Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-07
STRIKE SHUTS WORKS DOWN
G.au DISPUTE Likely 70 Vastly Increase
Prices Throughout Country
RUlNoUs RATE WAR IS ALTERNATIVE
Trust Fakes First Action by CIOSinE
and Also Talks of selling Cheap
whe Machines Are In
stalled.

~PITTsBURG, March 6-Concerning the
failure Of the window glass combine and
jobbers to reach an agreement at the recent
meeting at Columbus. the National Glass
Budget tomorrow will say:
IAN agreements between manufacturers
and jobbers are now OF and an open mar
ket, with much lower prices, will be the
next thing In order in the window glass
Industry. That this will result In ellminat-
ing all profits from the business is a dead
certainty and those who continue TO opor-
ate theit plants are certain to do so out
Of the profits accruing up TO the present
time.
Regardless Of what others may do, 1t is
the intention Of the American Window
Glass company to put the fires out Of ell
except their n equipped plant at an
early date. probably on March "a, and here
after paddle their own canoe.
The machines will be introduced at their
various factbrtes as rapidly as possible
and II is exp, uted that when the time for
starting factories in the fall arrives this
company will have several machine
equipped plants in blast, making glass
from 40 to so per cent cheaper than 1t Is
possible to make it by the old method
Trust shuts Down.
Lats tonight the American window Glass
company issued a formal notice that on
March IA all its factories will close for the
season, irrespective OF what other com
panies may do. The moment that the fac
tories are closed q large force Of men will
be put to work to equip them with the new
glass blowing machines.
1t is said all the factories of the COM
pany will be equipped with the new ma
chimes, which will do the work of the
skilled laborer and remove from the glass
factories the highest priced skilled labor
known in the country. 1t will give the
company glass production at less than one
third Of the price under hand labor.
The action Of the American Window Glass
company in closing it's factories and install
ing its machines is said to be its answer
to the independents, who have refused to
come to any agreement concerning uniform
closing of plants this spring.
To make more emphatic the statements
OF the big corporation IL was stated that a
charter had been applied for under the laws
of New York for the Incorporation Of the
American Window Glass Machine company,
which is to have a capital Of $40, 900, 900, all
Of which is to be directed by officers OF the
glass company and which will own all the
patents that now exist and manufacture all
the machines for making window glass.
All former lists have been withdrawn by
the American company and 1t is believed a
cut in rates will be made.
situation is Serious.
PHILADELPHIA, March e.-The Public
Ledger today says: Never in the history
of the window glass industry in this coun-
try, It is said, have manufacturers and job
bers been confronted with such a serious
situation as at present.
II the plans of a number of leading pro-
ducers to close dow their factories tenn
porarily are successful, 1t is said, higher
prices are assured, while II It fails 1t is
predicted here that the most ruinous price
war which has ever been inaugurated will
be a certainty.
There is only one safe way out OF the
difficulty" said a leading local jobber, "and
that is by closing the factories. II a sus-
pension OF operations takes place a better
demand for glass will naturally follow and
all are assured profitable prices on their
present holdings and the output of the
factories between now and a time when a
shutdown is decided upon by a majority OF
producers.
"If, however, a SUFFICIENT number of man
ufacturers persist in working their fac
tories, prices are sure to be cut so deep
that every box OF glass maze during the
coming season will have to be sold at a
loss. In the event of the factories failing
to 20 out Of blast; a cut of 40 per cent would
not surprise us and those familiar with
the business, the cost of material and high
wages know what 1t means"
1t has been estimated by those in a posi-
ton to know that there are now in the
hands of manufacturers about 1900, 00O
boxes Of glass. one-half Of which is in the
warehouses of the American Window Glass
company.