The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-06-20
THE CLOvEN FOOT,

franklin County on Saturday evening
when II. T. Laclair OF No 240 Ninth street,
N. E., Washington, ID. O., and an officer of
the Machinists Labor Union OF that city, adj
dressed public meeting OF the labor or
CARNATIONS OF this city in Engineers hall.
Mr.. Laclair came to this city on Wednes.
day last, the same day on which Gen.
Grout also paid visit to his friends here.
Laclair registered from Bellows Falls at
that time and again last evening. At his
request on Wednesday, a meeting Of the
seven labor organization OF the city was
called for Saturday evening and large su'
dience was present, representing the
brotherhood OF Locomotive Engineers, the
Brotherhood OF Locomotive Firemen, the
Order OF Railroad Conductors, the Carpen:
| ters' and Joiners' Union, the Machinists'
Union, the Brotherhood Of Railroad Train.
| men and the Federation OF Labor Unions.
| IL appeared that Mr.. Laclair Is engaged
in stumping the State of Vermont in the
principal points the labor organizations
alone. After the meeting Saturday even.
ing he left for Barre where he was expected
to address meeting OF the granite cutters
| Sunday evening.
In the course of his opening address in
this city he said that he came to Vermont
upon the authority OF the Machinists'
Union OF the city of Washington, OF which
| organization he is an officer, for the sole
purpose OF advocating the election OF Gem
eral Grout to the United States Senate, be-
cause of the latter's friendliness to the in
terests OF laboring men. He said that Cen
eral Grout had favored the Union to which
he belonged in the city of Washington by
securing the appointment OF some OF its
members to positions in the government
navy yard and had expressed himself in
favor OF an eight hour labor bill then pend
ing in Congress, making eight houra days
work in the public service.
1t happened by accident that Mr.. Henry
White, general secretary of the United Gar
ment Workers Of America, of New York
| In A lkas gtpl gplrN
on his way to Richford, where on Monday
he will organize the garment workers in the
o. l.. Kinds factory in that village. AT the
, invitation OF some members of the Fedora
ton OF Labor who met him at the train, Mr..
White attended the meeting. After Laclair
had addressed the meeting and presented
set of resolutions declaring that the MEM
/ bers of the labor organization OF this city
, should support Gen. Grout for the United
States Senate and Mr.. H. Charles Roy ce,
who, Mr.. Laclair said, had given assur-
/ ances OF his desire to see Gen. Grout elect
} ed, Mr.. White was called upon to address
| the meeting.
:, Mr.. White said he was very familiar with
legislative matters at Washington affecting
, labor interests, having been there at vari-
GUS times to advocate labor bills pending
q before Congress- He had, unfortunately,
q never heard of William W. CIRCUIT nor was
he aware that he occupied position in
Congress or out of 1t at all friendly to labor
: interests. There being some opposition to
e tieing the organizations by such resolu-
l., ton as was offered by Mr.. Laclair, Mr..
= White suggested that letter be addressed
to the officers of the American Federation
g Of Labor at Washington, inquiring for in
}, formation relative to the attitude of Gen.
ia Grout toward labor legislation. He also
4 advised that the labor organizations Of st.
= Adams and OF the State be very cautious
Z before committing themselves in favor OF
political candidate and to do 80 only when
,r there is positive evidence that such candi-
at ia m aaid
that abundant opportunity had been given
Mr.. Grout, during his long career in Con-
gress to show his sympathy with labor by
some constructive legislation in the inter-
est OF the laboring man, and yet up to this
D. time no one knew where he stood, except
If from the statements Of Mr.. Laclair, who
n confessed that he came to Vermont at Mr..
s. CIRCUITS request and for the sole purpose of
II advocating his candidacy to the United
o States Senate and because Mr.. Grout had
d done him personal favors in appointing
some Of his fellow-laborers to positions in
II the government navy yard.
Is Mr.. Lsclair then said that while it is true
n that he knew of nothing definite Mr.. Grout
s. !; had done toward improving the conditions
u Of the laboring man, still, il the labor
i unions OF Vermont would encourage the
r General in his fight for the United States
y Senate he would probably not be lacking
in gratitude and he would certainly be
more inclined hereafter to stand by them.
This confession and statement caused gen.
eral merriment and Mr.. LaClair was con-
siderably lost in his further argument.
Ii Mr.. Marvin, local president OF the Fedora
I'd ton OF Labor, then asked LaClair how he
8, came to be here and If his union in Wash
8, ington is paying his expenses. LaClair re-
piled, very hesitatingly, that he felt under
n such personal obligations to Gen. Grout for
Is past favors that he had decided to come
st and stump the State at his own expense
a. and enlist, II possible, the cooperation Of
Of the trades unions OF Vermont in pushing
nAn Ia audi
b Mr.. White then asked why he did not
1 come here fortified with some official state
D. ment from the American Federation Of
y Labor which had its headquarters in La
,r clair's own city of Washington and which
d is the general body to which all labor Or
II CARNATIONS are attached, recommending
all members of labor unions to aid Gen.
u Gront and telling in what way Grout had
h been helpful to their cause. Mr.. Laclair
D, replied that he did 90 to see Secretary Nor
" rison of the American Federation Of Labor
to ask his advice in the matter and to see
L II it would be proper for him, as a resident
10 OF Washington, to come to Vermont in
10 Gen. CIRCUITS interest He said he was told
It by Morrison that 1t was pretty risky busi-
n nese and that he would undoubtedly en-
IL counter considerable opposition, but he de-
,r cded to come
1t Mr.. Laclar opposed writing to the Amer
n lean Federation OF Labor requesting a
I. statement OF Gen. CIRCUITS attitude toward
n labor and also opposed interviewing III
l. Charles Royce and Fuller y. Smith as to
q how they stand on labor measures and
y making public the result of such inter-
d views.
70 AS result of the meeting the resolutions
d were put to vote and were defeated by an
!. overwhelming majority. Only one copy OF
n the resolutions was in existence and no re-
r cord Of them was kept. In substance they
8 were as follows:
y Whereas Congressman Grout has by vari-
3 Gus acts as a member Of Congress proven
a | m ha a fri n kinOman
" therefore.
I Resolved, that this body declares itself in
> favor OF candidates for the State Legislature
g who are favorable to the candidacy OF Will
). liam W. Grout for the United States Senate
y and as Mr.. III. Charles Royce has given as
0 surance that he will vote for Mr.. Grout the
v union men OF ST.. Adams should supp rt
him at the coming caucus.
!, Expressions OF disgust at the effrontery of
u Gen. GrouG in procuring the presence OF