Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1899-04-06
AGREEMENT FAILS.
The Blowers Say That lash Will Not
Come Before Saturday-Big Meet
ing Here Tuesday.


ing Here Tuesday.
PHILADELPHIA. April 4.--No strike
will be ordered for the glassblowers of
South Jersey until after next Saturday, if
at all. This was the decision of the
officers of the American Glassblowers'
Association, who represented the men in
the conference with the Manufacturers
Committee, at the Hotel Walton yester-
day.
The Blowers Comm ttee, at the con-
clusion of the morning conference, went
into executive session in the offices of
their association, in the Forrest building,
and held an evening session at the Hotel
Windsor, when they reached the above
decision.
At the hotel conference the committee
representing the manufacturers was COM
posed of ]. F. Jefferis, j P. Whitney and
D. w. Moore, Jr,, and the Blowers Conn
'mittee of President d. A. Hayes, Vice
President William Doughty, Secretary
William Launer and George Brannip, of
the Executive Committee of the National
Association. Mr.. Jefferis, of the Mana
sented the reply of the manufacturers to
the demands presented by the men on
March Is, asking for union wages, the
right to organize and recognition OF
their organization.
The first ultimatum presented by the
Manufacturers Committee was as toll
lows:
nr rn rr1a
manufacturers have been called together
by the undersigned committee and your
statement laid before them. After giving
it the fullest consideration they have in
structed us to convey to you their views
in the matter as follows:
"First-That having made arrange
ments with their blowers for this blast
by written and verbal contracts at prices
as agreed between the men and manufac-
turers, they take the position that such
agreements and contracts should be car
ried out until June 80, 1899, before any
change shall be asked for.
Furthermore. as the manufacturers,
having made their contracts with the
buyers of glassware based on wage list
as agreed with the blowers, they cannot
rightfully or fairly be asked at this time
to make change which would mean a
direct and heavy loss, but after the blow
ers have fulfilled their agreements for
this blast, ending June 80, 1899, then they
are privileged to make any request of the
manufacturers that they may see fit, and
also ask the manufacturers to meet them
in conference, but at this time and under
the circumstances as stated above, we be-
lieve that they have no right in any way
whatever to ask independent manufac.
turers to make changes during the blast
We don't recall that there has ever been a
demand for a change of basis of blowing
from the blowers during the blast, but
such demand has been formulated and
made during the shut down and pre-
sented to the manufacturers, so that
whatever changes should be agreed upon
would leave the manufacturers in a posi-
ton to adjust their contracts in accord
ance Herewith.
Therefore, the manufacturers feel that
in presenting their views, there can be no
question of the justice and equity of their
statement and position, and that the pro-
per thing to do is to postpone any further
conference in this matter, until July
next"
The workers. committee considered the
ultimatum in an executive session which
lasted more than an hour, and then they
ANNOUNCED that it had been unanimously
rejected on many grounds.
The manufacturers then presented an
amendment, said to have been drawn
of the union. 1t was as follows:
believing that strikes or conflicts be-
tween labor and capital are very serious
things, causing not only money loss to
the manufacturer and the employe, and
in this case it not only involves the glass
manufacturer, and the glassblower, but
thousands of unskilled labor as we'll as
creating a personal feeling between em-
ployer and employed that takes years to
eradicate, deem it wise to suggest some
way that a settlement can be reached. that
will avoid serious complications and long
strife; therefore would suggest that the
whole matter shall be referred to an arbi-
tration committee; that our employees
shall choose three disinterested persons
outside of the glass trade. and that the in
dependent manufacturers shall also
choose three disinterested persons out
side of the glsss trade, and these six agree
to a seventh member of the arbitration
committee; this committee to take up
such complaints and grievances as our
blowers may have to make, and the man.
ufacturers to have the opportunity for
defence, each side to be limited to twelve
witnesses; the decision of the arbitration
committee to be binding upon both
parties during the balance of the blast.,'
Once again the union men went into
executive session, Later they returned
and announced that they could not arbi-
trate. They said they would only arbi-
trate among themselves and not with
their EMPLOYERS. ft a4s