The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-09-21
LABOR NOTES OF
vide INTEREST


value to the trade union movements,
because, wherever we turn, evidence to
the contrary is so overwhelming that we
are forced to the belief that any man
or woman who takes this position IL
really an ostrich to all intents and pur
poses, for surely his head is in the
ground or else he could see what is 50
plain in every direction.
1t is only few short weeks since
committee of the manufacturers asso-
citation made the following recommended
ton to n convention OF that body:
"As the presence of union label on
printed matter is an indication that this
emanates from shop closed to non
union printers, it represents a diserim-
ination against a great class of American
workmen that should be the concern of
every man who believes in an equal OPP
portunity to labor. The committee adj
vises those who believe in the principles
of the open shop to return union labeled
printing, marked with appropriate com
ment, and give patronage to printing
concerns ignoring the label"
The truth about these calamity howl
crs in the trade union movement, who
are always ready to find fault with
union made goods and the union label;
in that they are only "card' men; that
is, class of men who are content to
take everything that comes their way
! through no effort Of their own. who are
| in the trades unions for no other than
selfish motive and who would tear up
their cards at once, did they feel rea-
sonably sure they could secure as good
conditions outside of union as they
/ do within its benefcent fold.
| 1t is unfortunate that our movement,
! like a great many other movements for
the uplift of mankind, has to be ham.
pered by this class of men, and it is to
our everlasting credit that, in spite OF
them, undeniable progress is being and
will continue to be made. and we say
to them, in all charity, while they are
receiving conditions of social and finan-
cial betterment, through the trade union
movement and the union label by the
efforts of unselfish men and women, if
they will not do their share in this great
work. the least they can do is to take
what is given them. through no effort
Of their own, in silence, and not will |
fully attempt TO hinder and retard a
movement which they will do nothing
to advance.
During the recent session of the Brit |
ish Trade Union congress in Newport. |
Eng. compulsory arbitration of trade
disputes was strongly opposed by Brit
ish trade unionists, and the delegates |
cast an overwhelming vote against the
adoption of the principle Nearly 2000,- /
600 members of the trade unions were /
represented by 900 delegates.
A parliamentary paper shows that on I
March 81, 1912. the government had /
built in ireland 1924 laborers' cottages,
and that 3.430 were under construction. /
Loans amounting to S3s, 46j.S77 have
been sanctioned for these cottages, Of
which $34. AL ,670 has been received The
total amount of laborers' rent for the
year was S553. 904. In Munster PROV
ince, 1922 cottages have been built and
1888 are under construction. These cot
tages. erected by the government, are
located chiefly in country districts, and,
with shalt acre OF land. rent to la 1
borers at "a to 80 cents per week. which /
is less than the amount charged for in
terest on the loans, the difference being
borne by the taxpayers.
The American Federation of Labor
receives newspapers and ether pubica
tions from every part of the civilized
world. Recently publication at Auck
land. New Zealand found its way into
headquarters and is authority for the
statement that the labor unions in that
country are fast canceling their registra
tons under the Cancellation and arbitra-
ton act in order to be able to stop work II
at any time. should they deem it advan-
tageous TO do So II is also stated that
these organizations are joining the re-
Gently organized New Zealand Fedora
ton of Labor, which advocates the prin-
ciple of The right to strike. There is
at present miners STRIKE at Wailii. in
the north island and according to thu
same authority. this dispute. commenced
more than three months ago. is being
waged principally on the question of the
right of trade unions to withdraw from
the Cancellation board. Thus ''the coun-
try without strikes where compulsory
arbitration has been in vogue, is wit
Messing a contest against a system
which has been heralded throughout the
world as a solution of the labor prob
lem.
Frequently it occurs that interesting
items are lost in the great volume OF
matter printed in this age Recently ~
writer in the London Daily Chronicle, in
lcaling with the recent strike of the
Welsh miners asserted that the reason I
why the Welsh miners were so per- /
sistent in their demand was due to ''the
divine discomfort bred by contact with \
literature An EXCERPT from this arti \
lie is worthy Of consideration and is as
follows: ain former years. the Welsh
man had nothing in the house but the L
Bible and 'Jessica's Prayer Neither of i
these instruments of culture taught him, /
apparently. to be dissatisfied with hrs
OF. But the shilling library has pene
rated his country and now the miners /,
library is full of the 'combustibles, -
says the writer. "You will be sure to V
ind there Carlyle's Heroes and Hero
Worship perhaps also Sartor Resartus.'
There will be Thoreau's Walden Rus
iin's Unto This Last" and Charles Oar A
wins Origin of Species, something by Y
Adam Smith and by Karl Marx The 4
James OF Huxley, Spencer, Morris, and a
ven Renan may proclaim themselves \;
rom the backs of we'll handled volumes. n
fou may even notice the ancient names Z,
t Aristotle and Marcus Aurelius, GER