The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-03-07
TROUBLE AHEAD,


afternoon OF the ratification committee of
the New England Granite Manufacturers
Association resulted in the refusal OF that
association to ratify the agreement entered
INTO between the Barre manufacturers and
cutters.
The Barre settlement was made with the
proviso, according TO the rules OF the asso-
citation, that an agreement made by any To-
cal branch must first be approved by the
ratification committee before IL becomes
onerative The result of the meeting at
Quincy on Saturday means one of two
things-a prolonged strike i'm the granite
industry throughout New England or the
withdrawal of the Barre branch from the
New England Manufa. turers' Association.
The effect in Quincy OF the ci5ion OF the
ratification committee il still probematiCal.
Barre is the largest and most dangerous
competitor Quincy has in the granite busi-
ness. III the Barre association stands by its
settlement OF last week, withdraws from
the New England association, and agrees to
dictate its own terms to the union OF that
city, Quincy manufacturers will be obliged
to do something OF the same sort to protect
their own interests.
1t is perhaps not generally known that all
the granite manufacturers and dealers in
Vermont are members OF the Barre branch
OF the Manufacturers association. Mont
pelier, Hardwick, Ryegate, North1eld
Groton, East Montpelier, Plainted and
other places in the State where the business
by the decision Of the Barre branch.
A prominent manufacturer said to-day to
q JOURNAL man he thought the Barre asso-
citation would stand by its settlement and
go it alone that it would rather suffer dis
ruption from the New England association
than recede from its position. Barre, he
said, could get along without the New Eng
land association, but the latter could not
stand the withdrawal of such an important
branch union as Barre. His opinion ia not,
however, shared by all the Montpelier
manufacturers.
AT Concord, N. H., Saturday afternoon
the manufacturers held meeting that last
ed well into the night. The Barre settle
ment was discussed at length and the asso-
citation voted not to depart from the stand
taken by the New England association. No
proposition, similar to that at Barre, has
been made by the cutters of Concord, and
had it been, it would not have been accept
ed by the manufacturers there.
The cutters Of Quincy gave to the press
Saturday evening their reasons for demand
ing reduction of hours and increase OF
wages. Among these reasons are the fol-
lowing
"The eight-hour day demanded by the
workmen; eight hours for work. eight for
rest and eight for recreation, is an equal
dlvlson OF hours. This standard or division
has the indorsement of all labor organiza-
tions in the United States, and in every
! city in the commonwealth where the ques-
ton was submitted to referendum vote il
received the approval Of the citizens, prov
ing beyond doubt that public opinion is
favorable to the adoption of the eight hour
day.
| THE increase of wages. Many employ
ers, in fact a majority of them, admit that
| the men are entitled to and should receive
| the amount asked, or more, and they (the
employers), say they would willingly pay
the same If the market would stand the in
creased cost which must follow the advance
| in wages. The workmen say that in the
New England states alone a large number
of firms have settled; the price lists accept
ed by these firms being formed upon the
same basic principle as that desired by the
Quincy granite cutters, and they believe
| that the employer who conducts business
in Quincy can pay as large wage rate as is
paid by other employers in New England
who are in the same business; also, it may
| be added they obtain from the same market
price which enables them to pay"
Some of the leading dealers in Barre,
among them William Barclay, Alexander
Bruce, Young Brothers, Mcmillan & Ste-
phens, McDuell & Buchan stated Saturday
evening that they should stand by the
settlement made last week. They say If
this is an attempt on the part of the New
England Association to crowd Barre out
the Barre dealers will be unit in resisting
such movement, james Duncan, the
! National secretary, was in Barre Saturday
|
ished italian cutters to agree to the Barre
| settlement.
The Barre dealers express themselves as
able to handle their own business; they
say they have signed an agreement with
| the Barre cutter, and that they will stand
| by 1t. They are not dependent upon New
England for their work, in fact, large
proportion OF 1t goes west and south, and II
necessary, they Can get along without the
| New England association.
| liant II AIpI<a
the Barre branch in the meeting held Sat
urday at Boston, returned to Barre Sunday
morning, bringing official news OF the
refusal of the ratification committee TO en-
dorse the terms OF the Barre settlement.
| Several Barre dealers declare that the ac-
tion OF the ratification committee is for the
purpose OF causing long shutdown in
Barre and TO cause a loss to Barre of its
western trade. 1t should be stated that
the ratification committee voted by the
narrow margin of four to three against
accepting the terms Of the Barre settle
ment.
All the sheds in Barre opened for busi-
ness this morning but because of the cold
weather and scarcity of stock many OF the
men went back to their homes. Work will
not be pushed in Barre for few days but
cutters who desire to keep at work will be
allowed to do so. No meeting of the Barre
manufacturers has been called and the
president is authority for the statement
that none is likely to be called for several
da 5. Barre is waiting quietly to see what
Quincy, Boston and other places will finally
decide upon as a settled policy.
But few cutters are at work in Montpelier
today. The reason for this, however, is
scarcity Of stock and the deep SHOWS in the
yards and around the sheds. Lynch &
Mcmahon and Dillon 81 Haley have several
men at work, and the full force OF cutters
at all the sheds in the city would be en-
ployed but for the untoward conditions
named.