The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-09-14
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
OF GRANITE INDUSTRIES
William S. Alexander Of Barre Is It's
Secretary Writes Of the Objects
and Methods Of the Assoc
cation

Monumental News, William ~. Ale&An
der of Barre. secretary Of the National
association 81 the granite industries,
has written the following account of
the objects and aims u the assoain
tinn
The primary object of HE association
is mutual acquaintance and Sc mutual
7 interest a. individuals, firms and cor
porati0ns engaged HI the same business.
This will prepare the way f0r wise and
helpful concerted action in important
matters pertaining 10 and affecting tfe
I business, and the interests 81 each and
all There are 50 many Of these SO
important and fafTeaching In their et
fects. that the granite manufacturing
industry. ii common with Ill manufae,
\ turing has realized the need of some
means and method d dealing with
them successfully for the common go9a
Ii II h wonder that the idea has Not
materializea long before, although h
has forced partitl expansion in the local
associations
The National association If granite III
duHtries Is an association 81 associatlons.
IL proposes ami hopes to do for each
and all the associations and their mem
BEES what the separate bodies hare not
been able 70 accomplish, and as nunch
more III what Ii needed te he done as
III wisdom strength and experience VII
enable IT.
Il i another and higher court, to
\ which the matters in doubt or dispute
fin the lower may be taken for careful
examination. consideration and settle
4 ment, removed from much that II liable
to befog THE Judgment. prejudice the
deliberations and decisions III the low
\ er
For example. thrvr arp the unions
4 always Is be reckonea with. The aues.
tions which arise IN any granite center
In carrying ont fhf agreement with the
iurai union, Interpreting the provisions
az applied to parglcular cases, are many
highly Important often very parples
ing- Often, Too, personal and local mat
tiers are 50 inexiricahly interviewer with
the subject III dispute that these factors
gain the prremlnence. and make local
settlement al the difficulty practically
impossible Tho natural and necessary
result w0uid bt y strike or lockout haiA
FOR the opportunity That reference ii
the national association and the Ha
ti0nai union gives tp have tbe whole
matter considered III It's larger more
important meaning and bearing. with ali
that X merely local and personal elimi-
mated Then real settlement az the
4 difficuity i possible, one that applies
to all parties concerned. and Is authoTi
tatiFe everywhere.
Only last month Barre was saved a
4 long and hitter strike of lockout hy
this mnan1 The dispute could not III
settled here. though frequent long and
carefnl conferences were held Il Wa
finally agreed thas ii should lse referred
CO the executive committees of the ma
tional association and the national union.
whose decision should be final and ap-
4 pfcable everywhere under similar en-
rnnsstanees The result was given ii
the Barre correspondence hast month
Bat the granite manufacturers arc CT
the other hand, dealing with q great
many individuals. trims and corpora
fi0ns. scattered uver An immense terri
X tory. Frequently the unly knowledge
each partv has Of tine other u the name
residence. rating. All business II done
\ nv correspondence II this WAY con
traets involving large amounts are made
for the manufacture If monuments
which are expected 70 he works 0f art
expressions Of respect reverence and
love 81 the living fnf the dead X IS
ensv 10 SEE what opportunity there i
here for tho most honest and upright
on bofh sides 10 make mistakes, hive
misunderstanding and 4 good many
sDrts of trouble. IN fliese cases. how
ever, mutual honesty and uprightness
might Be safely left 70 find the way out,
settle the difficulty
But III granite manufacturer are not
honest and upright, nor are all dealers.
II birds oil feather wosld always Aock
together. u The dishonest and crooked on
the one side dealt with only the same
kind on the other, they might bc left
to their own devices and destruction.
while the rest looked on or Of with
content But we know that this is not
the case. II Is neither fEn nor profit for
the dishonest and crooked to measure
weapons and abilities with each The
great and important difficulties here a.
everywhere. arise between the npposites
IN character and morals Unpleasant
and disastruus a. the results are a.
the principals III each case ihef are not
confined e them sooner OF later 9TH
ers find themselves affected and IN
Koised IL s greater o. less extent. Con.
iidenre il weakened al along the lire
50 acute and chronic has this eondi-
fion become throughout the granite cen.
trrs of New England that the hest and
MOST reliable inns were discouraged Al
the conditions and prospects Of the huai.
ness They realized that It was imper'
stike that something b. done to remove
the evils and difficulties that prevailed
and raise the industry to b higher ARID
safer plane This was the most inn
p0rtant factor in bringing about the or.
eaniratiun of the National association
of granite Industries. ii the hope that
BIZ united consideration and action SOME
practical solution Of this intricate prob.
fern might be found II WIS put intg
the hands OF those known 10 be best
! fitted for the task by their age, expert.
! ence. good sense and faiG indicial spirit
After much thought the following plan
was devised and adopted. and has been
: working very satisfactorily for severu
months.
IF member of the association has AZ
account with retail OH wholesale deal,
or. firm 0f corporation. which he liat
found impossible TO settle hy the or1i
nary business methods, II Is his priv
lege antl duis 10 submit the case u thf
executive committee. which az once ne
titles the either party Of this action and
asks for an explanation wliy settlement
has not been made II the debtor has
any claim against the creditor. due t.
alleged mistake Of failure ~ carry ont