The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1900-10-26
GAINS FOB FARMERSs
a Single Instance in Supplying the
Glass Workers.
rro.p-ri,y Of Thi. one Industry
BrinEs Thou.ands of Dollars
10 Farmers for Their
Produce.

Glass manufacturing has become
one of the leading industries of the
middle west and gives employment 10
thousands of workmen in Indiana. Hi
uos, Missouri and other states.
One of Americas patriotic citizens.
Thomas S. Obear. of ST. Louis, be
iieyes it to he the duty of all citizens
who have the interest and welfare of
our country at heart TO lend what aid
they can to reflect our president"
Mr. obenr is president of the 0bear-
hester Glass company and large em-
ployer of labor He speaks to the
wugc.earners aud 10 the farmers who
supply them with food and the mate
rials for clothing as follows:
ave wish to state that after the
passage of the Wilson tnriir bill. un-
der the democratic administration. We
were compelled 10 reduce the wages
of our skilled workmen. reducing their
wages twice, making a reduction 10
them Of nine and Is per cent. accord
ing TO the class Of work they per
formed. II was very hard for us IN
keep our works in operation. and We
were only enabled TO do 50 by such
reduction and by working very hard
10 dispose of our product. On ma
terials that we purchased prices de-
ciinpd to tn. lowest we had ever heard
of. declining in some instances IS and
30 per cent.
since the Mckinley administration
we have been enabled TO increase our
product by doubling the capacity Of
BUR plant. We have advanced the wages
of our skilled workmen twice. paying
them now the highest wages ever paid
them, with exception of on one class
of work paying them Ave per cent.
less than the highest wages paid them.
Our sales last season were so per cent.
greater than any previous year. The
price Of materials that enter into the
manufacture of our product. inclnd-
ing fuel. has advanced 10 to 40 per
cent. The price OF our product. owing
to new methods OF manufacturing.
notwithstanding the increased cost OF
production. has advanced only from
Eve 10 ten per cent. TO the conSumer.
1--WE commenced business in 1891.
and. Of course. each year would show
an enlarged business for the first few
years. You will notice that since the
Mckinley administration got into good
working order and the Dinglcy tariff
bill was pissed there has been large
increase each year in both skilled and
unskilled labor. During the year end
ed September l. 1900. We paid ont in
wages. moi including office salaries. a
total amount of si6O,aO7.5O. against
sT2.2IaO7 for the year ended Septem-
her I. 1906. which was fair average
of our business under the democratic
administration"
Mr.. 0hear'> statement Is typical Of
the glass business NIL over the coun-
Try. II is conditions like these which
have induced the president of the
Green Glass association. a workingman
and democrat. to declare openly for the
reelection Of MIR. Mckinley.
The purchasing power of the glass
workers is fully 10 per cent. greater
than in the democratic days of 1894 and
1895. Tn. direct result is not only
that these workers are saving money,
but that they are buying more from
the agricultural classes than ever be
fore in IN. history OF the country.