Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1916-01-08
NA@rCTURERS
ASK OPEN DOOR
FOR 'PRENT|CES
Jersey Association Wants Law
Forbidding Unions to Reg
ulate Supply.

ATLANTIC CITY, Jan. s.-Organ-
lied capital bade defiance to federated
labor yesterday when the Manufac-
turers' Association of New Jersey, in
its third annual convention In the
Hotel Traymore, called upon the Jer-
sey Legislature practically to make
the open shop" compulsory In the
State.
James Emery, general counsel of
the National Council for Industrial
Defense, an adjunct of the National
Association of Manufacturers. was
here in conference with the Jersey
men. He spoke at the annual banquet
last night.
A resolution submitted in the after
noon. dealing primarily with the ap-
prentice system and striking directly
at the potters, the glassblowers and
other federated trades with thousands
of members in Jersey manufacturing
centers, declares rules and regulations
enforced by the trade unions operate
to the great detriment of the youth
of New Jersey. making 1t difficult
or impossible for them to fit them
selves for an active place In the in
dustrlal life of the State and for the
duties of citizenship"
Want Restrictions Removed.
Accordingly. the Manufacturers AS
sociation of New Jersey. representing
more than 25 per cent. of the manu-
featuring establishments of the State,
and with 252,304 employees upon the
payrolls of Its members, deems II of
the utmost Importance that there be
no restrictions of any kind on the
number of apprentices permitted to
learn the skilled trades practiced In
this State"
The resolution was accompanied by
the draft of bill proposing to make
1t a misdemeanor for any person, per-
sons. association of persons or body
of persons to prevent, attempt to
prevent or combine to prevent any
individual from learning any use
full and lawful trade, or per-
form any act which shall result
in restrhcting the nu mber of in
dividuals who may learn or become
apprenticed for said purpose, or in
any way interfere with the enrolment
as an apprentice, or in the employ
ment of any individual desiring to
learn or acquire a useful and lawful
trade"
New Taxation Proposed.
The manufacturers adopted re-
port submitted by u special commit
tee proposing the exemption from
taxation of machinery and stocks in
trade, abolition of the personal prop
erty tax and a reduction in taxation
on buildings and other improvements
on land by ten annual stages of per
cent. each. The report was signed by
John w. Ferguson. chairman; c. w.
Crane, Jean Dubois, c. f. Cox and
Charles N. Ingersoll.
II was proposed that losses arising
from the suggested changes be made
good by increasing land taxation,
and, II this does not suffice, by "a tax
upon volume of business or capital
or by the establishment OF
an income tax.
President ]. Philip Bird strongly
opposed the establishment of State
insurance fund, asserting that politi-
cal control of State insurance fund
has proved disastrous both in New
York and Pennsylvania. He also pro-
tested the proposition to take work.
mems compensation cases from Com
mon Pleas judges, as proposed in
to be submitted to the
Legislature shortly, and have them
referred to a special bureau of three
The officers elected were: Presi-
dent. ]. Philip Bird, of Newark: vice
president, John w. Ferguson, of Pat
erson; treasurer Charles M. Gerhold.
OF Passaic; secretary and assistant
treasurer, w. c. Billman.