The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-12-16
STATE OF AFFAIRS
IN GLASS MARKET
The Market is Overstocked and
Some Sales Made AT and
Below Cost.
Manufacturers are Without Organ
ization and the Future seems
Very Uncertain.

uuiTcu w supply thN u'NNo VI 'h' ''''"
try, hence in order to maintain prices
IL is absolutely necessary to operate the
plants only long enough to supply the
demand.
This can only be accomplished by the
cooperation of manufacturers.
The glass workers have strong or
ganization and through it are able TO
command a high scale Of wages.
The manufacturers at this time are
not organized, consequently prices have
declined until their product has been
selling at and below cost.
II is true that i'm the past there have
been different organizations and for a
time the business would run along quite
smoothly and prodtably, until new fac
tories would spring up, remain on the
outside, operating several months longer
than those in the organizations.
The business is in n very deplorable
condition at the present time and unless
the manufacturers can get together II
must become disastrous for both manu-
facturers and workmen.
The American, Independent and Fed
Grafton Glass Companies, became
aware of the fact that their warehouses
were becoming overstocked and ordered
an early shut down last fire. In the
face of these conditions many factories
continued to make all the glass they
could possibly turn out.
The proposed selling agency, to be
called the Manufacturers Window Glass
Company, will have to be fifteen hun
dred (l500) pots, outside of those owned
by the American Window Glass Com
pany or part of those who have signed
will not come in, they having become
weary of holding the umbrella over
those on the outside, many Of whom
have continued to operate their factor
les when the warehouses of the coun-
try were overstocked.
At this time there is practically no
organization among the manufacturers,
tho Independent Window Glass Com
pany and Federation window Glass
Company both having dissolved. This
has been brought about by their inabil-
ity to maintain prices with so many
factories working in opposition.
II the required 1900 pots are not se-
cured, we can only expect a worse
market when the factories all start up,
which they are now preparing to do.
Prices must fall This will be a severe
blow to those who have stock on hand
manufactured at higher scale OF
wages than was ever known in the his
tory of the business.
Those who have been holding their
glass in anticipation of higher prices
will meet with disappointment and loss.
This must result in severe cut in
wages, only to be followed by farther
cut in the price of glass.
The proposed organization, will con-
troll the product of the American
Window Glass Company, who own
(l6SS) sixteen hundred and eighty
eight pots, they having agreed to cease
making glass both by hand and with
their machines, when the Manufacture
er's Window Glass Company deem it
advisable, they also, have agreed to
market their glass through the same
selling agency.
II the necessary (l500l fifteen hundred
pots can be secured, the price of glass
will at once advance, and those having
large stocks Of glass on hand will reap
the first benefit, and the busines become
profitable. II they cannot be secured,
1T will mean the loss of millions OF
dollars, to the manufacturers and
workers.
We are sorry to note the strong dis
position on the part OF some jobbers to
prevent, il possible, the organization of
strong selling agency. They want to
keep part OF the factories outside, know
Ing quite well, that they can better
control them, and gain an undue ad-
vantage over their competitors.
To say the least, it is very unfair for
men who belong to the same labor Or
ganization to have so unequal a distri-
button OF the benefits; some having ten
months employment during the year,
while others do not get more than half
that amount. 1t is also unfair for some
manufacturers to insist on making more
than their due proportion OF glass, run
ming without profit and compelling
their competitors to lose money as well
as themselves, when it is fact, that,
II the business is on paying basis for
one, all will be benefited likewise.
Will the manufacturers stand togeth.
er and control their business, making II
pleasant and profitable, where now IL il
only anxiety and loss, or will they con.