Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-03-11

A. a. Rousseau was then called upon
and he took a few minutes to tell of
various combinations, good and other
wise. for the printer OF to-day.
In introducing Representative Charles
+. Black, the toa stmaster said that print
ers as Il class were not entirely in love
with lawyers. but as lawyers and men go
1t was with pleasure that he introduced
as the next speaker. the best lawyer in
Burlington, and one who. as Burlington's
representative at Montpelier. Is doing
splendid work.
Mr.. Black spoke along the lines of leg
~islation pertaining to social justice. He
said that the eason OF the apparent So
cial injustice was due to the application
Of old laws to new conditions. The old
common law of England rules that IL A
man was injured while in pursuit of his
employment he had to show that the en-
ployer was responsible. In England be-
gan the compensation law. which would
never have been had to-day only for the
efforts of the working man. In ISL we
had the old ommon law in Vermont and
It was applicable 20 conditions existing a:
that time. To-day we have the same law
but with conditions entirely changed by
invention. discovery and science. With
the many new machines there is a great
increase in industrial accidents. Industry
must share the burden Of these accidents.
The act which is before the present YER
mont Legislature has been adopted by "A
States and Is at the present time before
the Legislatures Of several others. The
one before the Vermont Legislature ls
fair and moderate and Is what is known
as a uniform act. 1t is hoped that the
act. which cannot help but be of benefit
to employer as well as employe, can be
put through as It is. or with as little
modification as possible. The speaker
said that he would do all possible to fur
Their this end.
John f. Flaherty was next called upon
and he gave an interesting account of
the three printers unions born in Bur
lington. In 1892 local number 3l2 WAS
chartered and existed for a number Of
years, but interest waned and a large
percentage OF the members dropped out,
but a few years later local 3+6 was or
ganized and this union continued for a.
number of years. 1t was during the ex-
istence of this union that Mr.. Flaherty
attended as delegate the convention at
Toronto, where the eight-hour day was
vi iuNo u DISscHN
union. number $50. is in a hourishing and
prosperous condition. Mr.. Flaherty.
who is the oldest member Of the print
ers' union in the State of Vermont. hav-
ing held a card for % years, advised the
younger men to stand by the union and
keep their cards and spoke of the benefits
to be derived thereby. After express
ing the hope that the banquet might be
AZ - -
good stories.
Glenn ]. Parker and Arthur ]. Cayo
OF the committee of arrangements were
then called upon. They responded briefly
and Mr.. Cayo took occasion to speak OF
the menu cards composed by J. w. Will
lette. Mr.. wtllette. on motion Of Mr..
Flaherty. was given a rising vote OF
thanks for the work evident upon the
cards. Others who responded to the
call of the toastmaster were j. p. Loner-
gan. W. II, Deshaw, J. f. Tracy. h. r.
Flaherty, p. VI. Stoughton and Jack
Halstein.
Henry A. Hurtubise was the last speak
er of the evening and he related the
struggles Of the union for existence and
of the benefits for it's members which
had been brought about. He gave an
account Of the various assessments and
traced the finances OF the Union. HI
mentioned various benefits, the old age
pension and mortuary benefit. Apd also
spoke of the printers home.
Just before the breaking up of the
party. Editor Wilson extended an invi.
tation to the members of the union to
be his guests In Bristol on July 4.
which will probably be observed this
year on the third, the fourth being Sun
day. The banquet came to an end by
the singing of one verse Of America"