The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-17

To the Editor of the Indianapolis journal:
A great many misleading statements have
from tine to time appeared concerning
the window-glass situation, and gone un-
corrected because of their transparency to
those informed on the subject Now, how
ever, that the representations of the volu-
BILE faction has called forth editorial notice,
thus Identifying an ignoble cause, the facts
of the matter may not come Amiss. Co.
operation is indeed a plan we'll worth de-
velopng, and deserves all the good things
that can be said of it; but when workmen
can and do exact the limit of wages as
their share cooperation can do no more.
During previous administrations of the
Glass-workers' Association q. A. K. of L.,
No 3(O) the executive head ascertained the
cost of production and the market price;
then, with this information as a basis he
formulated a scale of wages consistent with
both. OF course, the fgures were of neceS-
sity approximate ones, but the officers were
so successful in obtaining all that the man.
ufacturers could afford to give the L. A.
No. 800 gained the reputation of holding
first place among successful labor organiZa-
tions The present administration is en-
gagged in dual contest. 1t strives to put
down a minority of its members on one
hand and exacts more than conditions war
rant on the other. Ignoring the fact that
the exorbitant wage eXactIon is sure to
react on the workmen through closed fac
tories, the present administration has re-
fused the highest wages given for num-
Der of yearS-thoSe given under the Nc
Kinley billiard demands more than the
manufactures can pay. AS though this were
not enough to JeOpard1Ze the WorkmenS
chance of sharing the general prosperity,
the executive head of the organization is
bending his energies to the crushing of
minority he has sworn to protect. The
four separate trades of which l.. A. No. 300
consists are bound together by articles
of amalgamation, which stipulate that all
four trades shall receive a like advance in
wages and that any change affecting any
one Of these trades shall be voted upon
separately by the trade affected and de-
cided by majority of it's members. The
and it's adherentS is easily shown. After
passing the resolution making the articles
of amalgamation void, and basing a wage
scale upon IT. the president, on advice of
his attorney, declared the resolution UNI
constitutional, but still insists upon submit
ting the wage scale. for which it is a basis.
Nor will he, having disrupted the organiZa-
ton, permit manufacturers to sign the
scale OF two withdrawn trades after having
signed his. The few factories that have
signed his scale and accepted his conditions
are, with some inefiicientS in two depart
ments, making glass that finds a ready
uct; but this has no bearing on the strike
situation. Perhaps dozen or more fac
tories could thrive paying even more than
the scale demanded, but with a general re-
SUMPTION the present inflated prices would
fall The recent talk of "retaliating' on
the obdurate trust" by operating coop
erative plants is impracticable and brings a
smile to the faces of those conversant with
the situation. Cooperation must have for
It's foundation justice, and If the Voluble
majority and its leader will but rentroduce
cooperation in its true form into their or
ganlzation they can secure Il Just and prof
liable settlement from the manufacturers as
soon as they create harmony within their
own ranks. MINORITY