Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-12-16


tonsl council This, .oo, failed. Since
then two different proposals have been
submitted by the manufacturers, to one OF
them a cutters committee agreeing.
These related to the use OF the bumper"
at certain times and under certain condi-
tions only. Both were turned down By
4 the Mort hfield cutters. The latter seem
disposed to hold out until they make the
manufacturers abolish the machine en-
tirely, which the latter say they will not
do, as 1t is a great labor saver. There is,
at present, q deadlock.
More than appears on the surface is in
volyed in this strike-lockout. The
''bumper" is not the only question at is
sue The Mortified cutters objected to
this machine because il raised bad dust
and was uncomfortable not only to those
who operated it, but to neighboring
workmen. The same machine has been
used in Barre and elsewhere without OBJ
lection by the union. Cross Bros. claim
they had no knowledge that the union
had blaeklisted the " BUMPER until their
men walked out.
The chief issue at stake is the alleged
violation of the agreement entered into
by the manufacturers association and the
cutters union, in respect of interrupting
Business. Under their former treaty OF
peace, it was covenanted that whenever
questions or disagreements arose between
employers and the union there should be
neither strike nor lockout pending a
peaceful arbitration of the matter by the
proper tribunal. Yet this very thing has
happened here. The Mortified cutters
struck, and this action was followed by
general lockout by the manufacturers.
On the one hand ii is said the North
field workmen should have lodged com
plant with the grievance committee and
kept at work. The union say they we're
willing to do this il Cross Bros. would
stop their bumpers while the case was
being heard. This the latter would not
do, as they had been installed without
protest from the workmen, and other
concerns we're using the same
machines. They did agree to use all pos
aible means to have them operated proper
ly, so as not to endanger the health or
comfort OF workmen confined in the
sheds.
But the granite workers OF Barre,
Montpelier and other centers complain of
The action OF the Manufacturers in these
places in taking UP the fight for Cross
Brso. and locking them out. They have
no quarrel with their employers and they
10 not relish being made party to the
affair. They claim that in locking them
,ut without first seeking arbitration the
have themselves broken
he trade agreement. They want to go
back to work and let Gross Bros. and
heir men fight it out among themselves.
On its face, this looks plausible. !
lockout, like this one, is un- |
Ashals Aet ~ - Aho hahe WtapOH tne
lnion themselves use, and would in this
ase II the sides were reversed. We ven
ure that if Cross Bros had had trouble !
With their men over any question and
lad locked them out, in apparent viola ,
ion of the general agreement, the Cut I
ers' unions all over Washington county q
would have heard the cry for aid and
zone on strike in body. This lockout, ,
90, is not wholly sympathetic. II the /
lnion succeeds in doing away with the :
bumpers" at Mortified, they may and |:
probably will follow It up elsewhere and ,
lot only with regard to Jumpers" but 1
ny other labor saving machinery that !
nay not prove to their liking. The old
question Of how far an employer is to be
llowed by his workmen to control his I
iwn business also enters.
IL was anticipated that Secretary Dun {
an, virtual head of the Cutters union, ]
would exercise his usual good judgment q
nd speedily end the trouble, but in this a
ase he seemed disposed to hang out and !
Irge the strife on. The rivalry OF Quincy !
Iranite with that OF Barre figures some =
what, II is surmised. National head. 3
quarters are at Quincy and the pourpar-
srs there have been unproductive OF re- /
ults. The longer the Barre contention a
asts, the better for Quincy manufacturers s
nd Workmen. Possibly Duncan's recent
ssocistion with Gompers, Mitchell and !
'thefs at Toronto, " here the most ultra I
abor views were held and expressed, may Q
AVE tempered him against making any
concession whatever However that may
'e, the wheels are stopped, orders are GO Q
ng elsewhere, union cutters are drawing !
mall strike pay and running up bills !
With tradesmen, who are praying for I
to bring about early resump- i
ion OF labor. The loss has already run I
Up into the hundreds Of thousands Of dol !
ars-all over a bumper and the OBJ !
tinacy Of men.
The failure Of arbitration to solve the a
lificulty in this case is An illustration of :