The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-12-18

James Mulch, secretary Of the tool
sharpeners' union, writes the Granite
Cutters Journal as folows;--
I. S. No. 2, Barre, Vt.
Dec. / Conditions in this branch and
all branches in this locality are now,
truly, something awful0 Nov 49, the
entire membership Of our association in
this vicinity was locked out, because
the manufacturers in Mortified were
having some trouble with little ma
chine called bumper" Everyone who
has ever seen Or been around q place
where bumpers" are used, viii admit
that the working OF them has invariably
caused trouble, not only on account Of
the dust made by them, but their PEI
culiar failing Of refusing work when
they are most needed and the frequent APP
plication Of oil that the foreman on the
job has to apply with the aid Of the
wise and the monkey wrench. However,
the trouble this time was not SO much
with the working Of the machine as to
its use, hence arose the difference OF
opinion between the members of North
field branch and their employers and be-
cause they could not agree about the
matter the manufacturers in Barre in
formed our branches in Barre that If
the members Of Mortified did not come
to terms they would lock the whole Of
Washington county out, until such time
as they did feel like using these machines
under any and all conditions, and al
though we drew their attention TO the
fact that our agreements in the differ
ent branches only covered the branch
that the agreement was signed for and
that we had no jurisdiction over amy
other branch Of our association but our
own: and although our agreements,
which cost our association much time
and money to arrange during the early
part OF 1908, had an iron-clad clause,
whereby no lockout nor strike nor sus-
pension 81 work could take place during
the term Of agreement, the manufacture.
ers closed their doors to our members,
80 as TO protect their members In North
field from our members in that locality,
which was most regrettable action,
from whatever point Of view is taken.
The agreement that was drawn up
with our branches in this locality, cover
ing the period Of three years. had still
ten months to run and was being lived
mp to 10 good faith By every member Of
our association and was expected TO
be respected by the other parties in the
agreement; but instead Of that, all that
we now have il the paper that the sigma
lures were SO carefully attached to. and
the only granite that is being cut in
this vicinity il being cut by apprentices.
Another argument where our appren-
tice laws should be riQidly enforced, and
where necessary the limit reduced.
This shutdown Of the granite bust.
ness has thrown out Of employment
large nnmber 81 men Of all trades, but
seems to hurt the Jumper more than any
other craft. Since the installation OF
modern sheds, the Jumper has become
a necessity in the granite cutting bust
ness. and while he has not been locked
out in the general term. he Is certainly
ont Of work and likely 70 remain 50 until
the cutters resume work or ara permit
ted to enter the stone sheds again An
other argument for an ont -of work ben.
eft in AL unions. If ron doubt it, ask
the Jumpers and derriekmen. and while
this affects the Jumpers Al the present.
supposing the conditions were changed
and the trouble was with the Jumpers,
instead of the cutters. The Jumpers be-
ing locked out, and the cutters waiting
for settlement. the possibilities 81 that
condition are not at al improbable. It
Is well to BE- prepared
The building boom, described hv Sec.
Smith IN our last Journal, has got an
awful set back The granite cutters in
Northfeld, with that little bumper
have bumped into the next year. al any
rate strange as this may seem. Il isl
nevertheless the case-athe day set for
forming the corporation was set for Nov.
II, which was the same day that the
manufacturers thought II necessary To
suspend operations IN Barre. SO ar to
resume operations IN Mortified. There.
fore, the building corporation has deemed
ii we'll to postpone the investment of
their money, 50 as to be sure whether
the granite cutters in Mortified can use
bumpers or not This building como
ration is to be doomed BY the members
Of the board Of trade. corporation
chatered for the booming Of the city III
Barre. If ever there was a time that
II was in need Of booming, II is certainly
now The monumental business has not
been what it should have been since the
last dispute between employer and EN-
ploye, and nobody can deny bit lots Of
work has been cut n the West that
would have found its way Ia Barre. II
that dispute had not been Of ID long
duration, and that the present trouble
will be the means Of still increasing
the amount Of work that should be cut
in Barre being cut elsewhere. viii no
doubt be evident HI the near future
There II no doubt but business viii 20
where il is wanted and bid made for
It If the business men of one vicinity
do not want il, the business men Of
another vicinity do and where the bust.
ness goes the workmen viii have 10
follow If We are to boom our city. it
would therefore seem as If it would lie
necessary to get hustle on us and an
the business men to get the contracts.
whether in monuments. vaults or build. |
ing work, and both the business men
and workmen to keep the contracts
signed BY them faithfully regardless 81
the little bumpers" that we might
strike in the fulfllment Of the same.
Here's hoping for bigger and better