Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-19
THE INSIDE HISTORY.
Some Reasons Why the Glass Work.
ers' Demands We're Granted.
CIRCULARS ISSUED TO THE TRADE.
The Pipe Manufacturers Advance the Price
Of Oil Well Casing.
NEWS FROM THE INDUSTRIAL MILL

In regard to the exclusive publication in
Yesterdays DISPATCH of the fact that the
Western window glass manufacturers were
dissatisfied with the settlement of the strike
and were accusing the Pittsburg members
of the Wage Committee with breaking faith
with them, Secretary Loefler, of the associa-
ton, who is the active partner in the firm
of R. c. Schmertz & Co., sent out circular
to the trade yesterday.
The firm is the one that wanted to start,
and in the circular, the Secretary says:
When "Jeannette," with a capacity equal to
IL to IA 10-pot furnaces. signed the scale to
commence operations September !, we con-
cluded it useless to resist the demands OF the
workers. but in Difference to other manufact-
urers, and not wishing to appear antagonistic
to them, we finally consented to ignore JEAN
nette," provided "a per cent of all the pots in
the Western district signed an agreement not
to pay any advance. The 94 per cent not hay
ing signed the agreement, same becomes null
and void and is not binding, and any manu-
facturer can honorably start up any day.
Knowing that some of the manufacturers
who refused to cooperate have already signed
the scale, and that others will do likewise
whenever it suits their convenience, which will
virtually means to pay the advance, and the
only thing to be gained by longer refusing to
sign the scale is to further postpone the start
ing of the factories, and in the meantime
abandon the market to the importers and to
the factories starting up.
CoNvINC ED OF HIS MISTAKE.
We are fully convinced now that it was
mistake not to start when Jeanette did, and
no doubt our friends, Messrs. Chambers and
Mckee, were delighted at the course the man.
ufacturers pursued. We are glad to note that
our views are shared by some Pittsburg manu-
facturers. Mr.. Bodine, who is erecting tank
in the East, no doubt would be pleased to have
us remain out of blast until November. at
which time his tank is expected to be ready.
We fully real lize that ruinous prices will pre-
vail during the entire year, but to remain idle
the best season of the year and permit the i'm
porters, Jeanette and others, to do the busi-
ness, does not improve matters. The policy of
Jeanette seems to be to sell very low and op-
crate ten months in the year, acting indepen-
dently of the association. This policy. legally
carried outSmeans the survival of the fittest."
Other manufacturers running only eight or
nine months cannot hope to compete with the
low prices of Jeanette.
For years. the manufacturers have endeav-
ored by artificial means to control prices, but
that policy has only been partly successful
and only temporarily, and resulted in building
up new and weak concerns, until the produc-
tion has reached such a point that control of
prices by combination has become impracti-
cable and therefore, higher prices to compen-
safe for increased cost by reason of shortened
blasts, is an absolute impossibility.
In addition to the above, another circular
was sent out under date of the 14th inst. by
the Secretary. In the latter circular it was
stated that the requisite "a per cent of the
total number of pots in the trade not hav-
ing signed the manufacturers' agreement,
the agreement not to sign the scale was not
binding upon them. The Secretary had
notice that some manufacturers would sign
the scale, and sit was reasonable to suppose
that they should" Continuing, the circular
says:
OPPOSED TO THE NEW RULES.
Therefore, at special meeting of the
PHtsburg manufacturers, it was arranged that
the resident members of the wages committee
have conference with the workers commit
tee, and if a settlement at last years wages
could not be effected, to insist that the workers
must withdraw the new and obnoxious rules
appended to the scale.
THE settling of wages by the Pittsburg
members of the committee seems an unwar-
ranted assumption of authority, and they fully
realized their delicate position, but they had
Elements have been made that way, and same
was satisfactory to our Western friends. Be-
ing on the spot and believing that a critical
period had arrived, and knowing that some in
dividual manufacturers would exercise their
privilege to start up, If we made no settlement
must be our justification"
On the 18th inst. President Thomas D.
Catlen, of Ottawa, ILL.,, was telegraphed
what the Pittsburger proposed to do. He
wired reply that he could not vote for
settlement on the Pittsburg basis. He
further stated that if a meeting was held the
following Thursday he would attend. Mat
tiers were precipitated by the meeting being
held that same day. W. T. Gray, another
member of the committee at GAINESVILLE, o.,
telegraphed: 81 will vote against any ad-
vance in wages" D. G. Goodman, of
Ravenna, wired similar language.
The full correspondence will be printed,
together with the advanced scale of wages,
in the current issue of the National Glass