Cummings, Melvin L. (1920-1964)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1964 Sep 17 p. 3

Birth date: 1920

text of obituary:

. . .

Two Farmers Organization Pickets Killed in Wisconsin

Strong-arm measures taken by the National Farmers Organization resulted in the death of two of their pickets at Bonduel, Wisc. last week.

A cattle truck trying to get through the picket line to the stockyard lurched forward, crushing two men under its wheels. The two pickets, Howard Falk, 64, and Melvin L. Cummings, 44, apparently were killed instantly.

The deaths climaxed a series of violent incidents in Wisconsin and northern Illinois in the past several weeks. Three stockyards in Wisconsin and Illinois were dynamited and two trucks shot up in south-western Wisconsin in attempts by demonstrating farmers to keep livestock off the market.

Purpose of the withholding campaign was to force higher prices for cattle and hogs.