The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-08-16
With His Vermont Labor
Brethren at Montpelier
HE GAVE AN ADDRESS
Banquet rendered Delegates and Visitors
to Vermont Branch, American
Federation Of Labor, Last
Night.

After appropriating s25 to the ma.
tional American federation Of labor to
be used in carrying on the fight against
so-called hostile congressman, the Ver-
mont branch, a. II. Of L., in convention
at Montpelier, today went into execu-
tive session to discuss the matter OF EN-
tering politics. It is expected that the
annual election Of officers will be held
late this afternoon.
An open session was held last even
ing, at which Vice President Duncan of
the American federation OF labor, as
well as secretary of the Granite Cutters'
union, was the principal speaker. See
retarv Duncan said that the granite
cutters are the best organized of the
trades and that the stronghold Of the
craft Il in Vermont. He declared that
the granite cutters were among tho
leaders in the fight for an eight hour
day. Other unions had tried for it and
failed, saying that it could not be Sc
cured. The granite cutters went to
work and paved the way for the 9TH
ers. Mr.. Duncan said that he was then
called crank on the eight-hour day
matter Now, he declared, there are ii
good many thousand "cranks" on the
subject. Granite cutters now have the
eight-hour day. as well as living
wage Secretary Duncan said that he
was proud of addressing body of labor
union men in Vermont; he extolled
President Roosevelt, saying that he is
believer in the eight hour day, and scor-
ed Congressman Littlefeld of Maine. He
said that the efforts of union men now
is to elect men to Congress and the
state legislature, who will give the union
men their deserts.
The speech was listened to with close
attention and was heartily cheered.
A banquet was rendered BY the Mont
pelier central labor union at Miller's Inn
last night. w. ID. Jones Of Montpelier
was toaStmaster. The speakers and
entertainers included Secretary Duncan
Philip J. Halvosa of Rutland. A. j.
Schneider Of Barre. Fred Bruce of Barre,
John Senter of Montpelier and Fred
named spoke Of the great strides that
the union labor movement, has taken in
this vicinity tring comparatively recent
years, especially among the granite cut
tiers.
just at the stroke of midnight John
Senter stated that as long as it was
the beginning of Bennington battle day
he proposed three cheers. The cheers
we're given with will, and then Philip
Halvosa proposed three more for their
hosts, the Montpelier central labor un-
ion. These were also given with
gnsto.
The convention yesterday afternoon
refused to ratify the Recommendation of
the committee that the constitution be
so changed that officers of the state
branch, whether or not they are dele
gntes to the state convention, should be
eligible to reelection The constitu-
tion as 1t now stands provides that all
officers of the state branch must be
elected from regularly accredited mem
bers
The committee recommended and the
convention so ordered, that the consti-
tuition be so changed that the creden
tial and auditing committees shall be
combined in one committee OF three
nembers.
A large part of the afternoon session
was taken up with the reports Of dele
gates ON local labor conditions in their
several localities. These reports as
whole showed healthy growth during
the past year
A resolution on the death of David a.
Cook Of Barre was unanimously adopt
ed and the secretary was instructed to
send a copy of the same to the family
OF the deceased.
censured Vermont Congressmen.
A resolution eensuring Congressman
ID J. Foster and Kittredee Haskins of
Vermont for their attitude on the
Chinese labor question was adopted by
the Vermont branch Of the American
Federation Of Labor at yesterdays meet
ing.
A communication was read from Sena
Tor William ? Dillingham; OF Vermont
announcing that he would oppose the
PHILIPPINE bill if he thought it would be
detrimental TO American worlsmen in
its operation.
The convention inslorsed The action of
the Rutland trade and labor council by 4
vote Of 52 to 10, in refusing to print IN
the Union Signal labor organ, colns
municatioD from The Bellows Falls cen
trail labor union supporting lhe Socialist
ticket.