The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1908-09-03
Fees Of the Cutters and Flat
teners SO Declares in
Talk Here.
RATCHET BURIED AT LAST
All Are Engaged in Holding
Market Prices Up to the
Best Notch Possible.

a. p. Fees, representing the Win.
dow Glass Cutters and Flatteners as.
ISOLATION, is in the city on business
Mr.. Fees says this should be bis
year in window glass circles. Speak.
ing in detail Mr.. Fees stated:
The situation in the wondow glass
business is indeed very encouraging
and everything would point to a sue.
cessful run this season both from the
manufacturers and workers stand
point, If the workmen would insist or
the manufacturers holding up the
price of glass and incidentally their
wages.
THE factional quarrelling among
the men as existed last winter and
which proved so costly to all concern
ed is past history now and all the men
seem willing to bury the Ratchet and
get together to try and bring about
an era of better wages. No one wants
a repetition of the deplorable condi-
ton as existed last winter when high
ly skilled workmen worked for half
common laborer wages. Such con-
ditions can be avoided If the men will
demand living wage. and with all
workers united for better wages and
not for prestige a window glass fac
tory will again be a contribution to
the welfare of the community in
which 1t is located. Underpaid work
men prove detriment to the welfare
of any town.
While oui' association deeply de.
plored the fact that both Messrs.
Faulkner and Welszer had put out
sliding scales for the coming blast, as
sliding wages are an incentive for cut
prices and cut prices mean cut wages
with no bottom, for either our wage
committee took a stand for better
wages and conditions and secured a
short-time fiat scale at an advance of
80 per cent. on single and 20 per
cent on double, or % 1-2 cents for
cutting single and 80 cents for
double. OF course, we hope by the
time our scale expires conditions will
warrant its continuance and If manu-
facturers will stay together on prices
there is no doubt of it. If not, we
will have TO adjust our scale to meet
conditions.
The fact that while the American
and a large number of the hand
plants are trying to hold the market
IN to 80 and II 1-2 off. Clarksburg
manufacturers are cutting to 90 and
20 and 90 and 25 off on new glass
and paving the way to repetition
of last winters conditions. II the
manufacturers do not get together
and stay on prices the workmen are
the ones who suffer most, and to that
end our association is negotiating
with all the workers in the country
in order to discourage low wages as
resultant of price cutting. The big
combine headed by Messrs. John r.
Johnson and Case has been very sue
cessful so far, and has lined up the
American with. the hand plants on
selling prices, so there is no excuses
for anyone cutting prices and conse-
quently lowering wages in the face of
such favorable prospects. 1t seems
10 me all should be willing to join
hands ard try to get better prices and
better wages and not instigate rate
war which will be injurious to all.
With practically no glass on the mar
ket, prosperous season ahead. the
workmen surely ought to assert them
selves.
The fact that President Faulkner
and Secretary Tarr, of the National
Window Glass Workers Association OF
America, are now enjoying Euro
pean pleasure trip at the reputed ex-
pense of certain West Virginia manu-
facturers, should assure the work
men that he is using their associa-
ton for purely selfish purposes. Our
association is willing to take part in
any movement that will uphold the
market. make money for the manu-
tacturers, and also the men,"