News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1903-06-24
QUAKER CITY QUlRKs.

of the ever doubtful question as to
whether | can be of any interest. |
do not too closely scrutinize that
proposition, however, forI am selfish
enough to let the pleasure | find in
this my only way of passing a word
with lot of good people | an proud
to count as my friends serve as a Ii
cense to thus aft ct them. Andspeak-
ing of license calls to mind the fact,
as l understand it, that you are hav-
ing one of the dryest spells in YER
mont within the memory of the old
est inhabitants. Strange, isn't it, that
this should be SO and so soon. | sup
pose you who are on the spot can
place the responsibility where it be-
longs. 1t must be an awful draw
back to one side or the other, l don't
know which. But, too add, | am
glad to note that the great transfer
nation in law, opportunity and con-
sequent customs on the part of some
has not shown a veritable landslide of
Vermont and Vermonters to the pro-
verbal bow vows as first feared. This
is time when the good citiz 7nship,
character and stamina of Vermonters
can stand for more and accomplish
more than ever before. Unfortunate
ly the change that has come must
develop that which Is not desirab BILE
in some connections but, on the other
hand, there is bound to be developed
stronger men; stronger In their stand
ard of morality, sobriety and general
influence. | believe this thoroughly,
and am encouraged by the belief, for
/ must admit the rapidity with which
the radical change has come, almost
blinded my eyes and scattered ideas
even at this distance at first.
A year ago and the coal strike, then
just getting down to business, effected
business generally and now even more
seriously, locally, is felt the carpen-
ters' and other sympathetic strikes
that have put about thirty thousand
idle men on the streets for a month.
And now the great textile workers
strike that was inagurated June LIST,
has placed fully $4,000 people on the
idle list. The former strike has very
seriously tied several great building
enterprises and contractors are I'M
able TO figure on any new work con-
templated. Very ordinary carpen-
tiers, who have been getting 40 cents
per hour, strike for an eight hour day
at so cents per hour, a demand that
knocks contractor, with heavy
Job on hand, out of any possibility of
accomplishing his work with a dollar
for his own pocket. Among the new
building enterprises receiving, it is
hoped, but temporary set back is
the new store building to be erected
on the present site of John Wana-
makers pioneer department store.
But work is really commenced and
the number of non-union workers is
increasing. This great steel, stone,
brick and glass building is to be con-
structed in quarter sections and will
be erected without interruption to
business. 1t will cover the square
bounded by Market, Chestnut, 18th
and Juniper streets, with three floors
below surface and twelve above. At
the same time he will build a NAM
moth new store in New York, where
his business is outgrowing the old
A. T. Stewart site which he occupies,
but upon which site the new store
will not be constructed. When all
this is accomplished John Wanamak-
er's enterprise will, as ever, be the
largest individual merchandising in
stitution in the world, by all odds.
Having in hand the collections in this
Philadelphia business, it may be no
breach of confidence to say that
million dollars per month will not
cover the incoming cash from charge
accounts alone, say nothing of the
enormous cash business, SO the i'm
mense possibilities of the business is
not easily grasped.
In marked contrast with nearly all
other great industrial combinations,
as to the matter of strikes and strife,
stands the great Baldwin locomotive
work in this city. Thanks to the
wise policy and business sagacity and
fairness OF the business head of this
vast enterprise, Hon. John H. Con-
verse, a native of Burlington, Yer
mont, there was long since inagurat-
ed a system OF recognition of the in
dividual, guarantee of fair treat
ment and advancement as a man be-
becomes experienced and has proven
his worth, together with an admir-
able system OF instruction to the
young machinist,. that have made
strikes almost unheard of. And the
work goes on proftably to employee
and employer. These works are send
ing out daily locomotives ready for
service in all parts of the world. The
labor is continued day and night,
thus furnishing employ ment to up
wards of $4,000 persons, the ma
jority Of them Americans. The capa-
city of the works is thirty-six com
plete locomotives every six days.
This naturally very decent and well
behaved city has, as plainly as can
be, come out from cloud recently,
cloud that has hung heavily upon it
for four yeers-the term of office
vouchsated to the last city admins.
tration. Unfortunately, in, this case at
least, Philadelphia Mayor is in it
for four years and that means also
the lesser lights with which he sur-