Springfield weekly Republican. [volume], September 19, 1918, Page 11, Image 11

About Springfield weekly Republican. [volume] (Springfield, Mass.) 1851-1946

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FARM and GARDEN
COUNTY LEAGUE DATA
PLANS WINTER PROGRAM
p * «>» ;j. • 4 . ;
POR BOYS- AND GIRLS' CLUBS
Gardner * Boyd Takos Up Taak
Handled by Robert P. Trask
for Four Years
Now that the active season tor the
garden and canning clubs is virtually
over, the boys’ and girls’ department
of the league is turning its attention
more strongly toward the winter pro
gram. Robert P. Trask, who has had
charge of the county club work for
the young people the past four years,
will leave for his new position as
l ead of the boys’ and girls' work of
Middlesex county October 1. but the
work will go forward without material
change under the leadership of Gard
ner Boyd.
While Mr-Boyd will follow the gen
eral policies which Mr Trask has
lound so- successful, he will place ad
ditional emphasis on some features of
the club work which have been iess
popular with-the young people in the
past. It will be possible to do tnis
as the organization of the general
club work- is on a permanent basis
end goes on from year to year with
out the need of so much annual stim
ulation. One of the club projects in
which Mr Boyd is especially interested
j* the winter egg-laytng contest and
c-ther poultry projects open to the
boys and girls of the state. The gen
era! discouragement of poultrymen
over the high prices of grain and the
resulting difficulty in continuing their
poultry business at a reasonable
profit, has reacted on the boys and
girls, so that there is comparatively
small interest in poultry. Under Mr
Boyd's leadership a vigorous cam
paign to stimulate interest in poultry
will be conducted this fall. Stimula
tion to begin such a campaign is
given in the latest letter from the
state leader. George L. Farley, to the
county club leaders. Mr Farley opened
his letter as follows: "The winter egg
laying contest opens November 1. As
soon sb the fairs are over I believe
that a drive should be started to en
rol in this contest. I mean a good
hard drive that will carry through. I
realize that it is not quite so much
fun to keep kens as to raise a squealer,
tut I believe that the hack-yard flock
is a necessity and that every en
deavor shquld he made to interest
children in this project.
"As I have visited various sections
of the state this summer I have seen
quite a large n imber of early-hatched
chickens and have been told that the
owner intended' entering the winter
contest. Be sure that none of these
flocks escapes you. One poultryman
in the state has promised the county
agent 100 pullets this fall to be giv
er out to interested children. Per
haps other breeders can he iriduce-i to
follow the example of this man."
While it is true that the commer
cial poultryman has had a hard time
the past year to make both ends meet.
Hr Boyd and other leaders point out
that the small flock can be handled
much more economically, as part of
its regular food will come from the
household table waste. The pickings
from the table in these times of war
and conservation are not so good, as
in the old days of plenty, but the
waste from any home will go a con
siderable way toward feeding a srrtall
flock. Wholly aside from the ques
tion of profit and loss, the back-yard
flock is an educator for any boy or
girl, and even if it does no more than
supply the family with fresh eggs at
the same price they could he secured
in a store. It is worth while just for
the opportunity to learn something
from practical experience which it
will give the young owner. If there
are eggs to sell, so much the bettor.
The price of grain has gone up. hut
the price of eggs has gone up even
more in proportion.
Strongest of all the appeals which
Mr Boyd will use in simulating the
new interest in poultry is the patriotic
call for more food production from old
and young.
STORING APPLES
Importance of Care in Handling
Good apples are scarce in Hamp
(Sen county this year, except in a few
sections. That Is all the more reason
for taking the best of care of what
there are, and riot permitting any
considerable amount of them to go to
waste lor lack of proper storage. Few
farmers have many apples of market
able quality to sell, but the homo
supply should be harvested under the
best possible conditions and cared for
so that it will last as long as pos
sible.
Certain well recognized factors
enter into the keeping of apples in
first-class conditions for winter use.
■Without regard to the facilities for
storing, the manner in which the
f>-u!t is handled between the tree and
the storage cellar has a decided ef
fect on its keeping qualities. The
apples should be well matured, as
Indicated by their size and color when
they are picked if they are to keep
In the prime condition. Large, over
grown apples should be avoided for
long storage as they are apt to be
poor keepers and coarse in texture.
Apples intended for storage should
be handled with the greatest care. It
takes a little longer, but the returns
are great as compared with the extra,
trouble. They should be handpicked
and the stems should be left on the
apples. In all operations of picking,
sorting and handling every cave
should be used not to bruise or jam
the apple in the slightest degree. A
small rap will be unnoticed at first,
but It will develop into a serious
blemish later and will promote decay.
The slightest puncture of the skin : s
an invitation for various fungus
spores to enter and cause quick de
cay.
It is important that fruit should
be placed in storage as quickly as
possible after it is picked. An apple
ripens very rapidly after it is picked
from the tree. Fruit which is allowed
to stand a day or two in the orchatj
befc.e being placed in storage will
not keep long by several weeks as
those placed in storage immediately.
Experiments have shown that ap
ples will keep best at a temperature
just above .'>2 degrees. Tit s tem
perature will not be possible during
the early part of the season under
ordinary farm conditions, but during
the winter it may be kept there by
proper ventilation. It is almost as im
portant that the temperature should
be steady ns that It should be low.
Sudden changes following one another
In rap'd succession are disastrous to
long keeping in prime condition.
Sometimes, even with good care,
the temperature in the storage cellar
will drop below the freezing point.
This does not necessarily -injure the
fruit if the freezing has not been too
tkevere and if the apples have been
Billowed to warm up gradually. Kapid
I thawing or handling of fruit frozen
will result in discoloration and quick
decay. While it is Impossible for
apples to be kept under ideal condi
tions in most homes, it should be
remembered that if the apples aro
carefully picked and put in storage
immediately, they will keep much
better at a high temperature than
roughly-handled apples at the proper
temperature. Much more depends on
the -man handling the apples than on
his equipment for storage under
ideal - conditions.
“OREGONS” TAKE HONORS
Hens From Pacific Coast Pass
2000 Mark in Storrs Contest
From Our Special Correspondent
STORRS, Ct„ Saturday September 11
During the 45th week of the lay
ing contest at Storrs the birds laid
31171 eggs. Pen 70, white Leghorns,
entered by Tom Barron of Catforth.
Eng., was first with 54 eggs. The
“Oregons" w.ere a close second with
53 eggs to their credit. Two pens
of Leghorns, namely, pen 09, owned
by Will Barron of Bartle. Eng., and
Pen 73, owned by A. P. Robinson of
Calverton. N. Y.. were third with 51
eggs. A. pen of barred Rocks, entered
by Irigleside farm of Palenville, N.
Y., and a pen of Rhode Island Reds,
entered by Charles O. Polhemus of
Newburg. N. Y., were tied for fourth
place, having laid 50 eggs each.
Last year white Leghorns were the
first breed to reach a pen production
of 2000 eggs. This year the “Ore
gons" have the honor and are a week
ahead in doing it. To date the "Ore
gons’’ have laid 2041 eggs, while the
leading pen last year had laid 1982
during the first 45 weeks. In other
words, the “Oregons" are 59 eggs
ahead of last year's best pen.
The best pens are listed below by
breeds, if. however, we consider the
first 10 places in the contest as a
whole, it Is found that “Oregons" hold
first place, white Wyandottes second,
with Leghorns in third, fourth and
fifth places, barred Rocks filling sixth,
eight and ninth places. Rhode Island
Reds seventh and white Wyandottes
10th. These best pens, meaning 100
hens, have averaged to lay 181 eggs
each as" compared with 144 for the
average of the entire contest.
USES OF WILD GRAPES
Little or No Sugar Required With
Them
Wild grapes .are so abundant , and of
such fine quality this year that any
one can have home-made grapejuice,
jellies, etc., at an unusually smail ex
penditure of time or money,. Not in
years have there been so many wild
grapes in this section and any house
wife could well take advantage of this
season of plenty. Grapes present an
additional advantage this year, too,
as.- thdir preparation into grape
juice and other products requires very
little sugar. Many delicious products
may he made With no sugar at all.'
Cultivated grape 3 are. of course: as
good as wild grapes for making grape
juice, and where they are to be had
In abundance, many, housewives will
prefer them on account of their
greater size and ease in handling.
There are many, however, who believe
that the wild grapes have an espe
cially delicious flavor when made into
grapejuice. Another reason for Using
wild grapes is that the cultivated ones
are more valuable for immediate con
sumption. ,
Methods of preparing grapejuice
vary with the equipment at hand,
but in any case they are very simple,.
One of the best methods is by using
one of the small, inexpensive hand
fruit presses to squeeze out the juice,
which” can then be sterilized with a
minimum of heating. The naturally
fine flavor of grapes, especially wild
grapes, is more or les3 lost by cook
ing and it is a cardinal principle of
making grapejuice by any method to
heat as little as possible and still in
sure that the product will keep well.
Whatever method is used the grapes
should first bp picked from the stems
and picked over carefully- to remove
any unsound ones. The grapes should
be, c ushed and if no hand press is
available they may be cooked in a
small .amount of water, just as in the
preparation of jelly.. The juice should
be strained in the usual way and then
heated to the boiling point and poured
into hot sterilized jars or bottles,
sealed with sterilized covers or corks
and the top dipped in melted paraf
fine to insure perfect sealing.
As. Jbe juice preserved in this way
has a more or less “cooked" flavor,
many housewives prefer a method
which prepares the juice without at
any time raising it to the boiling
point. By this method the crushed
fruit is first heated in the double
boiler instead of being actually, boiled.
It is then strained through a double
thickness of cheesecloth and allowed
to stand in a cool place a few hours.
It may then be poured off carefully to
remove the dregs which will settle.
The juice is then poured into sterilized
bottles, the corks set in lightly and
the who's "laced in a wat-r hath and
processed “0 minutes at the simmer
ing noint. They should’ then he sealed
tightly and dipped in melted paraf
fine. •
The amount of sugar which is
needed for grapejuice varies with the
•acidity of the grapes. It has nothing
to do with the keeping quality and
none at all need be used when the
grapejuice is put up. A small amount
may be added when the grapejuice is
used. Or if the, housewife wishes to
add a little sugar when putting- up
the juice. one cun of sugar to a gal
lon of juice will be sufficient.
The home-made fruit juice is not
only excellent as a beverage but it
has a variety of uses in gelatin, des
serts. puddings, sauces, ice-cream,
sherbet, etc. Many new uses will be
found for it if it is put up in quantity
so that the housewife will feel that
she can use it freely.
FARMERS AND THE DRAFT
Plan for Occupational Exemptions—
Information About Farming Sltna
tion Needed
Practical co-operation between the
war department and the agricultural
interest of the country are indicated
in the latest plan to release men from
service who are absolutely necessary
to agriculture. It is evident that a
more lenient policy has been adopted
toward the classification of persons en
gaged in agriculture, but the policy
will have little if any effect if the
agricultural leaders do not do their
part in making the needs known.
In carrying out the new plan, every
agricultural agent in the country has
boon asked to make a statement as
to the situation lti his own territory
as regards various classes of agricul
tural workers. C. J. Grant, agricul
tural agent for Hampden county, has
received the questionnaire and has sent
it in, indicating the shortage there
is in this county. The questionnaire
has a place for stating the surplus of
labor of the various classes, but there
is no surplus in this county.
The classes In which specific infor
mation is sought are general farmers,
fruit raisers, stock raisers, dairymen,
poultrymen, gardeners and truckers,
nurserymen and those engaged In oth
er agricultural pursuits. These classes
are subdivided into three groups—(l)
necessary skilled farm labors (2) nec
essary assistant, associate or hired
manager; (.1) necessary sole manag
ing, controllng or directing '.lead of
THE mFEINGFIELD WEEKLY REPUBLICAN: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19. 1918
necessary agricultural enterprise.
In looking over the situation care
fully, Mr Grant found that the sup
ply in the second and third group, as*
slstants and managers. Is fairly ade
quate to the negds in this county. But
in the first group. Including all ordi
nary farm labor, he reported a decid
ed shoriage. The questionnaire also
calls for an estimate of the tillable
land, Idle because of the shortage of
farm workers and operators.
The necessity for bringing together
this information regarding the actual
situation in the county lies in the fact
that a similar move will be made by
industrial leaders in an attempt to
present the claims for deferred clas
sifications of the types of labor in
which they are especially interested.
If the agricultural situation is not
fairly presented to the draft board*
when they begin to consider cases in
the present draft, they will have no
adequate information on which to
base their policy of deferred classifica
tion in their particular districts.
WHEAT SSO A BUSHEL
A cablegram recently received in
Washington by Dr William W. Peet,
treasurer of the American board com
mission of foreign missions in Con
stantinople, from the American and
Syrian relief commission in Turkey,
transmitted through Switzerland,
states that wheat now sells in Turkey
for SSO a bushel. In prewar days 50
to 60 cents was the normal price.
Speaking of this advanced price Dr
Peet said, “This indicates to me that
the supply is now coming from north
Bulgaria." •
For some time those of small means
in Turkey have been using the seeds
of certain weeds, barley, and sesame
ground together as a substitute for
flour. “The seeds furnished by the
pasha to be planted for crops were
used for food.” said Dr Peet. "as
assurance of harvesting the crops was
so uncertain that the people would
not waste their energy in planting
something that they might not reap."
In 68 of the 71 localities where out
breaks of the white-pine blister rust
have been located during the past six
years the disease has been completely
eradicated through the efforts of the
United States department of agricul
ture, co-operating with state authori
ties. In the three remaining localities
eradication is going on. So far this
season the disease has appeared in
only one of the localities where it has
been previously eradicated. The blis
ter rust has not been found in states
south of Pennsylvania and thfe Ohio
river or west of the Mississippi river,
except, Minnesota, lowa and South
Dakota. Hundreds of shipments of
both pine and currants from infect
ed regions have been made into these
states, however, and it is possible that
outbreaks may occur. Federal author
ities are making a diligent search to
locate any such infections and are pre
pared to stamp out the disease as
Soon as it appears.
STRIKERS GO BACK
Bridgeport Workers Vote to Re
turn in a Body—Reply to the
President
The strike of machinists and tool
makers in large Bridgeport munition
factories was ended Monday., many
men returning to work independently,
while the large body of strikers in
mass-meeting, after hearing, read the
letter of President. Wi’son to them,
voted to return as a body.
The meeting also sent a reply 'o
President Wilson which had been
drafted by the strike committee. This
reply affirmed the,loyalty of the strik
ers. who promise to return at once
and do their part in keeping up the
flow of munitions. The strikers, in
their reply, told the president that
they would take up their grievances
in an orderly manner with the Taft-
Walsh war labor board, and asked-his
influence to get them an early hear
ing.
“To the great cause of keeping up
the flow of munitions to which you
have dedicated yourself and the pres
ent administration, the machanists
here are, we hope, equally dedicated.
We loyally accept your command that
we return to the working conditions
which we left,” the message reads,
“and we shall proceed, as you advise
us .to reappeal our case to the estab
lished governmental tribunals, leaving
the event in your hands as chief
magistrate of our mighty nation.
“FrnHless Appeals for Plain Justice”
“In thus going hack to work, may
we express the hope that '.ve have not
been sufficiently misrepresented in
Washington to cause you for a mo
ment to doubt our loyalty to the
cause of this righteous war or to our
country. There were things known
to all in Bridgeport who had eyes to
see and hearts to understand which
failed utterly of transmission to
the paper case created here for the
consideration of the national war la
bor board section, so that in the end
the machinists of this place were sac
rificed to a picture painted in false
colors by the employers and adopted
by Mr Otto M. Eidlitz in deciding, in
Washington, our fate, after a year of
lruitloss appeals for plain justice and
terms of employment which would
mean security and stability for our
families instead of endless jockeying
by our employers.”
The letter then goes on to say that
while they have, no further right to
discuss the past issue, they ask the
liberty of stating for the future
guidance of the president, some of the
incidents of the struggle and of the
hearings held before the award was
made.
The strike was formally called off
at the mass-meeting after the read
ing of President Wilson’s letter to the
strikers and the letter In reply. Also
was read a letter from President Will
iam H. Johnston of the international
machinists’ union.
The manufacturers took hack all
their former employes. The main
task of the machinists was to repair
machines which had broken down dur
ing the period of the strike. Besides
tlio drafting of the letter to Presi
dent Wilson, the strike committees
took up the matter of the address of
Justice George w. Wheeler of the su
preme court of errors at a pnollc
meeting in Beards’ey park. Sunday, in
which the strikers were sharply con
demned. The committee prepared a
reply to Justice Wheeler's speech and
proposed a joint debate upon the
charges he had made, suggesting that
this debate he from the Beardsley
park platform.
Proposes New “American Labor
Party”
A small group of the machinists
remained after the general meeting of
strikers yesterday for a second meet
ing, at which Samuel Lavltt. business
agent for tho machinists. launched a
project for the formation of an
American labor party. In opposition
to the American federation of labor.
The purposes of the proposed partv
were set Jorth as the same as those of
the British labor party. Five mem
bers were named as a committee to
choose three candidates to run for the
state Senate. It was announced an
other meeting will be held to-night.
Besides making statements attack
ing the American federation of labor
for its attitude In the Bridgeport
strike. Lavit also scored the machin
ists’ chief, Mr Johnston, declaring
that ,"if Johnston and other officers
had been on the job ana advised us
honestly, this situation would never .
have come."
TAKE SMITH & WESSON
BY PRESIDENT'S ORDER
GOVERNMENT WILL OPERATE
Action Based on Refusal to Accept
War Board’s Order and
Flouting the Rules
The Smith & Weston company of
this city was commandeered by the
war department Friday to be
operated by the government for the
period of the war. A representative of
the war department served notice on
the Smith & Wesson company Fri
day afternoon and the plant was
formally turned over to the govern
ment at 6 o'clock that evening. Be
ginning Saturday the plant will
be operated under the immediate
direction of the ordnance department.
The order commandeering the plant
was served on the Smith & Wesson
management by Maj J. B. Orr of the
ordnance .department and was <teted
as of August 31, The reasons advanced
for taking over the plant were set
forth briefly in a statement issued by
the war department last evening.
Briefly, the statement says that the
plant will be taken over to "secure
continuous production and prevent in
dustrial disturbance.” The company
recently gave notice that it would
prefer to have the government operate
Its plant rather than abide by a de
cision of the war labor board enforc
ing collective bargaining.
The commandeering of the plant
and the placing of an army officer in
charge were announced formally by
the war department after the action
had been disclosed by President Wil
son in a letter notifying striking
workmen at Bridgeport that they must
return to work.
Only Instance of the Rind
“This action,” said the department's
statement, “was made necessary by
the refusal of the Smith & Wesson
company to abide by the award of the
national war labor board, rendered
August 22, 1918. This is the only in
stance of a manufacturer under con
tract with the war department ar
bitrarily rejecting an award by the
agency set up by the president for
the maintenance of industrial peace
during the war.
“The war labor board's finding in
the Smith & Wesson case was mode
upon a recommendation by Joint
Chairman Frank P. W,alsh and Fred
erick N, Judson, acting joint chair
man. in the absence of Mr Taft. The
Walsh-Judson report recommended
that the company discontinue for the
period of the war its practice of com
pelling employee to sign individual
contracts, one clause of which bound
the employe not to join a trade union;
that the right to join trade unions be
extended to the workers and that a
system of collective bargaining be es
tablished in the Smith & Wesson plant.
. . . .The demand of the workers for
a 25 per cent increase tvas not con
ceded In the recommendation, it being
stated that the question of wages could
best be worked out through the opera
tion of the collective bargaining sys
tem. ... In its letter rejecting the
war labor board's findings, the Smith
& Wesson company said: —
Company Objected to “Fantastic”
Method
“ The Smith & Wesson company sees
no reason why it should abandon its
lawful and legitimate method of doing
business known and proved by it to
he conducive to industrial peace and
high efficiency for the fantastic method
outlined by the war labor board in its
recommendations for dealing with its
employer.
"The language employed by the
company in the foregoing paragraph
was held to be calculated to induce
other employers to avoid the juris
diction of the war labor board and to
defeat the object of the president in
its creation, and the company’s gen
eral attitude toward the reasonable
findings of the board was deemed such
as might be expected to disturb and
to interfere with production..
“The recommendations contained
in the war labor board's finding are
in thorough accord with the princi
ples and policies to govern industrial
relations for the period of the war
promulgated by the president and
made the constitution of the war
labor board. These principles and
policies were adopted by duly selected
representatives of organized em
ployers and workers of the United
States. It is the policy of the war
department to give effect to the de
cisions of the war labor board in all
cases coming under the jurisdiction
of the department.”
SMITH & WESSON CHANGE
Plant Is Officially Taken Over by
Government—Differences to Be
Adjusted
The Smith & Wesson plant was of
ficially taken over by the United Stales
government Monday and a detail o{
the United States guard were stationed
at the plant to guard the property.
Civilian guards were also stationed at
all the gates of the factory and no per
son was permitted to enter the plant
until his business had been passed on
as necessary. Capt Walter A. Foster,
who has taken charge of the plant,
stated that the inventory had been
completed and that an officer who
would take charge of the production
would be sent this week from Wash
ington.
Capt Foster stated Monday that
the present working force would be
retained and also the system that the
company had instituted would in all
probabilities be continued. The dif
ferences, however, which have existed
between the firm and tho men will
he given the immediate attention of
the national war labor hoard and an
adjustment made. An effort will also
be made to increase the production of
the factory or at least keep up the past
output. It Is planned to build quar
ters for the United States guard who
will patrol the plant, so that they may
atay on the premises instead of re
turning to their quarters at the ar
mory when their work is finished.
NO BETHLEHEM STRIKE
Corporation Agrees to Apply at
Once the Rulings of the War La
bor Board
Threatened labor difficulties at the
Lethlehem (Pa.) steel works have been
averted by a promise from the com
pany to obey an order from the war
labor hoard to put into effect im
mediately the hoard's award in the
wage controversy.
Eugene C. Grace, chairman of the
Bethlehem steel corporation, was dt
irected to apply the award after a
committee of employes had presented
a formal complaint that the corpora
tion was delaying action.
Mr Grace protested to the board
that the application of the award
would cost the corporation $2,500,000
a month, and asked for provision for
additional compensation. The board
declined to pass any resolution on
the subject, hut Individual members
said they would not oppose efforts on
the pari of the corporation to obtain
additional compensation from the war
and navy departments on the con
tracts already held. Mr Grace agreed
to formulate plans at once for a
democratic election among the work
men of committeemen to represent
them in applying the award, and raid
that these plans would be submitted
to the board for its approval.
OF NATIONAL IMPORT
GENERAL ELECTRIC PLAN
TO ADJUST LABOR TROUBLES
War Labor Board's Representative
Works Out Method of Collec
tive Bargaining in
Pittsfield
Under the personal direction of W.
L. Stoddard of Northampton, examiner
for the national war labor board, a
system is now being worked out and
established at the General electric
works in Pittsfield for the adjustment
of differences between capital and la
bor that is of national importance. It
is the first system of its kind directed
by the war labor hoard and it will act
as a precedent for the settlement of
Industrial disputes in other sections of
the country. In its orders relating to
the Bethlehem steel controversy the
board referred especially to the situa
tion at Pittsfield and the adjustment
there will be along exactly the same
lines as the Genera! electric com
pany's settlement. It is likely the
same will hold true at the Smith &
Wesson plant in Springfield.
The basis of the new amicable and
unifying arrangement between capital
and labor is the election by the work
ers of representative department com
mittees to present grievances and
mediate with the company. Their
work !s outlined by the war labor
board in its award at Pittsfield as fol
lows:—
“The duties of the department com
mittees shall be confined to the ad
justment of disputes, which the shop
foreman and the division superin
tendents and the employes have been
unable to adjust. The department
committees shall meet annually and
shall select from among their num
ber three employes who shall be known
as the committee on appeals. This
committee shall meet with the man
agement for the purpose of adjusting
disputes which the department com
mittees have failed to adjust."
Differences Now Pending
In the General e’ectric works at
Pittsfield, where about 7600 hands are
employed, there will he approximately
50 committees, mostly of throe em
ployes each, although several of the
large departments will be represented
by five. It is to direct the election
of these committees, to see that the
representatives of the employes are
chosen fairly and impartially, to see
that the interests of the employers
are safeguarded, in short to get the
machinery of the new industrial sys
tem running smoothly, that Mr Stod
dard now is in Pittsfield. Before going
into detail regarding his duties and
the decisions he has made in the dif
ferences that already have arisen it
should be stated that the employes
and the company each have two
points on which they differ from the
war board decision and each is to ap
peal. The company objects: —
1. To holding the committee elec
tions in a public place.
2. To the establishment of a mini
mum wage in the Pittsfield case of
42 cents an hour.
The employes object:—
1. To the overtime award on piece
work.
2. To the scale of wages paid
cranemen.
As for the first objection of the
company General Manager Cummings
C. Cljesney believes the elections
should be he’d in the works as a mat
ter of principle. Holding them out
side he claims tends to separate the
employer and the employe; it is sub
versive of the unity and the cordial
relationship that should exist between
them. The organized men at Pitts
field. who claim 75 per cent of the
7000 General electric workers while
the company claims not more than
50 per cent are organized, wanted the
elections held in central labor union
hall. The war board took the stand
that the men have the right to elect
their committees free of all influence
from the management and it would
not be fair to nonunion men to make
labor union headquarters the polling
places. So in its award the board
specifically says that the elections
must he held in “some convenient
public building." Through the efforts
of Mayor William C. Moulton the Le
vine building on Tyler street, a public
voting place for state and city elec
tions in ward 2 was secured.
Company Refuses Fse of Bulletin
Boards
Beginning last Thursday eight de
partments elected committees in three
days. In one department 63 per cent
of the men voted, in another 40 per
cent, and in the third about 30 per
cent. This somewhat small percent
age in two cases is explained by Mr
Etoddard as due in part to the diffi
culty he had in getting information to
the men. The company refused to al
low' notices of election to be posted on
the bulletin boards In the depart
ments. and it is hard to get the de
sired information to them in other
ways. The company acquiesced in
giving Mr Stoddard the pay-roll list
foi checking names in each depart
ment, which has been of great help
to him in expediting the work.
Election rules established by Mr
Etoddard provide for the domination
and election of a permanent depart
ment chairman, who presides jointly
with the examiner. Each nomina
tion must he supported by at least 10
qualified voters and election of com
mittee is by Australian ballot. Minor
ity representation is required by the
war labor board wherever practicable.
The elections committee, of which
David Kevlin is clerk, has 10 mem
bers, five union and five nonunion.
The union men have represented the
employes in all the negotiations that
led up to the war board decision. After
some delay the General electric com
pany management allowed notices to
be posted In the shops calling atten
tion to the election of nonunion men to
the committee. The voting hours for
department committees are from 5.15
to 9 p. m. It is expected the elec
tions will end by October 1. So far
only a few women have voted, due
doubtless to the fact they are in a
great minority in the departments
that have chosen committees.
It is unlikely the company's appeal
on principle from the 42 cents an hour
minimum wage or s2l a week for men
over 21, and 30 cents an hour or #ls
a week for women, will be of any
avail. The war board hag estab
lished practically those rates all over
the country as necessary to maintain
the standard of living, especially of
men with families. In the ease of
women the award is that they shall be
at least 21 years of age and at least
six months in the employ of thp com
pany. The 42-cent minimum does not
apply to student engineers and pen
sioners. The Pittsfield management
wants a probationary period such a*
the men and employers have volun
tarily established in the General elec
tric plant at Schenectady, where for
the first two months the minimum is
3$ cents an hour. It is possible suoh
an agreement will be reached in
Pittsfield. The war hoard unquesion
ably will stand by its original mini
mum wage decree. It maintains that
the principle in practice acts as a
check to employers in hiring help. It
places the burden on technical train
ing schools, where no doubt the pres
sure will become greater if the prac
tice becomes general in industrial es
tablishments. Drones surely will have
no show and will not be tolerated.
Existing Contracts Stand
Mr Stoddard made an important de •
cision a few days ago to the effect that
existing individual contracts between
the company ar.d men still stand. The
war board prohibited such ocntracts
because they have proved a. source of
much friction, but the Washington
order does not nullify those now ex
isting. It is understood all will be
running out within a year.
The protest of the piece workers
is that they do not receive Irates
for overtime the came as those work
ing by the nine-hour day, now estab
lished as a working day. The men
claim in Schenectady the piece work
ers have been granted the extra com
pensation. The cranemen object to
the award granted them on the
ground that while their wages have
been raised 20 per cent, the same
as other workers, the schedule still is
low r er than that in force at Schenec
tady in the same ratio that it was be
fore. The cranemen are scattered all
through the shops and they want rep
resentation on the shop committees
as a separate and distinct depart
ment. The company claims the crane
men should vote in whatever depart
ment each individual happens to be
working. The cranemen are said to
be thoroughly organized and it is
said the objection of the management
to recognizing them as a separate de
partment would mean substantially
a recognition of the union, which the
company seeks to avoid. The war
board rules make no distinction be
tween union and nonunion and has
done nothing in the establishment of
i‘. mediation plan to force union rec
ognition. These protests are still held
in abeyance for adjustment by the
war board. By the general award
each side is given an opportunity for
revision every six months, the same
as recently granted by the federal
shipping board.
Back Pay Will Be Given on the 28th
The new scale of wages at Pitts
field is in effect as cf May 1 and the
company has posted notices through
out the shops that the hack oay will
be given to all operatives on the
28th. It is said they will receive
approximately $500,000" additional. In
making up this back pay schedule
the company contended that men who
have left the employ of the com
pany since May 1 were not entitled
to its benefits. Mr Stoddard ruled
that such employes were entitled to it
and they will receive it. This was
also the decision in the railroad
award. The Pittsfield men will be
under the new schedule of wages
after the 15th.
In working out the details' of the
new industrial system at * Pittsfield.
Mr Stoddard has been assisted by
Rev Earl C. Davis, pastor of of Unity
church. He and several others were
suggested by th- employes for the po
sition of substitute examiner, and the
appointment of Mr Davis was '.atL
factory to the company. He has
been a close student of sociological
problems for a number of years, and
his work In the General electrie sit
uation has beer, characterized by
broad views, a thorough knowledge
of the situation and a spirit of fair
ness toward all. W. L. Stoddard, who
holds the exacting position of exam
iner for the national war labor board,
is a son of Prof John Toppan Stod
dard. head of the department of chem
istry at Smith college. He is a Har
vard graduate. 1907. He was en
gaged in magazine editorial work for
a while after graduation, and at the
time of his appointment to the war
labor board was engaged in newspa
per work in Washington as represen
tative of the Boston Transcript. In
his endeavor to give both sides a
square deal Mr Stoddard has met with
signal success in Pittsfield, and his
cervices as direct representative of
the war board have been highly satis
factory to all concerned.
GEEMANY FILLS BIG GAPS
Requires Disbanding of Battalions
Equivalent to 20 Divisions
[By the Associated Dress.]
With the American Army on the Lor
raine Front. Monday. September 111
One hundred and eight German in
fantry battalions, equivalent to 20
divisions, have been disbanded, it is
learned, in order to fill the gap made
by the past year's fighting. Women
and boys are being called to the auxi
liary service to replace them. Five
thousand women have already been
mobilized for this purpose and boys of
14 are being utilized. Captured offi
cers say that Germany is very tired
of the war and no longer hopes to
do more than keep what is its own.
JAPAN JUMPS SALARIES
Adds 50 Per Cent to Meet High
Cost of Living
[By the Associated Press.]
TOKIO. Sunday, September 8
The astonishing increase in the cost
of living continues to affect all as
pects of life, and is generally attrib
uted to the overwhelming excess of ex
ports. The government has decided to
meet the grave economic problem by
increasing all salaries 50 per cent and
private employers are following the
government’s lead.
RAID I. W. w. RESORT
Federal and City Officials, Assisted By
Cavalry, Active at Butte
Federal and city officials assisted
hv United States cavalry stationed at
Butte, Mont., early Saturday raided
headquarters of the industrial work
er* of the world, and the offices of
the Butte Bulletin, a daily newspa
per. publication of which had been for
bidden by the state council of defense.
The entire staff of the paper from
the editor and business manager down
to the linotype operator were taken
to police headquarters to be ques
tioned retarding articles published In
connection with the attempted strike
of miners in the Butte district.
JOH> REED ARRESTED
John Heed, under indictment as
one of the editors of the Masses, was
arrested by federal officials at New
York Saturday. Friday night at a
socialist mass-meeting he protested
against the sending of American troop*
into Siberia and denounced Great
Britain as having instigated the shoot
ing of Nikolai Lenin*, the bolshevlst
premier. He was held in SSOOO beil
and promised that he would make no
more speeches pending trial of the
newest charge.
BY AMERICAN FIRE
Attacking Germans Driven Back
West of Moselle—Big Gun in
La Chaussee Region Destroyed
[By the Associated Press.]
With the American Army in Lorraine.
Wednesday, September 18 (2.30 p. m.)
German infantry attempted to at
tack the American lines west of the
Moselle Tuesday evening, but was
driven back by the fire of the Ameri
can artillery.
When observers reported that a light
line of German infantrymen was ap
proaching, the American big guns
threw a terrific barrage into that area.
There were no further movements by
the enemy.
Observers reported this morning
that there were no Uving Germans
in the region where they were sight
ed last night. Quite a number of dead,
however, were seen.
American aviator* report that on
Tuesday American gunners scored a
direct hit on a big German gun in the
region of La Chaussee, destroying the
gun. Other hits near by destroyed a
number of gun emplacements and one
shell struck the dugouts where the
German gunners had taken cover.
Italians Take Prisoners
In the region north and northwest
of Grappa on the northern Italian
mountain front. Italian detachments
Monday morning raided the enemy
lines and improved at some points
the positions already occupied, says
the Italian war office statement is
sued yesterday. The Italians took
321 prisoners and captured numerous
machine guns. On the remainder of
the front there were artillery duels
and patrol activity.
Enemy Flyers Over Paris
Several enemy aerial squadrons
flew over the region of Paris Mon
day morning, says a dispatch fr"ra
the French capital. They were sub
jected to a heavy antiaircraft fire but
succeeded in dropping some bombs.
There were a few victims and some
material damage, according to an offi
cial report. The alarm was sounded
at 1.23 and the “all clear” signal was
given at 3 o'clock.
German Plane Brought Down In Paris
A German bombarding plane was
brought down by a direct shot from
the artillery defense of Paris during
the aerial attack upon the city Sun
day night. The wrecked machine fell
in one of the northern suburbs. In
the wreckage were found the bodies
of an officer and two men.
Bald Paris in Reprisal
As a reprisal for the continued
bombing of German towns, says the
official German statement issued Mon
day by the German war office. 24
tons of bombs were dropped Sunday
night on Paris.
MONEY AND BUSINESS
Capital, Market and Industry
Extreme restraints placed on the
money market and on all stock specu
lation, in preparation for the coming
• Liberty loan campaign, account large
ly' for the failure of the stock* mar
ket to respond notably to the brilliant
performance of the American army in
France. The government and the
leaders of finance have been pressing
down the lid on loans and credits with
all their strength. New capital is
sues have been suspended absolutely
by the capital issues committee at
W ashington until the loan campaign
is over, and investment houses and
brokers are even asked to withhold
from further sale unsold issues al
ready authorized. The effort to draft
investment capital into the service of
the government for war purposes even
extends so far that the hanks will be
under pressure to liquidate as much
as possible all outstanding small
loans, safely secured, which have been
used in “nonessential'' business enter
prises.
Necessary as these restraints are.
if the government’s needs are to he
met, there is still evidence that a buy
ing movement, not artificial or even
speculative in the worst sense, is get
ting under way. Big operators in New
York are known to be taking the buy
ing side of the market in so far as they
can legitimately; and it is also known
that foreign buying of American se
curities has to some extent been going
on of late. In view of the radical
turn for the better in the fortune of
war in the past two months, such a
movement would naturally be expect
ed. It is of some significance that
foreign buyers seem to want Ameri
can railroad securities which enjoy
the government's guarantee for a
period not to end until 21 months aft
er the proclamation of peace. Yet
these forces making for investment
and speculation must now be re
pressed. m so far as they use up loan
able money and hank credit because
of the government’s huge financial re
quirements this autumn.
Liberty bonds last week were buoy
ant for a time on Secretary McAddo's
tecommendation that the next loan
should he exempt from the surtaxes
up to $90,000 of the face value of the
bonds and that an aggregate of $45.-
000 of the outstanding 4s and 4'. 4 s be
free from such imposts. Heavy buying
of second 4s was witnessed, prices ad
vancing 3U points over night, and
large purchases of the 4'Vis induced
an advance of the same amount in
that issue. The third 4Vis rose
slightly more than a point. A sub
stantial reaction ensued and a factor
in the recession was the belief of tax
experts that the benefits to accrue
would not be as substantial as had
been thought at first. The which
are exempt from all taxes." declined
substantially. It is thought that their
position of pre-eminence will he im
paired. congress evidently will meet
Mr McAdoo's wishes. It should be
noted that the exemption from sur
taxes. as proposed, will be only for
a limited period during and after the
war. and that the Increased exemp
tion "n the old Issues is only given to
original subscribers to the fourth loan.
One might buy fourth Liberty loan
bonds in the open market anti obtain
exemption up to $.'10,000. but he would
forfeit the exemption on his old bonds
outside the original SSUOO allowance.
Government control is extending in
widening circles. Last week’s regis
tration for the draft again emphasized
the growing shortage of labor and.
while taking men out of industry to
the number of millions, government
agencies are appealing to women to
substitute during the war for men
workers, it Is to women that busi
ness and Industry must turn more and
more for help. The labor difficulty
was distinctly eased in one particular
aha,
ultimatum to the Bridgeport strikers;
a precedent was established which
ought to have beneficial results, for
r,ow strikers know that there is a line
beyond which they cannot eafeljr go
ir. Interfering with Industrie* eo»-
1 netted with Ih* war.
The probab lity that the government
will soon place the market for raw
cotton under control was made almost
a certainty by the president's warn
ing on Saturday. It wa* illuminating
to see in the cotton market that price#
scored a net decline of from 85 to
i 33 points on the mere prospect of
stabilization, a market subject to
Mjch extreme fluctuations in connec
tion with so vital a war material a*
cotton, which goes into the manufac
ture of shells and explosives as well
as into soldiers' clothes, would seem
to he a fair mark for government con
trol.
One thing is beyond the control of
anv government, and that is the
weather which determines the sise of
the crops. The crisis in the cotton
market is due to the September re
port on the low condition of the eet
ton crop. Last week’s grain erojj re
port emphasized the heavy los* in
corn the country ha* suffered as the
resuit of the same drouth in the
Southwest. The total cron of corn
now promises only 2.672.0002X10
as compared with some 3,-
100.000.000 last year. But while the
government's return on corn was dis
appointing. the figures on wheat, with
a gain of 21.000,00 bushels in the
spring crop, were of a different sort,
and the prospect is for the largest
lota! wheat output on record, except
for the billion-bushel harvest of 1913.
The war value of the year’s wheat
harvest is incalculable, on the moral
side as w r ell as on food side. Austrian
soldiers captured in the 3t Mihtet
saiient last week said that the most
ominous fact for their cause which
they knew of was that the American
soldiers were fed on white bread.
NEW YOEK STOCK MARKET
a ~ Net
Hijrh. Low. Clomp. eh>.
800 Alaska GoM M 2*4 2% 2% — %
100 Am Asrio C 100 100 100 -83%
ISO nrpf 02% *2% Bfi% -8 %
400 /tin Rfct Sa* 69% 69 09% -8%
22 Am Can 44% 43% 44%+ ts
JOO do pref 92% 92 92
TOO Am Cap & F 85% 84% 84%— %
BRO Am fattenO 4’% 41 41%+ «
200 Am F.xpr**» 7«% 78% 78 u, — %
200 Am Hi L 20 19% JJfli + «
900 do pref 88% 88 Rv.%4- %
300 Am Iff 26 25% 26 —1
100 dn pr*f 4ft 49 4 p
2.300 Am Int Carp 54 52% . r .«% +i%
500 Am 44% 40% 44%+4
300 do pr*f 77 77 77
300 An I/ynmo 65% 65 63%+ %
100 AMI pr ftf 41 41 41 —2
ion Am Khipb’tjr 132 132 M 2 -1%
1.300 Air. S mol tin* 77% 70% 77% +!%
ion .lo pr*f 103% 103% 103%
1.000 AfflßtfflWj 78% 77% 75%+1%
1.260 Am Sn*ar 10R 107% 107%— % .
ioo ill* pr*f 108% 108% joß%+ %
8.81.0 Am Sumatra 111% 107%
000 Ain Tdl A Ts! 9ft 98% 99 -r %
100 Am Tobacco 160 160 16C;
300 Am WnOlcn 54% 54% 34% %
300 Am Zinc 13% 15% C%-%
5.100 Anaconda 67% 67% 6T%
100 A*M> CU 60% 60% 60%
100 Atcfeiftftß pr 81 81 81
800 Att GtWI 102 100 102 -A-1
7.200 Bald Locemo SO 87% 87%— %
100 BatnptUs Ml 1 1 _
2.860 Beth Ste*l B 81% «0% *t%— %
100 do 6 pr 103 193 103
200 Rlyn R T 38% 38% 38%
200 Booth Fish 26 26 26 4- %
7<> Rurta Bros 140 144% 146 +l%
100 Butt* Cep & Z 10% 10% 10%
309 Cal Petrel 19% 19% %
400 do tref i»"% 68 63%+ X
2TOO Can Pacific 163% 160% 102%-1%
9*x> Cent Lrather 68 68 67% 4- %
100 Chan 4 Motor 67 87 ST — %
200 Che* A Ohio 57% 57% 57%+1%
200 Chic GtWpr 23 23 2S
400 CM&StP 49 48% 49
300 do pre? 77% 76% '*s?■* + %
1.200 CRI4P 23% 25 25 — %
300 do 7pr 76% 76% 76% — %
190 Chile Cfcp 15% 18% 15%
200 iChin Con C 38% 36% 38%+ %
400 Col Ga* Elec 35 35 33 t %
100 Consol Gs* 87 ST 17
200 Con I Cal’ha « 8 8
1.700 Com Prod 42% 41% 42 * %
00 do pref 101% 101% lol%— $
800 Crucible Steal 64% 64% 64%+ H
2.600 Cuba CSv, * 30% 30 30% 4- %
100 do pref 79% 79% 79%— %
601 DPnJtRioG 3% 3 3»*+ %
I.3*> lonref 9% 8 8% 4- %
2W Dome Mines 9% 8 8% _
6.900 Dlst Secur 53% 32% 73% — %
1.900 Erie 15% 15% 15%-r %
600 do Ist pr 31 30% 3t + %
200 FM& Spr 39 30 20 — %
100 Gaston Wms 29 29 29 — %
100 Gen Cheat l*u% 180% 2%
200 G«*a C»*ar 43% 45% 43%-*- %
200 Gen Eiectrie 140 146 146 —l ,
300 Gen Meter 113% 113% 113%— %
15 Granby Min ?1 84 84
400 JGt North nr 89 «9 *9 ~ %
100 Jo Or* Subs 30% 50% 3.<%— %
400 Greene C Cop 4-1% 44% 44%
600 Gulf 8 Steel 79 78% 79 +1
100 Illinois Cent 05% 95% 95%
1.200 Ins Copper 53% 33% 53% - %
200 Interb Con 6% 6% 6%
100 Int Har Cnr 104 104 104
1.800 Tnt Mcr Mar 27% 26% *27 - %
16.000 do pref 102% 101% 101% ~ %
1.100 Int Nickel 29% 29% 29%
500 Kan City So IS 18 18 - %
1.000 Kenneeotf 33% 33% 33%- %
100 Lack Steel 81 81 81
100 1.-e Rub Tire 1» 19 19 — %
30 Mar R ctfs 87 87 67
23.400 Mel Petrol 103% 103% 105 +.l
100 do pref 96% 96% !s«%-2%
500 Miami Cop 28% 2* 2H + 2
TOO Midvale Steel 32 51% 51%—%
POO M&St I. new 9% 9 8
SCO Mo Pacific 24 23% 24 - %
100 Nat Acme 31 SI 31 — %
300 NatEc&S 51% 51 51
200 Nat Lead 37 57 37 — %
luo tXPv C. Cop 20% 20% 20%- %
60m XYAtrßr 119% 118% 119 —1
TOO X Y Central 73% 73 73 — %
3,000 XYNH&H 39% 39% 38%— %
30 XYO & W 21 21 21
ICO Xorf & West I'M 104 104 - %
100 de pref 7*> 70 TO 4-1
500 Xor Pacific 88% 87% 88% *e %
2.200 Ohio C Gas 36% 37% 37* '• + %
1.200 Ontario Silver S% 7% 7%— %
.“00 Pacifc Mail 32% 31% S2%+ %
100 Tan-A Pet pr 92% 92% 92%-f %
200 Ft-nn R R 44 44 44 -*- %
400 PeoG&C 43% 45% 43% 4- £
5.100 Pierce Oil 10% «H 16%4~ m
200 Pitt* Coal 49 48% 48%
400 Pitts AW Ya 34% 38% 34% + !
200 rre«s Stl Car 07% 67% «7%-v %
l.SrtO Pull Pal Car 113% 112 112*4*%
700 By Steel Sn *7% T 4 «T%+ %
400 JRay Coo Cep 23% 23% 23%
4.100 Reading 57% 86% S7%— %
600 Rep T«: Steel CO% 20 fd
400 Bov a i Dutch 66 88% 85 -*-2%
fOO do rt.« ti* 18% 18%
10ft Seal* A I, pr 20 20 20 — %
100 Sears-Roei* 140 140 140
5,000 Si«.-»n‘rOit 82% 31% 11 t
MY* Sics-. Sh SAI % 60% «1% 4-2
300 South Pacific 6* 83% 86 - %
3.600 Southi rn Ry 26% 26% 26%-e *4
100 Studebaker 43% 45% 45%— %
100 Tenn C Chem 18 18 18
200 Tei A Pac 15 15 13 — %
7.100 Texas Co 162% 139% 132%+2%
23 Tidewater Oil 190 290 100
100 Third Are 15% 15% 15%~ %
1,008 Tobacco Prod 60% 65% 66 +1
200 Tr:;n&wstl 38% 38% +l%
600 T'nton Pacific 124% 124% 124%- %
100 fni Alley Stl 37% 37% 37%— %
PCtg Stotts 100% 99% 190%+2
100 United Fruit 120 129 129 +1
100 ÜBCIPAF 41 41 41
2.300 l’ S I Alcohol 113% 114% 114%-*- %
SOO V 8 R :bber *>% 60 oO%— %
79 do Ist pr 103% 103% 103%
M.SOO US Steel 110% 108% 109%—%
?08 dopref 11"% 110% 110%
30 Utah S Corp 10 10 10
1.700 Ya C Chem 5£% 32% 33%+ %
100 W aha<h 9 9 9
MU' TVV*t Pnc nr 61 61 6t % %
HOD West I'm Tel 83 83 83
700 Wcatinehouae 43% 43 43%+ %
1.200 W illy* Over 20 lfi% 19%— %
lOC Worth Pump 62% «2% 62%+ %
+ Increase. -Decrease. tßs-d+idcuA.
Birthing and Financial
SPRINGFIELD
FIRE AND MARINE
INSURANCE COMPANY
CASH CAPITAL 52.500.00u.00
A. WILLAKD DAMON. Pregidvnt.
WM. J. MACKAY, Vice-Prvsidvnt.
GEO. G. Bl LKLEY, 2d Vice-I're*.
EDWIN H. HILDRETH. Secretary.
PRIOLEAL) ELLIS, Assistant Sec*y,
Oppenheimcr A Field, H Fort St
Springfield Agents:
FRANCIS H. WILLIAMS, Ire**,
del: Wanted—Men
ELDERLY men am! men above din, nay
obtain position* at the Nurthami. tate
Hr spits I Nv writing to Dr J. A* Uwuatoa,
Sunt.* NrirtUamoto*.
11