Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-17

as the demand for sizes would warrant. The
judgment of the cutter, which is thus final as
70 the work of gatherer. hattener and,
TO lean toward his fellow employees, and, as it
would bring them more wages, to lean from the
manufacturer TO Just that extent.
IT TOOK A DAY AND A HALF.
The manufacturers element in the conyen-
tion prevailed, however, after one and a half
days of earnest discussion on the part of the
delegates The method by which those in
favor of the Chambers plan (by the box) pre-
vailed finally, was to declare the quality per-
centage plan unconstitutional.
One quite important resolution, favorable to
the worker and against the manufacturer, was
adopted. 1t provides that hereafter no fat
tener be allowed to fiatten for more than four
pots, or that there be allowed three fiatters to
each ten-pot furnace. They have been here
tofore allowed only two fiatteners to each ten
pot furnace; so that by the new arrangement,
the manufacturer will have to hire SO per cent
more help i'll such cases.
Another matter of general interest but
which has not yet been disposed of, is the asso-
ciations proposed insurance feature. 1t came
before the convention, was discussed and
strongly opposed Many of the window glass
workers already belong to secret beneficial or.
ganizatlons, giving them policies on their lives,
and they did not feel that an additional assess
ment of 81 for each three deaths in their labor
organization should be levied on them, the
of these objections, motion prevailed to refer
the matter back to the committe for revision.
AS TO THOSE RICH TANKS.
Probably no matter that came before the
convention was of more widespread Importance
to the trade than a resolution which was in
troduced discussed and finally sat down upon
by the predominant element, and which pro-
vided that all ;ank furnace proprietols pay all
their employees 10 per cent more wages than the
oF for rinr
at pot furnaces AS to how great the ramifica-
tions of this movement were, and how much
stronger its opponents we're, the narration of
few facts will serve to illustrate. The limita-
tlons of the windowglass industry IN the East
ern district New Jersey and Maryland),
and the Northern district New York and
Northeastern Pennsylvania), have been
such that the Association has here
tofore conceded the manufacturers in
those districts a scale of wages 10 per cent
lower than that prevailing in the Western
district, which includes Pittsburg, Jeanette
and all places west thereof. Indeed, those
Eastern and Northern manufacturers could
hardly make ends meet and pay the Western
scale. With this fact in view, and because it
had been demonstrated that the enormous
proportionate output of the tank furnaces at
Jeanette would enable them to crush out all
weak window glass cOmBetitors-l. E., those
weaker than Pittsburg boasts of-the Northern
and Eastern delegates, and many who sympa-
thized with them. pushed this scheme for 10
per cent additional wages from tank furnaces
TO equalize matters But it wouldn't work
The Chambers & Mckee element and followers
had already gained complete control of the
convention, and they held it, so that it now re-
mains only question of survival of the tittest
as between the great tank furnace and its
weaker rivals.
RADICAL APPRENTICESHIP CHANGES
No question of all those that came before
the convention-except possibly the kindred
one of importations of labor-has attracted
more attention than the apprenticeship tan
gle The lack of blowers here-due TO this
very shortage of apprentices-was, indeed, the
cause of the alleged violation of Federal laws
on the part of the association. Now the appren-
ticeship question, with its half dozen or more
knotty problems. is still troubling the cOnven-
tion. Several plans are suggested as affording
remedies, either partial or complete. One is to
allow the sons and brothers of the tradesmen
at present employed to be taken in appren-
tices at the age of IA years. instead of l6 years
as heretofore. The advantage of this plan,
which is heartily favored by President Camp
bell wise one, is that it will not hold an
apprentice down TO be a mere gatherer's as
sistant until he is l9 years of age, as hereto
fore, but will present him at IL years of age as
q finished and competent gatherer, ready to
begin learning the blowers trade.
Another plan is to increase the maximum of
apprentices by 80 per cent, and thus insure the
balancing of supply and demand within a few
years. Heretofore apprentices to gatherers
only have been allowed as beginners and the
proportion of even these has been SO very
small that the growth of the business (l0 per
cent a year, and its demands have far out
Stripped the
RECRUITS TO THE RANKS
of finished workmen. Indeed, so great has
been this discrepancy that over so per cent of
the blowers on American foot benches to-day
are foreigners-men who were born and learned
Tbafr do in nit paI
or Germany President Campbell recognizes
this sad condition of affairs regards home in
dustry, and has often called the attention of his
fellow craftsmen TO the need of radical rem
edy. He favors the so per cent increase in
number of apprentices not only, but suggests
and urges that green hands be apprenticed to
blowers as well as to gatherers. and that the
trade begin at both ends of the string to educate
competent home workmen. In this reform
President Campbell has the almost undivided
support of the trade, except as to the degree OF
extent of the reform. The blowers, of course,
or most of them, while feeling that the present
20 per cent recruiting process which only
ripens once in three years, should be made
more liberal, are loath to go as far toward sup
planting their own craft as some of the work
ers who are not blowers, yet who see the need
of more of them. As above stated, however,
this whole apprenticeship question is still
pending, and may, indeed, have tendency to
still further prolOng the convention.
The convention yesterday took the very
L. Evans and Homer L. McGaw for antagon-
izing its chief officials, but of instructing the
delegates from L., A, 300 to the General As
sembly, Knights of Labor, to vote and work for
the expulsion of the two gentlemen named
from the order. One of its delegates is always
President Campbell, and he will undoubtedly
obey the associations instructions in this re-
spect. Other resolutions adopted in the same
line follows:
THE BoYCoTTING REVOLUTIONS.
WHEREAS, 1t has come to pass that L. A. 3OO K.
of L., Window Glass Workers have had occasion
TO use the benefit of the universal federation Of
labor in order protect the interests of L. A. 300
and its members; and
Whereas, The course pursued by the officers of
i. A. 800 was In our opinion right and proper and
the only open to them if they had the interest
of the organization at heart: and
Whereas, The actions of the officers of L. A 800
have been severely criticised and condemned by
certain people whose motives may may not be
plain TO the general public; and
Whereas, Two certain alleged labor papers
published In this city have Joined in the hue and
cry against our officers with motives actuating
Whereas, One Of these papers, which was in no
way affected by the action referred TO, but chose
TO fill its columns with contemplate editorials on
the officers Of l. A 200 and the apprentice laws of
inquiry of the officers Of the organization,
thereby trying to tear down labor organization |
in the eyes of kindred organizations; be it
Resolved, That offer confidence to a |
paper which once stood in the front of all labor
papers, when its illustriOus editor was alive but
which has since degenerated until it Is known to-
day labor paper without union man on it. |
except the printers. BE it further
Resolved, That as another paper. which aims to |
represent the glass trade by the pen Of men who /
are disOwned by L. A. 300, though once its officers
has sought TO gain some cheap notoriety by the |
same questionable method we desire TO 20 upon /
record in the statement that the paper re- |
1erred to; driven from its original ter |
and settling down in Pittsburg tempo |
rary, hoping to dazzle the organized workmen Of |
thJ eiRity 5 ar IL is in no s recognized By
IT and the other paper in their present attitude
ward the association enemies of organized |
labor who are given to pernicious SANDER and |
are unht TO be read by union men who have re- \
gard for their honor such. Re IL further
Resolved That we individuals withdraw our |
support from all persons who advertise in the /
columns of either paper, after giving said parties
a proper notice of the same.
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