The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-08-31
LETTERS TO THE
EDITOR
SEN. PAGE AND LABOR.

OF His Position.
To the Editor, Barre Daily Times
Dear Sir, Senator Carroll ). Page,
candidate for United States senator, has
seen tt TO tlaunt my name before the
working people of the state in II manner
that demands some explanation.
senator Page states that | had asked
Secretary Frank Morrison for his record
on May 4. 1915. with no other purpose
in view than 10 detame his GOOD name
before the laboring masses of Vermont
Senator Page is mistaken in placing this
Interpretation on my motives, To illu'
inmate his mind, let me state that have
kept track of his record for the past
eight years through correspondence with
Secretary Morrison, and this statement
can be verified by senator Page writing
the American Federation of Labor head
quarters at Washington, ID. G. Senator
Page is not the only one whose record
secured Senator Dillingham;, eN.Con'
gresham Frank Pmmley, Congressman
Frank Green, Congressman Dale, are
among the list. This was done speeiiical-
! y for the purpose OF informing the
working masses OF our state what their
representatives were doing in their be-
half The laboring masses of Vermont
appreciate anything their representatives
do. either in national or state legislation,
that viii benefit their condition. As the
old story goes, 1T is not the good one
does that he gets credit for it is the
show.up that he gets when he goes
wrong and deservedly so; for the man
who will act upon the square with his
, paaAa uftOps
| will come to him unsolicited.
All that has been told about Senator
Pages anti.labor record through the
press is true, every part of il, and cannot
/ be denied by any man. He voted against
| the eight hour law, the election OF Unit
ed States senators by the people, voted
against the most important provisions
contained in the sundry civil appropria
ton bill on the Shields water power bill;
he voted against every amendment Of
fered in the interest of the people. He
! claims credit for the introduction OF the
vocational education bill, but what has
become of it, Ii il had not been for the
bureau of education, which had been
gradually struggling along these lines
proposed by Senator Page. fear we
never would have heard of this measure,
which though endorsed by certain pub
licities and the officials of the American
Federation Of Labor, has far from hay.
ing the sanction of the great rank and
file. who sense danger that may lead
to the destruction of the. labor union
movement
Senator Page appeals to the union men
Of Barre, in fact to the union men OF
the state, to support him for renomina-
ton. To union men in other parts of
the state, leave the question in their
hands To the union men OF Barre, |
ask YOU to find out from Senator Page
what support he gave to Senator Dilling
ham and Congressman plumley in secur
ing a granite postoflice for Barre, Yer
mont? Did you, Senator Page, advocate
brick building with soft stone or lime
stone facings and granite basement and
steps? Even after committee OF Barres
foremost citizens had gone to Washing
ton did YOU lit your voice in favor OF a
granite postoffice for Barre? "Will you
answer, Senator Page"
Senator Page, through some unknown
way to me, secured a endorsement
by using the American Federation of
Labor letterheads Il did not know the
American Federation of Labor was in
politics.) | have written Secretary Nor
rison, asking the reason why they had
endorsed Senator Page and used my
name. ] told Secretary Morrison that he
was doing wrong in endorsing any partic-
ular one, as there were two other candi-
dates. both with more favorable records
Il IL "A
that the whole matter was for the cleo
torate of Vermont to decide upon, rather
than the American Federation of Labor. |
have yet to hear from Secretary Nor
rison, and a month has almost elapsed
since ! called for an explanation.
In conclusion | wish to inform Senator
Page that when wrote for his record in
May there was no sinister motive in my
mind. Those of the union men who know
me in this state and who have attended
our annual conventions are, think, will |
ing TO state that on every occasion |
have attended their sessions ] have done
my level best to exclude all political en-
dorsements, on the grounds that until
labor knows enough to go into politics
and send their own representatives to
oui leSiSidtuie mans, IH0h uu'9 ilcs ntiINI-
" in the industrial and economic field.
The record of the three candidates is
by this time an open book to the voters
OF Vermont, and | leave it to the good |
Judgment of the workers of Vermont, !
not the dictates or endorsement of labor
secretaries, to elect your friends and de-
feat your enemies.
Sincerely yours,
Alex lronsde.
80 Ayers street, Barre, Vt, Aug. 81,
1916.