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1933: Produce Buying Plant Closed As 1,000 Strikers Demonstrate

Publisher’s Note: The following article, published in the Nov. 10, 1933 edition of The Daily Messenger reports on the Farmers’ Holiday Association strike at Swift and Company in Marshall. With the farm economy reeling in the midst of the Great Depression, farmers were striking across southwest Minnesota, but many individuals and businesses in Marshall did not support the strike, and remained open, resulting in the Nov. 10 confrontation at Swift and Company. A portion of this article will be featured in the new book: “The Sesquicentennial: Cultivating 150 Years of History in Marshall and Lyon County.” Books can be ordered for $44.95 by calling The Independent or filling out the form included in an advertisement in today’s paper.

(Nov. 10) — The farm strike became effective in Marshall this afternoon as the plant of Swift and Company closed, and other produce buyers followed suit, after an army of more than 1,000 strikers descended upon Marshall shortly after 1 p.m.

The plant was closed after minor violence was halted and the situation laid before Swift and Company officials in St. Paul by Senator Emil Regnier, Sheriff George Rankin, and H.F. Berg, local Swift manager, by long distance telephone.

Prior to that, however, there was momentary violence, in which firemen on a fire truck were the target for sticks and the sheriff was disarmed of his gun and badge. The sheriff’s car and the fire truck were damaged, and several local men roughly handled, when a preliminary brush occurred as the fire truck arrived on the railroad tracks near the plant and was rushed by the crowd.

Danger of more serious damage was imminent as Senator Emil Regnier of Marshall jumped on a car to speak. He made an urgent plea against violence and asked time be given for himself and the sheriff to enter the plant and with the manager telephone St. Paul for orders. The crowd heard him out and quieted at once. The meeting in the Swift office and instructions to close followed.

Delegations met with other buying places and the closing of all took place. Soon afterwards, the farmers staged a parade down Main Street, and then broke up into smaller groups.

City and other officials, hearing last night that the army of farmers was coming here today, wired Governor Olson setting forth their belief the markets should be kept open and asking what help could be expected.

In a reply this morning, the governor said in effect he had contacted Holiday association leaders and they had promised no violence, that they had a constitutional right to strike, that the sheriff and county attorney knew the law and what constituted a violation, and troops could not be called out for disturbances of a local nature.

The Civic and Commerce association here and city officials had taken the stand that the majority of farmers in this territory were not in favor of the strike, and that so long as they wished to bring in their produce the markets ought to remain open. They did not object to picketing, but declared against violence.

The army of strikers, about 1,100 in all, mobilized north of town and arrived in the city in cars and trucks at about 1:15 p.m. They assembled at once in front of the Swift and Company plant.

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