The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-05-04
ANOTHER L A TRUST
COOPERATIVE MEN FORM a COMBI-
NATION OF HEIR OWN.
Indications of a Split Two Hours
After Organization-L. A.. % Hay
Order All Plants Closed May IL.

The Cooperative Window-glass Workers.
afte. a lengthy session at the Bates
House last night, formed a company or
a combination 10 be known as the Fed
Grated of Cooperative Window Glass Com
paries of America. Following are the Of
ficers: President. Q. J~aquemain. Mathews.
Ind; vice president, Mr.. Phillipart, Math-
ews. Ind: secretary-treasurer. Mr.. Patter-
son. Converse, Ind. These officers. with
Judge Quertimont. of Point Marion, Pa,
and j. b. Scoy, of Mathews, Ind. consti-
tute the board of directors. Leopold Man,
bourg, of Muncie, was elected representa-
tive of the company. and will receive
all bids for supplies for the factories in
the new combine.
The cooperative men were virtually
driven into organizing a trust by the
American Window Glass Company and the
independent combine which are working
in collision against co-operatives. The
principal contention is over the
purchase of supplies. 1t is said
that the American Window Glass
and the Independent combine in a measure
control the market price for supplies for
glass factories. and by their combined
influence the co-operatives were compelled
to purchase at a financial disadvantage.
Their only recourse was to form an or
ganization of their own and they Will
now act as one in purchasing all supplies.
Mr.. Mambourg. who represents the COM
pany. will ask for bids from all firms
that manufacture supplies, and IL is be-
lieved If prices are not secured on a level
with those asked of the other two trusts
the new combination may decide to provide
means of furnishing their own members
with necessary equipment for their plants.
The representatives of the American
Window Glass Company and independent
combine left the city yesterday afternoon
and it is believed their visit had no in
fiuence in bringing about the organization
of the co-operatives.
1t is said that the two older trusts offered
tc market the glass for the cooperative
purchase supplies from their plants. While
the co-operatives will not condemn them
selves. the inference is given out that they
rejected this proposition and that they Will
maintain the same independence in the
glass market as heretofore. Nlnety-tWo
per cent. of the cooperative manufacturers
are represented in the new combination,
and. considering their competition, control
about one-fOurth of the market. They have
prevented the other trusts from cornering
glass. and this feature has much to do with
the desire of the American Window Glass
Company and the Independent combine to
bring the co-operatives into line as any
thing else. While it was not the desire of
the larger trusts to absorb the co-opera-
tives, yet they wanted them to place the
controlling price of glass in their hands.
While the co-operatives were in session
President Burns, of l.. A. 300. and the scale
mmitt held a conference in another
room. After the organization of the CO.
operatives a joint conference was held with
the scale committee and President Burns.
This conference related TO the scale. but
the leading feature was the question of
closing the plants May II. The other two
trusts have agreed to close on that date,
as thew say the glass market is being over
stocked and a suspension of work is neces-
sary to maintain the present price of glass.
The co-operatives had said before they or
ganized last night that they would run
their plant a month or more longer. but
now they may take a different view of il.
II is said by the larger trusts that If the
co-operatives do not put out their fires on
the 18th the market will be glutted and the
price will fall. This statement is evidently
not without foundation and accounts for
the activity of l. A. 300 in trying to bring
the co-operatives to an understanding with
the other concerns. 1t is said that If the
price Of glass falls a corresponding reduc-
ton might be made in wages On this ac-
count the labor organization will do all ii
can to hold up the price of glass.
INDICATION OF y SPLIT.
The conference between the new CO.
operatives trust and the scale committee
of l.. a. 300 and President Burns. which
began at II O'Clock last night, adjourned
at = o'clock this morning. and the indica-
lions are that there is already a split in
the new combination. Twenty-Five of the
cooperative plants represented in the new
trust favor closing their plants May 2S
and the remainder. which is about half a
dozen plants. wants to run longer until
they get ready TO close. The plants of the
American Window Glass Company and the
independent combine wish to close May IL.
and l.. A. 300 tried to get co-operatives to
close on that date. After the joint con-
ference adjourned the scale committee,
with President Burns. held a conference.
and II is believed that l.. A. 300 will issue
an order closing all plants in the country
on May IL independent of the wishes of the
tive trust. Another conference will
be held i'm Pittsburg on Monday, when fnal
action will be taken.