Green Bottle Blowers Convention News, photograph of attendees taken

ADJOURN TOMORROW

Green Bottle Blowers' Convention

Will Soon End.

Grievance Committee's Report and Appeal

of United Mine Workers'

Considered Today.

Of all the great labor unions, probably the Green Bottle Blowers' association is in the most prosperous condition. The report of Secretary Launer shows an increase in surplus of nearly $20,000 over last year. The following are some statistics from the secretary's report that will well illustrate the financial state of the body:

From July 1, 1897, to July 1, 1898:

On hand July 1, 1897...........................................$ 56,447 84

Received by assessment.......................................$ 18,973 51

Received by per capita tax...................................$   9,377 91

Received by interest on deposits..........................$   2,268 97

Received by other sources....................................$    2,168 0

                                                                                __________

                                                                                 $ 89,236 23

Expenditures —

From July 1, 1897, to July 1, 1898 .....................$ 15,938 93

                                                                                __________

         Total Balance.............................................     $ 73,297 30

Balance in the death beneficiary depart­ment,

July 1, 1897.....................................................    $    1,765 12

Received during year........................................   $ 14,591 50

                                                                                __________

                                                                                $ 16,336 67

Paid out during year on deaths.........................   $ 14,000 00

                                                                                __________

On hand............................................................   $   2,336 67

RECAPITULATION.

July 1, 1898, balance in Treas. Auth's hands —

General funds...................................................... $ 73,297 30

Death funds......................................................... $ 2,336 67

                                                                                __________

Grand total.......................................................... $ 75,633 97

Commenting upon this report the Commoner end Glassworker says:

This is the greatest financial report ever made by the secretary. The death beneficiary is shown to be in excellent shape, haring over $1,000 more on hand than a year ago, after paying out $14,000. Five hundred dollars is paid to each member’s family in case of his death, an assessment of twenty-five cents being levied on the death of a member. The fund is in such a shape now that the members will be exempted from four or five assessments, should they be necessary during the summer."

In his report made last week, Presi­dent Hayes said among other things, re­ferring to the glass blowing machines "In a circular I stated the machines were still imperfect and much of their output wasted, but that their plan of operation was such as to allow of great improvement. When I last saw these machines some improvements had been made and it is my candid opinion that they will continue to be improved. Inventions of this kind give promise of large profits and men of capital can secure the services of scientific machine constructors, hence the crude machine of to-day becomes the perfect one of to­morrow. There is no denying the fact that machinery has become a pronounced factor in our trade. At present it is very difficult to measure the effects, but its introduction into the jar department will not create the hardship experi­enced by other trades, whose members have been entirely displaced. Still it is our duty to do all in our power to fur­nish some means and encourage every prospect that will lead to the employ­ment of our members displaced by these machines. Trade unions furnish no means of meeting the problem of labor saving machinery except by a reduction of the hours of work. This remedy is within our reach providing we act in­telligently and conservatively in the matter and do not weaken our position by making excessive or unreasonable demands in other directions."

The report of the price list committee favored shorter hours and a slight increase in the wage scale. What effect the demand will have can only be determined after the conference is had with the manufacturers. It is thought that the result of the conference will be favorable to the organization.

The delegates to the convention rest­ed yesterday. The members present mostly attended the Sangerfest and oth­erwise enjoyed themselves. Saturday afternoon they went to the east side of the court house where they were photo­graphed by Photographer Goodlander. As usual a nine o’clock meeting was called by President Hayes this morning. There were a large number of grievances. An official of the association said, this morning, that the convention would probably adjourn tomorrow eve­ning, not later than Wednesday. The disposition of the delegates is to hurry matters as much as possible and this will have a tendency to shorten the time. To-morrow the place of meeting for the next convention will be chosen as will also the officers to serve during the ensuing year. There are four cities in the race for the '99 convention, they being Detroit, Milwaukee, Atlantic City and Zanesville. Detroit and Atlantic City are slow in the lead and it is entirely probable that one or the other of these two places will be successful in obtaining the next meeting. At one time, Marion this state, was thought to be a candidate but it seems that she has withdrawn or is in a receptive state only. The present officers if they so de­sire, will probably be re-elected without opposition.

Late this afternoon it was thought among the possibilities that the con­vention will be closed to-night by hold­ing a night convention. Word was received from the headquarters of the United Mine Workers of America this morning requesting the G. B. B A. to assist them in their fight against the products of the West Virginia mines which were declared to be unfair.