United labor bulletin., 1912-02-08
STANDARD BOTTLING co.
WILL SIGN CONTRACT
Conference Held That Will Re-
suit in the Uni0nizing OF
Every Bottling House
in Denver.

A conference of the greatest import
to Orqanized Labor was held In the Of
fees Of the Standard Bottling company
Tuesday evening of this week. The
meeting was held to consider the sign
ing of contracts by every important bot
ting house in Denver with the United
Brewery Workers. The bottling houses
represented in the conference were:
THE STANDARD BoTTLING CO.
HANNiGAN BROS.
A. D. SIMMONS.
A. A. MARCEltS.
L. G. GILBREATH.
The Denver Trades and Labor Assem-
bly, was represented by President conkie.
Union Label League No. by Seere-
tary-Treasurer Hines.
The United Brewery Workers by busi-
ness Agent kemmier.
The conference was very harmonious.
The several large bottling houses have
come to the conclusion that they cannot
conduct a profitable business by work
ing against each others interests, and
desire to form a bottlers' association to
protect themselves against price-cutting.
theft of empty bottles and fraud.
And while they are forming this or
ganization these progressive business
men desire to set themselves right with
Organized Labor that they may have all
the assistance obtainable in making the
bottling business a success.
The managers OF these companies fnd
that the loss from unreturned bottles Is
the most important thing that they have
to deal with. At the beginning of sea-
son they must purchase sufficient bot
ties to supply the trade, and when the
season is over they find that the supply
is gone. The bottles have been stolen
from the retailers. broken or through
neglect ON the part OF the retailer they
mendous. The bottles cost hye cents
apiece. and are gone at the end Of the
season.
Then again. the bottiers have 10 deal
with the price-cutting questions. II costs
but little TO go into the bottling business
in a small. but filthy, way: and during
the summer many individuals enter the
heid and supply much trade at price
that cannot be touched by the big firm
that takes care OF its employees all the
year round. During the winter season
the small bother closes his place and
seeks employment in other fields, while
the big house must. If IL wants 10 keep
competent help. pay its employees through
the winter season at a great loss-and u
II is a union house this latter necessity
is made mandatory.
There are many other questions that
the bottlers have TO deal with. and
through the efforts of Frederick Du-
rocher. president OF the Standard Bot
Ting company, the managers of bottling
houses have been brought together, and
an association is assured.
Mr. Durocher has fought the unioniz-
ing of his mammoth plant for years,
claiming double dealing on the part OF
n former business agent OF the Brewery
Workers when he was conducting
union shop. But that is bygones. and
now MIR. Durocher recognizes the great
benefits that accrue through harmony
with Organized Labor, and asks that
Business Agent Kemmler secure char
ter from his International union for
Soda Water Bottlers' union in Denver,
with which every employe in all first
class bottling houses in the city may be-
come members.
Mr. Durocher argues that 80 per cent.
of his business is soda water-or car
donated beverage-and that the entire
business OF the others is carbonated bey-
erage, and that he desires separate
charter for them that jurisdiction dis
putes between beer bottlers and soda
water bottlers will not arise. II man
in his plant is transferred from beer bot
Ting to soda water bottling, or vice
versa he win agree 10 pay the men ac-
cording to the highest scale In the de-
partments in which they have worked
on n given day. Mr.. Durocher is fair in
his arguments and anxious to sign
COntfuCts nut tnt must hisA tt
taken up with officials OF the Brewery
Workers International union in regard
TO the charter. and when this detail is
carried out by Business Agent Kemmler.
another conference will be held. at which
time there is no doubt but that every
bottling house worth while in Denver
will be taken under the wing of the
United Brewery Workers and every as
sistance given to their future success.
The Standard Bottling company is the
backbone of the bottling business In the
Denver district and this move by Presi-
dent Durocher will put the bottling bust
ness in Denver on substantial busi-
ness footing. Mr.. Durocher is now build
ing $4,000 addition to his already
large plant. When the contracts are
signed with the Brewery Workers, Or
ganized Labor should give these busl-
ness men the patronage to which they
are entitled. and shun the unsanitary |,
product OF the small, non-union places |
that are located in barns and stables.