The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-10-30
Republican Advertising on
Prouty and Labor Sub
ject of Discussion
BRADFORD EMPLOYEES
WELL CONTENTED
Electric Plant Equipped with Modern
Appliances and Men Have Little to
Do Salaries Are Increased with
Length of Service
WHITE RIVER JCT.. Oct. B,
Especial to The Reformer,)

W Ill l. 1IlN fk ~ l.. tlCt. ~.
Charles A Prouty tile Progressive and
Democratic nominee for United states
Senator, addressed a large rally here last
night, in which he spoke of the methods
Of the opposition making special refer
ence to the last Republican advertisement
headed 'Prouty and Labor He said il
part
Since morning my attention has been
called to another advertisement headed
'Prouty and Labor. in which reference Is
| made to the treatment OF its employees by
the Bradford Electric Light company
which | control While these facts might
| have been stated at any time, the subject
| Is brought before the public at the last
moment when it is too late to present
iny side to more than a limited number.
| The facts are these
The Bradford plant is very small
concern. Before / bought it some half
dozen Years ago it gave only an all night
service, and one man did the work at
all time. | remodeled the plant and put
in 24hour service.
This plant is operated by water power
and IS equipped with modern appliances.
When everything goes right the station
runs itself. | have sat on the lawn in
front of the station talbNlg with the sta
ton man an entire evening. when lie did
mot ind il necessary 20 70 inside once
There >. under ordinary conditions, moth
ing to do and no machine or instrument
to watch: it is only necessary to remain
= IN hearing and seeing distance
4 employ in the operation OF thi>
plant three men, not two a. stated. Tile
; Igf. tJ
though one OF the present men has devel
Ioped into an expert The third man /,
IN general charge OF the plant and must
!. be OF higher grade. The wages OF til,
cheapest man j. SO a week of the secono
! iilan S12. | do not remember tile eXac
: lweellly stipend Of the third man; it is ma
terlalN more, and lie receives IN addition
| "A percentage of tile gross receipts abov
Il certain amount which is also substan
tlal. The above amounts are base saa
ries. and to them is added - cents pc
: Iweek for each year of service. that is.
a man has been IN service four years hi
compensation has been increased by :
iper week.
These men have a vacation of tw
weeks with pay. In case Of sickness IN
instructions are to pay them for tw
weeks and then call the matter to my al
!, ford company paid each Of these men i,
:. tween July l. 1913 and July 1. 1911
/ more money than lac had ever received f
:, his services during any year OF his who
= life
" My instructions to the head man al
that he shall rum the station himself an
\ give the station men time of as they ma
= desire and as he MAY he able to give j
- equivalent to one day Il week
j so far as | know the men are contcn
!, cd One Of them has been there tiN
4 Years, another four and one-haIf wear
!. The boy who filled the Sfo place recent
left to enter business school and we /
+ eeiNed numerous applications for the pa
9 all from residents OF Bradford who kne
1 the duties OF the position and the cor
Ipensation.
Since my opponents have made til
issue [ may properly add the follown
statement
Seven or eight years ago | had occ
:, sion to employ at Newport gang Of Il
- skilled lahorers The 1O-hour day "
then universally applied with labor
IN that class in that vicinity. When wo
=; began ! went on to the job myself f
: three or four days. At the end of tn
of time | told my foreman that in my OPT
II. ion when those men had actually work
~ tor nlne hours they had done enough l
- one day aud that he might knock off at
- clock. This was done and that ga
= worked all summer on a nine-hour scho
ule while all other laborers of the sal
- class in that vicinity worked 10 hours.
- Il may still further add that | pa
: those men - cents day more than t
going price for similar labor III that s.
/, ~ tion and that other employers of labor
lei monstrated with me both as to the
III and the price
MS