to take the Postum advertising away from various papers that refused to purchase labor of the labor trust—the unions. Mr. Post was ordered to join the unions in their conspiracy to “hiin” and “put out of business’ these publishers who had worked faithfully for him for years.._aud' helped to build Up his business. They had done no wrong, but had found it inconvenient and against their best judgment to buy labor of the labor trust. It seems a rule of the unions to conspire to ruin anyone who does not purchase from them upon their, own terms. An ink maker or paper maker who failed to sell ink or paper would have the same reason to order Post to help ruin these publishers. So the peddler in the street might stone you if you refused to buy his apples; the cabman to run over yon if you refused to ride with him: the grocer order the manufacturer to discharge certain people because they did not patronize him, and so on to the ridiculous and villainous limit of all this boycott nonsense, in trying to force people to buy what they do not want. If a man has labor to sell let him sell It at the best price he can get just as he would sell wheat, but he has no right to even intimate that he will obstruct the business, or attempt its ruin because the owner will not purchase of him. The unions have become so tyrannous and arrogant with their despotism that a common citizen who has some time to spare and innocently thinks he has a right to put a little paint on his own house finds he must have that paint taken off and put on again by “the union” or all sorts of dire things happen to him, his employer is ordered to discharge him, his grocer is. boycotted if he furnishes him supplies, his family followed and insulted and his life made more miserable than that of a black slave before the war. If he drives a nail to repair the house or barn the carpenter’s “union” hounds him. He takes a pipe wrench to stop a leaking pipe and prevent damage to his property and the plumbers "union” does things to him. He cannot put a little mortar to a loose brick on his chimney or the bricklayers, plasterers or hod carriers "union” is up in arms and if he carelessly eats a loaf of bread that has no “union” label on it the bakers “union” proceeds to make life miserable for him. So the white slave is tied hand and foot unable to lift a hand to better himself or do the needful things, without first obtaining permission from some haughty, ignorant and abusive tyrant of some labor union. It would all seem rather like a comic opera, If it did not rob people of their freedom: that kind of work will not be permitted long in America. Some smooth managers have built up the labor trust in tbe last few years, to bring themselves money and power and by managing workmen, have succeeded in making it possible for them to lay down the law in some cities and force workmen and citizens to “obey” implicitly, stripping them right and left of their liberties. They have used boycotting, picketing, assaults, dynamiting of property and murder to enforce their orders and rule the people. They have gone far enough to order the President to remove certain citizens from office because the "Unions” weru’t pleased. That means they propose to make the law of the unions replace_the law of this government and th€~union leaders dominate even the Chief Executive. This is a government of and for the people and no organization or trust shall displace it. But the unions try it every now and then, led by desperate men as shown In their defiance of law and support of law breakers. The “union” record of assaults, crippling of men and even women and children, destruction of property and murder of American citizens during the past two years is perhaps ten times the volume of crime and abuse perpetrated by slave owners during any two years previous to the Civil War. We are in a horrible period of lethargy, which permits us to stand Idly by while our American citizens

are abused, crippled and murdered In dozens and hundreds by an organization or trust, having for its purpose, thrusting what it has to sell (Isibor) upon us whether or no. Suppose an American in a foreign city should be chased by a mob, caught and beaten unconscious, then his mouth pried open and carbolic acid poured down his throat, then his ribs kicked in and his face well stamped with iron nailed shoes, murdered because he tried to earn bread fcr his children. By the Eternal, sir, a fleet of American Men of War would assemble there, clear for action and blow something off the face of the earth, if reparation were not made for the blood of one of our citizens. And what answer do we make to the appeals of the hundreds of widows and orphans of those Americans murdered by labor unions? How do we try to protect the thousands of intelligent citizens who, with reason, prefer not to join any labor union and be subject to the tyranny of the heavily paid rulers of the labor trusts? Upon a firm refusal by Mr. Post to join this criminal conspiracy a general boycott was ordered on GrapeNuts and Postum all over the country, which sot the goad red blood of our ancestors in motion, bringing forth the reply that has now passed into history: “We refuse to join any conspiracy of organized labor to ruin publishers, nor will we discharge any of our trusted employes upon the orders of any labor union. If they can make their boycott effective and sink our ship, we will go down with the captain on the bridge and in command.” This set the writers in labor papers crazy and they redoubled their, abuse. Finally one of their official organs came out with a large double column denunciation of Battle Creek, calling it “a running sore on the face of Michigan,” because it would not become “organized” and pay in dues to their labor leaders. The usual coarse, villainous epithets common to labor union writers were indulged in. The result was to weld public sentiment in Battle Creek for protection. A citizen's association, was started and mass meetings held. Good citizens who happened to be members of local unions, in some cases quit the unions entirely, for there is small need of them there. The working people of Battle Creek are of the highest order of American mechanics. The majority are not union members, for practically all of the manufacturers have for years declined to employ union men because of disturbances about eleven years ago. and the union men now in the city are among the best citizens. No city in the State of Michigan pays as high average wages as Battle Creek, no city of its size is as prosperous, and no city has so large a proportion of the best grade of mechanics who own their own homes. So the work people massed together with the other citizens in the organization of the Citizen’s Association with the following preamble and constitution: Whereas, From 1891 to 1894 the strikes instigated by Labor Unions in Battle Creek resulted in the destruction of property and loss of large sums of money in wages that would have been expended here; and, Whereas, These acts caused serious damage to the city and in a marked way delayed its progress at that; time; and, Whereas, Since the year 1894 the citizens have been enabled, by public sentiment, to prevent the recurrence of strikes and Labor Union disturbances which have been prevalent ehiewhere; and, Whereas, The employers of this city have steadfastly refused to place the management of their business under the control of I/abor Unions, but have maintained the highest standard of wages paid under like conditions anywhere in the United States, and hereby unanimously declared their Intent to continue such policy; and the employes of this city, a large percentage of whom own homes and have families reared and educated under conditions of peace and the well-efirned prosperity of steady employment, have steadfastly maintained their right as free American citizens to work without the dictation and tyranny of Labor Union leaders, tbe bitter experience of the past offering sufficient reason for a determined stand for freedom; and. Whereas, The attitude of the citizens on this subject has been the means of preserving peaceful conditions and continuous prosperity in marked contrast to the condition existing in other cities suffering from the dictation of Trades Unionism; it is therefore Resolved, That the continuance of peace and prosperity in Battle Creek can be malntafned, and the destructive work of outside Interference avoided under the combined effort and action of all our people, by the formation of a Citizens’ Association.

CONSTITUTION. ARTICLE I.—NAME. ARTICLE 2.—OBJECTS. First—To insure, so far as possible, a permanent condition of peace, prosperity and steady employment to the people of Battle Creek. Second—To energetically assist in maintaining law and order at all times and under all conditions. Third—To protect its members in their rights to manage their property and to dispose of their labor in a legal, lawful manner without restraint or interference. Fourth—To insure and permanently maintain fair, just treatment, one with another in all the relations of life. Fifth—To preserve the existing right of any capable person to obtain employment and sell his labor, without being obliged to join any particular church, secret society, labor union or any other organization, and to support all such persons in their efforts to resist compulsory methods on the part of any orgailized body whatsoever. Sixth—To promote among employers a spirit of fairness, friendship and desire for the best interests of their employes, and to promote among workmen the spirit of industry, thrift, faithfulness to their employers and good citizenship. Seventh—To so amalgamate the public sentiment of all of the best citizens of Battle Creek, that a guarantee can be given to the world of a continuance of peaceful conditions, and that under such guarantee and protection manufacturers and-capitalists can be induced to locate their business en? terprises in Battle Creek. Then follows articles relating to membership, oilicers, duties, etc., etc., etc. This constitution has been signed by the great majority of representative citizens, including our work people. A number of manufacturers from other cities, where they have been suffering all sorts of indignities, inconvenience and losses from the general hell of labor union strikes, picketing, assaults and other interference, proposed to move, providing they could be guaranteed protection. The subject grew in Importance un til it has reached a place where absolute protection can be guaranteed bjthe citizens of Battle Creek on the following broad and evenly balanced terms which guarantees to the workman and to the manufacturer, fairness, justice, steady work and regularity of output. The new-coming manufacturer agrees to maintain the standard rate of wage paid elsewhere for like service, under similar conditions, the rate to be determined from time to time from well authenticated reports from competing cities. The tabulated wage reports issued by the Government Department of Commerce and Labor can also be used to show the standard rate, and it is expected later on that this government bureau will furnish weekly reports of the labor ffiarket from different centers, so that the workman when he is ready to sell his labor and the employer when he Is ready to buy, may each have reliable information as to the market or ruling price. The new-coming manufacturer also agrees to maintain the sanitary and hygienic cqnditions provided for by the State laws and to refrain from any lockouts to reduce wages below the standard; reserving to himself tbe right to discharge any employe for cause. Tbe Citizens’ Association on Its part agrees to furnish. In such numbers as it is possible to obtain, first-class workmen who will contract to sell their labor at the standard price for such period as may be fixed upon, agreeing not to strike, picket, assault other workmen, destroy property, or do any of the criminal acts common to labor unionism. Each workman reserving to himself the right to quit work for cause, and the Citizens’ Association further pledges Its members to use its associated power to enforce the contracts between employer and employe and to act en masse to uphold the law at all times. The new industries locating in Battle Creek will not start under any sort of labor union domination whatsoever, but will make individual contracts with each employe, those contracts being fair and equitable and guaranteed on both sides. Thus from the abuses of labor unions and their Insane efforts to ruin everyone who does not “obey” has evolved this plan which replaces the old conditions of injustice, lockouts, strikes, violence, loss of money and property, and general industrial warfare; and Inaugurates an era of perfect balance and fairness between employer and employe, a steady continuance of industry and consequent prosperity. The entire community pledged by public sentiment and private act to restore to each man his ancient right to “peace, freedom and the pursuit of happiness.” Other cities will be driven to protect their work people, merchants and citi-

zens as well as their industries from the blight of strikes, violence and the losses Jjrought on by labor unionism run amuck, by adopting the “Battle Creek plan,” but this c|ty offers industrial peace now with cheap coal and good water, first-class railroad facilities and the best grade of fair, capable and peaceable mechanics known. Details given upon inquiry of the "Secy, of the Citizens’ Association.” Identification. The public should remember that there are a few Labor Unions conducted on peaceful lines and in proportion as they are worthy, they have won esteem, for we, as a people, are strongly in sympathy with any right act that has for its purpose better conditions for wage workers. But we do not forgot that we seek the good of all and not those alone who belong to some organization, whereas even the law abiding unions show undeniable evidences of tyranny and oppression when they are strong enough, while many of the unions harbor and encourage criminals in their efforts to force a yoke of slavery upon the American people. As a public speaker lately said: "The arrogance of the English King that roused the fiery eloquence of Otis, that inspired the immortal declaration of Jefferson, that left Warren dying on the slopes of Bunker Hill was not more outrageous than the conditions that a closed shop would force upon the community. These men burst into rebellion ‘when the king did but touch their pockets.’ Imagine if you can their indignant protest had he sought to prohibit or restrict their occupation or determine the conditions under which they should earn their livelihood,” and to assault, beat and murder them, blow up their houses and poison their food if they did not submit. The public should also remember that good true American citizens can be found in the unions and that they deprecate the criminal acts of their fellow members, but they are often in bad company. Salt only hurts sore spots. So, the honest, law abiding union man is not hurt when the criminals are denounced, but when you hear a union man “holler” because the facts are made public, he has branded himself as either one of the law breakers or a sympathizer, and therefore with the mind of the law breaker, and likely to become one when opportunity offers. That is one reason employers decline to hire such men.

A short time ago Inquiry came from the union forces to know if Mr. Post would “keep still” if they could call off the boycott on Postum and GrapeNuts. This is tbe reply: “The labor trust has seen fit to try to ruin our business because we would not join its criminal conspiracy. We are plain American citizens and differ from the labor union plan In that we do not force people to strike, picket, boycott, assault, blow up property or commit murder. We do not pay thugs S2O to break in the ribs of any man who tries to support his family nor S3O for an eye knocked out. We try to show our plain, honest regard for sturdy and independent workmen by paying the highest wages in the State. We have a steady, unvarying respect for the law abiding peaceable union man and a most earnest desire to see bin* gain power enough to purge the unions of their criminal practices that have brought down upon them the righteous denunciation of a long-suf-fering and outraged public, but we will not fawn, truckle, bend tbe knee, wear the hated collar of white slavery, the union label, nor prostitute our American citizenship under "orders” of any labor trust. You offer to remove the restriction on our business and with "union” gold choke the throat and still the voice raised in stern denunciation of the despotism which tramples beneath an iron shod heel, the freedom of our brothers. You would gag us with a silver bar and muffle tbe appeal to the American people to harken to the cries for bread of the little children whose faithful fathers were beaten to death while striving to earn food for them. Your boycott may perhaps succeed in throwing our people out of work and driving us from business, but you cannot wrench from us that priceless jewel our fathers fought for and which every true aon guards with bls life. Therefore, speaking for our work people and ourselves the Infamoue offer Is declined.” • POSTUM CEREAL CO., LTD.

Note by Publisher: The Postum Company have a yearly contract for space In this paper which they have a right to use for announcements of facts and principles. Such use does not necessarily carry with It any editorial opinion.