The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-06-15
SCORED BY LABOR MEN.
vermont's Representatives in Congress
and Also Employers of Labor.

music stand III the city park lasb nlgn
to listen to General Organizer Cal. Wyatt
of the American Federation of Labo
and Organizer Charles A. Mills of tn
Textile Workers of America. While ex
, pounding the condition of the situation
of the strike of the woodworkers il
Burlington, the speakers dwelt at lengtl
upon the necessity of the workmen o
America awakening to the adyisabilit,
of placing their own representatives il
the Senate and House bodies of botl
the state and national legislative bodies
Alexander Ironside, chairman of th'
meeting, introduced Organizer Wyatt al
the first speaker In speaking of tn,
situation at Burlington, Mr., Wyatt sale
that the workmen in the lumber mills al
Burlington voluntarily ceased work OF
May !, demanding nine hour working
day, with the wages of ten-hour day
He stated that the average wage of the
workman never exceeded five dollars pei
week. "Think of the man doing his ut.
Imost to raise family on that wage
1T is hardly enough for single person tc
secure the necessities OF life"
Nearly hundred of them had borne
the ordeal as long as they desired and
decided that they might as well starve
mot working as to starve laboring. About
1900 of these men organized into labor
bodies with the carpenters and team
sters. There have not ten men gone back
to the mills that have not received Just
compensation for their labors complying
with the union regulations Many have
left the city or found employment else
where. At present there are still $50
men out fighting for their demands.
The ceasing of labor ON the part OF
! the workmen has caused loss Of S35 900
to the city of Burlington. Last Sunday
Burlington was surprised when over 800
workmen responded to the call at the
carpenters' hall for the purpose of en-
ldorsing workmen for legislators to be
sent from Burlington to represent the city
| in both the House and the Senate. The
city of Burlington has long been run
by politicians, which is the result of the
lmfavorable working conditions of the
lefty. The labor body named its candi-
dates that are to run for the positions
of representative and senator, and both
are understood to have been endorsed by
the Democratic party. The time has
come when the laboring man has attained
the intelligence and knowledge sufficient
to permit him to legislate, and, as the
majority, there is no sound reason why
the labor mans interests should not
be protected from the gouging Of cap
ital
There is hardly a man in our great
Legislative bodies that will vote for the
cause of labor There is Y. 5. Senator
G. S. Page Of this state, who is the
calf-skinner OF the country He con-
trolls the calf-skn industry of the coun-
try. Every shoe that we buy we pay
a tribute to Senator Page Why should
labor people support such man as
him? In recent bill in the Senate in
the interests Of the working man, both
the Vermont senator's votes were against
the cause.
Organizer Wyatt also spoke of the
child labor laws OF the state, stating
that the factories did not comply with
them as there were statutes in the state
child labor that nullifed each
other. Sc said that Vermont should join
in the progressive movement of the
working body and vote for no man that
did not possess union card.
Chairman lronside then introduced Or
ganizer Mills. The speaker heartily
thanked the people for the financial aid
and loyalty Of the Barre workmen dur
ing the strike of the textile workers at
Utica a short time ago. To his observa-
tions, the working conditions in this
state were worse than in New York
state. The appeal for the cause of labor
should not be made along party lines,
but should be done by direct legisla-
tion by the body of labor men. In the
legislatures throughout the country,
there are but few representatives Of la
Dor in legislative bodies The majority
to-day receives not its due representa-
tion, while the minority, the moneyed
classes, have far too many of their side
in the great bodies of the legislatures. |
The men that are graduated from col |
ege and enter the field of legal profess !
sion, as soon as admitted to the bar, |
advance themselves as politicians. This |
'lass compose the makers of laws. They |
nave always led an idle life and the |
seldom thrown in contact with the labor |
ng man. therefore know not the condi- |
ions of labor. We have the intelligence !
o interpret and understand statutes, and |
Why should we not be able to compile |
hem?
We hear the ever-sounding appeal for
he conservation of our natural resources.
What the people of the country to-day /
ire most in need of is the conservation /
Il humanity. that modelling which will |
ring people into manhood as honest cit
zens of integrity. We have the vote. 7
md it is approaching when we may be
compelled to determine the laborer the /
uler In referring to the accomplish
nents Of Vermont Representatives in
Washington Organizer Mills pointed out
he stand of Congressman Plumley on
abor questions. On the sitting in ref
renee on the labor bills. Congressman u
'lumley voted favorably once, unfavor-
bly, once and four times he did not
asst his choice. He is not only hostile
o the workman, but he did not perform
is duties conscientiously, declared the
peaker. It is near time again for the
lections, and the politicians will be
round telling you how much they love
ou. Politicians are synonymous with [
he bear in the bear story. There was /
bear that once loved a man; he loved /
i'm so well that once he squeezed the
fe out of him. Politicians will do the II
anne. They will get to liking YOU so l
ell that they will sap all the life out <
YOU and pull you along with them.
1t viii be advisable for you. when yop q
lace q candidate or endorse one for the Il
)ming election, to see that he will sup !
ort a platform that will establish ]
4. I r d