Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-06-21
CROUT POLITICS.
Has a Walking Delegate Trying
to Win the Labor Vote.
EXPOSED IN ST. ALBANS.
Could Not Tell What Grout Had Done
For Labor Advocated the Electionyl
of II, Charles Royce in the Inter-
est of Grout-Came From
Washington to Vermont.

81 Albans, Juno 17.-The campaign in
the interest of William W. Grout FOR the
United States Senate opened in earncs, in /
Franklin County on Saturday evening
when IL. r.. I.dclair Of No. 2lu ninth St, .
\. +" Washington Il. c., and an officer
of the Machnists' Labor Union OF that
city. addressed public meeting Of the la
hor organizations of this city in Ensin-
cers' hail.
Mir. Laclair came 10 this city ON We'd
ncsdaN last, the same day on which Gen. 7
Grout also paid visit to his friends here.
laclair registered from Bellows Fails al
tha, time and again last evening. At his
request Oh Wednesday. a meeting of the
seven labor ORGANIZATIONS of this city was
called tor Saturday evening and a large
audience was present representing the
brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers, the
brotherhood Of Locomotive Firemen. the
Order of Railroad Conductors the Car
rcntcrs' and Joiners Union. the Machin-
lists Union. the Brotherhood of Railroad
Trainmen and the Federation of Labor
Unions.
It appeared that Mr.. I.aclair is engaged
in stumpng tine State of Vermont in the
interest Of Cen Grout. addressing at all
principal points tho labor ORGANIZATIONS
alone After the meeting Saturday even
ing he LETT for Barre where he was cN-
pccted n address meeting of the gram
ite cutters Sunday evening
In the course Of his opening address in
this city ho said that he came to Yer
mont upon The authority of The Machin-
lists trl7n of the city Of Washington, Of
which organization he is an officer. for
the sole purpose Of advocating the cleo
lion of Gen. Grout 10 the United States
Scrat", because Of the lAttor's frionlls-
ness to tho interests OF laboring men Hc
said that Gen. Gr0ut had favored the
Union to which he belonged in the city of
Washington by securing the appointment
OF some of its members 20 positions i'm ,
the government navy yard and had ~
pressed himself in favor Of an eight hour
labor Til. then pending in Congress. maxi
ing eight hours days work in the public
service.
It happened, by accident that Mr. Hen
ry White, general secretary of the United
tiarmcrt Workers of america. of New
York arrived in St Alhans on the o'clock
train on his way 90 Richford, whore on
Monday he will organize the garment
1rkcrS in the q. l.. Kinds factory in
that villal;c AZ the invitation of some
mcmhor~ of the Federation of Labor who
mot him at the train Mr. White attended
the m"cting After Laclair had address,
ed the meeting and presented set Of
resolutions declaring that the members
/ of tho labor organization Of this City
should support Gen. Grout for the United
states senate and Mr.. II. Charles Royce,
who Nj T.aclair said had given asstr-
aucoS Of his desire to see Gen. Grout elect-
"d. Mr White was called upon to address
tho meeting.
MIR. Whit" said he was very familiar
with Legislative matters at WASHINGTON
affecting labor interests having been there
at various times to advocate labor bills
pending before Congress He had, unfor-
tunatolY, never heard Of William w. Grout
nor vas he aware that he occupied a po-
siton in Congress or out OF it at Ill
friendly to labor interests. There being
some opposition 10 tieing the organiza-
tonS by such a resolution was offered
by Mr.. Laclair Mr White suggested that
Il letter be addressed 70 the officers of
the American Fedora ton Of Labor at
Washington, inquiring for information
relative TO the attitude of Gen Grout
toward labor legislation. He also advised
! that the labor organizatio tions Of 81. Alhaus
and Of the state he very cautious before
committing themselves in favor of po-
litical candidate and to do SO only when
there is positive evidence that such a
candidate is friendly to labor interests.
ETe said that abundant opportunity had
| been given Mr.. Grout, during his long
reer in Congress TO show his sympathy
with lahcr by some constructive lcGis-
lation in the interest of the laborng man,
and yet up 20 this time no one knew
! where ne stood except from the state
monts Of MIR Laclair, who confessed that
he came to Vermont at Mr.. CIRCUITS re-
quest and for the sole purpose of adVo-
eating his candidacy to the United States
Senate and because Mr.. Grout had done
him personal favor7S in appointing some OF
his fcllowlaborcrs to positions in the gov
ernmenl navy yard
! Mr.. Iacair then said that while il is
! true that he knew OF nothing definite Mr.
Groll had done toward Improving the
conditions Of the iaboring man, still, il
the labor unions of Vermont would en-
courage the general in his fight for the
. lFOiip6 States Senate no would DrObably