The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-03-23
LABOR NOTES OF
VIDE INTEREST
What Unionism Has Accomplished
in Barre-A Brief Sketch of
Rise of Local Or
CARNATIONS.
Tool sharpeners and POlishers.

Tool Sharpeners and Polishers.
Up till the year 1889, the tool sharp
eners were members of the granite cut
ters' union. At that date they formed
themselves into separate branch, nc
doubt realizing that there were matters
likely to arise affecting their own spe.
cial line OF work that could be handled
more intelligently by themselves than
by the mixed body, of which they had
up till that time been part. The tool
sharpeners, when organized, had a mem
bership OF 50 and have now a member
ship Of $50. and every workman is a
member of the union. Before organiza
ton their wages were S2.75 for ten
hour day, whereas they now receive $500
for an eight-hour day. They have worked
hand in hand with the cutters in all
matters of general benefit to the trade
and share the honors equally with them
in what has been accomplished in the
past years.
The polishers were organized in 1889
with probably not more than 30 mem
beers. When organized, the average pay
of polisher was Sl.75 for a ten-hour
workday. Their present agreement calls
for minimum of $500 per day of eight
hours. In their case, the hours of labor
have been reduced from ten to eight
and their pay increased from l71a cents
to 40 cents per hour with correspond
ing increase to hand polishers, who most
" work by the piece. All are members
of the union. The total membership Mt
present is about 1877, small percentage
being sawyers. do not know if this is
the Industrial unionism our friends Of
the Industrial Workers of the World
sigh for, but / have mighty big hopes
that the next ten years will bring the
rest of the granite workers under the
flag of the Granite Cutters International
association.
The accidental death of Andrew n. o.
son. one of the trusted leaders in the
Western Federation of Miners and the
United Mine Workers OF America, in
train wreck near Porcupine, Ont, Can
ada. few days ago, revealed the fact
that he had been all his life traitor
to the cause of union labor, working
as one of the most astute detectives
employed by the Thiel detective agency
Tn the train wreck, however, Olson had
no time to secrete the papers which re-
vealed him as a spy and traitor to his
fellowmen. To him the union men en-
trusted their most important negotia-
tons with the operators. They gave
into his possession kilograms from the
highest officials of their organizations
and all union secrets were disclosed to
him. When he was dead, the union
men discovered he had been a detective,
employed by the mine operators,
throughout his connection with the I'M
ions; that he had divulged to his en-
plovers everything he learned from his
union associates, and that while he was
progressive to force the operators to ac-
cede to union demands, he was receiving
pay from the operators to serve their
interests.
Washington, March l6.-Senate bill
No. 3l75, entitled ITO regulate the i'm
migration of aliens and the residence of
aliens in the United States provides
a loophole whereby Chinese can enter
this country without let or hindranee.
The American Federator of Labor sub
mitted the bill to it's attorneys for an
opinion as to its meaning and in reply
the attorneys in substance state shat
If the pending bill becomes operative in
its present form. the right of Chinese
to come to this country will be abso-
htely unrestricted" Upon receiving
this opinion. objection was filed with
the immigration committee Of the Sen
ate, protesting against the provisions