Muncie, IND.; News of Local 23, 36 shops working, automatic gatherer and press being tried

MUNCIE, IND.

By Lawrence Carmichael.

As I have been elected as correspondent of our new magazine, I will attempt to send a few items. As Local Union No. 23 was opposed to the magazine and voted against it almost to the man, but since the first issue and we see the true quality of the magazine, I will venture to say with no exceptions, that we are greatly pleased with the first issue, and you can put the stamp of approval on for Local Union No. 23.

In reading November's issue my attention was attracted to the article of Brother Max Zeits of Brooklyn, N. Y. I think it is well worth the notice and consideration of this organization, as at the present we are all alone in the struggle for better conditions and think we should join hands with some labor protecting body, as we havn't [sic] haven't received any protection from the A F. of L., and all praises to fraternal relations.

One more article in the November issue that deserves the notice of every member and reader of this magazine is the article of Brother Jas. S. Gillespie of Local Union No. 107 of Dunkirk, Ind., headed "Wake Up the Dead Ones," and the earlier the dead ones are aroused the better for the trade in general, so wake up your brothers and enjoy the prosperity as 107 of Dunkirk.

Muncie has gained a reputation for herself in furnishing men for Alton, Ill., as more than twenty men have left here in the last four weeks to take positions at the Alton plant, and among them three have left our plant to accept a place in Alton, and the Illinois Glass plant's representatives are here making flattering offers to our machinists and trying to induce them to leave their positions here and go to Alton, where the wages, they claim, are better, and I understand many men of that craft have left here, and are not aware of the true conditions in Alton, and an effort is being made to stop it.

We have a move on in Muncie to organize a new central body, as the present body is on the verge of disbandment, and there is a general dissatisfaction among the members here in council, and ever since we withdrew last May our absence has been noticed and regretted by every affiliated organization, except our friends, the G. B. B. A. As the flint were among the founders of Muncie Trades Council, and greatly through their efforts, made the council one of the best central bodies in existence at one time, and a committee of five have been appointed to try and organize a new council, and an attempt will also be made to organize a new state organization.

We have in all thirty-six shops working and making the best of time, and things look favorable for a good run at present.

We have a new automatic gatherer and press which was tested a few weeks ago and will be tried again in the near future, and the inventor claims it will be a success.

Among our new arrivals are Alford Kortcamp, Buddy Myers of Alton, Thomas Digman, Ed. Everson, John Cahill, John Henry of Cincinnati, Patrick Murphy of Coffeyville, Kas., and George Beasly and Thomas Carrol are back to the old stamping grounds.

The stork called on one of our prominent members, Brother Elmer Hilton, and left in his possession a baby boy. One of our apprentices, Charles Patterson, announced his marriage on Thanksgiving.

We can use two gatherers to work spare time. Write Cirus Herron, 1224 E. 12th St., Muncie, Ind.