The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1909-12-02
COMMEf1ES CONFER
Granite Manufacturers and
Cutters Union Repre-
sentatives in Session
ONLY INFORMAL MEETING
Executive Committees From Both the
COntending Factions Talked Mat
ters Over in Boston Until Late Hour
Last Night-Had No Authority to
Settle the Dispute.

Last Night-Had No Authority to
Settle the Dispute.
Boston, Nov 29-The executive
!. committee of the National Association
1of Granite Industries and the Inter-
national Granite Cutters Union met
Informally today in this city to discus
the difficulty which has arisen in
Vermont resulting in the loss of
work to more than 1000 men in Barre
and vicinity by reason of lockouts.
Neither committee was authorized
to settle the trouble and the members
only talked upon what lines could be
followed in case it was possible to
reach a settlement. The committees
were in conference until late tonight
and at the conclusion President Jones
of the manufacturers, said nothing
definite has been arrived at and that
it was doubtful if representatives of
the union would meet the association
for further conference at present.
Nothing Develops Locally.
1t is doubtful whether or not any
thing will be done this week looking
toward a settlement of the trouble
between the granite workers in this
vicinity and the manufacturers unless
the unexpected happens. Nothing de-
veloped locally yesterday and ac-
cording to statemnets made by both
parties it is not likely that there will
be any change in the situation for
several days. A good deal depends
on what action will be taken by the
national committees of both organi-
cations, the attitude of which cannot
be learned
What appears to be the procrastin
alton Of James Duncan, the national
secretary and treasurer of the Gran
ite Cutters Union, is beginning to
produce a feeling of uneasiness and
dissatisfaction among some of the
local rank and file who are unable to
understand his policy, which, they
say, takes on the appearance of OBJ
stinacy, viewed from this distance,
whirxyat of the manufacturers as
soication is by no means one of con-
ciliation. The situation now looks as
though it had resolved itself into an
endurance contest or a survival of
the fittest which, in the present case,
means whether or not one side can
afford to hold out longer than the
other.
The strike has not preceptibly in
jured local business men up to the
present time. There has been no
noticeable falling off in the volume
1T business transacted during the last
SWo weeks when compared with the
amount previously done.
The communications which have
passed between the Granite Manu-
facSnrers' Association and Secretary
Duncan during the progress of the
present difficulty are quite volum-
inous, and show the trend of the
workings of those attempting to
bring about an amicable settlement
of the matter in question. The let
ers and kilograms are as follows:
Executive council, Granite Cutters
International Association, in special
meeting today (Monday, November
22), vigorously protest against Barre
Granite Manufacturers Association
locking out our members in branches
where no connection exists, demands
recall of lockout notice and return of
men to work. Failure to respond ac-
cordingly will be understood as final
and full breach of agreement by
Barre Manufacturers Association.
Executive council has demanded re-
:. call of suspension notices in North
Held, where original trouble took
2lace; reinstatement of men suspend
by Cross Brothers and use of
Bumper" surfaces not insisted on.
ending adjustment by conference or
Fbitration, as offered by Northfield
ranch committee to firm. Executive
pcil holds that action of Cross
Sers, supported by Northheld en-
is rank violation of article
regulations and article six of
Raneous in Northfield agree
Pour association insists on rig
eognition of current agreements
greatly regrets such fragrant vio-
In by Barre Manufacturers Asso-
ftion as a whole, or any firm as
|art thereof. and trusts better coun-
Bel will prevail, recognizing, as we
do, that cause of present dispute is
failure of employers to respect ar
ucles eight and six of Northfield
agreement previously referred to. AS
Zach place has it's own separate and
istinct agreement, lockout of the
1hen in the several places is consid-
cred rankest kind of violation of all
fundamental principles concerning
agreements and especially adjustment
clauses of same. (James Duncan.)
In reply to the telegram sent to the
Barre manufacturers, we this morn
Continued on page FOUR