Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-05-26
WHEN WILL IT END?
GRANITE MANUFACTURERS SPECU.
LATlNG ON THE OUTCOME.
an Early Settlement of the Trouble Not
Expccted-List of tho Firms With the
Number of BIen at Work-One Firm
Said to Have Yielded.

since the union men went out on the strike.
Tho Manufacturers association are to hold
n meeting to might.
The executive committee of the New Eng
land Manufacturers association are to meet
in Boston next Tuesday, after which some
thing may be expected
1t seems that the manufacturers are per-
fectly willing to make settlement If they
can make one that will last four or five
years without any break, but they arc ac
tualy weary OF the annual strikes and
troubles connected herewith, and are bound
to stand firm until tho union will agree to
not less than four years. They claim they
do not want to take advantage of the union
men in any way, and that articles to the
contrary III the city dailies are entirely
wrong. They do not propose to agree to
anything that will not conducs to the per-
manoncy of the business.
The manufacturers seem very reluctant
to open their sheds to non-union men, but
say if they should do so theY,,would standby
them. Workmen continue to leave town
every day.
The union men say they are drawing 81
day, and tho strike committee Of 10 men
are drawing $150 day each.
Several of the union men are arranging
to go into business for themselves. A party
of Scotchmen are preparing to open works
at East Barre, party Of Italians at North
Barre and 13 Swiss are to locate together.
They say they can get light and dark stock
from the Webster and Langdon quorrles,
and get their polishing done at East Barre
and the Pioneer mills in Berlin, and that l..
i. Bolster has offered TO erect sheds to rent
to them.
Following is an extract from a circular
letter from the National union headquarters
b hi,I,,o l,f,, t,,l
throughout the country;
I'VE have now thrust on us by the New
England Granite Manufacturers association
q lockout of all granite cutters, paving cut
ters and quarrymen in the employ OF mem
bers of that association. This quarrel is
not of our seeking. Nc conference has been
asked for by the manufacturers associa-
ton; bnt a secret conspiracy has been
formed by them to destroy the liberties and
rights of those unfortunate enough TO be
employed by them. Without any notitica-
tion of any grievance existing which these
employees consider should be remedieI they
presented US with thoir ultimatum May o,
giving us nine days to accept their terms.
We desire to state to the trade in particular,
hnd enlightened people generally outside Of
our trade, that unless in cases OF violation
of agreements by them, we give en-
ployers at least three months notice of
changes desired i'll existing agreements
or bills of prices, and it has been customary
ever since tho establishment of bills of
prices to stand honorably by our agree
ments; and on May !, in Westerly, Il. l.. ,
one Of our branches, being notified by
the employers that the agreement had not
been technically carried out, withdrew its
bill and were then distinctly told by the
employers that the old agreement held good
II.
of such assurance, on Saturday, May H.
the men who honorably withdrew their
notification after three months notice,
when the technical point was raised by the
employers that it wes contrary to the agree
ment were locked out without any notice
whatever. simply at the dictatOn OF tho
executive committee Of the New England
association "
BARRE, May 20-At the granite dealers
meeting last night the iect OF leaving the
settlement OF the trouble to e board Of arbi-
traitors, was not generally approved. The
blacksmiths are said to have broken theiI
agreement with dealers, in ceasing work
md giving no notice of the change.
Both sides are as firm ever waiting
nnxiousy for the meeting of the associa
tion in Boston Tuesday. The union ar,
starting granite works.
7. Min d Co., not members of the asso
citation have signed the bill to May 1893.
AS far as heard from up to the presen
time the granite cutters are out at Barre
Moutpelior, Wniamstowu, East Barre
Hardwick, ST. Johnsbury, Ftzwilliam
Redstone, Concord, Worcester, Southvile
Nonsou, Milford, Boston, Quincy, Rock
port, Whitinsville, Providence Westerly
Mantle, Groton and New London, Stop,
Greek, Leeto's Island, Oneco Roxbury
Portland Hallowell, Hurricane Nina
Haven, Long Cove, Clarks Island, Green
Landing, Red Beach, Bluehill and Lonl
Island.
BARRE, May 22.-No visible change i
noticed favoring a settlement OF the grant
troubles.
The quarries on the hill are nearly every
one running, and non-unon mon are doinj
the work. There So working at the Wet
more ~ Morse quarry.
In the town there are about so granit
firms, and among them there ore probabl
close TO 800 men working mostly appren
tees but in many cases members of tn
firms themselves have taken up the hemme
and cuisel.
The Granite Nanutacturers' association
here, tho only one in ths State, comprise
nbout 1870 different firms. There are be
land Granite Manufacturers association.
Notwithstanding all contrary reports
is estimated on pretty good authority tina
there were not over 1000 union granite cut
ters and tool sharpeners in the town c
Barre who went out on the strike and VIII
were locked out. or course these were thu
means of throwing some outsiders out {
employment. And careful estimates of a
the union mon out in New England DO nc
go under IL, coo, nor over 10, 600.
The West Berlin Granite company d
not belong to the association, and are worl
ing as usual.
On account Of the strike the Avenu
House, a new hotel built last season, will b
closed in a few days, the proprietor, G. "
jefferson, declaring that the lockout hG
thus far cost him $500.
BARRE, VT, May 29.-The lockout situ
alton remains unchS%~rs. Tie striker