The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1922-09-05
READY TO MEET
EMPLOYERS
But Granite Cutters Insist
on Doing It As Union
Men
SAID SAM'L. SQUIBBS
IN LABOR DAY TALK
Declared the Employers
Had Not Been Consistent
in Stand

confined chiefly TO a public address by
Samuel Squibbs, business agent for
| the New York branch OF the Granite
Cutters International association. at
the Quarry Bank haIl last evening.
The address dealt largely with the la
Dor situation in the Barre granite in
dustry and was chiefly followed by
an audience Of $50 people
A committee Of union workers con-
sisting Of W. H. Eager, president Of
the Central Labor union; Fred w.
Suitor, secretary and treasurer Of the
Quarry Workers union, and John Me-
Herman. secretary Of the Granite Cut
tcrs' union in Barre, we're seated on
the platform with the speaker Mr..
Eager introduced the epeaker Of the
evening and after round Of hearty
applause, Mr.. squibhs proceeded at
oncr To the discussion al hand
After a brief introductory, Mr..
Squil,bs launched into discussion Of
the Barre granite situation. saying.
Those who are here and are not
directly interested in the granite in
dustsy viii forgive me, | hope, fer
talking almost exclusively on the pres
ent situation IN the granite industry,
and this. too. from the standpoint. Of
the Granite Cutters International AS
sociAtion Of America. All the unions
in the industry haze been linked to-
gether BY the assault Of the employers.
50 what applies ~ one apple to all
excepting in detail.
"A statement was made here recent
ly and sent broadcast over the coun
try TO the effect that the difference be-
tween the cutters and the employers
was not y question of wages. There
is something fundamentally wrong
when men must shift their position in
order to justify themselves. The trou-
Bile was originally question Of wages
and nothing else. One year ago
wage reduction was urged by the rep
resentativcs of the employers as the
only thing which would save the in
dustry from ruin. The first conference
was called for the explicit purpose of
bringing this about Having failed TO
our members Of the neces-
sity Of an utterly unreasonable and !
outrageous slash in wages, the next |
move was an ultimattm, written in |
the most arrogant and irritating Ian
yuagc.
AT the conference which followed
this ultimatum and in our journal,
President Duncan asked for an agree
ment on the wage question. and did
all in his power to induce the employ
srs to accept negotiation and concil-
alton rs the method of settling 9TH
n matters at issue. This was refused
rs the wage question was the all i'm
portant matter uppermost in The minds
If employers at that time.
"Then followed the melancholy train
II events with which We are all fa-
niliar. and now at this late day, we
IRE fold that il isn't question Of
wages at all This is what has hap
,ened. Time and experience which
Exposes falsity and demonstrates truth
las shown that the granite cutters
aere right in insisting upon retaining
heir wage scale Much has been said
bout the public. that the public de
nands certain things and that the
,ranite industry is in duty bound to
omply with these demands. We all
I'VE duty TO the public. Public well
are demands that working people
hall be given wage insuring proper
living conditions. that the shops shall
'e made sanitary, that everything pos
ible shall be done TO promote the we'll
'eing of working people. Add to this
reasonable profit for the employer
nd the turning out of an honest prod
ct. When an industry complies with
hese requirements. il is giving the I
ublic a square deal, and the public I
oes not ask for more.
"Now. let us get back to that wage
uestion. The skill. the arduous ma
nrc OF the work. the health hazard,
he cost Of living and comparison !
nth the wages paid other trades, JUS
Ifes the men Of the granite industry !
/ demanding that the 1921 wage rate
,ntinue. II is wrong to talk about G
re-war wages as comparison with
resent wages. As matter of fact,
ranite cutters were always under
aid. Consider under present condi-
ons the average earnings of men S
orking in the granite industry, the
- 81 time through break downs Of
achincry, through excessive heat and
Id. through sickness and through
lifting Of jobs. and you win find that !,
'e average Is away below the amount
red a. the minimum TO maintain 4
'oper standards. =
The Health Phase m
Il am about 70 saw a terrible thinc. n