St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-05-25

Henderson presided and excellent music
was furnished by the Mahogany Quar-
tette and the Orchestral Club. After
prayer by Rev. Thomas lyric. pastor of
Grace Methodist church, Wendell P.
Stafford gave the address of welcome.
Among other things Mr.. Stafford said:
you are welcome to this good town
where labor has always been respected.
Its people are skilled workmen and they
feel that they have always been treated
like men. There has never been a strike
in St. Johnsbury. Its magnificent ipsti-
tutions attest with what spirit and for
what purpose wealth has been acquired.
We have had citizens that were rich
enough to do what they pleased, but it
can be said to their everlasting credit
that they never put their coachman in
livery or "bobbed" their horses tails.
The people of st. Johnsbury are good
old-fashioned Yankees. We are plain
people and don't turn up our trousers
because it is raining in London"
1--WE believe in these organizations of
labor. They promote intelligence and
right judgment. You cannot helpcombi-
nations and they need cause us no fear.
The great problem of the world is how to
get for every man his fair share of the
worlds product. The land belongs to the
workers not the iders; the honey be-
longs to the workers among the bees and
not to the drones; the sugar cane grows
in Cuba for the Cubans and not for the
Spaniards. This land is made for the
people and not for the kings. No man is
despised in this world except the man
who is unwilling to earn his keep. do
not believe we shall ever see anarchy be-
cause we shall welcome the means that
keeps proper relation between labor
and capital"
c. H. Wilkins, on behalf of every men,
Der of the orders present, thanked Mr..
Stafford for his kind words and the spirit
that prompted their utterance. He said
that a labor organization was not syn
onymous with strife and discord. The
object of such an organization was to
promote harmony and to secure through
legislation just laws for the workingman.
Both capital and labor are struggling to
get the best returns and it is generally a
friendly conflict. The labor organiza.
tions have already accomplished good
deal, but more remains to- be accom-
plished. The purpose of lodge is to
raise the standards of the members ply.
sically and morally. 1t makes better
men and better citizens out of the mem.
bers. The insurance benefits of the orders
are alone worth more than the cost OF
membership. Since the orders were
founded about $40, 900. 900 has been paid
out OF the insurance funds to the widows
and orphans, the aged fathers and moth
ers, who have lost their son in an acct
| dent and to members Of the order who
had been crippled for life by some great
accident.
F. P. Sargent was introduced by Mr..
Henderson as Vermonter and he said
to be introduced as Vermonter was a
matter Of pride. He represented the To-
connective firemen, mot All attractive set
of fellows in their greasy uniforms. but
kind-hearted and loyal to their employ
ers' interests even at the cost of their
lives" The Brotherhood has raised the
standard of the men employed and now
no one is ashamed to be called fireman.
This order was started after wreck on
a big New York road to raise fund for
disabled firemen and for the families of
those who were killed. Since its organi-
cation in 1873 it has grown to present
membership of $4,000 and paid out
| 81, 100000 in insurance. Up to 1885 it
only existed as a fraternal insurance
order, but then the members said that it
was time to become labor organiza-
ton and have something to say about
the number of hours to work in day
and the compensation. These steps were
taken with no threats and as result the
wages were advanced from 40 to 60 per
cent and the firemen today are enjoying
fairly good wages.
1.-THE lodge in st. Johnsbury cannot
complain of its history. In September,
1885, it was organized with Is charter
members and the dues since then have
amounted to $102075. But in the mean
time one of the firemen have died and the
family of the man has received check
for $780,"
In closing Mr.. Sargent said he liked the
kind OF capitalists st. Johnsbury had
raised and said the members of the vari-
Gus brotherhoods heartily appreciated
all that the people of St. Johnsbury had
done for them.
Grand Master Powell of the Railway
Telegraphers was unable to be present
and the organization was represented by
Assistant Grand Master J.. B. Finnan.
He said that this organization was the
youngest one represented, having been
formed only twelve years. The order
was formed to elevate the men morally,
socially and financially. To show what
they had done he said that the men were
receiving 100000 year more now
than they were before the organization.
There is also an insurance benefit which
gives the men protection at the actual
cost to the order.
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engi-
neers was not represented by one of the
officers on account of the meeting being
held at st. Louis, but Mr.. Henderson
caused much pleasure and surprise when
he introduced Hon. Charles Wilson OF
Danville. Mr.. Wilson was one of the
prime movers in organizing the engineers
and was chosen to be the first Grand
Master of the order, which office he held
for ten years. He made a few remarks
comparing the condition of the engineers
i 4 II !. ia. k1,o n,rro v,s a finu nj tha