Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1896-03-04
A BIG DEFENSE POOL.
GLASS WORKERS, UNIONS UNITE TO
 RAISE MILLIONS.

RAISE MILLIONS.
 Object Is to Maintain Wages-Each VIII
 Support the Other During Loclsouts or
 strikes-yb,ooo Workingmen Are Con-
 cerned-Gigansic Labor Combine.
 One of tho most formidable combina- fions of labor ever formed has been prac- tically effected in Pittsburg by the or oanized glass trades. Plans for all alii- ance between the three great labor un- ions ill tho glass industry have been agreed to which will involve the wei fare of 70, GOO workingmen ill the Unit ed States and Canada. A fund of sew eral million dollars is to be raised by per capita tax within the next few years by the American Flint Glass Workers union, Window Glass Workers assoela tion and tho Glass Bottle Blowers asso- citation of tho United States and Can ada
 This fund will be used to support the members of the organizations named in every contest with the manufacturers combinations which may arise i'll the future. Tho financial strength of all will bo put at tho back of any one of them which may become involved Ill strikes or lockouts. In addition, the big defense funds which each union now has will bo increased, and 1t is pro- posed that in the event that it is neces- aary at any time to fight capital the glass workers will fight with capital.
 In taking this course the representa- tives of the glass workers unions, who ore recognized as the most conservative in tho labor movement disayow any intention to precipitate trouble with employers. The aim will be to raise defense fund of such proportions as will restrain employers from eeeking con- hicts with the unions, to maintain tho rights of the workers and to prevent ruinous competitions among manufac- tnrers.
 All three organizations have sought for many years to prevent overproduo- tion by limiting production per day to a certain amount to each man employed This has worked successfully for many years, and tho employers have been enabled to pay fair wages.
 The combination to raise this big fund was decided upon at a conference of the national officers of the three un- ions. President " J. Smith and Secre- tary John Kunzler represented the American Flint Glass Workers union, President Simon Burns, the Window Glass Workers association, and Presi- dent John D. Troth and Vice President D. A. Hayes, the Bottle Blowers asso- citation.
 The officials met at the headquarters of tho 4. r. G. ". U., excelsior build ing. Tho plan has been under consider ation for several months and was unani mously agreed to. Is will be submitted to vote of the members of the differ ent unions and will undoubtedly be adopted, as the glass workers have been looking to this end for several years.
 The alliance, as explained by Presi- dent Smith, will not involve the auton- omy of the unions. Each will look after it's own trade affairs, as heretofore, maintaining separate organizations and officers and making its own wage agree ments. The fund will be in charge of trustees elected by the unions and will bo expended as directed by the organi- cations contributing.
 Mir. Smith would not state tho amount of the proposed per capital tax before the proposition is laid before tho mem bers, but said that assessments would be made regularly upon the membership of tho unions. About $50, GOO per month can bo raised easily among tho glass workers. For two years and six months the members of tho A. r. c. ". U. have paid all assessment of $5 per week to maintain a strike Ten per cent of tho earnings Of tho members of tic Window Glass Workers association is contributed to it's treasury.
 Tho unions have resolved upon an aggressive campaign to unionize every glass factory in the United States and Canada. The organization will be open ed to all skilled glass workers. It is probable also that the organized unskill- ed workers will be included i'll the alli- ance upon tho same terms as the big unions.
 The conference decided to issue cir oular to all union glass workers ill the Indiana gas belt relating to tho cam paign against tho nonunion factories. - Pittsburg Dispatch.