The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-07-26
LIVE UP TO
UNIONISM
Was Plea of National Organ
izer Reid Last Night
ADDRESSED LARGE CROWD
Declared That They Had Not Done
Everything When They Had
Simply Joined the
Unien-

Stuart Reid national organizer for the
American Federation Of Labor. address
ell large audience at the City Park
last evening. Mr.. Reid is an eloquent
and a forceful speaker and held the close
attention of his hearers.
The speaker said III part: q under.
stand that Barre Is an organized town
but in the short time that / have been
here | have noticed some faults
don't know as these impress yon as they
have me. We may have an organized
town but not have union town. The
conditions of labor here are all good II
not better than anywhere else III THE
country
we have men who are nuion men be-
cause it il convenient and we have men
who are union men because they believe
in unionism and for the sake of prin-
ciple The trade union Of today Is first
Of all d straight business proposition and
secondly IL il built on the principle nRd
command Of the Great Redeemer of
mankind who lived more than two thou.
sand years ago.
~ is q business proposition because
the hunblest laborer that works is a
business man. Buying and selling makes
business man. You buy and YOU have
something to sell it IL the most i'm.
portant commodity on the market that
this world knows Of Ii II the founda,
lion Of all other commodities. You sell
your labor.
"But we sometimes do not progress as
rapidly as we could wish. We are sup
fposed To be Democracy; but we are
hardly that as long az there are class
distinctions in this country. The trade
union seeks TO band men together; it il
founded on a business proposition and
on that command of The Carpenter OF
Nazareth when he said TO lis disciples
Love one another as I have loved you.
The trade union seeks TO carry out that
command.
"When you 90 into q union store see
that the nuion label is on every article
that you buy. The majority of clothing
in Barre does not bear the union label
want TO say to You union men who
have secured the eight hour day and a
better wage through unionism that you
on your part have not done all that you
might do t0 make unionism here what
il ought To be. Ny union friends and
you who are not friends Of the union
want to say TO you that we are here
TO stay and you can't shake Us Off.
"rhe unions have said for years that
you should not enter politics but the
manifesto has gone forth from the head
quarters Of organized labor in Washing.
ton, Go into politics and keep the men
at home who have for years legislated
against YOU. In little while you men
Of Barre are going TO have a chance Ia
send men to that beautiful state house
OF yours at Montpelier The spirit 81
jealousy has prevented election Of labor
ing men; you must lay aside your petty
selfishness. | say as the famous states.
man once said. Hang together or You
will all hang separately Elect union
men TO 90 10 your halls Of legislature
to legislate Tor you"
Organizer Reid spent the prenter part
of the day yesterday being shown about
town, secing the granite industry and
being introduced to the principal labor
leaders OF Barre. Tonight he speaks in
Montpelier and tomorrow night inNoith.
field Burlington is likely to be his next
stop and that on Saturday. This trip
Throughout Vermont is to build up tht
labor nnion cause, and Mr. Reid viii
spend ten days Or two weeks before re-
turning to Maine, where lie is actively
engaged In the ballot box fight against
Congressman Littlc6ed who is seeking
re election, with the American Fedora
ton OF Labor hanging to his launches
Congressman Littlefeld was one OF The
men singled out BY the Federation IN
particular as target for their attack.