The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-07
GLASS WORKERS FIGHT
SECRET MEETING THAT MAY DIS
RUPT THE BIG ASSOCIATION.
Cutters and FIatteners Rebel Against
Imposition OF Blowers and Gath
erers-state News.


Special to the indianapolis Journal.
MUNCIE, Ind, June 6.-Nearly three hun
dred finc-looking young men, representing
che cutting and flattening departments of
the window-glass workers trade in the In
diana gas belt, met in Sons of Veterans
Hall, in this city to-day and took the
first combined step toward the amalgama-
ton of the two trades for the purpose of
protecting their interests against the blow
ers and gatherers' and by a unanimous
vote decided to organize the trades together.
The meeting was presided over by Samuel
Tappan, of Arcadia, and every one of the
forty factories in the State was represented,
some Of the men driving many miles to
reach here. This class of the trade claims
that President Burns of the Window-glass
Workers Association, of North America,
of which all four trades are members, is
working to their detriment to benefit the
blowers and gatherers. The two latter
trades are in the majority. as there are
four blowers and four gatherers to each
1attener and five blowers and gatherers
combined to one cutter. This gives the
blowers and gatherers over 70 per cent. Of
the votes.
The majority claims that their work is the
hardest, and that the equalization of wages
IS not correct, and recently resolution
was passed by the majority TO the effect
that the next wage committee should con-
sst of a majority for the blowers and gath
erers and that they should work for an
increase in this department, while the cut
ters should take another cut to make up the
deficit. and if 1t became necessary the glass
could be shipped to warehouses away from
the factory in sheets as blown and each
dealer employ his own cutter. This would
disrupt the cutters organization, and II
they succeed in getting the tiatteners with
them, as 1t now looks, this cannot be done,
and the cutters and fatteners claim they
will not be bounced, and if the association is
disrupted they will take the funds, amount
ing TO 100000. in the treasury and assume
charge. The resolution prepared by Burns,
which IS causing the trouble, in part is as
follows:
1--WE recommend that single-strength
blowers shall be advanced Is per cent; dou-
ble-strength blowers, 10 per cent. up 10
4bx60 brackets and over that per cent;
cutters and fiatteners to remain the same
unless advance over that can be Sc
cured, and in that event the amount be
equally divided among all the trades"
The meeting here to-day was the same as
others held in the East, and when the votes
are counted the question of amalgamation
will be decided and then a general conVen-
ton will likely be called for the election of
officers and the old scale of wages de-
manded. The meeting to-day indicates that
the men will stand no favoritism in the
trades, and, if so, the greatest labor union
that ever existed will be disrupted.
A year ago the cutters held a secret
meeting in Cleveland, and three months
later, when President Burns learned of II,
he is said TO have been in favor of filming
each man 500 for attending the meeting.