The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-08-12
SEE NO PROSPECT
OF LOWER WAGES
(Continud from first page

OF LOWER WAGES
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more effective manner than through the
labor unions themselves can the release
of the soldiers into civil life be accom-
plished without disastrous depression
of wages.
eve look to the federal government
under whose auspices and authority our
military and naval forces were assem-
bled, trained and sent overseas, to plan
carefully in the work attendant upon
the Rehabilitation of these great forces
and the effect thereof upon the nations
industres,to the end that panic shall not
prevail.
Progressive State Government"
"We insist that there shall be no cur
tailment in the progressive and human
itarian work of our state government.
Certain reactionary forces under the
guise of economy are right now attempt
ing to muddle and becloud this issue.
But they must not be permitted to make
thrift and economy slogan for reaction
We want still better laws for the pro-
lection of the workers. To be specific,
we demand the enactment of every
measure relating to labor on our statute
books.
labor Representation"
"The issues drawn by the aftermath of
war make it more and more apparent
that labor cannot with assurance look
for the best protection of its interests in
matters of government to any group
outside itself. We, therefore, demand
that representatives Of labor be included
as members of the state board of CON
troll, the state board of health, the state
board of education the board of trustees
of the state university and all other APP
pointive state commissions where labor
is not now represented
"0rganizing the Unorganized"
Incidental to the disturbed conditions
following the end of the war, many of
the workers will be for the timebeing
urf-nindful of the very necessary work
Of organization. We cannot too strongly
urge the necessity of carrying on this
work with greater energy than ever be-
fore. All that has been accomplished in
the past was brought about through or
ganization and cooperative effort. Prac-
tically all that is to be accomplished in
the future will follow constructive or
ganized effort.
Shorter Workday."
1--WE demand that shorter workday
of not more than eight hours be estab
lished and recognized in all industries
where it does not yet obtain and we ia
vor a further reduction of hours of labor
to minimize unemployment in any in
dustry where surplus of labor may
exist, or where conditions are such that
even eight hours of work tends to ex
haust and devitalize those employed.
"Land Taxation"
Eve urge the adoption Of system of
land values taxation that shall include a
super tax on all idle, uncultivated land
and land held for speculative purposes;
a system that shall at once tend TO dis
integrate monopolistic ownership of large
areas and that shall place a larger share
Of the burden of taxation on monopolis
tic wealth as its chief source.
LAND Colonization"
AS an auxiliary and immediate meas
ure, we urge an extension, without de-
lay. OF the state land colonization plan
that shall give to those of our soldiers
who so desire an opportunity of gaining
direct economic interest in the soil
they have defended with their lives.
public Ownership"
1--WE stand firmly for the public own
ership of public utilities and all proper
ties incidental to their operation. We
demand retention by the federal govern
ment Of the railroads, express and tele-
graph companies.
I'VE point TO the fact that the defeat
of autocracy upon the battlefelds of
Europe has been followed by more or
less serious revolutionary movements
among the various war-ravaged nations.
1t is evident that changed psychology
is being instituted. This change, wheth-
er the employers will it or not, threat
ems to extend to the very fundamentals
of social and political structure II is
manifested in the social upheavals which
have become actual realities in every
country in Europe. Only an intelligent
response to and direction of this demand
of the workers for a larger participation
in the proceeds of industry can avert
disaster to established government This
is warning not inapplicable to the
employers of Vermont. We, therefore,
strongly urge upon the representatives
of Vermont industries that the same CO.
operation with labor be manifested in
dealing with the problems of readjust-
ment as prevailed during the period of
the war Only when this basic principle
is accepted by capital as well as by labor
can our industrial problems be equitably
adjusted without the injection of Euro
pean bolshevism.
Affiliations"
"Sheet metal workers, Burlington;
shop laborers and maintenance of way
employees, Rutland; shop laborers and
maintenance of way employees, New
fane shop laborers and maintenance of
way employees, Barre; railway clerks,
Burlington,
"New Organizations
Carpenters and joiners, st. Adams;
sheet metal worker Burlington; paint
ers, St Albans leather workers, Bethel;
car men, St Adams; blacksmiths. st.
Adams; machinists, St. Adams; station
airy fremen, st. Adams; electrical work
ers, Barre; telephone workers, Rutland;
telephone workers, Bellows Falls; shop
laborers and maintenance of ways EN-
ployes, Barre bakery and confectionery
workers, Burlington; railway clerks, Bur
lington; railway clerks, st. Adams,