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

There is one thing We would like to i'm
press on the mind Of the delegates pres
emit namely. that some action must be
taken by organized labor in Vermont look
ing 10 having representatives from their
ranks I'm the state LEGISLATURE, your COM
mittee above all others have been I'm po-
siton for years to realize the necessity
of 1T. Furthermore we are sure this could
be accomplished by united action
Tho enactment of the providing seats
Tor women In mercantile csta blishments
while direct benefit 'a those therein en-
ploYcd will naturally later on he a benefit
to their children. consequently the COM
munity and the state will gain thereby.
The ground work so TO speak Of the
compensation law Is as good or better
than that of several siNilar measures and
although the schedule of compensation IS
lower than several others. experience
gained through its operation will gradual
IN remedy that or any other defects as
theN appear such has been the result in
other states and vermont though slow
in such matter will surely follow
Respectfully and fraternally submitted
AMES CRttCKSHANK, Chairman.
ALEXANDER IRONSIDE,
FRED W. sUtTOR.
Legislative Committee.
TREAStRER'S REPORT.
The report Of the treasurer showed
all bills paid and balance in the
treasury. During the year the re-
ceipts amounted to S1.1G326, with ex-
penditures Of $925.62. leaving bal
ance Of S237.Gi. There have been two
new affiliations during the year. tn.
International brotherhood of Stage
Employees at Rutland and the Inter-
national brotherhood of Journeymen
BARRIERS Of Burlington. The piano and
organ work"rs Of Brattleboro. the
granite cutters Of South Ryegate. the
iron moulders of St Johnsburv and
the plumbers and steamfitters of Mont
pelier have been suspended while the
charters have been taken away from
III" tool sharpeners Of Hardwick and
tn" bartendcrs Of Montpelier
Reports were also given by the vari-
Gus c"-prosdonts touching their de-
partmonts as woll as by the state or
sanizor, e. G. Grcemore Of Winooski
These reports showed a year of prog
ress and prosperity for the unions in
the state.
EVENING SESSION.
An Interested audience enioved
speeches Tuesday night at tho CITY hail
given by mon who have made their
mark I'm this country in labor union
interests. L. G. Greemore. chairman
of the local committee Of arrange
ments opened the meeting and intro
drced to the audience, which contain
ed many Burlingtoniaus not delegates
to the convention. the president Of the
Vermont state league, F. w. sutton OF
Barre, who presided over the meet
ing
Tho first speaker was George ].
Thompson of Illinois who spoke of the
obstacles which confront the average
young man who wishes to work for
his living. He told Of his start in the
cigar makers trade when he worked
for one dollar per week WITH a long
houred day ana of the young boys who
are put to work before they should
begin in congested and unsanitary
mills. being denied an education and
being stuntod physically and morally
SO that If they have the good fortune
to reach manhood thev are almost
worthless IS citizens To the labor
organizations belongs the greatest
glory in the world that Of emancipat-
ing children from work too young in
life. The labor unions are standing
for the education of the child UP to
the age OF l.. hours Of the working
man to be brought down to reasonab Bile
time and salaries to be such that a
man may be- able to keep a home and
rear his children as a true citizen OF
the United states is expected to do.
William Standcumbe. New England
president of the Cigar Makers Label
League, spoke of the work which Is
carried on in conventions which the
labor unions hold. They come toEeth.
or to report the work which has been
accomplished during the year and to
map out the future, for there is no
limit to the work they aspire to do
for lahoring classes. He spoke of the
compensation laws which have been
passed in various States, which pro-
vide for compensation to the employee
for injuries received, occupational dis
seasos contracted. etc. and said that it
was his hope to see a compensation
law providing for the unemployed 50
that the employer would not rush his
men eight months in the year and lay
off the other four months. but would
50 regulate his factory that the men
would have steady employment for he
would have to pay the unemployed
certain percentage of their wages
when they We're not working. When
this law has been effected the imm.-
grafton problem will be solved, for /.
is the immigrants who provide the
employers with their reserve of labor
forces.
Frank II. Mccarthy Of Boston, inter-
national organizer for the Federation of
Labor. gave "A strong speech on the aims,
OBJECTS and aspirations of organized
labor He made plea for wages for
the every day workman which would be
Sufficient for him to maintain a home
and raise his children in Il manner it
ting to a citizen # the United States, in
which country all are equal as to rank.
! The only way to bring about such ar
era Is by organizat ton. Every employer
does not go into business for the benefit
of humanity. but for the largest income
they can make 1t yield in profit. The
I laborinG man is a necessary commodity
! TO their business just as the raw material
needed In the manufacture of their
wares and the employer applies the