The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-03-02
Statement by Duncan and Also
by Manufacturers.
NO CHANGE in SITUATION
Men Met Yesterday Afternoon With Ma
tional Secretary Duncan Present
Meet Again This
Afternoon.

ing granite cutters held mass meeting
in st. Mary's Hall, West Quincy, yes
terday afternoon to consider new propo-
sitions to submit to the manufacturers
Alexander Smith was chairman Of the
meeting The principal speaker was
Secretary Duncan of the International
Granite Cutters Union. After q short
session, at which the manufacturers
attitude was reported on, the strikers
adjourned until today, when the various
branches will hold separate meetings.
National Secretary James Duncan, in
speaking Of this trouble, said;
Irrespective Of the manifested desire
of the Quincy branches of the Granite
Cutters National Union for a pacific
adjustment Of the wage rate with their
employers preparatory to March /, the
date of change, the granite cutters Of
Quincy found on Feb. % that their
employers had again resorted to their
old-time tactics of leaving the question
Of adjustment of the wage rate to settle
ment after a suspension of work had
been made. After waiting for weeks
without the manufacturers giving them
an opportunity through their committee
to meet and finally discuss the points
at issue, the cutters asked that the
committee on Feb. 81, at which time the
best offer the Quincy manufacturers
made was one which. while theoretically
appearing beautiful sentiment, in reality
meant that the S3 minimum rate for
day work, asked for BY the granite
cutters committee, would be considered
BY them practically d maximum rate,
and that men they considered unworthy
Of that rate should have their wages
graded downward accordingly. On the
other hand, the granite cutters commit
tee called for So minimum for day
men, which rate or minimum much
higher, is already recognized in 80 per
cent Of the granite cutting branches Of
the trade, and that a man whom the EN-.
ployers did not care to hire by the
day should be employed by piece work
and paid according to what he could
make.
"The granite cutters are not SO illog-
ical as to take the position that an old
or manned, man whom the employers
will neither hire by the day no give
piece work shall be debarred from fol-
lowing the trade; so they have in their
proposition the usual old mems clause,
whereby an aged or MANNED member
may have a special rate of wages, com
mensurate with his earning power but
beyond this, for day work employment,
the SO minimum rate is called for, not
only in accord with the minimum rate
paid elsewhere, but in strict accordance
with a clause in the constitution of
the Granite Cutters National Union.
THE manufacturers in Quincy have
been offered the lowest rate now or TO
be recognized hereafter in the granite
cutting trade IN any part Of the United
States. Trade is now, and will be, ex-
ceptionally brisk in the granite cutting
line, so the cutters on strike will have
no difficulty IN getting employment. else
where, at least at the rate are looking
for in Quincy, and in many eases from
20 cents to rs cents per day more than
the rate asked for.
The granite manufacturers most em
phatically deny the statement made
that workmen, especially the cutters,
have been receiving lower rate 81
wages than has been paid in other gram
ite centres. The wages paid have been
equal to those received BY employees |
elsewhere, they say,
Said a we'll known manufacturer II
am greatly surprised at the action taken
BY the granite cutters. The manufac-
turers made them a fair proposition.
The rate Of wages offered was the same
as accepted by the manufacturers and
the Granite Cutters Union Of Westerly, |
r. l. This rate for Quincy worknen
was more advantageous than for the
Westerly employees, inasmueh as the
Westerly granite is much harder to quar-
ry and more difficult to cut. In fact, |
it may be called self-refraetory stone.
The Barre workmen do not receive so
good wages as are paid either at Quincy |
or Westerly. The Barre granite is much |
easier to quarry than that at the other
two places.
Il think the granite manufacturers
are still willing to pay the Westerly |
wage list, providing the men are able
to earn their wages, Not more than
one half Of the Quincy employees are
what may be termed skilled workmen.
There are old employees who cannot do
So much work as they could 10 years
ago These men have done efficient
work for their employers, and should
be retained, for most Of them are skilled
workmen. They cannot now earn So
day, but should have chance to earn
what they can. TO be compelled to
pay these men minimum wage Of So
day is unfair. The same reasoning
win apply to the unskilled workmen.
There are now about SIS cutters out"
The new price list asked that the
rate of wages paid under the old list
be increased from SO to Sta cents an
hour, or a minimum Of So for an eight
hour day, instead Of $2.64 as paid
under the old list It was also re-
quested that the number Of apprentices
be limited to two for each gang Of
- mon. The manufaelnrers offered 10