Muncie, IND.; News of Local 23, factory started Jan. 7th after 9 month shutdown

MUNCIE, IND.

By Cyrus Herron.

It has been a long time since Local Union No. 23 has had any news in The Flint. The writer, who is press secretary, will endeavor, from now on, to keep the trade informed of conditions in Muncie.

At one time this city was of some consequence to the glass trade, and is yet, from a manufacturing viewpoint, but the worker has been displaced by the automatic machine. Ball Brothers, the world's largest fruit jar manufacturers, use the exclusively in the making of jars, white liners and lids. Where have these three hundred of more men who used to make these jars gone to? A few of them are in Muncie, but the greater part are working elsewhere, or seeking work, perhaps, getting a job for a few weeks or possibly months, then, owing to causes which we, the working class, could prevent, they are again thrown into the ranks of the unemployed. I note in the January issue of The Flint, under heading "Organization of Study," in which our attention is called to some facts and good advice, which it would be well for our members to heed. They can get these books at any public library, and a little study in that direction won't be amiss.

The factory here started January 7th, after a shut-down of about nine months. Some of the brothers did not work any in that time. At present we are working a division of time, four six-hour shifts, until we resume operations in full, which we hope will be in the near future.

Several former members of Local Union No. 23 are now holding positions at Arcadia, Ind., which place, it is reported, is going to start the 21st of this month. The brothers, Elmer and George Hilton, Gus Feuska, Jake Shaffer and Lou Green, have been idle for some time and we hope they can get started soon and prosper.

New arrivals here are: Charles Swathwood, R. L. Wilmuth, O. Morrison and Lester Mapes. They all say they are glad to be back again in Muncie.

Not caring to tell of some of the happenings of the past, the most of which we are prone to forget, but hoping for a brighter and more prosperous future for the trade in general, I will close for this time.