Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-07
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.?
A Great Secret Movement on the Part
of the Manufacturers,
ALL FEARING THE TANK SYSTEM.
A Window Glass Worker Says Is or 20
Natives Are Out of Work,
AND FOREIGNERS TO THROW OUT MORE

An important meeting of all the window
glass manufacturers west of this city will be
held May % at the Monongahela House for
the purpose of taking action upon the con-
templated shutdown of a number of the
factories before the agreed time, July 1. At
the meeting an effort will be made to, better
the condition of trade, and, in selfdefense,
the members of the association will take
some action upon the tank furnaces at jean
nette.
The regular weekly meeting of the Pitts
burg Manufacturers Association was held
yesterday afternoon at their headquarters on
First avenue. These gatherings are held
every week for the purpose of talking over
the condition of trade, and, as no business
of importance is transacted, they are very
slimly attended. A special notice was sent
out by the Secretary of the association re-
questing a good attendance at the meeting
yesterday, as some important business was to
be transacted. What this important business
was the Secretary neglected to state. So many
secret circulars, to the members of this associa-
tion, have found their way into THE DISPATCH
office that the Secretary evidently thought 1t
advisable not to send notices out with the
object of the meeting contained therein.
A wELL-ATTENDED MEETING.
The meeting was largely attended. Every
window glass firm in the city, with the excep-
ton of Chambers and Ihmsen's, was repre-
sented AS usual the meeting was held with
closed doors, and nobody was supposed to dis
close the proceedings
The most important matter discussed at the
meeting was the willingness of number of
manufacturers, both in this city and west of
Pittsburg, to close down their factories before |
the end of the fire. The majority of the mem |
bers present objected to any move of this kind |
being made. The reason given was that bust |
ness was picking up, and some firms who have |
not been making much money for a number of |
months would not find it advantageous to close |
their factories now. One manufacturer on the |
Southside stated that their business had picked |
up over 5 per cent in tie present week, and the |
outlook was very flaItering for the trade. Other |
manufacturers said business was no better |
than it was two months ago; but, when it came |
to shutting down, they did not appear to be |
very loquacious on the subject As some OF |
the Western members threaten to kick over |
the traces and break away from the agreement, |
it was decided tU call general meeting for the |
23d inst.
It was also deemed advisable to get the senti- |
ment of the Western manufacturers on the |
tank system. Every member of the aSSocia- 1
tion in the city says he is not afraid OF being |
compelled to adopt the tank system, in case it
works successfully at Jeannette; but in the |
same breath, they predict and feverishly pray, |
that it may prove failure.
THE SHUTTING DOWN BEGINS.
After the meeting yesterday Secretary |
Loeff1er was asked about the business transact
ed, and what would probably be done at the
meeting on the 23d inst. He wouldn't admit
that there would be any meeting, or that there
had been any talk of one. The notices will
probably be sent out to-day though.
On Saturday night Chambers & Co., on the
Southside shut down one of their furnaces,
and this morning the other two will be idle.
The fires will be allowed to die out, and the
machinery of the company will be moved to
Jeanette, where, it is expected, the firm will
begin to blow glass on the 18th inst. 1t was
{! ated yesterday that for some unaccouhtable
reason, a number of the men who are lett idle
by thee shutdown at Chambers Southside
factory will not be given employment at jean
nette. A number of the 26 blowers who quit
evening said they will not get en-
at the tank furnace; yet the foreign
ers all get work there, it seems.
In thus alluding to the window glass business,
it will not be out of order to report, for just
what they may be worth. new allegations that
are out in connection with these recent impor-
tations of window glass blowers from England.
Yesterday glass blower, who wished his name
from publication until after he can
get his charges before the investigating CON-
mittee having charge of the matter, stated
what he said he and 100 other glass blowers
could prove with regard to those importations.
'iSome time before the men were brought
across the ocean, said the blower, President
Campbell came before L. A. 300 with the state
ment that, inasmuch as 90 more glass blowers
we're needed soon at Jeanette than could pos
sibly be had in America-as all had good places
lere-he would like the assembly to authorize
him to bring over so good men with cards from
England. The assembly didn't authorize worth
cent.
HE COULDN'T FIND EN-.
''Then he made a showing of again going
East and West personally to make another
snnYass for men. When he came back he re-
ported to the assembly that it was an impossi-
no more workmen could be had in
his country. Moreover, he added that he had
INST received adviees from England that, in
he Sunderland District Il believe that was the
ocality), there were so good blowers thrown
die by the shutting down of large glass works
FOR these. he added, he would like to send
With the sanction of L. A. 3OO for he thought
{ would be better for the organization to bring
he men over, than leave Chambers & Mckee
o do so themselves.
''Now. if there was any resolution passed
.ranting any such sanction, and good many
,ther members of L. A. 800 don't know it. |
,6u6N6 bu6 Sletlh was A1u5 Iul5
10 know: that at the very time when Mr..
campbell was reporting to L. A. 800 that no !
flowers could be had in this country Is or 20 of
is had applied for and been refused work at
& McKees-good union men, mind J
Tou, and was one of them.
''Well, Mr.. Campbell went or wrote for the
Oreign so. well knowing that the manufactur-
rs themselves dared not do SO, as it might
and them in the penitentary. All this, mind
Tou, when they had refused work to native
vorkmen; and we are all out of work vet, too.
Now, if any of the officials of L. A. 800 dare
leny these facts. my name and the names of
90 other good members of the assembly will be
eady as signatures to afidavits to prove to the