The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-12-17
GRANITE MEN
AGAIN CONFER
First Conference Yester-
day Came to No Def
mite Basis
QUARRY WORKERS
INCLUDED TODAY
Both Sides Were Rather
Thoroughly Set Forth
at Boston

might develop. This continued confer
ence began its session at 10 o'clock
this morning.
That yesterdays conference die not
bring out any definite basis for an nm
derstanding, or result in calling a
meeting of subcommittee was due in
part to the pressure by the Young's
hotel management for the room in
which the conference was being held,
a banquet being scheduled for that
room at o'clock last evening and the
conference finally surrendering the
premises at $50, after being in session
the greater part Of the time since 2
o'clock
The afternoons conference was gen
orally dominated by tone of amicable
feeling albeit there were. of course,
differences of opinion; aud each side
became somewhat better acquainted
with the others situation, according
to report coming from the conference
to Barre to-day. As was to be expected,
the chief figure on the granite cutters
side, as well as the spokesman. was
James Duncan, president of the Inter
national Granite Cutters association;
and associated with him were John Me-
Herman and Joseph Ricciarelli Of Barre
branch, Romeo Magne of Montpelier
branch, A w. Russell of the Quincy
branch, Mr.. Keating of the Bethel
branch, Mr.. Parsons of the Concord,
N. H., branch and representative Of
the Westerly branch.
The manufacturers committee con-
sisted of George Straiton and John A.
Cross, representing the Barre belt, i.
ID. Marnock Of Quincy. o. r. Smith Of
Westerly, =. G. Dodds OF Milford,
Mass, w G. Clifford Of Bethel, o. S.
Swenson of Concord. N. H.. and Earl
Fletcher Of West Chelmsford Mass,
besides G. H. Rogers of Rockport.
Mass, and S. HoIlister Jackson OF
Barre, who acted as chairmen of the
conference. In addition, there were a
large number Of men representing the
employers. The New England section
OF granite industry was quite well cov-
cred among the hundred men present.
Barre having liberal representation.
AT the opening of the conference Mr..
Duncan was asked what was the ma
fure Of the reply to the proposition
recently presented BY the rlanufactur
ers for a new working agreement: and
Mr.. Duncan responded that the returns
from the varions branches had not all
been received at headquarters but that
Of the reports received the vote stood
well-nigh unanimous against accept
ance of the proposition. In fact, he
said he did not think there were more
than ten votes in favor. He was fur
ther asked If he thought the compilation
Of the returns yet TO be received would
change the apparent result; and he re-
piled in the negative.
In the discussion which followed this |
by Mr.. Duncan there
was more or less frank expression on
he part of the conferees; and il |
seemed from the statements made that /
points in the manufacturers proposed 4
bill which were chiefly objected to by /
he union were the desire to have the 1
,ill start and terminate in the month i
If January and the proposal for
maximum wage. in addition TO the 1
minimum wage. These points received
he greatest stress in the entire dis
'ussion.
Representative Of the employers en-
to show that a great quasti-
v of business had been lost because of
he inability of the manufacturers TO
igure low enough in competition with
'ther stones because of the higher
wages in the granite industry. this
ontention having relation mostly TO
he building end Of the industry. The
ecretary Of the building granite asso-
iation said that out of Sl2.000,O00
,nilding contracts, each above the
$4,000 mark. and in which granite
ids were asked for, only 81 100000
ad gone into granite, the remainder
aying been divided chiefly between
limestone and granite. He said that the
oppression in the granite building trade
ould not be ascribed 10 lack Of build
az work because the months of Sep
ember and November of this year had
cen the most active in many years.
A Quincy manufacturer pointed out
similar depression in the monument
] granite business by saying that out
( list Of 500 cutters at normal
ines in Quincy only 22e had been EN-
loyed during the past year and many
them only part time.
Now and then there was divergence
rom the matter at issue but there
'as n disposition generally to talk to
he point and leave ont extraneous {
In fact. there was Sich
n apparent purpose 10 see the other
flows side a. 60 lead TO belief that
ifferences might be bridged over. This !
rlief was somewhat strengt hened h
hen az the clo-c Of the conference ar. \
,ngements were made for the contin- q
ed conference to-day.
At to-days conference there were to 4 @
? included the representatives 81 the a
uarry Workers' International union. :
ecretary Treasurer Fred ". Suitor Of +
arre having made arrangements to Z
ave his committee there. 4
Boston. Dee. Proposed wage re. c
notions Of between 20 and 25 per cent.
Fecting $4,000 granite cutters and
larrymen east ~ the Mississippi riv-
!. have been rejected BY the workers \
mons. Il Was announced here fo-dss
: Robert D. Smith. secretary Of the
International Monumental Granite
roducers' association. a
The result OF the granite workers RI
lion referendum. turning down the q
-oposed neN wage schedule. uas made e
iosn a. tic representatives of both !,
De- 70 the controversy wcnt into con. a.
renre for further discussion IN an A. Z
mpt to reach an amicable agreement ;