The record-union., 1897-03-07
THE STORY OF SOME GLASS;
BLOWERS.

Over in France there was a strike in
glass works in 1895. 1t was occasioned
by the discharge of a workman at one
place who absented himself for two
weeks without vacation being asked,
that he might attend a Socialistic Con-
gress. His fellow workmen went out
through sympathy and similar case
arising in a second shop the glass
blowers there also struck Then the
Socialistic party took up the cause of
the strike and sent UP a committee to
cow and reduce the employers.
Violence and outrage followed. The
furnaces were unlighted and business
ceased greatly to the injury of two
large towns, and the distress Of some
thousands of people. After time the
proprietor of the first works secured
workmen sufficient to light one furnace
and resumed work, the new workmen
coming from Bordeaux and belonging
themselves to haf-socialistic organ
1zation.
More workmen then offered, and two
weeks later another furnace was
lighted. and the following month a
third and later d fourth; the strike was
broken and business in the two towns
was resumed. Then the Minister of the
interior interviewed and asked the pro-
prietors to take back the strikers, re-
T9ininpr he latr%
ing the hours of labor to let all in.
The petition being refused as unjust
TO the workmen actually employed, the
strikers resolved to start shops them
selves and be free from the personality
of an employer. albeit they had no
complaint against the two men control
ding the two works except as stated,
for these employers had been generous,
paid good wages, made no unjust ex-
actions, conserved the welfare Of all
they employed and were not making
great fortunes. In fact, the willing
asess Of all to return was a striking tes-
timonial TO the desirabiuty of the en-
ployment.
The Chamber Of Deputies was pre-
scented by the Socialists with a petition
eor lawsto enable thestrikers tostart on
f.heir own account, but new enactments
were not deemed necessary by the ma
jority. About this time the strikers
ployers made choice from the lot, re-
5ecting320, who were thus left mem-
ployedA To start these 320 in business
ahe Socialists bent their energies. The
necessary capital for the verrer1e ouv-
riere had to be secured. II was had
through the efforts of Rochefort in
part. and IN part by one-franc sub
scriptions and by contributions from
workmen's associations. The new OPP
Grating works were erected and made
ready for work last October They
were located in a town that had suf-
fered a loss Of 5000 inhabitants by
reason Of the great strike of 1882.
When all was in readiness the ques-
tfon arose to what should be done with
the profits of the venture. if there were
any To divide the money among the
wnrkmen was thought to be danger
ouS as il would make them in some de-
gree members of that detested class
the capitalists, or at least stimulate
among them the desire to accumulate
s.nd becom capitalists. 1t was finally
agreed that all the profits should be
turned over to the treasury of the
Socialistic propaganda, and there they
are invariably and weekly sunk.
When the works were ready and the
fires lighted there was much speech
making, and prophecy was induiged In
as to the easy, Independent time the
worlkmen would have under the direc-
tory they had established by advice Of
their friends the Socialists. But ther,
were no orders. Finally. after somt
waiting an order for 200 600 bottles was
secured. On the strength Of this 100
600 frances were borrowed from the
hated capitalists. as it was found alb