Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-09-25
Central Labor Union Of Mont
pelier Stands by the Striking
Argus Printers.
BUSINESS MEN FOOLED
Labor Men Claim They Did Not Under
stand the Proposition for a Settle
ment Made by the Managers OF
the Argus-Funeral OF Col. H.
r. Stoughton in Barre.

Montpelier. Sept T.-At a largely attend
ed meeting of the Central Labor Union heid
Saturday evening which lasted until nearly
midnight the labor troubles between the
Argus and Patriot company and the lapor
unions of this city We're discussed at
length f. A. Cate and John Ryan repre-
senting a committee from the Central La
Dor Union working in conjunction with
committee of the business men OF Montpei-
Ter for the purpose of bringing ABOUT ah
amicable adjustment of the diincuity SUP
mitted a long report which was unanl-
mously adopted.
rho renort reviewed in detail the COM
munications that have passed between
Frank NJ CORY representing the MohtPe-
Ter business men and George AtKliis Iepie
senting the Argus company ana OF the Nel
bal proposition from Mr.. CORY thal VI
Atkins had agreed to take back the striN
ing employees at their old rate OF wages
and that if a dull spell should occur at any
time it would he overcome by placing all
hands temporarily on short time. Inc re-
port says that this appeared TO pc Ian
proposition and as the Rrinters were as
posed to agree to anything witmn reasoii
TO settle the difficulty they decided 70 MAKE
an effort TO adjust it upon tins pasF' eai
ing however. a MISUNDERSTANDING on tie
mart of the merchants as to the lntehtloii
of Mr. Atkins they sent for Organizer NC
Mahon who expressed an opinion that 'te
business mems committee tiroush w.
trnorancs of the details of the prlhtihs
business had been led into an error tnal
in reality the proposition OF MI A'A'i'o
meant practically nothing
To make sure of this Mr.. Mcmahon In
company with Mr. Ryan, one or the SIGH
ers Of this report called on MT AtAi'e
and were soon convinced that the op''lioH
previously formed by them was correct
They then called a business men com
Nh an
into the Argus office whore very snort
conference with George and Morris ATKINS
convinced them that Mr.. ATKINS hau no
idea of taking the old employees back INTO
the newspaper department. he SAID that he
had agreed to give his old employees WORK
in his Job department, at the same rate per
hour that they were able to make pricr
to the strike but he would not guarantee
them anything. That they might have work
one or eight hours a day, that he would
pay for the number of hours actually
worked and he hoped he could keep them
quite busy. The committee farther reports
that it is satisfied Mr.. Atkins took ad-
vantage of their ignorance OF the printir q
business to deliberately deceive them for
the purpose of winning their sympathy
away from his old employees The conten-
ton of the striking printers is that they
are entitled to the positions on the news
paper now occupied by the non-union out
siders They are convinced that their con
tention is just and they cannot consistent
ly agree to accept anything else.
The report of the committee further
states that at the interview with Mr.. At
klns last week Mr.. Mcmahon offered a:
the final proposition of the printers thai
all the employees now out on the strike he
taken back to work. That operators foi
the machines he selected from among then
and that in case of IA reduction of Tho
force in the future tho employees now o.