Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-03-08
PROCTOR AND WAGES.

mont Marble company. That Is
matter which concerns the company
aud ITS employees. a mutual business
consideration. 1t does not concern
the state at large.
We say this in view OF the prohl-
nencc that has been given to certain
figures emanating from quarters
known to be bitterly hostile to Mr..
Proctor, the purpose Of which IS 10
show that Mr.. Proctor's company pays
low wages to its workingmen A to
the correctness Of these figures, we
have no knowledge. The whole mat
ter is immaterial. The only thing for
the state to know is that Mr.. Proctor Is
not. by nature and practice, an OPP
pressor OF labor.
Concerning this we have one fact
that argues more to the point than
columns OF figures. lt is this the
Vermont Marble company employs the
largest number Of laborers OF any sin
ole concern in the state, some 25O0 IN
/ all: It's relations with its men hayebeen
almost invariably harmonious-the
men are satisfied with their lot. Ii
they were not we should hear more OF
agitation, strikes and lockouts over
there. Ii conditions were unfWorablei
/ il men could not live and live happily
. in the company's employ, they would
speedily DRIFT away to other employ
ment, or remove elsewhere.
Il does not appear that with the
scale Of wages prevailing the company
OF which MIR. Proctor is president finds
any trouble in securing and retaining
an the help it needs. These men do
/ not have to work for Proctor; they are
not Obliged to come, they are not com
PEELED to stay. Logically, then, we
must conclude that there is no basis
whatever for the argument that Mr..
Proctor Expresses labor. One does
not need to investigate further to
reach this conclusion.
1 As to whether Mr.. Proctor fayors
I labor unions, or employs men whether
they belong to a union or not, or wheth-
er he pays the union scale OF wages,
I the state at large doesn't care. II will
allow Mr. Proctor the privilege Of hold
/ ing such views and acting in such di.
j rections as be may decide sound bust.
ness principles dictate, in the uansac'
ton OF his own business.
! 1t is OF course pertinent to inquire
what Mr. Proctor's public record has
been in legislation affecting labor. aud
what his attitude would be toward
7 il If now elected governor. but the
number of dollars and cents that be
pays to each Of his workmen has no
real concern for the voters, at least 20
long as both parties to the contract
unolr coutented,
In this connection other papers com.
ment as follows
Those working men are not fools
They know whether they are well paid
or not, and il they could do better al
Barre, Baltimore. New York. etc, the,
would leave Proctor in a body. WIS
don't they go?- Burlington Clipper
Isn't it somewhat singular that little
or nothing is ever heard about hooi
troubles among the employees Of the
| Vermont Marble Co. until Fletcher
ID. Proctor is candidate Tor some
Office or another Then, with q Ger.
tainty and p0inttdness that puts om
old friends coincidence and happen
stance ont OF business in the very frs
round, agonizing groans begin to q
up from sympathetic souls about th,
miseries OF the white scrfs' and W,
read that desperate laboring men
driven 20 the last extremity, are hold
ing mysterious meetings that bole ne
end Of evil to the house Of Proctor.
The cutlery against Fletcher ID. Proc
tor that he is "ioe to the worsi lg
man" would be moe convincing if Il
were heard in "oti years" and origi
mated with the rank ami Gle la his owl
shops MI Isl. Adams Messenger.
/ A peculiar feature OF the situation
at Proctor Is that. while the employe,
are not receiving as large salaries a,
some others in the same business il
lother parts OF the country. vet the,
seem TO be satisfied. When labo,
delegates came from Chicago two
years ago, engaged board in Eutlapl
and inaugurated a strike in Proctor
their efforts resulted IN ludirrous flit
ure because the men were so well salts
lied with what they bad that they al,
not care 70 strike. This argues tina
the men, when wages paid. hospital
library and cooperative store privi
leges are considered. have a fairI,
good thing, or think they have. which
Is the same thing. or their scale o
intelligence is such that they don
know a good thing OF a bad thin,
when they have il. III the latter the,