Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-06-13
UNION MEN ARGUE FOR BEEDE
Labor Leaders Advocate His Can
didacy for State Senator.
Organiser for Textile workers de-
clares That Burlington Has some
Of the Worst Fire Traps in
the Country.

An enthusiastic union meeting was
held in the city hall last evening for
the purpose OF gaining and holding
support for the can lidacy or george
A. Beede, for whom the labor union
interests have pledged their support IN
tho republican caucus TO be held
Saturday night. All of the labor lead
ers In the city spoke and Mr.. Beede
himself ADDRESSED the meeting The
crowd numbered over 400 and almost
the entire number remained through
out the meeting, which lasted for con-
siderably more than two hours.
Because OF the local meetings which
were held last evening ami to which
most of the speakers were bound to
attend, the principal meeting was
late in starting. @. A. Armstrong.
who 1t is rumored Is being considered
as union candidate for city repre-
sentative. presided. and seated on the
platform were many prominent in
labor circles, including the committee
in charge of Mr. Beede's candidacy,
and the organizers who are now here.
The first speaker introduced was
Cal. Wyatt, organizer for the American
Federation of Labor. The principal
part of his address was along union
lines. but toward the close he took
mp local Issues and urged the men to
send to Montpelier one of their own
class and a man whom they could
trust with their interests He alluded
to the three candidates who are now
running for the republican nomfna-
ton. all of them lawyers. and took
up their individual merits. Judge
Peck. he said. was an attorney for
the Central Vermont railway and
would go to Montpelier, if elected. In
the interest of that railway. Judge
Mower was connected with the Rut-
land road and would represent that
corporation. while the third candidate
had already shown his stand when he
represented the interest Of private
corporations in fight with the city
not long ago He closed by urging the
men to stick together ana not be
bought by a drink of poor whiskey
Some have been bought in the past"
he stated with two drinks of thu
poorest whiskey to be had in this
State and. believe me. ! have hal one
or two of the poorest drinks here
that ever put in my mouth" This last
statement HWHkened muCn latent en-
ergy and was loudly applauded.
One of the speakers who brought
out the most applause was Charles
Miles. organizer for the textile work.
ers Of the American Federation Of
Labor. He told of the needs of repre-
sentation Of the working class and
said that there was at present not
even q factory inspection law in YER
mont and that at the present time In
Burlington there were some of the
worst fire traps in the country where
the workmen's sisters and perhaps
daughters were employed and where
n fire might sweep through like a
flash and nothing but n miracle coul1
save their lives. An expenditure of
few dollars might mean plenty of
exits and fire escapes. A nine hour
day. he said was long enough for any
man to work and it was too long for
a woman In sending man to repre-
sent them in the Legislature, the
working classes should demand Of
them their stand upon specific acts Of
Legislation and he no longer misled
by generalities. He concluded with an
argument In favor Of Mr.. Beede and
urged the men to stick together A
statement that he would organize the
textile workers awakened vociferous
applause.
Mr. Beede. the candidate for the
State senatorship. spoke next and
told of his life. His speech was short
but he promised the men that he would
be honest and use every endeavor for
their interest II elected.
Following these speeches, Organizer
J. r. Potts and others spoke. Mr.
Potts appearance awakened tumul-
tuous applause and he like the other
speakers. pleaded with the audience to
vote Saturday and not to sell their
vote. II know Of one man in this city
who was offered $50 but wouli not
sell hts birthright." he stated. I'VE
cannot give you money" he added.
"but your principles arc OF more i'm
portance than any paltry sum-" He
also said that he wished to deny a
rumor that there was any kind OF
frame up with Beede and another
candidate for the senatorship. and
characterized 1t as lie circulated by