Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-12-12
The ANNUAL
BANQUET OF
THE CLERKS

K. OF P. hall was the scene OF a most
er joyable social event last evening.
when the members Of the H. G. l. r.
A Local 241, held their annual han.
quet. A sumptuous feast was spread
in the main ball to which a'out 100
sat down, doing ample justice to the
g, celient cuisine, which was under
the supervision of X. W. Morse of the
City Hotel.
After the repast was finished Toast
master Homer G. Ladd made a few
short remarks In which he described
the object Of the gathering: which
was to act as stimulus to the union
spirit, and to create q larger amount
Of enthusiasm amo g Its members.
he tnen introduced FranCis Merchant
who was q former member OF Local
al
Mr.. Merchant m de q brief resume
Of the foundation of the Clerks Un.
ion in Vermont, and In this city es'
pecially.
He spoke OF the condition of affairs
before union was formed. The clerks
were obliged to work every night Till 8
O'Clock and sometimes later, and it was
only after that hour that they were
able to meet to consider the plan OF
formiDo an organization, by which
they might gain some privileges.
He CONT ared that period with to.
day, when the clerks have the major
ity Of the week nights to themselves.
The acquisition of this privilege he
gave their union credit for.
Mr.. Merchant concluded by affirming
that he would always b found true
friend Of organized labor In general,
and OF the r. c. l. P. A. In parttcu-
lar.
Mr.. Merchant was followed by Da.
vid Wylie who rendered very pleas
ing vocal selection, and was obliged to
. respond to an encore.
4 B. r. Healey rTesi3ent Of the Cen =
tral Labor Union OF this city vas the
next speaker. Mr.. Hesley as one Of
the leading labor men Of the commu-
munity, gave an lnte resting and
instructive discourse.
He brouRh. his audience back %
year., to the period when the daily
schedule of work was from IL to is
hours in most manufacturing plants
in the country.
He cited the many beneficial chang
es which have taken place since that
time for the laboring man, using his
own organization, the Granite Cutters
Union as an example. He eAherted
all members of union organizations
and their sympathizers to insist on
having uniCn made goods and to buy
none other.
Mr.. Ladd then introduced Mark A.
Davis, who rendered Two vocal selec
tions which were we'll received.
Mr.. Davis was followed by Fred
Bruce, state organizer Of the Granite
Cutters National Union. Mr.. Bruce
took for his subject "The Signs Of the
Times, He IS we'll versed In all
union matters and held the close at
tention OF his audience throughout.
Like his predecessors, Mr.. Bruce
spoke of the rapid rise Of the condi-
tion of the trade union in this state
and predicted that Vermont was soon
to be the "banner state" in this res.
pect. He was glad to say that In the
whole state there were but two non
union stone sheds at present.. and only
about 10 non-union cutters out OF
$500. He spoke Of recent victory
which the granite cutters had achiev
ed in organizing the town Of st
Johnsbury, which in Mr.. Bruce''
words was "the worst kind OF a non
union place.. before.
Mr.. Bruce mentioned the new or
eanization of farmers which Is being
formed in this state and ad dvOcatet
enlisting their aid In. sending labo
sympathizers to the coming legisla
lures.
William Duthie followed, with
recitation, entitled The Church a
Kehoes'', which he gave very credit
, ably.
The toastmaster next INTRODUCES
!. Chas. L. Wallace whose subject wa
"Personality'. Mr.. Wallace mao
some very appropriate remarks, Il
which he exhorted his fellow clerks t
. be always courteous and obaiging 20 a
: customers, and thereby win an eve
n increasing trade. He considered th
e members of the r. @. l. P. A
t as the future merchants Of Barre
;. and advocated laying the step pin
:. stones to their success by a kindl
4 and courteous personality.
:. A vocal selection followed BY Mil
$ Rose Cook, who was obliged to respon
u to hearty encore.
d On account of unavoidable circun
II stances two numbers had to be omitte
d from the program, toast BY Ale
e Rober tson and piano solo by Mi