Bridgeton pioneer., 1899-06-08
MASS MEETING.
Presents the Side of the Glassworkers In
the Present Industrial Glass
Trouble.

Despite the warm weather and counter
attractions, the large auditorium of
Moore's Opera House was crowded Mon
day, with an audience that was appar-
emily much interested in the discussion
of the bottle blowers of this city, concern
ing the industrial difficulties here.
There we're no brass bands, no special
program, nothing but plain argument
from plain man, but this served to at
tract sufficient people TO crowd the house,
and to keep them interested for two long
hours, which Dennis A. Hayes, President
of the Green Bottle Blowers Association
of the United States and Canada ad-
dressed the masses.
The stage was very attractively ar
ranged with bunting, flags and flowers,
and the meeting was presided over by
Freeholder William Leach. He made
short introduction of President Hayes,
and storm of welcoming applause
greeted the President when he arose to
begin speaking. 1t was just five minutes
after eight o'clock when Mr.. Hayes
began his argument, and it was just ten
O'Clock when he bid the people good
night.
The address was temperate, earnest
and the speaker wanted to be understood
that he was responsible for every state
ment made. There was an occasional
bit of satire in his remarks, while occa.
sionally bit of humor served to awaken
renewed interest. He did not launch in
invective against men, but rather de-
rnounced the systems which serve to
drag down men dependent upon labor,
and to prevent them from enjoying, with
their families, the full measure of Ameri-
can citizenship.
Mr.. Hayes declares there are but three
questions involved in the strike which is
now injuring the business interests of the
town. The men asked for the standard
rate OF wages which are being paid all over
the country, the right to organize and the
payment of wages in cash. That was all
there was in 1t. 1t was impossible for
people, skillful and smooth though they
be, to cloud those three issues. That was
all the glassworkers asked for, that is
what they are entitled to, and Mr.. Hayes
believed that was what the men would
get. He declared that this meeting was
not called to awaken prejudice or cause
bitterness. 1t was not called for sympa-
thy. The striking men did not need
sympathy. They wanted but justice, and
the speaker felt sure they would get it.
In discussing the three propositions
which are demanded by the strikers,
President Hayes wanted to know why
Bridgeton could not pay the same rate of
of wages as Millville. Has the latter city
any advantage over Bridgeton that
makes it possible for a higher rate of
wages? Surely the better wages was
benefit to the town. The tax books of
Bridgeton, he said, showed that out of 900
bottle blowers, but 3s paid taxes upon
their own property. In Millville out of
800 bottle blowers, 175 owned property.
The glassworkers of Millvile were
worth 100000 in property and invest
ment, and paid one tenth of the taxes
Such state of affairs did not exist in nom
union Bridgeton. This city, the speaker
said, had skilled glasswork ers, honest
men, members of churches, and they
were entitled to the same treatment that
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The union rate of wages established,
PRESIDENT Hayes said, the men were en-
Titled to the payment of wages in lawful
money, giving free American citizen
the right to spend it where he pleased.
He denounced the .company stores un.
sparlngly and declared them to be against
the interests of the town and the men.
Month JorSQU W ho nj
country where it was deemed necessary
to run glass company stores. These stores
kept men in debt. and the debt made the
employees dependent. The State of New
Jersey had declared against the payment
OF wages in anything but money, and
yet no attention was paid to the law.
Why?
President Hayes assured the people
that the glass bottle blowers association,
through their representatives, twice each
year, conferred with manufacturers rep
resenting $5,OO0.0OO of investment. These
representatives had labor to sell, the
manufacturers want to buy it. The mat
ters are discussed, and an agreement
reached. There has not been a general
strike OF the association in fifteen years.
The association does not want strikes
They find no use for them. If these man
ufacturers all over the comfy can agree
and work in harmony with the men, why
not these few manufacturers in South
Jersey.
Mr.. Hayes also took up the question of
citizenship, the manner of American liv-
ing. and some of the things the working
mon are. entitled to. and urged upon the
people the necessity for men to educate
be dispelled. 1t was an earnest. honest
American struggle upon the part of the
Bridgeton workingmen against abnse
that should not exist; and not one of the
manufacturers, he declared, would At
tempt to sustain his position, and as the
men We're right, he believed that instice