Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-01-04
WILL NOT ARBITRATE
UPON ANYTHING CONCERNING THE WAGE
SCALE.
The Reply Of the Martins Ferry Gasswork'rs TO
the Proposition Of President SeamOO' Of
the Buckeye Works.

The glass situati on at Martins Ferry
is not much better now than 1t was at
first. The glassworkers. in their reply
to President A. D. Seamon's proposition
10 arbi.rate the matter, state that they
will not arbItrate any ma tier that con-
Germs the general wage scale. They
say they will appoint a committee to
wait upon Mr.. Seamon and aroitrate
any matter that does not concern their
wage scale, but will draw the line
there.
The following is the reply the glass
workers have made In regard TO the
proposition TO arbitrate the difference
that exists at present between them and
the Buckeye Glass Company. Although
they do not make blank refusal to ar
bitrate with the company, they will ar
btrate no matter concerning their gen
eral wage scale.
MARTINS FERRY, O., Jan. 2, 1895.
10 ~ Editor or ms Re9ts,s-.
As Mr.. A. d. Seamon, of the Buck
eye Glass Co., has selected the columns
of newspaper TO convey TO the union an
offer TO arbitrate the difference now ex-
listing between his company and the
Union, we beg the use OF your columns
TO convey our answer thereto.
We are not opposed to the principle
of arbitration. As a means Of prevent
ing and adjusting wage contests, 1t is
good thing when honestly applied. But
. hn ri ~ nj N
arbitration, as there is limit to every
thing else, and this limit, so far as max
ing general changes In their wage
scales, has been reached by flint glass
workers for this blast al least.
As is generally known, all the wage
scales and rules governing the mem
bers OF the American Flint Glass Work
ers' Union are arranged annually at
the beginning OF the blast or running
season by conference committees OF
manufacturers and workers, and con-
tlnue to the end Of such blast. The
duties of these committees are similar
to the duties OF arbitrators; their de-
cis!on has the same binding effect as
the decision of arbitrators. They meet,
hear evidence, render decision there
on, and their decision Is binding to all
parties concerned until the end OF the
current ciast In this manner all local
and general disputes are adjusted.
To all intentS and purposes, then, the
goods made by the Buckeye Company
have already been passed upon by an
arbitration committee. To urge, there
fore, to reopen our general wage scale
would be equivalent to arbitrating an
arbitration, and such a precedent esta6'
lished, one arbitration OF an arbitration
would follow another as manufacturers
would request until the stability OF an
nual conference settlements Of wage
scales would be destroyed.
To keep faith with other employers,
as we would keep faith with Mr.. Sea-
mon had we an agreement with him,
and thereby preserve the integrity OF
our agreement, we feel constrained at
this time to decline to open up our gen.
eral wage scales to arbitration.
While we thus refuse TO open our gen.
eral wage scales, We shall instruct our
Committee to wait upon Mr.. Seamon to
offer to arbitrate any question not az
fectiug the general wage scales, and to
do all in their power consistent with
fair dealing to effect an amicable adj
iustment OF our deplorable difference.
With the sincere hope that he may
see his way clear to enter into the effort
at adjustment in the same spirit that
we do,
We are Respectfully,
MEMBERS L. u. No. IS,
Per JACOB RosENTHAL, Sec'y.