Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-12-10
BOTH SIDES.
A Fair and Impartial View Of the
Differences
Between the Manufacturers and the Glass.
wofkers---What Is to Be Expected
---WhseIing Not Affected.

Whatever may be the outcon ne of the pres
ent glass difficulty, Wheeling will feel none
oft, except through the North Wheeling
bottle works. The men over the river have
until Friday to make up their minds, but it
is rumored the manufacturers will call q
conference before that time tits also said,
and it seems contradictory, that the manu-
facturers are rather anxious TO shut down.
These statements differ somewhat from the
Bellaire Independents statements, as 81
lows:
The notice signed by the five flint G lass
manufacturers in this city, two at Mar
tins Ferry, and one at Bridgeport has been
the subject OF very animated conversation
in certain circles ever since, and from what
we can gather it does not seem that there
will be prolonged trouble over the matter.
Especially is this true if the trade shows
SIGNS OF FRIGHTENING.
The manufacturers want the difference in
the manner of working adjusted for the rea.
son, as they state, that the present plan OF
paving by the turn" or 'move" rather
places q premium on seconds, whereas in
Pi,tsburg only "6rsts" are paid for. ID
paying by the move it matters not whether
there are more seconds than firsts, while In
paying by the piece it matters great deal
TO the workmen-they receive no pay for
seconds. 1t is claimed that here the accu.
mutation of seconds is the curse of several
of the factories, and that it is impossible to
compete in the market against men who
pay nothing fer the making II this
matter can be adjusted on plan by
which the men will suffer no reduction, 1t
will occasion no great difficulty. The pay
by.the-turn plan is of benefit to new begin.
ners, and q change from it will bring out
their strongest opposition. A new beginner
cannot be given a "shop" in glass factory
at any reduction from the man who has
handled a shop for twenty years. They both
receive the same pay and no distinction can
be made under present rules. This differ.
ence without distinction is hardly fair, and
it looks reasonable to ask an adjustment.
TWO SIDES.
But there is always two sides to every
case. The men will not be unreasonable in
what they do, most likely. The fact that
this is not a new question, and that no
more differences exist now than have exist
ed for several years, gives rise to the in
uuiry, why this strike at this time? The
men very naturally feel that the move is
made now because the manufacturers think
they can compel submission; that the men
are unable to stay out now that winter IS
setting in. This is foul hold, and it will
not work. There are differences that per-
haps should be adjusted, but the manufsc-
turers themselves are not a unit in this
movement, which gives out the. impression
that there is not as much in 1t as Is
claimed. BESIDES, it strengthens the men
who will not submit to reduction
in wages, but who will, as we learn from the
men themselves, agree to stop two months in
the summer to curtail production. The
workers in this section were in favor of this
last year, but they were voted down. The
glass workers of this valley all belong to an
association. They are powerless within
themselves to make the adjustment asked,
even if they desired so to do. This
the manufacturers know. They under
stand that the rules governing the work
ings Of shops can only be changed by the
Association, and that the Association must
HAVE TINE TO CONSIDER
any radical changes that are proposed, SO
that an answer by Friday next is simply
out OF the question. Then, too, it hardly
seems probable that the factories on this
side of the river will remain idle very long,
when those right opposite here will continue
to run This is the view taken by the work
men, and after hearing all sides of the case,
we think it probable that there should be
Some change in the basis of work, but that
that the manufacturers in justice to
themselves will not continue the
lockout any length of time.
There will be NO answer from the men by
Friday next, but whatever is to be done in
the way of adjusting differences will be
done after the holidays. The factories that
are making money are still running; those
that are not will stop for time. What
ever IS done " tn the men, it cannot help
he glass trade. Competition brought
| prices down, and il the men were cut down
prices would 60 still lower. We hope to
see all questions between operators and
workmen in this section settled in bust
ness like way and not depend upon who
can hold out the longest.