Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1910-02-24
THE STRIKE SETTLED.

THE STRIKE SETTLED.
The settlement OF the long-drswn labor
troubles in the Barre granite industry is
cause for real rejoicing throughout a wide
section, affected to greater or less degree
by this business. 1t makes tremendous
difference whether 1000 men are at work
at good wages or idle for months during
hard winter.
As to the nature Of the settlement, ii is
scarcely worth while to inquire, in face OF
the welcome fact. 1t appears to have
been a compromise, with the employees Sc
curing the most advantage. They have
gained a small wage increase, and while
they do not have their way altogether
about the "bumper" machine that caused
the trouble, it is left where their COM
plants will be needed. On the other
hand the manufacturers have secured
long term agreement and in the final
negotiations had the satisfaction OF COM
polling the cutters to accept the terms
submitted. They anticipated demand
for an increase of wages next year and TO
have it adjusted now means a great deal
to them. They can go ahead with some
assurance OF conditions and plan for their
business as good business men should.
Though the trouble arose over what
a.,
1t speedily developed serious situation.
In the granite industry, both sides, the
manufacturers and the men, are well or
ganized. Probably there is no union in
America that so fully..controls employees in
its particular line as that OF the granite
cutters, and the blaeksmiths, quarrymen
and helpers are also organized effectively.
Granite cutting is a skilled trade, requir
ing years OF apprenticeship, and practi-
cally every cutter belongs to the union
and supports it as first principle This
being the case, there is no such thing as
breaking a cutters strike with non-union
help. strike or a lockout of granite
cutters means that the industry is at a
stsndstill until one side or the OF her gives
up, or an agreement is reached. The
manufacturers, though well organized,
are in competition in the product market,
and not so closely knit as the men.
Many of them are doing business on bor-
rowed capital, and suspension means loss
that approaches ruin. In a square line
up, the union generally wins. its treas
ury is well supplied, its members draw
strike pay enough to keep from pressing
want, and many OF them easily migrate
to places where there is work, leaving the
manufacturers to view their idle plants.
However, the latter are not without re-
source in their extremity; when COM
PEELED to add to the cost of their product
by concessions to their workmen, they
add as much to the price thereof and the
consumer pays it when he buys. With
all treated alike in the matter, they are at
no disadvantage compared with each
other. They simply put the burden on
the public.
II is plain, though, that there must be
limit to this. The public does not
have to buy Barre or any other granite
monuments. There are plenty of others,
and il the price better sccords with the
purchasers ideas, the granite industry
will suffer from the lessened demand.
This loss will fall on the men, as well as
the manufacturers, in shorter employ
ment and smaller aggregate earnings.
There is q community OF interest here
that should not be lost sight Of II it
were possible for the granite cutters to
force the manufacturers to pay them five
dollars q day it would, for this reason, be
no cause for rejoicing to them. The pub
lie wouldn't shoulder the load.
Itisa matter Of much satisfaction that
in spite Of a good deal OF stubbornness on
both sides the trouble progressed through
to ultimate settlement with no sign Of
disorder. There was no time when both
sides we're not earnestly striving to get
together. True, toward the close, the
men divided along racial lines in their
views, but it all resulted right in the end.
II now we can have five years peace in
the granite industry all will be forgotten.
There must be peace, and business must
proceed without interruption, IL Barre
granite lie 10 remain factor.