Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-08-12

will be dealt with by our legislative com
mittee SO I will not touch on them.
Organized labor bodies all over this
country have been adopting strong res
olution against the United states becoming
embroiled in the European slaUghtering
game or intervening in the Mexican
trouble. believe we should take our
stand also and show by resolutions whore
we stand i'm Vermont. We should join
In labor's protest against the conviction
of John II. Lawson. Colorado district
officer of l.. NJ. Workers, because we do
not believe his trial was fair
The Legislature of the state of Colo
RADIO. owned by the mine interests
created a special district court in the
Ludlow district, and an attorney who
was formerly in the hire of tho mining
interests. was made Judge The jury
was selected from men who were select
ed because of their friendliness to the
mine owners. 1t was before this Judge
and jury that John Lawson was tried
and convicted of murder II was a case
where men, women and children were on
one side and dollars and profits on the
other
The situation in Barre last spring was
the worst. from labor's view point that
has ever developed in our state where
the workers have been organized. The
committees met, prior to expiration of
agreements March list, in a better spirit
of get-togethcrness than ever before
and there should have been no suspen-
sion of work in tho district. The situa-
ton was deplorable and unwarranted
and must never happen again. The
workers must get closer together. attend
the meetings of their unions and come
to know each other better \ great work
among the members of the unions TO
heal the breach caused last spring must
he done and every agency of our move
mont should he busy reuniting our
forces. We must learn the full meaning
| of fraternity and need of brotherly
spirit We must learn to look on these
matters in all for ono and one for ALI
spirit-'unitcd we stand. divided we fail
We are sorry to have to state that the
work of restoring harmony among the
people in Barre is hampcrod ON account
of the arbitrary stand taken by the Re
tail Merchants association in dealing
with the Clerks union there The clerks
In Barre have been locked out since Apr.
LIST and the Merchants association have
refused to settle after the clerks have
made numerous concessions and now are
asking for very little. The merchants
have blocked every attempt to get a
settlement. even refusing to arbitrate the
questions in dispute. With this discor-
dant note out of the situation. Barre
will quickly come back to its former
self ana the spirit Of live and let live
will again prevail
Much has been done by organized
labor but much more remains to he ac-
COmplished.
| could not conclude this report without
saying that while We found good friend
among members of the last state LeEisla-
ture we are convinced that labor should
see to It that it has some representatives
from it's own ranks in both houses of
the legislative body TO speak and work
for labor leCislation-be there and speak
for yourself
| wish to thank the officers and leCis-
| lative committee for their corporation
and support. to say II has been a pleas
ure to serve in my small way the move
ment we all believe in.
hope the delegates 20 this convention
will give earnest consideration to the
reports of tho past years work and to
! the problems that are presented for Your
considera ton. being conscious that YOU
are making decisions that will determine
| to some extent the course Of state events
and the welfare of human lives
Fraternally yours.
FRED w. SCITOR,