The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1922-04-01
Hoods SarsapariIla

ting and slashlng or wages, pu'en'i
mo of work and instability OF prices
il thew wish, but the Presbrey-Leland,
company will continue to pay a good
svaoe commensurate with the skill de-
o,,;Ted and service rendered by f1rst-
class. contented and willing granite
cutters, then abide by the result ana
take chance on the cost OF produe-
ton.
President Hefner called upon us mere
in New York a few weeks ago ana
kindly consented to lunch with US. Inc
labor situation was considered ana the
several men present at this luncheon
were astounded at President Hefner
Lack of accurate information on the
labor situation. His knowledge consist
ed principallv of erroneous ideas re-
parding Mr.. Duncan and his demands,
apparently gathered from biased and
nreiudiced sources, and his argument
was almost entirely damning Of Dun
can and Duncanism 1t is possible MI.
Hefner talked with some other idea,
istn for he states the one he conversed
with was much concerned as 10 the
attitude of the trade toward him,
whereas the Presbrey Leland company
Il not at all concerned and will not pe
in any way influenced OF coerced by
The trade when considering their duty
toward all men associated with them
and particularly their attitude toward
labor. To the extent of q cir KNOW
edge and ability they will sec that ev-
cry man, from the appreg zee boy up'
has square deal, and as they are
given light to pursue this course, y
will be adhered to regardless Of conse
ouences to themselves.
Had the union men and officials re-
fused to confer with us and rejected
the agreement offered, we would have
decided that negotiations We're useless
and would have been one Of the iirst
to declare for open shop-but there
was no such alternative necessary
President Hefner's threats apparent
" aimed at the Barre district and
threatening dire consequences at the
hands Of the retailers il they did not
follow his dictation and revise their
business methods, viii probably prove
about as effective with most OF the
manufacturers in that district ne his
f, criticism of "idealists" and their meth
ODDS has with the Presbrey Leland com
pany.
President Hefner cites Jack Sargent
as leader who Stands for right
above expediency and the good Of the
men as well as the public Jack sar'
gent is a friends of ours with whom we
| have no quarrel but he was one Of tht
first to declare for open shop and -
per day 'sto save the industry" The
/ fact remains that Mr.. Sargent went e
| Mt Airy only few years ago with
very small capital and to-day in great
measure controls the Mt. Airy granite
| interests, lives in beautiful home and
| has stated personally that in 1870 NJ
| cleared what would have been consid
cred a few years ago a great fortune
Mr. Sargent has now been operating
more than two months ON the oper
| shop and supposedly cut wage basis but
is not quoting any lower prices than NJ
did four months ago, and in our opin
ion he cannot as a result of any re
dueed cost OF production accomplished
by the cut in wage. The unlimited us'
Of machinery and the morale OF tn
men must accomplish this much desired
result and it will.
Z IL has been stated that il is the pol
lev of Congress not to afford our IN
dustry proper tariff protection unit
we have reduced our labor costs Z
''pre war" levels. What industry IS o.
pre-war basis to-day or likely Z
be u How about a reduction Of proht
as well as labor costsf Was that sid
Of the question considered by Con
gressY Does the opinion of one man i
Washington bind Congress when tina
person's information was undoubtedl,
secured from a preiudiced source, viz
those who interviewed himf Does an,
sensible man suppose that when on
/. industry actually needs protectio
against foreign GRANTEES Congress
! likely TO refuse aid on the ground tina
: skilled laborers are not receiving pre-
war wages
The Presbrey- Leland company
selling at retail all over the Unite
States and no firm is in a better posi
tion to know what the buying publ
: Is thinking and demanding. All busl
I mass has been subnormal for som
time past bat Is gradually improving
q and If manufacturers and retailers wi
cease telling the public there IS goin
to be a big reduction in prices an
! printing on their proposals statement
! to the effect that prices may soon D
Hover but instead make a settlement
. then 20 out for business informing IN
public that a definite arrangement ha
been made. that unnecessary overhca
, expenses have been cut to the limi
: All restrictions have been, removed o
machinery, efficiency speeded up vat
resultant p per cent reduction
} prices. and that no further reduction
: can be made. then we shall have tn
business back where IT belongs an
fully a. good as general business cor
; ditions make possible.
n We find the people contemplstin
! the purchase Of a monument. maus,
| leum. OF the use Of granite in bulk
ing. have no desire 10 purchase at
: price that win compel the manufactu
er 10 pay a lower wage than skilie
and industrious workmen deserve an