The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-08-05
UNION MAN FOR FLETCHER.
John Docherty Favors State Republi
can Platform.

can Platform.
Montpelier, Aug. 3.--John Docherty
of this city is known to the laboring
men of Vermont. He is president
of the Central Labor Union, having
come up through the various offices
of that organization until now he is
at the head.
Mr.. Docherty will vote the Repub-
lican state ticket this fall.
81 believe" he said, Gin the prin-
ciples as set forth in the platform
adopted at the Republican State con-
vention recently held in Burlington"
Mr.. Docherty discussed freely many
of the past acts of the Republican
laboring men.
THE Republican party" he said.
has secured the passage of the
weekly payment act, measure that
has proven to be great benefit to
wage earners. Through the Republi-
can party the use of the union label
has been legalized and penalty has
been provided for its fraudulent use.
The Republican party has enacted
laws for the prevention of child la
bor and it has passed workmen's
compensation bill, which although 1t
does not provide all that is desihed
it certainly is a start in the right
direction.
Il understand" continued Mr.. Do
cherry, that an amendment to the
constitution is necessary before any
adequate act of this nature can be
secured, and / am pleased to learn
that the Republican platform endorses
the proposed constitutional amend
ments, which include one asking for
the passage of a law that will prop
ly compensate employees in cases OF
inquiry"
II regret" continued Mr.. Docherty,
that the last legislature did not pass
a law. exempting from trustee process
wages TO the amount of ten dollars,
but | realize that the defeat of the
measure was accomplished by a few
senators, while it was energetically
favored in the popular branch of the
General Assembly. believe repeated
demand for this legislation will pc
needed this fall and that a trustee.
process bill will be passed. ! know
that Mr.. Fletcher, the Republican
candidate for Governor, worked long
and earnestly at the last session for
the passage of such a bill. and as
Governor, ! feel that he will use his
utmost influence to secure this legis-
lation in the interests of the laboringI
men"
One of the most important planks
in the Republican platform" empha-
sized Mr.. Docherty. lis the one ia
voring state inspection of factories
and other places of employment in
order to insure safe and sanitary sur.
roundings. Complaints have been
made that laws enacted for the pro-
lection of labor were not always en-
forced. and this pledge in the plat
form was designed TO meet these OBJ
jections.
While Mr.. Docherty was not ready
TO advocate a compulsory arbitration
law for the settlement of industrial
disputes, he thought an act providing
for voluntary arbitration would be a
step in the right direction.
Il am strongly against this plank
in the Democratic platform that pro-
vides for a tariff law for revenue only.
| believe that some measure of pro-
lection is necessary to equalize the
difference between wages in this
country and in Europe. / remember
how thousands of laboring men were
thrown out of work when the Demo
Gratis last tried to put such policy
into effect. and do not care to go
through such an experience again. IL
does not matter how many fine prom
ises the Democrats make to the la
boring men, so long as they are
pledged to remove the protection that
ensures good wages to American en-
ployees. The owners of mills and
factories might stand a shut down UNI
der a tariff for revenue only policy
without suffering to any great extent,
but to the man dependent upon his
daily earnings for the support of his
family, the loss of employment means
untold suffering"
II believe" continued Mr.. Docher-
ty, "in the principles of the Republic
can party, and in its friendship for
the laboring man. see no reason for
my allegiance to any
other party, and am satisfied that
the best hope of labor in Vermont lies
in the success of Ruepublicanism. Il
believe we are better off with expert
enced officials at the helm Of govern
ment than to elect inexperienced
men. The names of the men on the
Republican ticket stand for expert
ence. and with them continued in Of
fee | am sure the laboring men OIL
Vermont will profit best"