The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1922-04-01
pREsBREY-LELAND STATEMENT
On Various Matters Connected with
the Granite Industry.


the Granite Industry.
Maurice Fletcher Atkins, editor,
Montpelier Evening Argus,
ll2 Main street,
Montpelier, vt.
NV dear Mr.. Atkins: A copy Of your
paper dated March Il and kindly sent
to us at the Barre plant has been re-
reived and we have read the letter
written by III. G. Hefner, president q
tbe international Monumental Retail.
ers, association to William Barclay OF
Barre with interest.
knowing your reputation Tor iaif
ness and impartiality, ! am conhdent
Won will not refuse to print the foi-
lowing matter to the end that your
readers NAV have little more iight
On serious and perplexing question,
The Presbrey Leland company mas
been manufacturing at barre since
1905 and the business has grown from
nothing to its present proportions
while the utmost good feeling prevailed
AZ ali times between our men and our
selves. For several years we have PAID
extra compensation to many OF our
EMPLOYEES and about two and nail
years ago this plan was extended 20
The cutters at Barre. The extra COM
pensation is based entirely upon the
net profits of the business. They heip
earn these profits and are entitled TO
share in the results of their toll.
We noted lowering in eficlency
during and just after the war but py
no means to the extent of 40 or % per
cent as reported by many mapuiactnf-
ers. About nine months ago and after
careful consideration we decided to try
ont a l5-minute rest period twice q
day. Knowing what a recess does for
school children and that a five-hour
period of unremitting honest and hard
labor must necessarily result IN q
slackening Of application and pep, we
we're willing to grant the request OF
the men, only stipulating that the
daily production must not fall below
the standard. We have found that
the output has been increased, the men
have increased in weight, improved m
health and are much happier at their
work. AT the end Of the day they are
not as tired, hence the agitation and
request for seven-hour day with a
corresponding decrease in wages has
been forgotten. The Presbrey Leland
company found the year 1927 the best
and most profitable of its career and
its overhead expense at Barre was re-
duced over % per cent with a CORE
spending saving of many thousands OF
dollars in estimated costs. We paid m
cash during 1921 over 100000 for
Barre rough stock alone and in wages
at the Barre plant, 1858 ,40l.75, to say
nothing Of large sales in other grantees
and marble.
When the Manufacturers and Pro-
,iucers' association voted last December
10 break the agreement made with the
q. c. /. A. and knowing that the nm
wise ito put it mildly actions Of those
most active in the association led py
their president could only eliminate III
bitter feeling, idleness and disaster TO
the granite industry. the Presbrey We
land company decided to resign. We
became thoroughly dissatisfied with
what we considered Misrepresentation
and mis-interpretation of the 9. Z. /
A. and their attitude toward the LABOR
situation, so az we could not honorary
remain members and refuse to ABIDE
bv the majority vote and also because
we knew the G. c. |. A. officials and
members could be satisfactorily dealt
with by unbiased and. humane mer
whom they trusted, we proceeded tc
proye our assertions along that line.
In compliance with the request from
the Barre branch, G.. G. |. A.. to write
such an agreement as in our estimation
would prove fair TO both sides viii
possible prosperity of the granite an
dustrv. we wrote the one now consum
mated and il was adopted as originally
written with few minor changes. W.
are of the opinion after making ex
haustive investigation of the history
and methods of the granite industry
that this agreement doesn't too thor
ouchly protect the workman and any
able and progressive manufacturer
wholesale or retail-can comply witt
the terms, obtain business and manE
facture al a fair profit. We had man,
committee conferences with some o
their so-called radicals always present
found them gentlemen and were treat
ed with the utmost courtesy though
they were asked to change their view
on many points and made concession
even to amending their constitution Il
several instances.
Practically every vital point de
manded by the manufacturers associa
tion and up to the present time with
out result. has been obtained. Tn
wage scale was based on economic con
ditions as ii should be and may be ad
iusted yearly IL conditions warrans i
We found President Duncan r.
ear OF "tyrantr but REASONABLE
man, ready to listen and concede hu
refusing to be damned, driven an
bullied into submission Most Of u
are like him in that respect othe
manufacturers may adopt the opei
,hop, employ the tramp and itineFan