The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-08-10
LABOR NOTES OF
VIDE INTEREST
Is 1t Conspiracy?

i ~ ~ SUhSPfAoNys
! notice the milk producers of Barre
and vicinity are again on the move for
an increase of prices Now as an individ-
ual purchaser, | have no fault to find
/ with the individual farmer who endeay-
ors to get fair return for his labor, but
I do find fault when they meet in the
| form Of combine and come out fiat
footed for collective increase in the
cost of staple necessity such as milk
is As individuals, the farmers have the
right, according to law, to charge for
their products what they have mind
to. But if am not mistaken, our state
laws are positive in the fact and forbid
any combination or trust to meet in
assembly and formulate measures having
| for their object the increasing in price OF
any product that in the eyes of the law
is considered staple necessity OF life.
What would happen if a combination OF
working men violated any section of the
statute relating to conspiracy? | gain
say the iron hand of the law would be
Immediately brought down on the poor
unfortunates who had unthinkingly blum
dered. This being the case granite cut
tiers in Washington and Caledonia coun-
ties know it to their cost and we are
supposed to be all free and equal before
the law, / would request it as favor to
the public in general that the states
attorney for Washington county issue
an opinion as to whether he defines the
meeting of farmers at South Barre the
other week (said meeting being for the
purpose of initiating movement having
for its purpose a general increase in the
nccessaries of lifel as legal or illegal
1t is well occasionally to ask the ques
tons in an honest and inquiring manner,
What are the labor unions OF America
doing? Cynics, carpng critics, hostile
pessimists and others frequently ask this
question sarcastically and viciously.
Then they hasten to answer it them
selves with a sneer and snarl and say
Nothing" 1t is well then that birds
eye view should be taken of the real
actual progress being made throughout
the country by the organizations of labor
through their local efforts and by means
of their local machinery. From here,
there and everywhere or wherever local
trade unions affiliated with the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor exist, there gen
uine progress is result.
Textile unions have been formed ia
the following places in Vermont during
the past two months: Winooski, Bur-
lington, Bennington, Ludlow, and Proc
torsville, and many more are listed at an
early date.
Carpenters of Argenta, Ark, increased
their wages soc per day, the scale now
being SOC per hour.
Bakers of San Francisco secured the
eighth day and use of the bakers
union label
Plumbers of Macon, Ca, recently OBJ
tanned an increase, their rate now being
so cents per hour.
Worcester, Mass. Forty four-hour
week established for all building trades
Painters, plumbers and bricklayers won
an increased wage scale. Granite cutters
won strike for increased wages, negoti
ating fiye-year contract with a scale
beginning at AZ cents and increasing two
cents per hour each year until 1916. Po-
lice officials organized and increased their
pay from 1915 to So per day, the unions
assisting them.
Carpenters, plumbers and masons of
Quincy. Mass, secured advance in wages
without strike.
At the forthcoming convention of the
Vermont state branch of the American
of Labor, many notable per-
sonages in the labor world will be pres
emit Thomas j. Walsh of Dorchester.
Mass, general organizer of the Bakery
and Confectionery Workers union; B. A.
Larger, general secretary of the garment
and General Organizer Abra-
hams of the same organization will be
in attendance. A fraternal delegate in
the person Of Mrs. Putnam of the Asso-
citation of Women's Clubs of Vermont
will also be in attendance, when it is ex.
peeted that as joint result of combined
,ffort petition will be placed before the
incoming legislature demanding that
bill be enacted into law calling for a "a.
lour work week for all women employed
n the manufacturing industries through
lut Vermont. 1t is also expected that
representative from the American Fed
sration of Labor will be present, and,
altogether. the convention promises to
De one of the most interesting ever held.
Memorial hall in the city building, Mont
,elier, has been secured for the occa-
zion.
The strike of stevedores and freight
which recently stopped all traf-
lie at the port of Malaga, Spain, for
,eriod of two weeks, has been won by
he workmeu. The employers yielded to
he union demands regarding higher
Gale of wages and more pay for over
ime.
During the six months ending June 30,
he Brotherhood of Painters and Deco
ators organized As new local unions, the
rganization now having 944 local unions =
n good standing. The international paid !
ut $4,000 to its members in death and l
claims during the month of s
lay. +
Recently party of boy scouts, who b
ad been shipped from England to the "
ort OF Hamburg, no doubt for the pur. r.
ose of enlightening the natives there on a
i,ings militant and awe-inspiring in the !,
gu. crusade yvora Y,rohibitad FROM 10 nj -