Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-13
PREPARING TO QUIT.
Green Glass Men Are Opposed to the
Management of the Knights.
WHAT JOHN COFFEY HAS TO SAY.
Eastern District Men Unanimously Desire
to Leave the Order.
THEY TALKED OF 1T THREE YEARS AGO

Ex-Master Workman John Cofey, OF the
former Eastern division Of the green glass
blowers, arrived in town yesterday morning.
He will, if he can make suitable arrange
ments, take up permanent residence here.
He was present at the usual meeting of
L. A. Gill last evening, and took part in
the business. -
Mr.. Cofey has strong following here,
and his arrival, and probable residence
here, is not without considerable interest. 1t
is an open secret now that the withdrawal Of
the green glass blowers from the knights of
Labor is only question Of time. On this
question there is division in the craft, but it
is stated that those in favor of a withdrawal
are growing in numbers to the disadvantage
of the supporters of the order. 1t may be
said that there are two sections, one led by
John Coffey and the other by Louis AIRING
ton. the present National Master Work
man. The latter official is credited
with being an earnest supporter OF the
powers that be, and consequently adverse
to severance of his craft from the order,
while those members who look to John
Coffey as their representative are for draw
ing out That dissatis faction with the pres
ent management of the body was prevalent
among the bottle blow ers was mentioned
some months ago in these columns, and it
was then predicted that the end of the trade
year would witness
A COMPLETE WITHDRAWAL
and a federation with the flint glass
workers. This moveme ht is now said to be
well advanced, and the convention in next
June will end the matter as far as the
Knights of Labor are con-, cerned. The feel
ing in favor of withdrawal is strongest in
the East, and is of pretty considerable
strength here, too. Mr.. Cofey was asked
last night to indicate how far this feeling
had spread.
ST can only speak with any degree of cer-
tainty of the East" he said, "and there
know the feeling of antagon ism to the or
der to be very strong. The Eastern divi-
sion of Green Glass Blowers would have
drawn out three years ago but for a feeling
that, under the circumstances, they could
not do so with any degree of honor. These
circumstances were the position in which
the division stood with regar rd to the order.
1t had obtained loan of $1,000 to carry on
the strike, and while it W as outstanding
they could not move"
'The feeling against the present manage
ment of the order is very st rong. While I
am a firm believer in the principles of the
knights of Labor, 1 cannot support the
methods of the existing man: lgement Pow
derly's methods are those of In autocrat who
disposes of people as he choos es, and without
cause or reason. His methods: of conducting
the business of the order have caused much
dissatisfaction among the era It, for whom, I
hold, he has never done very much. That
this feeling should find vent in a desire to
draw out of the body is not surprising.
A D1sCoURAGING OUTLOOK.
''The condition of the craft in the East is
not very encouraging. There are about
1000 non-union and ], 900 unionists at work.
Several factories have been lost to the
organization this year. Mr.. Powd erly de-
clares that the order is not a
tempt any redress of grievances W hich we
conceive we are entitled to take, action
upon, if we cannot stand out in su pport of
our claims? The Knights of Labor are no
longer able or willing to give us the back
ing we desire, and the natural result will
follow"
Mr.. Cofey has large number of friends
here. II he elects to remain he will make,
it is said, many friends more. and be sent to
the June convention as delegate from the
Assembly. Indications point to lively
time in the organization, with result of
the victory of the secessionists..
At the weekly meeting last night consid-
cradle discussion waged around the con-
struction of rule made at the convention
at Baltimore. 1t was heretofore the custom
for boys to fill the molds for the blowers,
and rule was made at the convention dis
pensing with the boys, thus throwing
additional work on the men. Against
this rule a section of the men have since
made vigorous protest. and. In fact, have
disregarded it. A certain amount of friction
then ensued between the supporters of the
rule and its opponents. and, as result of
the meeting last night, Master Workman
Reiff els cted to leave the matter to National
Master Workman Louis Arlington.