[Newspaper]
Publication: The Muncie Morning News
Muncie, IN, United States
vol. 21, no. 63, p. 5
QUITE ROYAL
Was the Reception Tendered
Visiting Glass Workers
MAYOR'S HEARTY WELCOME
Thoroughly Appreciated by the
Gentlemanly Delegates.
RESPONSE BY PRESIDENT HAYS
In His Customary Eloquent and
Impressive Manner.
Visitors Given an Excursion Over the City
and Freedom at Ball’s Little Expected
— First Session of G. B. B.
A. — Their Finances.
The sixty-odd delegates and other members of the craft attending the Green Bottle Blowers’ Association's International Convention in Muncie have good reason to feel assured of their welcome to the metropolis of the Indiana gas belt, after the proceedings of yesterday and last night. The fine-looking body of men were openly expressing their appreciation of the courtesies that are being extended them.
This sentiment was most thoroughly impressed upon them at the open meeting at the Court House yesterday afternoon in the address of welcome to them by Mayor Cromer, and while thoroughly appreciative they are not a class that will abuse the rare privileges extended with the customary Muncie hospitality. The visitors are enjoying themselves, and all Muncie is glad to know that it is so, and that those of them who are thorough strangers were happily surprised at the beauty and splendor of the city, having been led to believe that they were coming to a small village, to be ostracized from customary pastimes. They are most outspoken with all kinds of praise, and many a good word will Muncie receive in new fields after the meeting adjourns and they go home.
The opening session of the convention occurred yesterday morning. At 9 o'clock President Hays called the convention to order with a few appropriate remarks, and then the following Committee on Credentials was appointed: William R. Hughes, Millville, N. J., Chairman; H. C. Moe, Streator, Ill.; Edward Martin, Clyde, N. J; Harry Christ, Wilmington, N. J., and Harry McDonald, Muncie.
After the appointment of the committee a recess was taken for the examination of credentials, and all applicants were seated. After this report the convention adjourned until 2 o'clock, when the delegates were ordered to meet at the hall and march to the Court House, where an open meeting was to be held.
The meetings will occur from 9 to 12 o'clock A. M. and from 1:30 to 5 o'clock P. M. each day, and the indications are that the work will not be completed before Wednesday of next week.
At 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon, in the Court House, Joseph Cahill, local Chairman of the Committee on Entertaining the delegates, called the open meeting to order, with the Court room filled with people. The four hundred seats were all occupied, and many were standing when Mr. Cahill introduced Mayor Cromer, who was to make the welcome address to the visotrs [sic] visitors. His remarks were pertinent to the nature of the meeting, and were well put, showing that he is a student of the economic questions of the day. He insured the strangers that a key to every door and heart in the city was at their disposal, with the exception of the big brass key at the jail. They could see this on no occasion.
President Hays was next introduced, to make a few remarks in answer to the Mayor on the part of the delegates. After praising the Mayor for the extension of such broad courtesies. President Hays referred to the occasion when he first met Mayor Cromer. It was on one fine Sunday afternoon on the occasion of the first labor demonstration held here, three years ago, when the Mayor, Judge Koons, of the Circuit Court, and representatives of the Catholic and Protestant churches all occupied places on a stand in Heekin Park, and addressed the thousands of people that had assembled to do homage to the cause of which Mr. Hays was the champion. It might be added that it was this occasion that greatly endeared the young President of the G. B. B A. to the hearts of all listeners to the most eloquent appeal he made for trades unionism. It was the first of this kind of meetings ever held in Muncie, and had much to do with making this city the banner city in the state, if not the whole country, relative to labor organizations.
Continuing in part Mr. Hays said: "Three hundred years ago labor was branded with hot irons for the first step toward organizing or attempting to make a stand for the betterment of conditions, and for the second offense it was mutilated with knives. How different it is now. Labor can assemble under all banners as wide as the world and as potent as any orgaization [sic] organization in the world, and for this reason the grand reception being extended us here in beautiful and hospitable Muncie is not to be wondered at; but what a contrast to three hundred years ago, with us here in this elegant court house being received by the mayor." Continuing Mr. Hays said that what the American flag was doing for Cuba organized labor was accomplishing for the masses in this country. "While the sword is striking the shackles from the Cubans, organization and education is accomplishing the same thing for the workingmen of the Christian world."
"No country was ever well governed that paid low wages. Upon the standard of wages also rests the standard of education, civilization and society. No nation was ever known to become self governing on low wages, as it is hard for a man to become a sovereign citizen on a dollar a day for his work. Owing to the semination brought about by these meetings the facts are being accepted by the people and a great reverse has been experienced in the customary belief. The manufacturer is oft heard to remark we believe in paying living wages. We do not look at the situation in that light, as the manufacturer is making no concessions to us in allowing better wages. It gives the laborer an opportunity to spread his intelligence and therein add to his riches much more than he is conceeding [sic] conceding us.
I have often been on the platform with Mayor Conner and listened to some of his sterling arguments in favor of the cause for which we are working and if he was a member of our association, I could cheerfully recommend him to do some mission work for our association not far wawy [sic] away. (Applause). His honor is a hustler.
Mr. Edward Agard, of Streator, Ill., a veteran min the harness of the association, was next introduced and made some fine comparisons of the historic steps of the organization showing the great advantages and some of the successes derived.
Prosecutor Henry L hopping made some pleasing arguments. One point that was most admired by the delegates was the statement from the county attorney official to the effect that the records of the Delaware County court would show that a majority of the criminals he has sent to prison during his two terms of office have come from two non-union factories in Muncie as against the 30 odd other manufacturing industries.
Mr. S. N. McCarthy, the popular representative of the Commoner and Glass Worker of Pittsburg, the official organ of the association, is attending the meeting as usual, and was next introduced. He gave some practical advice secured in the role of a news gatherer, being thrown in contact with all classes.
At the close of the meeting the delegates were escorted to a train of street cars, and were shown the suburbs and industries of Muncie. At Ball Bros. the men were somewhat astonished when they found the doors open to them and all departments of the [sic] bg;big concern, and especially when the patent blowing machines have been kept in such secrecy for months. The men inspected these labor killers minutely and seemed amazed at their construction. This excursion was a feature much appreciated and proved a big advertisement for Muncie.
A FINE SHOWING
The secretary has his report all but ready for the convention and it has embodied a happy surprise for the members, inasmuch as it will show that there is at this time more money in the treasury than at any other time since the organization,
July 1, 1897, there was on hand,,, $56,44.84
July 1, '98, there was on hand......$89.236.25
Expenditures..................................15,938.93
Paid insurance in death claims......14,000
Grand balance on hand..................75,633.97
