The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-02-05
BY Secretary IronSide Of Barre
Central Labor Union.
In POLITICAL ACTIVITY.
He Justifes Meeting Of Friday Nighs
by the Constitution of organiza-
tion and Denounces the Bal
lot Box "Scah." ~s~

of Barre in calling the mass meeting
Of Friday evening to consider the nam-
ing Of candidates for city offices has
been criticised moro or less severely by
some members Of labor unions III town,
aud their criticism has called forth
vigorous defense Of tae G. i. us ac-
tion from its secretary, Alexander Iron
side. He refers to the ballot box @scab"
who helps to defeat his own side and
declares that he is worse than the in
dustrial escab9 and denounees him ia
strong terms. Secretary Ironside quotes
from the constitution Of the Central
Labor Union to defend the position which
that body has taken. His letter is as
follows:
Editor, Barre Daily Times; kindly
crave space in your valuable paper TO
reply to some Of them rather llncalled for
criticism which has been expressively di-
rected at the members Of the Central
Labor Union of Barre and vicinity for
their action in calling mass meeting
Of the workingmen and especially their
fellow trade unionists to consider the
advisability Of running thier own mem
bers for the various city offices ia the
following ELECTION Speaking from
Socialist standpoint, it would seem that
the chief growl is against the introduce
ton Of what the pure and simple type
of trades unionists term politics in our
city affairs.
That such is not the case, however,
can be at once seen by the action taken
at the mass meeting. when a committee
was appointed to bring forward at a
future meeting list OF candidates for
all city offices; these candidates, If ac-
cepted, to be nominated in the regular
city caucus. That this method has been
pursued in the past by the friends of
tweedle-dee and tweedle.d dunn goes with
out saying. But woe to the workingmen
who have the courage OF their convic-
tons IN adopting q line Of procedure
which must sooner o. later be carried
into effect. The most pitif,l part II
that the jealousy Of the working class
for one another is today and has been
throughout the ages the stumbling block
20 their own emancipation
The constitution Of the Central Labor
Union is quite definite and covers en-
tirely the action taken by the Central
Labor Union. For the enlightenment Of
our friends | insert the following quo
tation from the declaration Of principles
of the Central Labor Union:
1T shall be the duty of this organi-
zation to assist in public agitation of
labor reform principles, and especially
those of the short hour movement
On legislation the Central Labor Un-
ion must be strictly non partisan 1T
recommends, however, that every wage
worker shall exercise an independent use
of the ballot, and, as citizens, vote for
those men and measures, irrespective of
party, which he deems for the best in-
terests of labor"
Further, I'VE declare ourselves in fav-
or of national, state and municipal legis-
lation to secure the following measures
and that it is the duty Of this orgapiza.
tion to use all honorable influence with
legislators to accomplish its enactment;"
I. Eight hours works for public ein-
ployees.
2. The abolition Of contract labor on
public work.
3. The securing oi equal pay for
equal work, irrespective OF sex.
4. The procuring Of healthy sanitary.
conditions in workshop, etc"
Now, has the Central Labor Union
made amy mistake which has entitled
some of its members to good deal
of abuse and ridieuIe? Have those meme
bers violated any part Of the principles
entrusted to them AS a Socialist, ana
speaking as e member of that party and
delegate TO the Central Labor Union
for the past four years, beg leave to
say that tho majority Of the members
are more than usually conservative in
their actions and remarks. But natur-
ally, coming into contact with many
important questions relative to the well
fare OF The labor movement, it II only
10 be expected that they move Il little
ahead of the good, old stay-at-homesr
who allow the so-called ring to pre-
dominate and run things satisfactory to
themselves. Every man is entitled Ia
his opinion and wish TO say that I
have always looked on the man who
helped the employer 10 defeat us bv
going to work In The shop after we had
declared a strike "scab.a
/ wish 10 ask what shall we say of
our brother trade unionists who 70 into
bue DdliVt hOA anu ntApNt MN tHtkC To
defeat us and break up our unions. Is
ho not also "scabv9
Aye, scab he is, Of the most dangerous
type imaginable. Scab be IS, tho he
carry union card and bis every gar
ment bears a union label Sooner 81 lat
er the trades union movement win learn
that they have less to fear at the hands
Of the industrial scaD than from TIE
union man that "seabsv at the ballot
box. That we do not realize the tremen-
dous Importance Of this is seen ii tlie
Willingness to condone this most harmful
and dangerous form Of @scabbing." Not
until we learn this lesson, that labor's
worst foe Is within its own ranks. oiy-
ing its strongest weapons to our oppon.
ents, win we hope 70 emerge free from
this entangling and hopeless alliance.
Some day YOU will awake like the work
ors Of Russia and old England and then
there win be house cleaning.
Ainyr Ir0nstde