American Flint Glass Workers' Union - 1899 Convention - Muncie, Indiana

THE GLASS WORLD.

Workingman Thinks the Window Trust

a Good Thing.

The Preparations that Have Been Made for

Entertaining the American Flint Glass

Workers.

A window glass worker writing to his official organ, says: "I had a talk with a well known manufacturer of window glass in regard to the new combine. He says it would be a good thing for the men if the deal goes through, as it will keep the price of glass up and it's the price of glass that keeps wages up; that if the price of glass goes down wages will go too every time. I cannot see anything but good, hard sense in the above."

THE COMING CONVENTION.

A Muncie correspondent in the Commoner and Glass Worker says:

"As the time for the twenty-second annual convention of the A. F. G. W. U. draws near everything indicates that it will be one of the banner gatherings in the trade's history. An unusual out-pouring of flint glassworkers and their friends from all over the gas belt is assured for the great labor demonstration on the opening day. The members of the various committees have left nothing undone to make this day a red letter one. They have secured excursion rates from all the railroads and are guaranteed large crowds of flints from Marion, Elwood, Anderson, Gas City, Albany, Alexandria, and Dunkirk. The committee on speakers, Alfred Meacham, chairman, has made arrangements with "Golden Rule" Jones, of Toledo; E. V. Debs, Attorney General Monnett, Ohio's great trust fighter; Governor Mount, of Indiana; Governor Tanner of Illinois, and Samuel Gompers, of the A. F. of L., who will be present on opening day — July 10. A great outing is being planned for the delegates and visitors at Westside Park."

"The convention will be held in the court house, which is one of the finest in the state, and is admirably suited to all the needs of the gathering. Special rates for delegates have been secured from all the leading hotels. The Kirby House will be the headquarters for the national officers."

"The subscription committee is meeting with success, and there is no doubt of the royal welcome the flints will receive from this city, famous as a convention entertainer."

THE WINDOW SITUATION.

The present small active production will be reduced by 32 pots next week when the Wellsboro and Wilmington firms close their fires. The remainder will probably operate right up to the 22nd. Demand gives every promise of playing havoc with visible stocks by early fall, and the forces are lining up for the fight over the date of the opening of next fire. The wage committee of L. A. 800 meet here July 11 to fix on their course of action, and a conference with the manufacturers will soon follow. The combined manufacturers are going to make every effort to cripple the big independent production that seems assured for next fire, and some very sensational moves can be looked for first.

The first has come in the form of a circular from the American Glass Co. de­claring a rebate, payable July 1, 1900, for all customers who, from Sept. 15, 1899, to July 1, 1900, buy all their win­dow glass from the American. This is not enough to affect the situation much, but future moves may be more forcible. It looks now as if the American, or the new combine, if it is formed, cannot control over 80 per cent of the production next fire, so it can be seen that some unusual plan will have to be pursued if they hope to fix the time of starting. In the meantime the American controls all first hand stock, and prices will be at the high water mark all summer. — Commoner.