Muncie, IND.; News of Local 23, Slow on orders, Hemingray will shut down Tank No. 4 on February 5

MUNCIE, IND.

By Harvey Hickman

As the time has rolled around again for me to inform the trade of the conditions at the Hemingray Glass Co., with Local No. 23, wish to say at this time that on account of the shipping falling off and quite a stock of ware on hand, with no orders, the committee was called in the office on February 1st and informed by the firm that it would be necessary to shut down one of the tanks, so tank No. 4 shut down Saturday, February 5th. All employes of the firm that never had a wage agreement got a cut of five cents on the hour. At our last regular meeting, which was held on February 6th, the members of Local 23 agreed to divide the time, so we are now working two days on and two days off, which we hope will keep the wolf away from the door till working conditions right themselves.

Brother Eddie Hice was elected to serve Local 23 as executive officer, when Brother Barth's time expires the last of April, and all the members are expected to co-operate with Brother Hice when he takes the new office.

At present the law makers of Indiana are in session in Indianapolis and they have some of the most vicious and obnoxious bills that any body of law makers ever tried to force upon the people. On Thursday, February 3rd I was sent to Indianapolis as one of the representatives of several hundred to protest against a bill which is known as the "Constabulary Law," or the state police force, and no doubt you all know what that is. It this bill is enacted into a law it will mean the curtailment of the activities of the labor movement, and we must realize that same will be used principally against organized labor in case of strike. It will not only curtail the the activities of organized labor but it will place an additional tax on every one in the state. While I was there I come in contact with several other bills which if passed and enacted into law would deprive the unions of picketing a factory when on strike, or even holding meetings.