The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-02-03
LABOR MAY PRESENT
MAYOR CANDIDATE
Sentiment at Mass Meeting Last Night,
However, Was Against Immediate
Selection of the Man to
Be Endorsed.

| De ENDORSED.
Trade unionists in mass meeting al
carpenters hall last evening took what
may prove to be initial steps in adding
to the sum total of candidates who are
to seek nominations for city Office in the
citizens caucus. Partly because of the
rigorous weather, il was slimly attend
ed gathering and for time it looked
as though the purpose set forth in the
call would not be realized. However, the
union men got as far as recording them
selves as desiring TO enter the citizens
caucus and to appointing committee
that will report at an adjourned meet
ing to be held next Wednesday evening.
Several abortive attempts to elect a
permanent chairman and secretary were
made before John H. Bishop and Fred L.
Page consented TO serve, the one as pre-
siding officer and the other as clerk.
Henry Alexander, one of the nominees,
in declining to accept, suggested that an
immediate adjournment be ordered, mas
much as it appeared that only bakers
dozen--without the baker-had seen fit
TO attend the meeting. Alexander Iron
side, as president of the Central Labor
union, called the meeting TO order and
Angus Mcdonald acted as temporary
chairman. motion to adjourn, as Of
fered by Mr.. Alexander, was lost on a
show of hands. John X. Tierney was
talking about the unkept promises made
by the city council when the chair ruled
him out OF order and then the meeting
proceeded to elect Messrs. Bishop and
Page.
Answering query from Mr., Alexan-
der, Mr.. Ironside said that in the past
labor had kept away from the citizens
caucus. but advised that the reverse be
followed this year. His motion to that
effect prevailed. twenty-five men were
in the hall by the time the meeting was
turned over to the floor and interest be-
gan to grow. A question as to whether
labor should concern itself with electing
ward officers as well as q mayor, city
clerk, constable, assessor, etc, was set
tied when it became evident that ma
jority were in favor of going the whole
1t was Mr.. Alexander who moved that
a committee be appointed to canvass the
field and report at subsequent meeting.
His motion was seconded but before it
was put, Mr. Ironside said he's favored
the committee idea, especially il it's ap.
plcation TO the nomination OF aldermen,
and then proceeded 20 dominate Rev, Ed
gar Grassland for the man whom labor
should support as a candidate for the
He referred to the clergy
man as an honest man, efficient and pos
sessing many capabilities, man whose
candidacy would have fixed appeal for |
Iaboring men. Even though it was to
transpire that the motion, as the chair
ruled, was out of order, it found a quick |
response from w. Fl. Eager, who, in sec
onding. said that one might look the field |
over pretty thoroughly in Barre and fail |
10 find better man than Rev. Grassland.
He described him as a former member OF
he moulders' union, an organizer in Al
-ica. and spoke of him as the man who
yave the best Labor day Grafton last fall
n many years.
Whereupon, the chair declared that Mr..
Alexander's motion took precedence over
hat of Mr.. Ironside. The latter there
ipon offered an amendment to Mr.. Alex
Inder's motion which would make pos
rible the nomination of a mayoralty can
lidate. 1t was not seconded and on a
'ote by reclamation, Mr.. Alexander's
notion carried unanimously.
The following committee was appoint
d.: Henry Alexander, +. o. Philbrick,
Alfred Malnati, William Milne and ]. II.
bishop. The chairman spoke interesting
v of labor's aims in municipal politics
nd then the meeting adjourned.