Prospects of Brookfield running are very slim

From a Brooklyn Bottle Blower.

Brooklyn, N.Y., Feb. 27. -Trade conditions here since my last report are practically the same, and prospects of the Brookfield bottle factory ever resuming look very dim. While there are rumors afloat that local brewers are contemplating taking over the factory and manufacture their own bottles, so far the plan has not materialized.

The Bahr Demijohn Co.'s plant at Ellenville, N.Y., has again resumed operations after four weeks shutdown, and the men now look forward to a steady run during the remainder of the season.

On Sunday afternoon, Feb. 16, Branch No. 52 held a special meeting in order to give the members a chance to hear secretary Wm. Launer, who was an honored guest. He reviewed conditions in the trade in a favorable manner and the members were greatly encouraged over the good news. Bro. Launer deeply regretted the condition in which the local men are now situated and highly commended the attitude taken by this Branch in holding their meetings regularly, thereby keeping the branch intact. He was informed that the Branch would continue to meet. Even if our men are not at work they at least enjoy the regular meetings and the writer must confess that they are very well attended, and prove just as interesting as of yore.

The article appearing in The Glassworker on Feb. 8 signed "Manhattan," merely shows that "Manhattan" does very little cognition, or else he is too much of a sycophant. "Manhattan" boasts of the good times and money he earned while working at his trade. He should be very thankful that he was so fortunate while working and that he was able to save the major part of his earnings. Let it be said that no member of Branch No. 52 has ever regretted the money he contributed toward his own welfare as wall as the organization, such as trade and death assessments, or any other moneys contributed toward a worthy object.

Has "Manhattan" ever given the men a thought who have only served their apprenticeship and then to be turned out? Has he ever given a thought that every man hasn't the good fortune to raise' a family without becoming acquainted with the trials and tribulations of life, such as sickness and death? Does he not know that there wasn't a factory in the United States or Canada that could boast of a better or steadier set of men than those which comprise Branch No. 52?

As for loyalty to the G.B.B.A., does he think now that the men are idle here they are going to discard the principles of unionism which they have so nobly helped to maintain in the past and which they will continue to practice as well as preach in the future? Does "Manhattan" believe that he alone is imbued with the nucleus of unionism?

We wonder if "Manhattan" were confronted with the conditions that some of the members of this Branch are at the present time how loyal he would be? And they are not "good fellows" who spent their pay over the bar every payday, as "Manhattan" says, but righteous, God-fearing men, who considering "Manhattan's" views, have the ill fortune of having large families. And those with a large family in New York City, with the high cost of living, know well there is no chance to play the "good fellow", even if they would. They are under obligation to perform a higher and far nobler duty, so as to enable them to give their children the education and raising they deserve. So, therefore, all men cannot be so fortunate as "Manhattan," due no doubt to the fact that the majority of idle men here were schoolboys when he was employed at his craft and the cost of living was within the reach of every workingman, which enables him now to do a little work on the outside, so he says.

It may not be that "Manhattan" has become prejudiced against some of the man who are still enrolled as members of this Branch and perhaps were members when "Manhattan" was. But that no doubt was a long time ago. Therefore, the members suggest that "Manhattan" should familiarize himself a great deal more with life so that it will broaden his views before he tries to belittle his fellow men in the eyes of others of whom he knows so little.

"As a rule a man is a fool,

When it's hot he wants it cool,

When it's cool he wants it hot;

Always wanting what it not."

Casper J. Hartman