The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-10-13
Vice President of American
Federation of Labor Spoke
in Barre Last Night
GOV. GRAHAM WAS
GUEST OF HONOR
Former Told of Work Ac.
complished in Russia by
American Commission

From the far reaches Of the new Rus
sian democracy, James Duncan of Quin
cy, Mass, president of the Granite Cut
ters' international association, vice-presi
dent of the American Federation of La.
Dor, and lately labor's honored member
of the Root commission, brought mes
sage of hope to large audience in the
Barre opera house last evening. 'The
Soul of Russia" was the subject of Mr..
Duncans address and from first to last
he gave his hearers the full benefit of
his observations and experiences as a
member of the commission. For two
hours the audience listened carefully to
his terse account of developments that
transformed Russia from an absolute
monarchy to a democratic republic.
The address was given under the aus
piees of the Central Labor union of Barre
and vicinity and in addition to Mr.. Dun
can, the labor men had as their guests
Governor Graham and Commissioner
Robert w. Simonds of the department
of industries, Mayor Glysson, City Clerk
Maekay and members of the city council.
1t was rousing patriotic gathering, the
only un-American feature of which was
the weather. A Hun weather clerk elect
ed rain, but steady downpour, which
was accompanied at times by a lashing
gale, did not by any means wreck the
plans of the local committee. Undoubt-
edly the rough weather kept the attend
ance down, but the auditorium was filed
and an overflow found seats in the gal
aery. Probably 700 people were present
to hear the speaking and to applaud in
the most convincing fashion the remarks
of Governor Graham, Mr.. Duncan and
Commissioner Simonds The latter acted |
as chairman of the evening and excellent |
music was furnished by the Montpelier |
Military band under the leadership of |
T. r. Merrill.
A small admission fee was charged and |
the proceeds the labor men viii patriot
ically devote to the work of the Barre |
Red Cross branch. Members of the local
branch assisted in taking tickets at the
door and some of their number were ac-
tive in the advance sale of tickets, as
were the members of the labor commit
tee, consisting of Fred w. Suitor, James
Cruickshank, Andrew J. Young, Angus
Mcdonald, Alex Ironside.
Seated on the stage with Mr. Duncan,
Governor Graham and Commissioner Si-
monds were Mayor Glysson, City Clerk
Mackay, Aldermen Henry Alexander, A.
j. Loranger, Antonio NJ Rossi and C. Fl.
Reynolds, and Messrs. Suitor, Cruick-
shank, Young and Mcdonald, members of
: he ~ ~ IL
L. were rendered a big ovation as they
took their seats Commissioner Simonds
opened the meeting by saying that he
felt like stranger introducing friends
when he introduced Governor Graham
and Mr. Duncan. The governor grace
fully acknowledged an especially loud
salvo of applause as he arose to speak.
He paid a neat tribute to Mr.. Duncans
work with the Root mission and prom
ised not to take up too much of the lat
ter's time
Gov. Graham for Liberty Loan. :
Governor Graham's brief remarks were d
in the interests of the Liberty loan. He t
stated that the money thus invested is f
10 be expended in buying equipment and l
clothes and in providing shelter for the il
men whom Vermont and the other states il
nave given TO the service Of the nation G
More than that, he went on, it is to pro- Il
ect our homes The speaker urged his "
hearers to practice self denial in sub d
cribing to the loan and said that even (,
he man who was accustomed to taking 81
IN occasional drink could make it two
instead of three and contribute the price
# the extra drink to Liberty bond He
rgued for the little economies. He men N
ioned liberal subscriptions here in Yer.
lont to the first Liberty loan, to the Red
ross, to the knights of Columbus fund
nd to the Y. NJ. C. A, and in closing he o.
aid, "When the fund is made up, it will NJ
e found that Vermont has done as she
lways does, that she has done more
han she was asked to do. Now is the
ime to fight this war and not, perhaps,
fter we are beaten!"
Mr.. Duncan Well Received. to
At this iuncture the band PLAYED an l..
ther selection and then Mr. Simonds in
reduced the speaker of the evening.
rolonged handcapping postponed the
loment when Mr. Duncan launched into bt
is address.
Referring at the outset to his selection
Y President Wilson as a member of the NJ
,mmission to 90 to Russia. Mr.. Duncan w
lid it was good to know that the gran On
e cutters association generally looked Il
pom it as great honor to the trade
,iap ~ ha l.