Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-09-22
FOR MUTUAL PROTECTION.
Hooker, COrser ~ Mitchell's Fac
tory Employees

WIN he Required TO Join the United
Garment workers OF merIca--- Ork-
men discriminate In Favor OF UnIOn-
Made Garments.
The employees of the overall factory of
Hooker, Corser & Mitchell we're notified
by Col. Hooker Friday that after lure
deliberation the firm had decided TO quest
them TO become members of the labor or
ganizatlon known as the United Garment
Workers of America. 1t was explained
that the requirement was made because of
the mutual protection which will result
from it. 1t is expected the protection will
be more apparent five years hence. The
firm has been considering the ACCESSIBILITY
of taking this step for several months, and
the matter was brought to head last week
after consultation with one of the officers
of the national organization, who was in
Brattleboro.
The firm is doing large business today,
and would continue to do so for some time
If the present conditions should continue,
but certain branches of its work are begin
ming to be affected by the demands of or
ganized labor, and it is believed that should
the firm continue to employ non-union
help its business would be seriously affect
ed in a very few years. 1t is not therefore
a matter of choice, but of necessity, which
has caused the firm to join the union.
The firm, long time ago, began receiv-
ing letters from prominent dealers who
handled their goods, asking them TO make
their factory union factory. The reason
for this was that they wished to handle the
goods because of their superior quality,
but that workmen bought other goods in
preference because the Brattleboro goods
did not bear the label "union made"
Since then letters of like tenor have been
received from prominent dealers in all parts
of the United States, and few dealers
have stopped buying the FIRMS goods for
that sole reason.
The workmen of the masons' union, the
bricklayers' union and the various other
labor organizations composed of men who
have use for overalls and jackets, refuse to
buy that kind of garments unless they bear
the union label; then they know that the
persons who made the garments received
a fair price for their labor. In this con.
nection it should be stated that the associ
alton of garment workers requires that It's
members receive a good price for their
work, and If the price is cut below a Ger.
tain figure, a strike results. A strike in
OneIactOry Is not allowed TO auect another
factory, however, so there is no danger Of
trouble from that source in Brattleboro.
Moreover the report of Secretary White
shows that only responsible concerns are
admitted TO the union-concerns which
require good work and pay a good price,
which Is further proof that there will be
no trouble from strikes so far as the factory
of Hooker, Corser & Mitchell is concerned
The existence of the garment makers
association has a tendency TO drive out the
sweat-shop system and its attendant evil:
in the cities, because 1t gives the cheap
made garment of the sweat-shop no chance
to compete with the carmen: bearing the
union label, which is source of satisfac
ton to the union laborer. The employees
of Hooker, Corser & Mitchell will soor
torn local union, and each member will
pay small monthly dues.