[Newspaper]
Publication: The Muncie Morning News
Muncie, IN, United States
vol. 20, no. 3, p. 3, col. 3
NEWSY LOCALS.
Of Interest to Muncie Toilers in
General.
Indiana Factory Pickups — Grand Meeting
of Union Today — Other Notes of
Mill and Factory.
The gas belt movement in this city today will be a great one, and everybody ought to make it a point to attend. Yesterday G. P. Hayworth received a telegram from J. E Dully, state secretary of the executive board of glass workers, stating that President Rachfort of the Miners' onion, and Mr. Pearce, a well- known labor leader, would be present and deliver orations.
The following delegates to the national convention of the A. F, G. W U. at Zanesville, Ohio, in July, are announced;
L. U. 9, Wheeling, W Va., F D. Strasser and Wm. Handley.
L. U. 114, Elwood, Ind., M. W. Conway and Charles Peters.
The following delegates to the G. B. B. A. convention at Muncie, are announced:
Branch 12, Muncie, C. H. McDonald, Will Connelly and George Thompson. Alternates — George Brooker, John Hosler and Dennis Spillane.
The delegates to the national convention of the glass bottle blowers' association at Muncie, will get a royal reception. All the local committees are doing great work and arrangements are now practically perfected — Commoner and Glassworker.
The Indiana Bridge company have the contract for the materials of the buildings of the co-operative window plant to be erected at Mannington, W. Va., and the work of erection is well under way. The buildings will be of steel.
Muncie is experiencing quite a building boom. Houses are shooting up everywhere and carpenters were never so busy.
Truant Officer Streeter has a card in another column of this paper, which may prove of interest to a number.
The delegates from the Bottle Blowers' Union presented a plea for the recognition of the union label craft, which has recently been put into use, and in order to explain the matter fully and acquaint the delegates in the Muncie Trades Council with their label (which is blown in the bottle when made) a pint flask bearing the label was presented to each one in the room, and it looked very suspicious after adjournment to see every member earning a pint flask in his pocket. They were all empty, however and caused no bad effect. — Indianapolis Union.
Saturday’s Commoner and Glassworker contained a splendid likeness of the late Major Doxey, together with a lengthy biographical sketch.
William Neely, a presser at Ball’s, departed last night for Philadelphia, Pa., being called there by the serious illness of his brother.
G. R. Jones is improving his property on West Howard street with a fresh coat of paint.
The immense new engine at the Midland Steel works is completed. It is one of the largest engines west of the Alleghanies and one of the finest and costliest. The dimensions of the engine are thirty feet by sixty feet and its power is very great. The new engine will be run without furnishing power for the mills until Monday when it will be operated for regular use. The operation of the two new mills will necessitate the addition of fifty employes to the plant's force, which altogether then will be about 450.
Thursday, Friday and yesterday marked the settlement, by Ball Bros., with the blowers Who have been employed in their extensive factories. The close-down yesterday is two months earlier than usual. Over $51,000 was paid out in the settlement. Next season will begin about September 1.
It is estimated that nearly $125,000 was paid out in wages Friday and yesterday by the manufacturers. All the important companies are paying and the banks have turned over to them great rolls of paper money and sacks full of coin. Among the companies that paid are Ball Bro., Muncie Iron & Steel works, C, H. Over & Co. Maring, Hart & Co., Hemingrays, J. H. Smith & Co., W. H. Neff, J. C. Wood & Co., Handy Washing Machine Co., R. M. Ball, Whiteley Steel and Whiteley Malleable Cos., Indiana Bridge Co., Midland Steel Co,, Indiana Iron Co., Muncie Pulp Co., Muncie Underwear Co,, Ontario Silver Co., Port Glass Co., Common Sense Co., C. Hanika & Sons, Gill Bros., and Muncie Handle Co. The school teachers also drew their money, altogether amounting to nearly $5,000. This is probably the biggest pay day the city has ever had.
Prest. P. E. McGuigan and Sect. J. E. Daily, of the United Glass workers of Indiana, have sent the following communication to every local union of organized labor in the gas belt:
"Greeting — Dear Sirs and Brothers:
At a recent meeting of the Executive Board of the United Glass workers of Indiana, it was decided to again start the agitation of unionism known as the gas belt movement. At this meeting action was taken to broaden the scope of the movement, i. e. that we invite all local unions located in the gas belt to co-operate with us and send representatives to our delegate meetings and the secretary to notify each local union of this action.
Our object is to bring before the general public the true aim of labor organizations. We hold morning sessions for delegates, at which matters pertaining to our welfare are discussed; in the afternoon we hold open meetings and have good speakers to address the public on the labor question.
In accordance with the above resolution your local is cordially invited to send delegates to Muncie, Ind., on May 8, 1898."
The indications are that the gathering in Muncie Sunday will be an immense one, participated in by all branches of organized labor. Every trade in the gas belt will probably make it a point to have a good representation here, for the gas belt movement has been one of the greatest successes in spreading the ethics of organized labor ever attempted, and this year should achieve yet greater results for the good of the cause, which is of bread and butter interest to every citizen of the gas belt. Organized labor is for a fair wage and a decent standard of life. The prosperity of the nation and every community rests on the prosperity of the workers, and if they are not granted a fair wage that will enable them to maintain a decent standard of subsistence, the loss bears directly on the business men and each citizen of the community.
INDIANA MILL NOTES.
The members of the Indiana band, who have been giving balls in the pavillion at Westside park, have abandoned the project, owing to the fact that the dances were not largely attended. The events were given for the purpose of raising funds to purchase uniforms for the band boys. The failure of these social hops financially is but another of good causes lost.
William Turner, who has been ill with the la grippe for several weeks, is able to be out. Mr. Turner is employed on the ten inch.
The familiar face of the receiving clerk is sadly missed.
John Jones, roller on the bar mill, had his forefinger of the right hand painfully mashed while at work yesterday.
"Blondie" Pelin, rougher on the bar mill, has resumed work.
Albert Mitchell, heater on the ten inch, who hag been the guest of New Albany relatives, will return home today.
Charles Barnett, a rougher, of New Albany, who has been visiting Muncie friends, has returned home.
"Happy Jack" Tharp of the bar mill, who has always prided himself on being the wrestler in the mill, was dethroned yesterday by a fellow workman named Thomas McCue. The wrestling took place in the mill yards and was witnessed by almost every man in the mill.
William Lemmons, a laborer, who had his foot mashed some time ago, is able to be out.
Henry Wonders is suffering from severe burns, which he sustained several days ago.
The following concerning the Indiana is cribbed from the National Labor Tribune:
Muncie, Ind., May 7.
Editors National Labor Tribune:
Not having seen anything in your valuable paper in regard to our mill, I thought that I would write and let you know how we are doing.
The puddlers are on three turns; the finishing mills and bolt works are working to their fullest capacity, with prospects of a steady run until the 1st of July.
Muncie Lodge, No. 20, held its regular meeting Saturday, April 28, at which it endorsed brother J. M, Lewis (better known as "Constitution Jack") of this lodge, as a candidate for president of the national lodge of the A. A. of I., S. and T. W., subject to the convention to be held at Cincinnati, O., on Tuesday, May 17, 1898. Muncie lodge recommends Brother Lewis to the careful consideration of all delegates, as he has been a faithful worker in the interests of our association ever since its organization.
Hoping that this will meet with the approval of all, and that Brother Lewis will be our next president, we remain, yours fraternally, Muncie Lodge, No. 20, A. A. of I., S. and T. W.
HARVE RICHARDS, President.
SAM WIREBACK, Recording Secretary.
