St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1892-08-25
REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.
Henry @. Ide Named as TowulRepresent-
ative-Two Resolutions Killed.

noon is decidedly unusual and in
convenient hour for caucus, and it
is not quite clear why the town COM
mittee should choose such a time.
However, the attendance was large.
About 800 voters participated in
the exercises. H. c. Bates was made
chairman and Charles T. Walter
secretary
AS soon as the chairman opened
the caucus for business J. H. Holder
took the floor and spoke ostensibly
for the employees of the scale shops.
He said 1t was unusual for labor
ing man to have anything to say in
such a place. As to weekly pay
ments, our representative two years
ago took a stand for which he had
been somewhat censured by the
working people of St. Johnsburv.
Mr.. Holder held that the working
men as a rule are satisfied with
things as they are; some of them are
Indifferent as to whether they get
their pay weeklyor monthly. He con-
cluded by presenting a resolution to
the effect that it is the sense Of St.
Johnsbury republicans that judi
cious weekly payment bill, based on
the Massachusetts law, should be
passed by the next legislature.
Alex. Dunnett said he was glad to
have the resolution presented; he
had his doubts about weekly pay
ment being of any special benefit to
the workingmen, but he would like
to have the matter discussed here
and settled-he didn't care how, but
wanted it settled in one way or the
other. The republican party of St.
Johnsbury onght not to become dis
integrated simply because some
body had said something about
weekly payments. There are brains
and cohesion enough in the party
to settle the question.
Col. Fairbanks said this was the
first time he had been present at
such a meeting since the new voting
system was inaugurated. He was
not aware that therewas any feeling
on the subject of weekly payments,
for none of the men had ever come
to him with the matter. Two years
ago when the question came up he
was opposed to it-hrst, because he
did not think it was the best thing
for the employees at the scale works,
and second, because of the expense
to the company in paying off 600
men every week. He spoke of the
close relations between employers
and employees there; the firm, he
said, had always desired to aid their
employees in every way possible, and
the men are paid as they require.
He didn't think we needed an appeal
to law on this question, and who
ever represents the town should 90
untrammeled. He said if the best
interests of E. & 7. Fairbanks men
demanded weekly payments, the firm
would yield cheerfullv. He advised
everybody to stand by the republic
an party this fall
F. E. Carpenter spoke briefly
against weekly payment, because
he didn't believe there was any
necessity for it.
L. D. Hazen didn't believe the
workingmen wanted weekly pay
ments; his sympathy was entirely
with them, and he would be glad to
join IN any movement that promises
to enhance their interests; he was
not of the opinion that there was
any call for departure from the
present system of payments.
John Mcdonald made felicitous
little speech and took down the
house by his argument against week.
ly payment. His idea was that if
man knows he is to have his paw
once month he can arrange ac-
cordingly, that he would not be like
ly to have as much cash left at the
end of the month, if paid weekly,
and that well enough should be let
alone.
The resolution was then killed by
a decided majority.
DIR. Bullard introduced a resolution
condenning the Australian ballot
law and instructing the representa-
tive to labor for its repeal. He made
speech in favor of the resolution
and moved its adoption.
Henry c. Ide said that as the eau
Gus had decided not to instruct con-
cerning the weekly payment ques-
ton, it would be well enough to
trust the representative also in the
matter named in Dr. Billiards. reso-
luton.
Then the caucus killed the resolu-
tion in an emphatic manner.
Alex. Dunnett nominated Henry c.
Ide for representa- tive in neat little
speech, and the nomination was
mace without a dissenting vote.
This union justice ticket was nomi-
mated: