Cornell University Library HD9623.C61 Europe's flint glass industry 3 1924 002 282 477 iUrope s Flint Glass Industry BY WM. P. CLARKE, President AMERICAN FLINT GLASS WORKERS' UNION Toledo, Ohio HP Kraus & Schreiber, Printers 122-124-126 Michigan Street. Toledo. Ohio CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY NEW YORK STATE SCHOOL OF INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR RELATIONS THE GIFT OF Amer. Flint Glass Workei*s Union Europe's Flint Glass Industry BY WM. P. CLARKE, President AMERICAN FLINT GLASS WORKERS' UNION Toledo, Ohio Kraus & Schreiber, Printers 122-124-126 Michigan Street, Toledo, Ohio ILLUSTRATIONS Page Cone-shaped Furnace at Lemington, England 14 Charles Delzant, Newly Elected Secretary International Glass Workers 34 Meeting Held in Berlin, January 9th 36 Plant at Weisswasser, Germany .' 50 View of Schott & Genossen Works, Jena, Germany 55 Pot Room at Schott & Genossen Works 5G Pot Setting Carriage : 57 Interior Zahm Cutting Shop, Haida, Bohemia 63 Trade School at Haida, Bohemia 67 Museum at Haida, Bohemia 71 INDEX Pages Absence of Uniformity 18, 23, 42, 72, 78, 79 A Comparison 17, 47, 56,' 57, 59, 61, 70, 72, 74, 77, 79, 81 Addresses ^^' 4^' ^^' ^0 Ages of Workmen 13, 15, 25, 28, 29, 41, 48, 73, 79 Agreements 6, 33, 38, 39, 52, 53, 69, 72 Another Wage Increase 44, 46, 69, 72, 76 Anti-Dumping 10, H Appreciation 83 Art Students 67 Average Earnings and Boarding Money 73 Average Loss ^ 17 Average Turn 24, 38, 53, 73 Average Wage 13, 15, 28, 29, 33, 39, 43, 55, 59, 69, 72, 74, 75, 76, 79 Bad Glass 24, 26, 27, 28, 41, 47, 53, 72 Balls 42 Beads 62, 63 Belgium _ 20 to 28 Bicycle Rider 60 Boarding Money 73 Bohemia 66 to 71 Boys ;. 13, 25, 48 Breakage in Shipments 7 Bulb 1, 13, 14, 15, 28, 42, 46, 47, 77, 80 Bulb Strike 2 Candy Jars 48 Ceiling Bowls .42 Chemical Ware 13, 54 Child Labor 28, 29, 32, 41, 73, 79 Chimneys 12, 22, 24, 43, 54, 75 Chipped Ware 16 Christian Organization 40 Clarke, William P 36 Class Distinction 9 Coal : 19, 27, 29, 56, 58, 77, 80 Communication to the International Congress 30 Conclusion y4 Cone-shaped Factory X4 Co-operative Plant 75 IV Pages Cords and Stones 24, 26, 27, 28, 41, 47, 53, 72 Cost of Glass 10, 12 Cost of Living 16, 25, 41, 57, 65, 69, 74, 79 Cost of Materials 19' 55' 56, 76 Courtesy 50 Crippled Soldiers 1° Cutting...: 19, 23, 49, 52, 61, 62, 63, 67, 68, 69, 70 Cutting Shop 63 Czecho-Slovakia 58 to 77 Czech Union A 58, 71 to 77 Day Work -23, 25, 38, 48 Decorating 67, 68, 70 Delzant, Charles, International Secretary 34, 80 Designs -. 63 Difficulties : 44 Difficulties in Preparing Report 5, 44 Districts 42, 52, 74, 79 Dobbins' Visit 3 Donation 2 Door Knobs 62 Drawing 67 Dummies 24, 25, 47, 49, 77, 80 Duty Came First 4 Earnings 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 21, 23, 24, 28, 29, 32, 39, 41, 42, 43, 4i, 46, 48, 49, 52, 54, 55, 59, 61, 69, 70, 72, 74, 75, 76, 77, 79 Easy for Foreigners 9 Eight Hour Law 43, 45, 71, 75, 77, 78 Electrics 12, 42 Enameled Ware , 68, 70 England : 10 England Flooded With Glass 10 English Money 11 English Product Causes No Alarm 20 English Representatives 2 Engraving 19, 67, 68 Enormous Increase in Prices 66 Europeans Take Life Easy 80, 81 Exchange H, gi Expenses Borne by Company 78 Exported Ware 10, 24, 38, 58 Eyes 63 Finisher Head of Shpp, 49 ' ' ' ' ."idH'i '' '' .;):i'V \v..-|'| Pages Foot Bench- 46, 51, 54 Foot Power 68 Foreign Correspondence 8 Four Shifts of Men 19 Fourteen Days' Notice 40 France 78 Fraternal Greetings 30, 35 Fraternal Understanding V Furnaces ^ 13, 21, 27, 46, 51, 54, 59, 64, 66 Furnaces Held in Reserve 29, 39, 40, 79 Gathering Two at a Time : 22 German Officers ^ 36 German Union in Gzecho-Slovakia-OId Austria 58 to 71 Germany 34 Germany Exported 58 Girls Doing Skilled Labor 15, 50 Glory Holes 10, 28, 51, 75, 80 Goblets 22, 27, 51, 52 Government Control 24, 76 Grinders 48, 49 Grinding Machine ■. 22 Guaranteed Wages 24, 27, 28, 29, 38, 40, 72, 73 Haida 66 to 71 Haidemuhl 30 Hair Cuts and Shaves 16 Handler's Work 65 Heat Resisting Glass 54 Holidays 18, 25, 29, 40, 41, 53, 54, 73, 79 Holland 28 to 34 Homes 25, 26, 41, 46, 50, 60, 62, 74, 78, 80 Hours 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 26, 29, 32, 83, 35, 38, 39, 54, 59, 61, 71, 72, 78 House (Home) Workers 62 68 69 Importation 1, 3, 10, 24, 29, 31, 58, 61, 81 Increased Cost of Living 16, 25, 41, 57, 65, 69, 74, 79 Increased Wages 17, 25, 29, 39, 41, 44, 46, 59, 72, 76 Industrial Form of Organization 20, 39, 45, 58, 72, 75, 79 Industrial Unrest 5 Ink Caps ; 60 Inner Globes 54 International Congress 3 4 30 34 Invitation to Secretary Girbig 53 VI Pages Iron Moulds ^^ Italy 77, 78 Jena 54 to 57 Jugs 19, 64, 65 Laborers' Wages 43, 53, 66, 74, 79 Ladled Glass 41 Lamp Working 13, 19, 63, 68 LaMurse 23, 27 Languages 66 Lead 56 Leadership 80 Light and Power 70 Lighting Goods 12, 24, 42, 43, 54, 70 Lime 56 Limit Production ; 16, 18, 26, 40, 72 McCreary, T. W 36 Manufacturers' Organized 26, 39 Manufacturers Send a Representative 6 Manufacturers Try to Take Advantage 20 Married Men Receive Allowance _S5 Master and Helpers 49, 52 Materials 19, 55, 56, 77 Membership 20, 28, 39, 40, 58, 72 Men Report for Work 18, 26, 38, 71, 78 Meter Long 54, 75 Minimum Wage 24, 52, 72, 73, 76 Miscellaneous Ware — Caps, Prims, etc 62 Modernized Industry 10 Money 11 Money Values 82, 83 Monthly Allowance 55 Mould Makers 19, 24, 48 Moulds — Two 55 Museum 70, 71 My Greatest Hope 32 National Feeling _ 59 Nationalities 58 Neualt , g3 Night Work 21. 26. 29. .38. 48. 73, 78 No Pay for Excess Production 26 Ober-Schreiberhau g-^ Organizations Ig^ 59^ ".^g Vll Pages Overtime 52, 53 Owens Machine 19 Packers' Goods 10 Painted Ware 66, 67, 70 Passive Resistance : 76 Paste, Dry 27 Pasting Moulds 75 Personal Desires 4 Piece Work 23, 25, 26, 29, 38, 47, 48, 71, 78 Pipes :.25 Plated Ware 24, 52 Potash 19, 56, 77 Pot Carriage 57 Pot Room 56 Pot Setting 18, 24, 28, 29, 38, S3, 55, 56, 57, 71, 79 Pots to Themselves 22 Pressed Ware 16, 22, 72 Prices 12, 69 Prisms , 60, 62, 63 Production 14, 15, 16, 21, 40, 42, 43, 49, 54, 72, 74, 80 Propagandist 78 Punch Tumblers 21, 22, 27, 48, 49, 64 Questionnaire 35, 59, 71, 78 Railroaders Poorly Paid 18 Rebuilding Furnaces 40, 72 Rent 25, 26, 41, 46, 50, 60, 74, 78, 80 Report for Work 18, 26, 38, 71, 78 Reserve Furnaces 29, 39, 40, 79 Review of History 1 Rowe's Investigation '. 2, 3 Sand 56, 77 School 19, 67 Schott & Genossen Works 55 Scotland 15 Selling Prices 12 Shades ! 12, 16, 42 Shipments to America , 61 Sick Benefits 41 Skill 26 Skilled Workmen Only Admitted 18 Soda 56, 77 Stem Ware 21, 27, 51, 52, 64, 79 Stones and Cords 24, 26, 27, 28, 47, 53, 72 Stopper Grinding 18 Vlll Pages Stoppers 60, 61, 62 Strikes 2, 20, 28, 29, 76 Students 6'^' ^8 Sufferings - ^" Summer Stop 18, 25, 29, 40, 41, 53, 54, 73, 79 Table Ware 65 Tannwald District 58 to 66 Tax on Workers -- - ^5 Team Work '. .J...49, 52 Teplitz District 71 to 77 The Real Evil 81 Thermos Bottles 47 This Investigation 5 Three Shifts 14, 16, 19 Titles - 44 Trade School 19, 67, 63 Travelogue 9 Tubing 49, 55, 60 Tumblers 12, 22 Two Moulds 55 Unemployed 5 Universal Agreements , 32, 39, 72 Unlimited Piece Work 78 Unskilled Labor 43, 53, 66, 74, 79 Vacations...-, 18, 25, 29, 40, 41, 53, 54, 73, 79 Val St. Lambert Works 21 Vault Lights 22 Wages 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 21, 23, 24, 28, 29, 32, 39, 41, 42, 43, 44, 46, 48, 49, 52, 54, 55, 59, 61, 69, 70, 72, 74, 75, 76, 77, 79 Wages of Women 20 Per Cent Ijess Than Men 75 War 3, 31 Week's Wage , 73 Weisswasser .46, 50 Well Organized 78 Where European Glass Is Produced 10 Wind 75 Window Workers Work on Sunday 28 Women Doing the Work of Men 13, !S, 18, 22, 24, 43, 48, 50, 66, 75 Wood 51, go Wooden Moulds g4 Workmen Will Repair Furnaces 40 53 Zeiss Works 55 THE FLINT GLASS INDUSTRY ABROAD A Survey of Hours, Wages and Working Conditions Prevailing in Europe's Principal Flint Glass Manufactur- ing Countries, Between November, 1920, and March, 1921. By William P. Clarke As an introduction to this document it appears to me quite proper to give a brief resume of our relations with our brethren across the sea. By so doing it will enable those who take up the work where I leave off to more readily and easily com- prehend all that has gone before in our efforts to attain an international understanding that would mean an end to ruinous competition against the organized American workmen in the flint glass industry. The importation of glassware from abroad at a cost be- low that at which similar ware can be produced in America, has frequently caused much annoyance to the officers and meijabers of the American Flint Glass Workers ' Union, and to the manu- facturers employing our members. At a bulb conference in the HoUenden Hotel, Cleveland, Ohio, November 23, 1901, the workers presented a proposition to the bulb manufacturers calculated to increase the wages of bulb blowers from $2.15 to $2.25, and bulb gatherers from $1.30 to $1.40 per turn. The manufacturers opposed the increase and set forth claims of "foreign competition" with such force that a resolu- tion was presented and adopted, which provided : "That a committee be appointed to investigate the seriousness of foreign competition on bulbs, and that the workers work under protest from December 1, 1901. If the committee decides that the companies can pay the increases, the increase shall be paid from December 1, 1901. If the committee reports that foreign competition is so serious that it will be necessary for the workers to grant some concessions to meet the competition, then the matter shall be referred to a vote of the trade for approval or disapproval. If the workers reject the proposition, the wages shall remain the same." President Rowe's Extropean Investigations. Mr. T. "W. Rowe, then vice-president of the Union, and Mr. E. J. Barry, manager of the Libbey Glass Works, Toledo, Ohio, were chosen to make the investigation. On their return from Europe Mr. Rowe presented a written report, which was ex- ceedingly brief, while Mr. Barry, so far as I am aware, made a verbal report only. Mr. Rowe's report and reference to the report made by Mr. Barry can be found in the minutes of a bulb conference held in the Boody House, Toledo, Ohio, May 12th, 1902, and printed in Circular No. 42, May 29, 1902. The outcome of the conference was that the manufacturers refused to pay the increases, and this resulted in a strike which began on May 17, 1902, and continued until August 9, 1902, at which time the manufacturers agreed to the contentions of the workers only insofar as wage increases were concerned, while the workers waived their claim for back pay. As a re- sult of this dispute the members of Local Unions Nos. 28 and 81 of Toledo and No. 31 of Fostoria were involved in the strike, and in this contest the union expended $21,629.50 for strike benefits alone. During the month of May, 1903, an appeal for aid was re- ceived from the National Flint Glass Makers ' Society of Great Britain and Ireland, which society was then involved in a struggle with their employers. While their appeal for financial assistance was pending before our trade, Messrs. J. J. Rudge and John Husselbee, officers of the society, were authorized to visit America and attend our Cincinnati convention. The final disposition of the request for financial assistance was that our membership authorized that $3,000.00 be donated. During the year 1906, National Secretary John L. Dobbins lost his health. The Sea Isle City, N. J., convention advised that he be given a leave of absence. "With a feeling that an ocean voyage would aid him he visited England, Ireland, France and other countries, during which time he made social calls on. our brethren across the sea. The next occasion on which our organization was repre- sented officially in Europe was at an International Congress composed of representatives of organizations of glassworkers from several European countries, and which was h-eld in Berlin, Germany, on September 13, 1911. This subject was brought to the attention of our Toledo (1910) convention, resulting in Mr. T. W. Rowe, then president of the union, being authorized to attend. President Rowe's report of this congress was sub- mitted to the Montreal convention, published in book form. It covered 69 pages, was generously distributed and served an excellent purpose. Three years later another International Congress was to have been held in Milan, Italy, in September, 1914. President Rowe at our Newark, 0., convention brought the matter to the attention of the delegates, recommending that our organi- zation be represented. The Committee on Officers' Reports ad- vised that the recommendation be disposed of in open con- vention. The convention approved the recommendation of the president, and the writer, who then occupied the position of National Secretary- Treasurer, was chosen by acclamation to represent the American Flint Glass "Workers' Union at the Milan gathering. World War Caused Postponement. "With credentials and transportation in my possession, and as I was about to depart, the "World "War broke out, necessita- ting postponement of the congress. However, the war was also responsible for European importations being practically stopped. But this suspension was only temporary. The armis- tice was signed November 11, 1918, and in a short time there- after the inflow of foreign products was again resumed. The effects of the revival of this foreign competition were quickly noticed by many of our representative men, and they fre- quently urged that another investigation of European indus- trial conditions be made. At the Atlantic City convention, July, 1920, the question was brought to the attention of the Committee on Officers' Re- ports, and this committee's recommendation follows: "That if an International Congress composed of glassworkers is called, the delegate elected at the Newark, Ohio, convention, and con- firmed at the Columbus, Ohio, convention, be in attendance; and, if the International Congress be not called, that President Clarke be sent to investigate the conditions prevailing in foreign countries. "We further recommend that if the officers of the national union deem it wise to make an investigation in Japan that our president be sent. The expenses of both investigations to be paid from the national treasury." On August 12, 1920, a communication from Emil Girbig, Secretary of the International Glassworkers' Organization, Berlin, Germany, contained the information that it would be impossible for the congress to be assembled during the year. Conditions resulting from war readjustment determined your officers in agreeing that the investigation provided for in the resolution adopted at the Atlantic City convention be made without further delay. If personal desires were given consideration in preference to duty, or if the advice were accepted of tliose who generously expressed the belief that the greatest amount of pleasure usually attendant on a mission of this character should be se- cured, then the trip would have been postponed until spring. However, the trend of business conditions at that time and since justified my belief that we were on the verge of an in- dustrial panic, and as I was desirous T)f securing information that might aid in the task of guiding the organization through the, depressing times that appeared just ahead, I decided that duty came first. So the journey was undertaken when the weather was very disagreeable and travel exceedingly un- pleasant, causing numberless hardships. It would have been easy to avoid these had not, duty been the determining factor. In addition, industrial unrest appeared on every hand. Men and women were in idleness everywhere in Europe, and our own industries were beginning to shut down. Parades made up of unemployed were of frequent occurrence in Eng- land. Strikes were happening daily, and poverty and distress seemed to permeate all of Europe. These conditions added to the discomfort of travel and greatly detracted from the pleas- ure that one would naturally expect to be associated with such a journey. However, I am compensated in the knowledge of a duty w^ell done, and feel that the information acquired has already enabled me to so shape our policy in relation to foreign importations that the wages of our members have and shall continue to be protected to a far greater degree than if tlie investigation had been delayed. Difficulties in Preparing This Report. In the preparation of this report it would be impracticable to even attempt a detailed review of all that attracted our at- tention abroad, nor would it serve the purpose that prompted the investigation. This investigation was intended to be cen- tered upon the flint glass industry alone, nevertheless one must not lose sight of the fact that numerous things which have a direct bearing on the relation of the glassworker to the glass industry, must be comprehended in order to even re- motely understand the industry as it is conducted in the old world. The subjects of fuel, power, materials, shipping facilities, location, peculiar construction of plants, child labor, natural advantages, equipment, money, exchange, communication, packing, language.-measurements, weights, capacities, produc- tion, selection, skill, methods of producing, market for ware, taste, good-will, ingenuity, necessity and determination con- stitute but few of the many things that could be treated in this report were it not for the fact that it would mean a docu- ment so voluminous that it would not be read. Since the close of the war stability has been lacking in Europe. This is apparent on every hand with the cost of materials and shipping constantly increasing. Added to this is the fluctuating value of foreign money as compared with the standard of the American dollar, the dissatisfied toiler, the ever-increasing cost of living and higher wage scales that only hold good for a short period of time — all these things tend to make the task of preparing this report one of great difficulty. For example, in Germany we found glass manufacturers and workers making wage scales to continue in effect for a period of thirty days only, and while we were in Czecho- slovakia the workers gave the emploj'ers only twenty-four hours to make answer to a demand for a 30 per cent increase in wages. Since we have returned to America, we have been advised that a new wage scale has been made in the glass in- dustry of Germany. For the foregoing reasons it will be seen my task in treat- ing the subject is a difficult one. Therefore, I must use my own judgment in reviewing the things that have a direct bear- ing on our industry and give such information as my ex- perience justifies me in 'imparting to those whose interests I am obliged to protect and advance. Mantifacturers Send a Representative Believing that every precaution should be "taken to make our labors while abroad the success that they should be and realizing also that the manufacturers should be familiar with the facts as they exist, so that our joint relations might be con- tinued with a thorough understanding of conditions prevailing, we endeavored to influence the National Association of Manu- facturers of Pressed and Blown Glassware to select a repre- sentative to accompany the representative of the workers. This was agreed to, but at the last minute the manufacturers' executive board decided not to send a delegate. However, a small group of manufacturers, who had formerly suffered be- cause of the inroads of foreign importation, agreed to defray 7 • the expenses of a representative, and Mr. Thomas W. Mc- Creary, superintendent of the Phoenix Glass Company, Monaca, Pa., was chosen to accompany me. We sailed from New York on the steamer Adriatic October 20, 1920, and landed in South- ampton October 30. The return journey was made on the steamer France, which sailed from Havre, France, on March 6, 1921, and reached New York Sunday, March 13. Fraternal Understanding:. Eealizing that nothing could be accomplished through the channel of legislation for the reason that the International Con- gress would not be held, and being desirous of contributing to a plan that might ultimately culminate in a better fraternal understanding between the flint glassworkers of Europe and those for whom I was authorized to speak, it seemed to me such an undersfanding could be best obtained by mingling with and forming a friendship with their representative men. In this way I hoped to learn of the difficulties of the glass- workers abroad, their accomplishments, their aspirations and, at the same time, avail myself of the opportunity to relate the obstacles to progress and the hardships of our own organiza- tion and indicate the problems that stand in our way to fur- ther advancement. It is pleasing to record t^iat every courtesy was extended to m.e by all trade union officials with whom I came in contact, and a bond of fraternal friendship formed that should augur well for the future. I am confident that those who understand our difficulties will give greater consideration to our views than if we were unknown to one another. Breakage in Foreign Shipments. The amount of breakage I witnessed when American goods were unpacked was astonishing. Our information was that loss due to breakage ranged from 7 to 100 per cent. A package containing eighteen pieces was opened in my presence and eight of them were broken, another containing six pieces, two of which were broken, and a third containing six pieces showed four broken, or 44 per cent broken in the first, 33 1-3 per cent in the second and 66 2-3 per cent in the third package. To show the contrast, a package from Sweden was then unpacked and each and every piece was in perfect con- dition, but a package from Germany showed sixteen out of fifty-four pieces, or 30 per cent, broken. This not only angered the jobber and caused an excessive loss, but it brought dissatisfaction all along the line and re- sulted in the jobber discontinuing the handling of certain articles because of his failure to obtain the ware in saleable condition. My observation justifies me in declaring that the inaterial — hay, excelsior, etc. — used by the American manu- facturers for packing, was of such a poor quality — ^no body to it — that the weight of the articles caused the ware to work its way through the "packing" and rest either against the edge of the box or against another article, with the resultant breakage. This inefficiency in packing serves to injure our foreign trade. Foreign Correspondence. After wrestling with foreign languages for months, inter- viewing business men, traveling men, and taking into consider- ation many things that came to me by personal experience, I unhesitatingly declare that employers who send mail and cata- logues printed in English to foreign countries where English is not spoken make a monumental blunder, for the reason that the recipient gains little information and less satisfaction from such literature, as it is not printed in a language he under- stands, flence the mail and catalogu'es fail in their mission. To fully understand my viewpoint, one need only try to read a letter, catalogue' or price list printed in a language with which he is not acquainted. It may cost a little more to have the translation done at home, but a thing that's worth doing at all should be worth doing right. If someone does it better than you, then yoii lose out. Easy for Foreig-ners. While we were abroad we were treated with, respect on 'every hand and quite generously received by all with whom "we came in contact. However, our attention was called many times to the willingness of American manufacturers to admit strangers to their Avorks, in contrast to the reluctance of some European employers to grant similar privileges, hence this ■could not help but impress me and now suggests this brief reference in this report. My Travelogue. Believing that the readers of The American Flint would be interested in my travels abroad, and that much could be said in a series of articles of this nature that would convey informa- tion and furnish entertaining reading, I began in the January issue a series under the foregoing title. The numerous com- plimentary references to the "Travelogue" have encouraged a continuation of my contributions. It is certainly pleasing to me to know that my efforts to enlighten and entertain our members have met with such a generous response. Class Distinction. One of the old world customs that is exceedingly notice- able in practically all of Europe is class distinction. They have their first, second and third-class railway trains, first and second-class cars, and, judging from the general attitude of .all the people, one gains the impression that many of the na- tives entertain the idea that they must have first, second and third-class people. This is certainly a blot upon Europe, and as long as it ■continues there will never be that degree of unity and genuine xmderstanding abroad that is so wholesome in America. It will not come until the mental attitude of one class toward the other is altered. This change, however, is not possible with the present generation, as class distinction is too firmly rooted, .■at least that's my belief. 10 Where European Glass Is Produced. It is generally understood and admitted by jobbers abroad that, as a rule, England produces the packing goods, Germany and Czecho-Slovakia the lighting goods, while Belgium loads- in the making of blown tableware. England. On the whole the flint glass industry in the British Isles, need not cause us great concern. Their works are antiquated and their manufacturers and workers appear to be lacking in progressive ideas. Most of their plants were built many- years ago and are without wind and other facilities. In. many factories one cannot find a glory hole, and, where they exist, they are generally fired with coal. Even some of their furnaces are fired with coal from the factory floor proper^ thus indicating how much out of date their plants are. A few of the "cone" shaped factories, inside of which the workmen, are required to work, are still in use. The picture of one ap- pears on page 14 of this record. Efforts are now being made to modernize the glass indus- try insofar as the making of packing goods is concerned, and they have progressed to such an extent that it is predicted that within a few years production will surpass consumption, causing the English manufacturers to seek outside markets for their ware. At the present time England is being flooded, so to speak,. with imported glassware. This ware comes principally from. Czecho-Slovakia, Germany, Belgium, Sweden and America. The glass manufacturers and their workers have united in an effort to have the government enact an anti-dumping law that will protect their glass industry. While we found considerable ware in England that was. made in the United States, we were, nevertheless, constantly and persistently advised that unless the cost of glass from the United States was lowered the Americans would lose the Eng- lish market to other competitors. 11 Against Dumping. In a document . compiled bj' the National Flint Glass Makers' Society of Great Britain dealing with "dumping" or importation, they say: "One instance of a particular case where goods invoiced in Czecho-Slovakian currency at fourteen times the pre-war price, are nevertheless being sold in this country at less than pre-war prices, ' ' and concludes by ' ' calling upon the government to fulfill its pledges to the immediate introduction of a measilre to provide against dumping, etc." They continue by saying that "actual cost of production in Czecho-Slovakia is greatly in excess of that in Great Britain," and then, to show how the low value of the money of Czecho- slovakia affects the situation, they relate that "a glass sugar dredger of Czecho-Slovakian manufacture is offered to British silversmiths at 160 crowns per dozen, which equals at the pre-war rate of exchange, say, $32.36," and that "British glass manufacturers could sell this article today at a profit at $7.29 per dozen. Owing to exchange the price actually paid by the silversmiths is approximately $2.55 per dozen." English Money The money exchange is a determining factor, the English money being 30 per cent below par. I cite the following terms of English money, and the amount they represent in United States currency: American English Money Equivalent One Penny 02 Threepence - 06 Sixpence 12 Shilling 24 Florin (2 bob).. 48 One-half Crown -- 60 Ten Shillings $2.40 One Pound (£) 4.86 One Guinea 5.10 12 Anglo-Czecho-Slovakia Trading Co. This company has an office at No. 14 Hanover Square, W. 1, London. Here we inspected an array of samples. The men in charge took pride in comparing their glass with Belgian- made, and offered to sell us cordials made in Czecho-Slovakia at a price of 84c a dozen, as compared with a similar article from Belgium which cost $1.68 a dozen. They offered to sell us 10-inch white shades, blown in a paste mould, for $2.88 a dozen; electrics at $2.16 a dozen, and hexagon-shaped electrics at $3.36 a dozen, package free, and they would stand 5 per cent breakage. They concluded with the statement that, even though our tariff was increased 100 per cent, they could put the ware in America cheaper than we could make it. Following are some prices quoted by another jobber in England: Duplex chimneys $17.28 per gross No. 10 bulge chimneys 23.04 per gross No. 8 bulge chimneys 21.60 per gross No. 10 line Kosmas 9.36 per gross No. 6 line Kosmas ,.x..... 8.64 per gross ' 9 inch opal shades, 2^/4 inch fitter 2.76 per dozen 10 inch opal shades, 2^/4 inch fitter 2.94 per dozen The foregoing prices were quoted with packages free and breakage guaranteed not to exceed five per cent. This ware comes from Sweden and Czecho-Slovakia. A pressed fluted-bottom soda tumbler was brought' to our attention. This article was made in the Ignited States and cost $1.28 a dozen laid down in London, while a Belgian manufac- turer has substituted a paste mould tumbler of like capacity with cut flutes at a price of 84 cents a dozen. Our information was to the effect that the selling price of flint glass in England had increased during the past six years from 300 to 400 per cent. 13 Chemical Ware. At Blackhorse Lane, about nine miles out of London, the United Glass Bottle Company has a plant in which they are making chemical ware. They have two square furnaces of four pots each, and one hexagon-shaped furnace holding six pots, each pot holding 900 pounds and thi^ee melts are secured from each pot each week. The workers, all of whom are quite young, gather and blow their own ware from the time they are first allowed to go on the foot bench. If they are not competent workmen at the age of 18 they are discharged on the theory that they will not make "good." The ages of the workers range from 14 to 24, but only two were over 20 years. They work 8% hours, piece work, taking ' ' 15 minutes for tea ' ' each turn and making other stops during the turn. They earn about four pounds ($19.44) per week. They were making beakers, flasks and similar articles. Practically all girls were employed in the lamp room of this plant, most of them were under 16 years of age, the law permitting children of 14 years to work. However, the new law will raise the age limit to 16. These girls were paid from 15 to 20 shillings ($3.60 to $4.86) a week. Electric Bulbs. In the making of electric bulbs each man gathers and blows his own. At the Bolton Mills plant, Wordsley, we were advised that the price paid the workmen was 63c per hundred. Our wage scale calls for $1.54 per hundred for gathering and blowing similar bulbs. The average production was from 850 to 900 each day of nine hours. In Lemington we found four 10 and four 5-pot furnaces from which bulbs and tubing were being made. This company employs 130 bulb workers. All bulb workmen gather and blow their own. Six men work from one pot and use only one mar- velor and two moulds. The marvelor is placed between the dummies on which the moulds are worked. Three men work from one end and three from the other end of the marvelor. 14 The marvelor is about four feet in length. The workmen fol- low one another like bottle blowers, three blowing in each mould. They formerly worked three shifts in this plant, while now they work only one shift of seven hours ; 8 to 12 and 1 to 4. The pots hold only 800 pounds and are filled each evening, the glass being melted at night and ready to work the following day. The workmen work in the same place all the time. The average production in seven hours was 667 pieces per man. A cone-shaped furnace at Lemington, England, where the workers are required to work within the brick cone. Strange as it may appear, the management at Lemington in- formed us that his production is greater with one shift than it formerly was when they operated the plant on a three shift system. Before the war they paid 18 cents per hundred to work- men for gathering and blowing their own. They now pay 40c per hundred, plus 20 per cent. In addition to this they pay a bonus on "mass" production. This requires that the pro- 15 ■duction must average better than 3,200 per man per week. To ■encourage men to come to work they are guaranteed 84 cents if they report for work and only make a few bulbs. The ages ■of the workers range from 15 to 22 years. The pots are ele- vated and the workmen work on a foot bench like at a continu- ous tank. The dummies are on a level with the foot .bench. The ware is selected in the factory. Their product is not as good as that made in America, and the selection is very liberal. They also have the Westlake machine installed at this works. Conditions In Scotland, At the Norton Park Works, Edinburgh, Scotland, they have two furnaces, one 12 and the other 10 pots, and employ 36 bulb shops. The ages of the workers range from 13 to 28 years, the majority of whom are under 22. When we were there they had but one girl making bulbs. She was working out of a pot with three men. Bach workman gathers and blows his own. Four shops are placed in one pot. In most cases each workman has his own marvelor and mould. Little time is spent in marveling the glass, and they go in the mould with the glass much hotter than do the American workmen. They are paid as follows : Price Per Name of Bulb Hundred Miniatures $0.44 No. 17 - 54 No. 19 56 No. 21 62 No. 40G : 1.02 Those who earn as much as $14.76 in a week are given a bonus of $1.20. If they make 600 good bulbs each day in the week and work 42^?^ hours they are given an additional bonus of $1.80. Those making 40G- are expected to make 400 a day, and generally produce 600. Those making miniatures produce about 700 per day. They do have three men working from one pot who generally make 1,000 ordinary bulbs each day. 16 Pressed Ware. At New Castle-on-Tyne we found that the hours worked by the pressed ware workmen range from 30 to 36 per week.. The gatherers, pressers and finishers receive the same wages for the work they perform. They are members of the Pressed Glass Makers' Society. They limit production, and the em- ployers pay for two-thirds of the chipped and broken ware that comes from the lehr. Some time ago the pressed ware workers worked a three- shift system in all plants, but the workers have refused tO' work after ten o'clock at night, with the result that they have only two shifts, one starting at 6 in the morning and finishing at 2, and the second shift starting at 2 in the afternoon and finishing at 10 in the evening. Deducting time spent at meals and "tea", the pressed ware workmen do not produce in excess of seven hours per day and in no instance will they work in excess of seven hours and fifteen minutes. "While in Davidson 's plant. New Castle, a shop was making a Holophane shade about 7 inches in diameter and SYz inches deep. The presser advised us they made 835 a day and each man on the shop was paid $3.85 for producing this number. Gatherer, presser and finisher were employed. The gatherer pulled off his bits in the pot. Many of the presses in England have the lever on the left- hand side, keys are made to be used just the opposite to those .used in America, while many presses are without springs. Living Cost Prices in British Isles. The increase in the cost of living throughout the British Isles, during the past six years, may be judged from the fol- lowing : Beef 136 Per Cent Mutton 139 " Bacon 173 Fish 135 Flour 168 17 Bread 161 Tea 75 Sugar 335 Milk 203 Butter 172 Cheese 141 Margarine 75 Eggs - 228 Potatoes - 177 The cheapest things noticed in England were hair cuts and shaves, the former costing 16 cents and the latter 8 cents. Wages Paid in England Before and After War. Wages Wages of 1914 of 1921 First-class Caster Place Gaffer $1.86 $3.24 First-class Caster Place Servitor 1.32 2.61 First-class Caster Place Footmaker 1.00 2.29 Second-class Caster Place Gaffer 1.68 2.97 Second-class Caster Place Servitor 1.20 2.49 Second-class Caster Place Footmaker 96 ' 2.25 Large Lamps, Shades, Etc., Gaffer 1.80 3.09 Large Lamps, Shades, Etc., Servitor 1.20 2.49 Large Lamps, Shades, Etc., Footmaker 92 2.21 Inverted Electrics, Etc., Gaffer 1.68 2.97 Inverted Electrics, Etc., Servitor 1.16 2.45 Inverted Electrics, Etc., Footmaker 92 2.21 First-class Wine Gaffer... 1.80 3.09 First-class Wine Servitor 1.20 2.49 First-class Wine Footmaker — 92 2.21 Chimneys, all classes, Gaffer 1.38 2.67 Chimneys, all classes. Servitor 1.02 2.31 Chimneys, all classes, Footmaker .88 2.17 Second-class Wine Gaffer 1.56 2.85 Second-class Wine Servitor 1.12 2.41 Second-class Wine Footmaker 92 2.01 The foregoing figures are for a turn of six hours. Note:— See pages 82 and 83 for money values. 18 Railroaders Poorly Paid. "While it is a deviation from the general purpose of this report, still it may be interesting to learn that the average ■wage of all railroaders in England is but $18.24 a week. Absence of Uniformity. The workers, in many instances, limit production and seem to work only the number of hours and days they desire. The working hours per day range from seven to nine and a half. In some glass factories there is no work on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, while in others they are idle Friday, Saturday and Sunday of each week; still others work five days a week. The absence of uniformity is due to local instead of national agreements. Production and wages vary in different localities. The glass workers of England are divided into six or- ganizations, hence their energies are not concentrated. It is our information that they admit only skilled workmen to membership. Laborers Set Pots "While we failed to make inquiry in all places relative to who set the pots, nevertheless what information we did secure in those instances where we sought this knowledge was to the effect that the laborers did the work of pot setting. They have no summer stop in England in the same sense that we have, but the men may take vacations. In 1920 one company worked two-thirds time for a period of three weeks, leaving one-third of the working force off each week, during which time the workmen were paid their regular wage. The workmen in England generally report for work from fifteen to twenty minutes before starting time. Girls are employed quite extensively in doing stopper grinding. In one plant we witnessed 17 girls doing this class of work, and from the information given us we estimated they earn about £3, or $14.58 a week. An effort is being made to have crippled soldiers placed at work in the industry, this plan being encouraged in the 19 Engraving, Cutting, Lamp Working and other departments where they may be able to meet requirements. At Sheffield they have a school in which the government is putting forth an effort to train lamp workers, and they are succeeding, too, having about 21 men employed, and samples of their work are available for inspection and indicate progress. In order to obtain results in the operation of the Owens Machine in a suburb of London, the United Glass Bottle Com- pany has adopted a plan providing for four shifts of work- men, who work on a three-shift system. They work their plant seven days and nights a week, or 168 hours, but each individual workman is on the job only 42 hours in the week. Coal cost this company $12.12 a ton. The John WiP^^h Walshes plant is in Birmingham. This company makes an exceptionally fine line of cut glass,' employ- ing about 50 glassworkers and 60 cutters. This factory has been operating 120 years. We were advised by Mr. Wood that potash was costing his company £110, or $534.60 per ton. The wages of cutters (and they have some very highly skilled cutters in England) average about $20.50 a week of 48 hours. At Stuart & Sons' Redhouse plant we witnessed a shop making a blank jj^ for cutting by the off-hand process. The workmen were required to make only 28, while our move is 56. I was acquainted with one of the men on the shop, who formerly did the same class of work in Somerville, Mass., and he in- formed me he could make 56 in the States as easily as he could make 28 where he is now working. In Stourbridge we saw 21 copper wheel and 12 stone en- gravers working in one shop — that of Welbs & Corbet — and it is our information that all the work that was being done on the occasion of our visit was for the Tiffany Company of New York. It was certainly a fine grade of ware. Mould makers in the New Castle district work 44 hours and receive a wage approximating $21.00 per week, while in 20 the London district they are paid 64 cents an hour and work 48 hours foi- a week's work. English Product Causes No Alarm. Other than the ware made for the Tiffany Company, I saw nothing in the British Isles to cause us alarm over the probability of the English product being sent to this country in competition with our own, unless, perchance, the value of their money decreases considerably below its present valua- tion, thereby giving them an advantage similar to that enjoyed by other countries whose money is far below par. Belgiiun. Since the signing of the armistice there has been a tre- mendous change in working conditions in the flint glass trade in Belgium. Prior to the war the workmen worked sixty hours a week. Now, however, they have a forty-eight hour week. After the war the employers, it seems, tried to take ad- vantage of their workmen. But the men, accustomed as they were to hardships, did not hesitate when their leaders advised a general strike. They migrated to Northern France and there found employment, and they remained there for a period of five months. Then all the employers except one, so I was informed, united in an appeal to the government to induce the men to return. This they agreed to do, and the result was their industrial conditions were greatly improved. The Belgian glass workers have an industrial form of or- ganization, admitting to membership skilled and unskilled workmen — male and female. Previous to the war they had en- rolled only 1,591, but their membership at the time of my visit was 8,699. Included in this total are as many of the working men and women employed around a plant doing other than skilled labor as it was possible to have affiliated with the union. In some factories they have a greater percentage than in others. 21 The Val St. Lambert. Works. On May 1, 1920, night work- was completely abolished in the flint glass industry and the hours reduced from ten to eight, with one exception, that of the Val St. Lambert plant, and this concern agreed to discontinue this practice on May 1, 1921. The Val St. Lambert plant is, I believe, the most thorough and complete glass wol'ks abroad, and turns out a line of glassware superior to any that came to my notice on our journey. This company began business,. in 1835. It has a display room connected with the works which is approxi- mately 80x130 feet, and in this room is assembled the greatest variety of fine glass that I have ever seen. The company has two factories, comprising thirteen furnaces, sixteen pots each, and each pot has a capacity of 1,400 pound^. Nine furnaces were in operation when we were in Belgium, five of which we had the privilege of visiting. Punch tumbler shops are composed of three blowers, working American system, each blower gathering and blow- ing his own article. The dummy is placed in the floor and is operated by the blower, who works on the same level: as the factory floor. A boy is seated in a chair and to him is handed the tumbler when the blower takes it from the mould. The boy cuts the neck down with a pair of tools, after which the tumbler is knocked from the pipe, the pipe cleaned by the boy and placed conveniently for the blower. It was stated for our information that a shop composed of three men mak- ing an eight-ounce sham tumbler would produce 800 pieces for a day's work, and each man would receive from 24 to 32 francs ($4.63 to $6.18) for the labor performed. All the stem ware that was being made in the plant was of the cast leg and foot variety; no drawn stem articles were being produced, but the cast stem ware is certainly in a class by itself. Many stems were exceedingly long and delicate. Punch tumblers are taken to the selecting room, cracked off and then returned to the factory proper, where they are 22 placed in a cup and inserted in a glory hole where a blast fire is thrown on the edge, much in the same manner as we blast blanks in America. This work was being done by girls. Tumblers, goblets, chimneys and kindred ware are cracked off, groundj washed, wrapped and, in some instances, packed by girls, who receive 12 francs ($2.32) a day for their labor. A modern grinding machine was so constructed that from 50 to 60 chimneys would be on the grinder at the same time. A press shop was making a plain block mould whisky. The shop was composed of two gatherers; presser, finisher, carrying-over boy, three plugging-up boys and a carrying-in boy. The press was situated about eighteen feet from the pot. The glass appeared to be rather soft-natured, allowing each gatherer to gather two at a time. Another press shop was making a vault light 12x12 out of lead glass and weighing about nine pounds. The mould was bolted to a plate which moved in and out on the press plate in the same way that a planer works in a mould shop, it being operated by a windless effect, thereby saving the presser the labor of trying to place the mould under the plunger accurately. In this instance the presser was cutting off the glass with a pair of shears about two feet long, which resemble the shears that are used by a hedge trimmer. After the glass was severed from the punty the presser would lay the shears aside, take a rake and push the glass into the four corners of the mould. The mould was then placed under the plungerj the lever pulled in the opposite direction and when the article was "filled" a weight was hung on the lever to keep the plunger in the mould while the presser walked around the press and aided the turning-out boy, who, during this time, was caring for the article that had been previously made. All the press shops employed in this plant had a pot to themselves. The lever, as a rule, was on the left side of the press and in practically all instances the gatherer dropped the glass in the mould by reaching through from the rear. Lead glass was used in producing much of the pressed ware made 23 in this plant, this being particularly the case in its applica- tion to peculiar-shaped articles that otherwise would be hard to fill. The Val St. Lambert company employs approximately 5,000 people. Previous to the war the plant was operated non-union, but is now recognized as union. The work for- merly was done on a piece-work basis, but now they pay their workmen turn work. The men formerly worked ten hours, for a day, whereas eight hours constitutes a day's work at the present time. An official of the company informed us- that the average wage of the glass workers was from 24 to 32 francs ($4.36 to $6.18) a day, although the head of the union, Leon Gris, led us to believe that this figure was higher than he understood was being paid in the plant. In talking to Secretary Gris he gave us an estimate of the wages paid to the employes of the Val St. Lambert plant, as follows: Boys, 8, 10, 12, 15 and 16 francs ($1.54 to $3.08) a day. Gatherers, 18 to 20 francs ($3.47 to $3.86) a day. Blowers, 22 to 24 francs ($4.25 to $4.63) a day. Gaffers, 25 to 26 francs ($4.83 to $5.02) a day. Cutters, 231/2 francs ($4.54) a day. Special workmen (big ware), 30 to 32 francs ($5.79 to $6.18) a day. What is known as the head cutter, that is, a man who is at the head of a shift (otherwise known as a crew) com- posed of twenty-five to thirty men, receives 25 to 26 francs. ($4.83 to $5.02) a day. There are about 1,200 people em- ployed in the cutting department, and' while 23% francs is. the established wage of the men employed here, the cutters working at La Murse receive 28 francs ($5.40) for cutting lime glass. The men employed in seven other cutting shops, in the immediate vicinity are paid a minimum wage of 40 francs ($7.32) a day. We were given to understand that the Val St. Lambert. Company would be required to pay a wage similar to that Note : — See pages 82 and 83 for money values. 24 paid in other localities, and if they failed to do so the govem- Inent would come to the aid of the workers in insisting that it be done. Plated ware made at this works is superior to any I have ever seen. The plate is on the outer side, as a rule, and when the article is taken to the cutting shop the design is cut through the outer surface, allowing the rich crystal to be ex- posed where the colored glass has been removed. This com- pany has established an enviable record on this class of goods. In this plant paste mould chimneys were produced in large quantities, blown two at a time, and the dummy placed in the floor, which made the labor more agreeable to the work- men. We were informed by an official of this concern that the firm did not export lighting goods to the United States to an amount worth mentioning, but that they had sent other ware valued at 1,000,000 francs during the month of November, and on November 1, 1920, a shipment amounting to 600,000 francs was exported to the United States. While visiting the Val St. Lambert plant we observed women doing work generally done by men in this country. For example, they were working in the mixing room shovel- ing sand and soda amidst the dust and dirt that go with such disagreeable labor, and they were likewise doing finishing work in the packing room to a greater degree than that done by women and girls in the United States. Belgian workers in the flint glass industry receive what might be termed a guaranteed^ or minimum wage. If a work- man reports for work and there happens to be no glass, or if for any other reason he might be prevented from working, after he has reported, lie is paid this guaranteed minimum wage. Mould makers receive from 26 to 28 francs ($5.02 tp $5.40); per day in all shops where they are employed in Belgium. The skilled workers set the pots at small plants, but not 25- in those plants where sufficient workmen can be- secured to relieve the skilled workmen of this task. They are financially compensated for their labor, however, and in addition a beverage is. furnished by the company. The increased cost of living since 1914 amounted to 370 per cent, while the wages of the glass workers were increased about 320 per cent. In some few instances the increase amounted to 400 per cent. Day Work — Piece Work. We were reliably informed that nine plants, employing 5,700 workers, pay their workmen on a turn-work basis, while twenty-six plants, employing 3,800 workers, pay their work- men on a piece-work basis. This indicates that 60 per cent of the workers were paid day work, but the secretary of the union informed us that fully 70 per cent were paid on a day- work basis. In addition to this the guaranteed minimum wage protects all workmen. After ten years' service the Val St. Lambert company will supply a house for any workmen at a rental of 3 per cent on the investment. If the workmen will pay 3% per cent for a period of twenty years, the property will then be deeded to them. They have no summer stop, such as prevails in our country, but the workers do have four holidays in one week in the month of August, and for this idle time they are paid their regular wage. I witnessed boys 14 years of age gathering bits and, in some instances, bowls for goblets. A few boys 16 years of age were blowing goblets and punch tumblers. In the Val St. Lambert plant we found that the dummies used in connection with paste mould shops were inserted in the floor so that workmen worked on the. same level as the factory floor. •Sufficient pipes were furnished practically all of the shops to permit the moiling to crack from the iron without 26 the necessity of a cleaning-o£E boy doing the work in the customary way that it is done in America. We were advised that the Val St. Lambert company owns 600 houses which they allow the employees connected with the moulten glass branch of their industry to occupy rent free. The company also furnishes the means for heating them. Because, of the absence of night work, and the fact that the shops generally work in the same place each day, men are required to report only about fifteen minutes before starting time in order to prepare to begin work. The production in Belgium is not limited by agreement, but the impression we gained is that the workmen do not exert themselves to produce ware in large numbers, and in order tO discourage speeding they do not ask pay for pieces made in excess of the listed move. The manufacturers have an organization comprising^ prac- tically all the glass manufacturers of Belgium, with the excep- tion of the Val St. Lambert concern, and they are doing what they can to establish a universal wage. Workers are not paid for stones and cords when working on piece-work jobs, but the employers are very attentive to the grade of work turned out and endeavor to have articles produced in which such blemishes are not perceptible. The Val St. Lambert works were working only six hours a day owing to bad trade conditions. We observed that many Belgian workmen possessed su- perior skill in Jiandling their glass and blocking it into a shape that enables them to make an article with less labor than the average American workman would devote while producing a similar article. For example, it was nothing unusual to see a blocker with his block shaped somewhat after the style of the article when it was completed, such as blocking a piece of glass from which a double article might be blown and a groove started with the block to show where the glass should divide when the double articles were completed. Again, a man 27 making a square cologne would block the glass and draw the neck, then take a pair of carbon tools and square the body of the glass before entering the mould, thereby having his moulten glass practically in the shape of the finished bottle before the mould was closed. La Murse Works — Namur. In this plant we watched the workmen making drawn and cast stem goblets, punch tumblers and press ware on a small scale. This is a very old plant. All paste mould shops had their moulds on the level of the floor and used a dry paste, making it unnecessary to wet the Moulds. There are three furnaces at this works, two 12-pot and one 9-pot. They were operating only one 12-pot furnace. The capacity of each pot is 1,400 pounds. The head of this company informed us that they paid 145 francs ($27.98) per ton (22 hundredweight) for a very poor grade of coal, which we recognize as slack. At the time of our inspection of this factory a shop was making a heavy drawn stem goblet with a large button on the leg, and we were informed they produced 600 for a day's work. The foot caster, we noticed, would have two articles on his chair at the same time. When the leg would run crooked he would grasp an ordinary piece of brown paper, which was folded to the thickness of about one inch, and water-soaked, and with this .paper in his hand would refashion the leg and bottom of the bowl of the goblet. Punch tumbler shops were making an eight-ounce sham and an eight-ounce light, both working to a move of 600 for a day, but when a mould boy was furnished the shop made 650 pieces. Each shop was composed of two blowers, who gath- ered and blew their own product. The men who work in this plant are never sent home be- cause of bad glass or shortage of glass. They are furnished employment of some nature and for this are paid their guar- anteed wage. 28 Here we observed gatherers ranging in age from 14 to 70 ■years. Also we noticed that the glory holes were fired with -coal and worked exceedingly well. The laboring men set pots in this plant. They are re- ferred to as the "auxiliary" workmen. The glass factories of Belgium were working about three- fourths time. I There are 1,200,000 workers in the country and 720,000 are organized, this being 60^. Children are not allowed to work before they are 14 years of age. ; Window workers work seven days a week, being paid ■tiine and oncrhalf for Sunday. Glass workers of Belgium have a guaranteed minimum salary. If they are deprived of work because of the shortage ■of glass, bad glass, broken pots, lack of fuel and other causes, they are paid their minimum wage. ; The average wage for some of the workmen in Belgium is given as follows: Per day Glass workers and cutters 25 to 40 francs ($4.83 to $7.72) Laborers and furnacemen .—..20, to 28 francs ($3.86 to $5.40) Boys 7 to 10 francs ($1.35 to $1.93) Women and girls 8 to 14 francs ($1.54 to $2.70) As an indication of the mental change of the workers in Belgium, it was stated that previous to the war it was almost impossible to induce the men to strike, while now great dif- ficulty is encounteded in order to keep them from striking. Holland. Our stay in Holland was of short duration. The informa- tion imparted to us by the officials of the Dutch Union, whose -headquarters are at Delft, was to the effect that the organiza- tion is composed of 2,500 glass workers and 800 pottery work- ers. The president of the union, Mr. S. P. Baart, is a pottery workman by trade. 29 The glass workers work 45 hours per week, or eight hours a day and five hours on Saturday. Their wages range from 30 to 50 guldens (a gulden is equivalent to 40 cents) a week, but we were informed that the average wage would be ap- proximately 45 guldens, or $18.00 per week. Wages have in- creased 125 per cent in the past four years, 20 per cent of this amount being received during the past year. All workmen work on a piece-work basis. They have no summer stop, The bottle blowers have a guaranteed wage, which is equivalent to one-third of their average earnings, and this amount is paid to them when their plants are closed, regard- less of why they are closed. This, however, does not apply to flint glass workers, for the reason that pot furnaces are held in reserve, the result being that flint workers do not lose time due to rebuilding furnaces, hence a guarantee is unneces- sary. There is no night work in the glass industry in Holland, this practice having been discontinued years 'ago. It was abolished in the bottle trade in 1916 after a strike of three months' duration. The child labor laws of Holland prohibit children under 15 years of age working in a glass factory. The laborers set pots in the flint glass industry in Holland, Our Holland brethren complain that glassware is now be- ing imported into Holland from Czecho-Slovakia and Germany. Previous to the war the manufacturers in Holland secured coal from Germany at a cost of $3.60 a ton, but at the present time they are using American coal, which costs them $30.00 a ton in American money. The outbreak of the war brought about a complete break- down of the glass industry in Holland. The failure of coal im- ports caused an entire cessation of work and all the factories without exception were compelled to close down. Note:— See pages 82 and 83 for money values. 30 The International Congress. Just previous to reaching Holland I was advised that Secretary Baart had been authorized to issue a call for the International Congress to convene in Amsterdam on March 26, 1921. I endeavored to persuade him to advance the date for holding the Ceragress to February, promising if this were done that I would be in attendance. Unfortunately, however, because of the difficulties encountered in traveling from one country to another, the red tape connected with securing pass- ports and many other obstacles, he could not grant my re- quest. Nevertheless he suggested that I write an address for the Congress, which I did. I am incorporating herein the com- munication that was sent in compliance with the invitation extended by Brother Baart. Paris, France, February 28, 1921. Mr. S. P. Baart, Delft, Holland. Dear Sir and Brother: — Since it has been decided to convene the International Congress in Amsterdam on March 26, and finding it impossible to remain until that date, I take this means of conveying to the officers and representatives in attendance the fraternal greet- ings of the American Flint Glass Workers' Union and express the fervent hope that your deliberations will bring beneficial returns to the men and women employed in the glass industry of all countries. Our organization not being affiliated with the International (owing to the great distance that divides us), it seems out of place for me to intimate even the course of action that should be pursued, but I feel that I may offer a few comments which I hope will be accepted in the spirit of fraternity. Having traveled through England, Scotland, Ireland, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Czecho-Slovakia, Austria, Jugo-Servia, Italy and France in the interest of the American Flint Glass Workers' Union, there came to me an opportunity of making observations from an im- partial standpoint, and I have reached the conclusion that all of the men selected to direct the affairs of the glass workers of the countries enumerated are intelligently, faithfully and conscientiously exercising every effort at their command to further the interests of those whom they represent. But there was one thing that attracted my attention quite fre- quently in my travels, and it is something I deplore. As an impartial 31 person, and one who greatly appreciates the services rendered to him and the friendship formed with many of the men who will take part in the congress, I feel justified in making reference to the subject in mind. I refer to the feeling of hate engendered because of the war. To me it seems that we should all bear in mind that even though all the glass workers of all countries were opposed to the war, their power and prestige would still have been of no avail and the war would have followed just the same, hence the glass workers or their representatives should not be held responsible for what has occurred. Whatever happened in the past should be forgotten and we should all rise to the occasion that confronts us now; set aside any ill-will that has continued to exist, so that the principle of "united we stand, and divided we fall," can animate all. In this way let us strive to elevate the glass manufacturing industry to a higher plane in the industrial world than it has yet occupied. It seems that the most essential thing to do is to supplant mis- trust with a feeling of confidence and good-will, thereby utilizing the intelligence, experience and practical knowledge of all the men who understand the problems that are constantly confronting those em- ployed in this industry. If the leaders in the movement cannot be united; if their ability and prestige cannot be concentrated; then it naturally follows that the interests of those who look to these leaders for guidance will not receive the benefits they hope to obtain and to which they are entitled. My trip to Europe was made necessary because of the experiences we have encountered in the years that have passed. Perhaps many of you are aware that the glass workers of America have suffered on account of ware being laid down on our shores at a price less than that paid our members for making identical articles, and when we added to this the cost of material, unskilled labor, overhead and other necessary expenses entering into the making of the ware, we were at such a disadvantage that one of two things had to be done — in- crease production and decrease wages or allow our members to remain idle and permit our market to be supplied with glass ware from those countries where wages were low and working hours long. What did we do? Our records will show that after thorough investigations were made, during which time our members were idle, we doubled our production on some articles for the same wage and decreased wages on others. The recent war gave us temporary relief from this unfair com- petition, and the result was that wages were increased, hours de- 32 creased and conditions improved on those same articles. Since the signing of the armistice, however, we find that our markets are again being invaded and we now ask: Shall the glass workers of America be required to make additional sacrifices of working hours and wages in order to retain an opportunity to work at their trade? This is a grave problem. It not only affects the men I speak for, but I find this same competition is more acute between some, of the countries of Europe than it is between Europe and America. Does not this question alone demand the best thought of the best men identified with the glass industry? Would it not be possible to re- move ruinous competition among the workers of the different countries of Europe by the adoption of a universal wage list ? This would make the skilled labor cost the same in each European country. Here I may relate that in North America we have an universal wage list that applies throughout the trade and makes the cost of production (insofar as the skilled labor cost is concerned) the same in all localities; that is to say, whatever wage a workman in New York is paid for making a given number of a certain article, another Workman, whether in San Francisco or Canada, shall receive the same wage for making an equal number of pieces of this same article. If a plan of this character could be worked out, or if some other course could be devised that would remove the competition that now requires workers and manufacturers in one country to ask their gov- ernment for a tariff on imports, or the raising of a barrier in their country against the product of the men employed in another country, then a step forward will be taken. I have hopes that if something can be done by the congress to meet this evil in a way that will contribute to the end sought, then your comrades in North America will meet the issue by means other than that of increasing production or decreasing wages, as hereto- fore. It is only natural, however, for our members not to remain in idleness while the product of the toil of their brothers across the sea threatens our livelihod and makes this course necessary, hence I appeal to the congress that something be done to prevent ware being sent to America at a cost less than it can be produced there because of the wages paid our members. It is gratifying to record that I found conditions in the glass trade in Europe better than I anticipated. Hours are shorter and wages are higher than I hoped to find. Child labor laws have been enacted 33 and much night work abolished. These are signs of progress. Let the good work continue and we shall rejoice over your accomplish- ments. In America we, too, have made progress, but not as much as we have hoped for. In many respects those employed in the glass trade of America enjoy better conditions than the men doing like work in Europe, while in other particulars you have better conditions than prevail in America. It shall be our aim to endeavor to retain those things which are good, and achieve those that will give improve- ment where it is needed. In many of the European countries I found all glass workers in one union, and in most of the countries all the men and women en- gaged in the industry hold membership in the union. In America it is different, as only skilled workers are admitted to our union. There are three separate organizations in America composed of glass workers; namely, window, bottle and flint workers. The waiter repre- sents the latter. The membership of the American Flint Glass Workers' Union consists of 9,841 skilled workmen. We have fifteen separate depart- ments in our organization. They are: Press, Cutting, Punch and Stemware, Bulb, Mould Making, Paste Mould, Caster Place, Iron Mould, Shade and Globe, Machine Press, Insulator, Engraving, Stop- per Grinding and Lamp Working. Our hours range from 40 to 48 for a week's work. The working hours are not the same in all departments. The average wage of all our employed members during the past year was $30.63 per member per week. The organization holds a convention in July of each year. An annual conference is held with the representatives of the employers each year. Our agreements are made for one year, and expire the first Monday in September. Our agreements apply universally. When a dispute arises work continues as though nothing had occurred until settled by an officer of the union or by a joint conference composed of representatives of the manufacturers and the workers. Trusting the congress will be a success and that the conclusions reached will justify meetings being held more frequently, and at the same time assuring you of my desire to render any assistance to the furtherance of the cause, I am, Fraternally yours, WILLIAM P. CLARKE, President American Flint Glass Workers' Union of North America. (Office 338 Ohio Building, Toledo, Ohio, U. S. A.) 34 International Sscretary. The International Congress at its meeting this year made a change in the office of secretary. Bmil Girbig, head of the Uerman organization, had held the position from 1908 to 1921. The recent Congress, which was held at Amsterdam in March, chose Charles Delzant to succeed Girbig. Delzant has been at the head of the organization of French glass workers for the past twenty-one years. His office is in Paris. We wish him every success. CHARLES DELZANT The newly elected .secretary of the organization of International Glassworkers. His office is in Paris. He has been secre- tary of the French organization for twenty-one years. Germany. We were well received by the workers in Germany. Men could not have been treated with greater courtesy or accorded more consideration than was extended to us. We found it advisable in ovir efforts to secure accurate data of conditions 35 o'ovei-iiing the Germgn glass industry to submit a questionnaire, and I am ineorpoi'ating herein our questions and the answer made in eacli instance has been joined to the question, so that the information can be easily grasped. ' • Berlin, Germany, December 29, 1920. Mr. Emil Girbig, Secretary, City. Dear Sir and Brother: I extend to you and to your co-members the fraternal greetinjjs of the members of the American Flint Glass Workers' Union of North America, and express the hope that as the years advance the common interest of all the workers employed in the flint glass iti- dustry shall continue to improve. The fact that readjustment is coming in America and uncertainty and misunderstanilihg abound, caused me to hasten my journey abroad. ■ After- deeiding to come at this time I requested the Na- tional Association of Manufacturers to send a representative with me. The outcome of my suggestion was that Mr. Thomas W. McCreary has accompanied me on my journey. I was actuated in my request to have a representative of the manufacturers with me so that when [ return there can be no doubt as to the accuracy of the statements that I may make. For your enlightenment it appears proper that I relate that it is understood in America that the workers in the flint glass industry in Germany are working 10, 12 and in some in.stances 14 hours a dav and seven days a week. While we were in England we were informed ih'at it was 'the o'pfinion Of many people in England that the rumor afloat in America was true. From this you can see the wisdom of oui joint investigation. We were liopeful that Mr. McCreary and I might not only secure facts .as to the true conditions but that v.'e might also have an op- portunity to visit several plants, see the men at work and allow us 10 discuss our mission vrith the employers. If this can be arranged iti will aid us greatly in our labor. In any event we would like lo have you or your representatives make answer to the following ques- tion.s, and they are reduced to writing, as per our understanding with Vice-President Grunzel: Question 1 : How many factories in Germany make flint glass- ware? Answer: 180-190. Question 2: How many hours do your members work per day? Answer: ,,, At th§ tjipst eight hours. 36 Z < o; w o o z o l-H z a: o CO <; o E- O w P3 P <: O CQ > l-H H D O Q Z en Pi O t-H O 37 t3 < o o 3^ 3 n o m H o o -2 c8 fc. s^ .«3 . ^ m Q, S^"S3 CD ■ss +J +j ti +j ■4-3 +J ^2 ■**^ 4-> -fj o r a' o -M +J _. +J -M -t-J G .-4-3 -U ^i -iJ -U .-IJ H z c fl) o -o 1— 1 "— ) w ■WCU O £-1 - 4J +-> T; ns o S^^ u ^ ^ $H ^ m m OJ QJ OJ cu 0) m Efl ^ ■S-S ^ ^ CS cd o s o o o o cu ^i; ai ^ o o 4-3 4J t^-^h ii£S ^ S S o 3 cd nl O O !li s'.cc CqOhJPWWOOES^tS^ tl5 Ss 1:^ -jj -(J -M i; _ .S f^ -M -|J 4-a .g 5 rtl-^^ 3 3 3^1.^^ - - • ^ ■„ ^, S Si ° S3 « CDS ^ en rj :B.S S S S S £ s s s c ?_^ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > r-y S-a _N1 _N N N N N N _N pj j^ S S "S S § S S i ■£ "S ^ 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 bi)bJ3£iO&jD&Dbo&o&i)cjej< _>< y^ ^ yi ^ ^ x M>HHOOqqOOOOww(aH»Hia.pqCd.^H.[a.HH.^H,H,H.H,H f' 3 S3 ■f '^^ o 73 n cH ta . 2 'S c .S '3 3 a 25j O W 3 I 1 tu -J- a) Cu sh n!^ S ffiffln 3 3 a 3 S.2.S f^ g ^ OS y_. g^ bpp,S 3 - ^1 PhWh ^ 3 '^ 3 ca >> u ca cj cu ^ ca o ca I'! " ca 3 3 PnCXjt cu OJ 2 3 W ^(MCO'^lJ^CDt-OOC^Or-^(MCO■■*lOSPt-OOC50TH(MCO^mOt-00050lH(MCO'■*LC ' I-lw>HT^THr-lSTH^^<-(<^a<^l<^^(^^(Ne^l(N(^^(^a(^^l^3Mm«(^:lco 38 Question 3: How many hours do your members work per week? Answer: At the most 48 hours. Question 4: Do your members work more than one shift in 24 hours? Answer: Only in a few factories in Rhineland and Westphalia. Question 5: If they work more than one shift, then how many ifts do they work and how many hours constitute a shift? Answer; As far as we know they work two shifts in the factories mentioned in Question 4; at the most eight hours per shift. Question 6: How long before starting time are yoiir members required to report at the works in order to arrange their shops? An- swer: Occasionally a quarter of an hour, more often shortly before starting time. Question 7: Do your members work night turn? Answer: Only in those factories mentioned in Question 4. Question 8: How many hours do your members work on Satur- day? Ans^ver: The same as on other days; in a few factories they work a lesser number X)f hours. ■■. Question 9: Do your members work piece work or day work? Answer: Ninety per cent w^ork piece work and 10 per cent day work. Question 10: Do your members work for less wages on goods that are made for export? Answer: Such conditions never existed. Note: I feel that it is due the German workmen to record here that I was convinced that the charge that they work for a lower wage on ware intended for export is incorrect, and in all probability it was the result of an honest misunderstanding. — Clarke. Question 11: Who sets the pots in your furnaces, skilled or un- skilled workmen? Answer: Skilled workers. Question 12:. If skilled workmen set the pots then what pay do they receive for doing this work? Answer:^ Seven and a half marks ($1.79) per man per hour. Question 13: Are pots set after regular working hours? An- swer: Practically all the time. Question 14: If glass is not in condition to work at regular starting time and the men are kept in idleness or sent home, then are they paid their average wage for the time lost? Answer: Yes. Question 15': Can the manager insist on skilled workmen doing ordinary labor while waiting on glass and for this labor pay them their regular wages? Answer: Yes. Question 16: If men refuse to work doing ordinary labor, will they receive their regular wages? Answer: In such instances 39 manufacturers are not obliged to pay the regular wages, but in some cases they do it by private agreement. Question 17: If workmen are paid as suggested in Questions 14, 15 and 16, then how long has this law been in force and is it a conference agreement? Answer: Since January, 1919, and it is a conference agreement. Question 18: Are the wages, hours and working conditions mutually agreed to by representatives of the manufacturers and workers in joint conference? Answer: Yes. Question 19: Do your agreements apply universally throughout Germany ? Answer : Yes. Question 20: If agreements are not universally applied, then relate details. (See answer to Question 19.) Question 21: What was the average wage for the flint glass workers in 1914? Answer; 40-50 marks ($9.52 to $11.90) per week. Question 22: What is the average wage of the flint glass workers now? Answer: Gaffer 500 marks ($119.00) Blower 500 marks ($119.00) Blocker 280 marks ($ 66.64) Gatherer 200 marks ($ 47.60) Presser 500 marks ($119.00) Finisher 500 marks ($119.00) Gatherer 450 marks ($107.10) Vice-President Grunzel stated that the wages have increased to a point where the average is at least 500 marks ($119.00) per week. He illustrated his point by saying that out of 1,000 men 700 would earn at least 450 marks, 280 would earn far in excess of 450, while 20 would earn less than 450 marks. Question 23: How many hours did your flint glass workers work per week in 1914? Answer: At the most 54 hours. Question 24: What workmen do you admit to membership in your union? Answer: All who are employed in the trade. Question 25: How many workmen are engaged in the flint glass industry of Germany? Answer: Thirty-five thousand. Question 26: How many workmen hold membership in your union? Please give details, that is, flint, window, plate and bottle workers ? Note: — See pages 82 and 83 for money values. 40 Answer: Flint glass workers 28,000 Window glass workers..;. 8,000 Plate glass workers 1,500 Bottle workers 9,000 Question 27: Are all the flint glass plants operated by men holding membership in your union? If not, then how many are work- ing independent of the union? Answer: Three to five thousand are independent. There is a Christian organization composed of about 3,000 mem- bers who do not hold membership in the regular union because of conscientious scruples. They include both Catholics and Protestants alike. They agree with the employers, however, to work to the same wage scale as the other workmen. They work in the same plants and if the union men go on strike the members of the Christian Union join in the contest. Question 28: Do your members limit their production? An- •swer: In general, yes, between the workers by themselves. Question 29: If " works are closed to make repairs or rebuild furnaces, or for other causes beyond the control of the manufac- turers and workmen, then are the workmen paid their average wage while idle ? We understand you have a state law that regulates this point. Please give us details. Answer: Fourteen days by govern- ment law. If men are given 14 days' notice they can, at the expiration of that time, be laid off without pay. Employers, however, do not en- force this proviso for the reason that they want to retain their workmen. Question 30: Are furnaces held in reserve to avoid idleness? Answer: Where there are three or more furnaces one is held in re- serve. All workmen will aid in tearing out and rebuilding furnaces, and secure their regular wages for this work. Question 31: If furnaces are held in reserve, then to what ex- tent is this done? Answer: See Question 30. Question 32: Do plants close because of accumulation of stock, and, if so, are workmen paid while idle? Answer: If plants are closed because they have too large a stock, the men must be notified 14 days before, and after 14 days they are not paid. Question 33: Do you have a summer stop or vacation in hot weather? If so, how long? Answer: Three to six days in general. Men employed three-quarters of a year by a firm get three days with pay, and for each additional year in Ihe e^nploy of the same company 41 an additional day up to six days. In a few instances nine days with pay. Vacation must be given between May 1st and ■ September 30th. This is a conference agreement. Question 34: Are the workmen paid during the period of their vacation or summer stop? Answer: Yes. Question 35: Does the head of the shop contract with the other men on the sliop as to the wages they are to receive, or has this custom ceased? Answer: Every man is paid directly by the firm. Question 36: Please give us information on your child labor law. Answer: Child labor Jaw prohibits employment of children under 14 years of age in any industry in Germany. Children over 14 and up to 16 years must go to a technical school eight hours a week and the- employers pay the expense attached. Question 37: We understand that sick benefits are paid to the workmen by the employers, and we would be thankful for detailed information on this point. Answer : Workers are paid sick benefits from a fund created by an assessment on all workers according to their earnings, and for each mark paid by the worker the manufac- turer must pay one-half of a mark. Question 38: What per cent has living cost increased since 1914? Answer: 1500 per cent. Question 39: What per cent has the wages of the men employed in the fiint glass industry increased since 1914 ? Answer: From 1000 to 1250 per cent. In 1914 the wages were 40 to 50 marks, and now are about 500. Question 40 : What rent are your members required to pay ? We understand that they have free rent to a considerable degree. An- swer: Practically all manufacturers provide homes for their skilled workmen, who; in most instances, secure such homes free, while in other cases they pay a small amount for rent and are furnished coal and electric light current free. Question 41: How much work was done in your fiint factories during the war? Answer: During the first two years 50 per cent of the factories were idle. Since 1916 75 per ceiit of the factories are being operated. Question 42: Is there a limit to the loss sustained by men work- ing piece work? Answer: No. If glass is reported bad and -it is not fit to work and must be ladled, then the skilled workmen are placed to do this work and are paid their regular wages. - ^ • 4i Question 43 : How many districts have you in your organization ? Answer: Seven. In the five important districts they have a minimum wage of 360 marks, while in the Second and Third districts it is only 330 marks. Nevertheless this wage is agreed to universally. Question 44: How many bulbs do your members make in eight hours? Answer: 700 to 750. Question 45: How many 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20-inch paste mould ceiling bowls, as per sketch, do your members make in eight hours, and what wage does the blower, blocker and gatherer receive per day? Answer: 8 5-16 inches 430 per day 6% inches 500 per day 4 29-32 inches 800 per day Blower 600 marks ($142.80) per week Blocker 236 marks ($ 56.17) per week Gatherer 186 marks ($ 44.27) per week Question 46: How many 8, 10 and 12-inch shades, as per sketch, do your members make in eight hours, and what wages do the gaffer, blower, blocker and gatherer receive per day? Answer to Question 46 not clear, hence it has been purposely omitted. Question 47: How many do your members make of 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20-inch balls, as per sketch, and what wages do the blower, blocker and gatherer receive for eight hours' work? An- swer to Question 47 not clear, hence it has been purposely omitted. Question 48: How many do your members make in eight hours of small electrics under five inches, as per sketches, and what wages do the blower, blocker and gatherer receive? Answer: On an aver- age they make 600 per day. One piece blown at a time. Blower 600 marks ($142.80) per week Blocker 236 marks ($ 56.17) per week Gatherer 186 marks ($ 44.27) per week Question 49: How many do your members make in eight hours of the small shade, as per sketch (cone shaped), on sizes 7, 8 and 10- inch, and what wages do the blower, blocker and gatherer receive? Answer: On an average they make 600 per day. . One piece blown at a time. Blower 600 marks ($142.80) per week Blocker 236 marks ($ 56.17) per week Gatherer 186 marks ($ 44.27) per week 43 Question 50: How many do your members make in eight hours (if 10 and 12-inch duplex chimneys, as per sketch, and what wage do the blower, blocker and gatherer receive? Answer: 10-inch 1,800 per day 12-inch 1,600 per day One piece blown at a time. Blower 500 marks ($119.00) per week Blocker 236 marks ($ 56.17) per week Gatherer 186 marks ($44.27) per week Question 51: What is the average wage of the members of your organization, per week, employed in the flint glass industry who are ;iot actual glass workers? Answer: Shearers, 288 marks ($68.54) per week. Lehrsmen, 230 marks and 40 pfennigs ($54.84) per week. Mixers, 290 marks ($69.02) per week. Assorters, 275 marks ($65.45) per week. Glass cutters, 500 marks ($119.00) per week. Mould makers, 400 marks ($95.20) per week. Helpers, 280 marks ($66.64) per week. Grinders, 500 to 600 marks ($119.00 to $142.00) per week. Glazers, 300 marks ($71.40) per week. Furnace men, 450 marks ($107.10) per week. Carrying-in boys, 115 to 120 marks ($27.37 to $28.56) per week. Hold-mould boys, 115 to 120 marks ($27.37 to $28.56 per week. Sticking-up boys, 170 marks ($40.46) per week. Those men and boys work eight hours per day. Question 52: To what extent are women employed doing work of grinders, mixers and kindred work, and do they receive the same wages as men who do the same class of work ? Answer: In doubt. Question 53: Is the eight-hour law under which you are working a law created by your national legislative body, or was it brought into existence by your labor organization? Answer: Government law. Question 54: To what extent does the eight-hour law apply to all of the male and female workers in Germany? Answer: No ex- ception in industries in Germany. All of the questions we have recorded in this statement are of importance in order that we may obtain a fair knowledge of the real conditions. If we can have our questions answered, and if it is pos- sible for us to visit a few of your plants to see the men at work 44 and talk to the managemei.t, we believe that a better universal un- derstanding will be arrived a) that shall prove beneficial to both sides. There may be questions Ihat you and your colleagues may wish to ask Mr. McCreary and me or youi' employers may desire infornja- tion from us. If this be so, then bear in mind that we shall be agree able to give you reliable information on any point on which enlight- ment is sought. Fraternally yours, WILLIAM P. CLARKE, Presiilent of the American Flint Glass Workers' Union, Toledo, Ohio. Attest: THOS. W. McCREARV Superintendent Phoenix Glass Company, Monaca, I'a. Another Wage Increase. In a letter from the office of the German Glass Workers dated March 12 we are advised that since our departure an other increase has been received liy the workmen. The figures are given in- such a way that they are rather indefinite, but I reason that the increase would amount to about 30 per cent over the figure^ already recorded in this report. '■' ■ Difficulties. As an indication of the difficulties we encountered in ob- taining information in countries where languages other than our own were spoken, as well also as a guide for future refer- ence, I am incorporating here a list of titles of the workers in the various departments of the flint glass trade in America, and am placing opposite them tlie names given to those doing the same class of work in Germany. Likewise are included in the list the names of a few articles and the names by which they are known in Germany : Title in United States. Title in Germany. Gatherer ; _ Kiilhelraacher, Gehilfe. Blocker _ IZweiter, Gehilfe. Blower ^ Glasmacher. Gaffer .„ Auf treiber. Shearer Schiirer. Lehrsmen Ausleerer. 45 Mixer Gemengeiriacner. Assorter G!asbeschau(!i'. Cutter Schleifer, Grinder Abschleifer. Glazer Verschmelzei Furnacemen Einleger, Schmelzer. Carrying-in boy Eintrager, Hold-mould boy Formenhalter. Sticking-up boy Anhefter. Stopper grinder Einbohrer. Rougher Feinschleifer, Continuous tank Wannenofen. Punch-tumbler Bierglaser. Prescriptions Apothekerflasctien. Plateglass Gussglas, Press , Pressglas, Chimney Cylinder. Punch and Stemware Bowlen una Weinglaser. Bulbs Kolben. Paste-mould Hohlglas, Caster-place Schleifglas. Iron-mould Hohlglas (eiserne formen). Shades Schirme. Globes Glocken, Insulator Isolatoreti. Engraver Graveur, Tax on Workers. The workmen of Germany are required to pay 10 per cent on their income to the government when their wages amount to less than 1,500 marks, 15 per cent on earnings between 1,500 and 2,000 marks, 20 per cent on earnings between 2,000 and 2,500 marks, and 25 per cent on earnings between 2,500 and 3,000 marks per month. The eight-hour day is universally established throughout Germany and is applicable to all trades. The only deviation from the rule was in restaurants and hotels, and then only in extraordinary cases. All male and female workers employed in a glass plant above 15 years of age are admitted to membership in the glass workers' organization, with the exception of the ofiSce force. 46 Visit to Weisswasser. While in Weisswasser it was our privilege to visit the homes of a few workmen. The property in which they reshl.^ belongs to the company, and the rent is very moderate. Vi r instance, a workman is furnished with two good-sized room? and a kitchen, with electric lights, at rental of 4 marks an. I 60 pfennigs per month, or an equivalent of $1.09. The plant at W^eisswasser consists of fourteen furnacps each furnace containing eight open-top pots similar to thoso used in window factories in America. Each pot has a capacily of 1,400 pounds. Around each furnace a foot bench is erected similar to that used at a continuous tank in American factories-. The Weisswasser plant makes electric bulbs on an exten sive scale. The factory was recently taken over by Vereinigte Oberlausitzer G-lashuttenwerke, whose office is in Berlin, S') that they would be in a position to obtain a supply of bulbs without the inconveniences they had encountered in the past This company has a total of thirty furnaces throughout Ger- many. Mr. Krebs informed us that he had just rejected an order for fifty million bulbs from America, this order being received the day we were at the plant. Here the bulb workers gather and blow their own and are paid 10 marks ($2.38) per 100 for all bulbs that have dimen- sions similar to those we make at a move of 534. Note: The foregoing wage was increased 40 per cent while we were at Weisswasser, making tHe rate 14 marks ($3.38) per hundred. The men work on a platform, the same as working from a tank. Two workmen comprise a shop, using the same mar- velor and mould. Six men gather from the same pot. The man gathers his. glass, walks about ten to twelve feet to the raarvelor, marvels the glass and blows it in a mould that is on a level with the foot bench. The mould is opened and closed in about the same manner as in American glass factories. When the blower leaves the mould he steps to the right to 47 crack off his bulb, but reaches back with his left hand and pushes a long lever which drops the mould into the water, after which he draws the lever back to its original position. This has the effect of placing the mould in position for the man who is to follow him. He then knocks his bulb off the pipe and proceeds to gather over his moiling. It is not unusual to see bulb workmen make from six to fifteen bulbs before cleaning the moiling from the pipe, this depending entirely upon the peculiar skill of the individual. It was not unusual either to see a moiling extending three inches from the nose of the iron before the pipe would be cleaned. The workmen work on a piece-work basis and are paid for bad glass, such as cords, waves, stones, etc., the manager explaining to us that he felt the company was responsible for such defects, for the workers had no control over such a situation. The average loss in the selection is about 6 per cent, but bulbs are passed as good which would be promptly discarded in America. Bulbs are selected in the factory. In this city we observed- several shops making thermos bottles, all made by the German system method. A shop con- sists of two small boys and three blowers. The boy gathers and makes a ball, after which the pipe with ball attached is hung in a perpendicular position by the side of the furnace. The blower covers the ball, blocks and blows his own, and cracks it from the pipe. The workers informed us that they received 30 marks ($7.14) for making 100 inside and 100 out- side pints, while the men making the outside article were paid 15 per cent more than the men making the inside article. As a comparison, it is pertinent to record here that most of the thermos bottles made in America are produced by the American system. Our workmen make 456 outside pints and 600 inside pints for a wage to the skilled workers of $25.40, or $2.41 per 100, as compared with the $7.14 paid in Weiss- wasser, but it must be remembered that the value of the Ger- man mark is so low that the equivalent of 30 marks of German 48 money, on the occasion of our visit, was only 46% cents in American money. An additional increase has been granted the workers since we departed from Germany. Candy or tablet jars were being made at Weisswasser. Each man gathers, blows and finishes his own article. The worker does not leave the foot bench. After the article is blown it is snapped and warmed in at the pot mouth next to where the shoj) is working, and finished in a chair. Punch tumblers were produced extensively, and the shops are composed of two boys making balls and three blowers. The ball makers were from 15 to 17 years of age. Bach blower covers the ball, blocks and blows the glass and cleans off his own iron. It is hardly necessary to relate that practically all paste mould ware made in Weisswasser is produced by the German system method, with the possible exception of electric bulbs. This plant has worked on a day-turn shift only for a period of 24 years — they do not work at night. Where more than one man is employed making an article, then the head of the shop works piece-work while the re- mainder of the workmen are paid day-work. Mould makers belong to the glass workers' organization, but their wages are regulated in keeping with the wage paid machinists. Men who are employed at grinding are paid an average of 280 marks ($66.64) per week, while women doing the same work receive 2 marks and 85 pfennigs to 3 marks and 35 pfen- nigs (68 to 80 cents) an hour. If carrying-in boys are over 18 years of age they are paid 12 marks ($2.84) more per week than stated in answer to Question 51. Women employed doing the work of packing are paid 2 marks and 80 pfennigs (67 cents) per hour, but if they are more than 18 years of age they are paid 25 pfennigs (6 cents) extra per hour. 49 A finisher on a press sliop in Germany is recognized as the head of the shop. Punch tumbler workers earn from 600 to 700 marks ($142.80 to $166.60) per week. Iron moulds were worked on a dummy just the same as paste moulds. Shops making top tubing at Weisswasser were required to leave the factory building and go a distance of 40 to 50 feet to the tube alley, where the glass was drawn 325 feet. A shop made from 350 to 400 pounds of top tubing in eight hours. At the second plant we visited in Weisswasser, presided over by Mr. Mader, we found they had three furnaces. They make a very fine line of stem Fare, cut ware and ware that is treated with an acid that eati away the surface of the glass, and that part left untouched' constituted the design. They likewise produce a line of blanks for cutting, and have in con- nection with the plant a large cutting shop. The cutters work what may be termed "team" work. They have the "master" and two assistants. The "master" works piece work, while his assistants are paid day work ; the former bping held responsible for bad ware. The wages of the "master" approximate 500 marks ($119.00) per week. The assist.ftnts earn only about one-half the wage of the "master," even thoijgh the same work is done by each. Grinders are paid more than cutters. On our visit to the cutting shop I could hardly believe my eyes when confronted with stem ware that was flexible and at. the same time bore a comparatively deep cut pattern. One naturally wonders how it is possible for the cutters to do the work without cutting through the article. The following picture shows the principal plant in Weisswasser. There are upwards of 4,000 glass workers em- ployed in this city. Here I was invited to deliver an address at a public meeting held in the Market Place on Tuesday, Jan- U9.ry 4th. It was estimated there were 10,000 people in attend- 50 ance. Every courtesy' was shown us by the Burgdmaster (Mayor) and other city officials. The address delivered en this occasion appears in full on pages 4 to 9 of the March issue of The American Flint. One of the plants at Weisswasser, Germany, and the homes in which the workers reside. Haidemuhl. The city of Haidemuhl is practically owned by a Mr. Schiller, the inventor of the Schiller machine, which is used in producing packers' goods. Each machine requires the serv- ices of a gatherer, operator, turning-out boy and carrying-in boy. During the war girls served in the capacity of operators (pressers). It is rather a slow method of producing, but they get a nice finish on their ware. The workers are provided with homes by Mr. Schiller, which consist of three to five rooms, at a rent of from 20 to 25 .marks ($4.76 to $5.95) per month. In addition to the house there adjoins each property a large shed that can be used for coal, wood, chickens, etc., as well as a plot of ground that may be cultivated. As an indication of the sufferings endured by the common people of Germany during the war, it is only necessary to re- late that we came in contact with men and women whose weight was reduced anywhere from 30 to 50 pounds, owing to the lack of sufficient nourishment. 51 Ober-Schreiberhau. The plant here is owned and operated by Count Schaf- g'otsch. It has one furnace with twelve pots, each pot holding 225 pounds, except two, which are larger than the others. All pots are open top and the furnace is of the down draught make. They work day-turn only. The men work', on a foot bench and are always in the same place. The plant is over 20.0 years old. It is surrounded by a pine forest. They use only one ton of coal a day in the furnace, the remainder of the heat being derived from pine wood. There are no glory holes in tjie factory. All warming-in is done at the furnace. Twelve shops vrere working at the time of our visit, most of whom were producing fine stem ware. ,,It was really inter- esting to watch them. They perform this work in various ways. A shop producing a goblet with a fancy twisted stem make the stems one day in advance and set them to one side. The following day they blow the bowls and complete the article, placing a few stems at a time on the breast wall, and when a bowl is ready for the stem the one. closest to the fire is selected and stuck to the bowl. After this the bowl and leg are warmed' in the pot mouth until the entire article is properly heated, and then the foot is cast. I also watched the workmen make a stem- with a "bubble" in the center. This stem is made separately and later stuck to the bowl and the foot cast. Some shops were composed of two men and two boys, while others had five men and two boys. On a two-man shop one man g-athered and blew the bowl atid cleaned off his own pipe, whije the second man cast the stem and later the foot. On the five-man shop they had a bowl gatherer, two blowers, a stem ranker and" a foot caster, „;„ On a two or three man shop the foot caster takes his place on the foot bench. He has no bit gatherer. We witnessed foot casters insert the article in the pot and gather on the end of the ?tem the glass required to make the foot. This was clever work. 52 A shop composed of three men and two boys making a fine cast stem goblet was paid 80 marks per hundred, or $19.04. The making of plated ware at this plant was very interest- ing to us. They seemed to have changed their system in recent years. They produce beautiful goods. The cutters in this vicinity worked with one "master" and two helpers. The master receives approximately 360 marks ($95.68) and the helpers 220 to 240 marks ($52.36 to $57.12) per week. They make stem ware by two processes and by differently constructed shops. The drawn stem shops are composed of a ball gatherer and two blowers, who gather and blow their own. The pipe is thrown across the crotch and the stem drawn with shears. If the stem happens to be too long it is clipped off; if too thick it is drawn a little longer and the excess length clipped off. The article is then handed to the foot caster, who does not work on the foot bench. A bit gatherer gathers the glass for the foot, and the article is completed in practically the same way as in America. The second method was where they made cast stems and feet. Here they use but one blower who gathers and blows his own. The foot caster casts the stem as well as the foot. At this factory they were producing some beautiful ware, all made from open top pots. The Seventh District. I quote herewith from an agreement for the Seventh Dis- trict (Dusseldorf) that became effective January 1st, 1921, as follows : ' The present local circumstances differ very much as to wages and have been settled as follows: Minimum wage in the First District 360 marks ($85.68) weekly. Minimum wage in the Second District 330 marks ($78.54) weekly. Minimum wage in the Third District 330 marks ($78.54) weekly. All workmen are obliged to do late hours if the necessity has been proved. 25% extra charge per hour for the first two hours. 53 50% extra charge per hour for any hour over two hours. 50% extra charge per hour if working on Sundays. The extra charge for work done on Easter, Whitsunday and Christ- mas amounts to 100%. For repairing pots and other similar work connected with the plant, the workmen get their regular wages, but are obliged to do this work also beyond the regular hours. All skilled workmen get three holidays per year after being emr ployed nine months, and another day for each year over that time up to a maximum of six or nine days. Time of illness is to be put down to the workman's account as to holidays. During the time of repairing furnaces, holidays are not to be granted. If work cannot be continued on account of glass being bad, the manufacturer bears 70 per cent of the. weekly wages (wages pre- viously stated) pro rata the time work stopped. The uncertain industrial conditions prevailing made it necessary that only short time agreements be entered into. In some instances they did not extend beyond four weeks. The agreement in effect in the Seventh District on the occasion of our visit had been made for a period of four months, but with the proviso that should increased prices in the cost of living warrant it, a conference could be called and the agreement re- opened. The laborers working around a glass plant are paid six marks ($1.43) an hour. On our return to Berlin, where the office of the workers is located, I was urged to address their general executives. The invitation was accepted and the address delivered on this oc- casion appears in full on pages 9 to 11 of the March issue of The American Flint. A group picture of the gathering is in- corporated in this report. Invitation to Secretary Girbig. In order to more fully express our feeling of good will toward the officers and members of the German organization, I renewed the invitation extended to Secretary Girbig, hoping that he may be able to pay us an official visit. We are looking forward to the pleasure of having him with us. However, the low value of the German mark may be the determining factor when the time comes for his intended visit. 54 Jena. On page 55 of this report appears a picture of the glass plant at Jena, Germany. This is one of the famous glass plants in Europe. It is operated by a board of directors, composed of Dr. Schott, Richard Hirsch and Rudolph Klett. This company has 20 furnaces and tanks and employs 1,500 people. The furnaces include both open and covered top pots. They were making beakers, flasks and globes from heat resisting glass produced in a tank while we were there. Their furnaces hold from one to five pots, and the tanks likewise are small. I watched a shop making inner globes in a paste mould six at a time. The mould was a meter (39 inches) long. A second shop was making an article that resembled an Roch- ester, and was producing four at a time. The shop produces from 800 to 1,000 sticks in 7% hours. Bach blower received lO marks ($2.38) per hundred sticks. The gatherer received 7V2 marks ($1.79) per hundred sticks. Paste mould shops, as a rule, are composed of a ball maker and two blowers who cover the ball, block and blow their own. The glass was blocked over a crotch, blown through, warmed in the ring hole or pot mouth and swung to a length of about 35 inches before being placed in the mould. All shops worked from a foot bench. In this Jena plant the men work two shifts of eight hours each, but one-half hour is taken for a meal, leaving the actual time of producing 7% hours. One turn starts at 4 a. m. each day, except Saturday, and is done at noon. The other turn starts at noon and completes the day at 8 o'clock. On Satur- day the first turn starts at midnight and is done at 6 :30 a. m., the second turn going on at 6 :30 and finishing at 1 :00 p. m. If necessity arises for shops to work night turn they are paid extra. The workmen employed by this company are given two weeks' vacation with pay. 55 In addition to the regular wages paid the workmen at this plant, each married man receives a monthly allowance of 90 marks ($21.42) for each child in his immediate family and an allowance of 60 marks ($14.28) for his wife. Each shop was furnished with two moulds, thus permitting- each blower to have his own mould. Tube workmen earn from 400 to 450 marks ($95.20) to $107.10) per week, while other workmen averaged about 360 marks ($85.68) per week. View of Schott & Genossen works, Jena, Germany. Pots are set by the skilled workmen after regular working hours, each workmen receiving 7% marks ($1.79) for each hour spent at this labor. Through the courtesy of the officials of the Carl Zeiss works, we were shown through this remarkable institution, which has a direct connection with the Schott & Genossen Glassworks at Jena. The Zeiss works now employ 4,500, and with the 1,500 employed at the glass works the two establish- ments have a total of 6,000 workers. Before the war the two plants furnished employment to 12,000. Increased Cost of Materials. An enormous increase in the cost of materials for the manufacture of glass ware is shown for the six years from 1914 to 1920. To avoid confusion I am giving the amounts in 56 American equivalents in each instance. These figures also ~«vere secured from different concerns : 1914 1920 Coal per ton -... $ 7.14 $ 79.02 Sand per ton 8.33 154.07 *Scda per ton 23.80 833.00 Lead per ton - 71.40 3,570.00 Coal per ton (Brown) .94 23.80 Sand per ton — - 7.14 19.04 Soda per ton 23.80 287.98 Lead per ton 83.80 2,380.00 Potash per ton ...,- - 71.40 1,428.00 Coal per ton ..-. 1.57 48.55 Sand per ton 2.86 11.90 Soda per ton 19.64 267.75 Lead per ton 101.27 2,500.19 Lime per ton ......;-. 4.76 36.65 *The company that supplied these figures was notified that the price of soda would be increased to $1,332 per ton after January 1, 1921. ^^SHkHK^sb A view of the pot room at the Schott & Genossen works, Jena, Ger- many. Note the great number of open top pots in stock. 57 Observe the pot-setting carriage. It is constructed with two prongs extending under the pot, with an adjustable supporting prong on either side. Note the man in the center regulating the sup- porting prongs by the crank in- his left hand. Increased Costs of Necessities. The following table will give a fair idea as to how prices of foodstuffs and other necessities have increased in Germany during the past six years : German American German Money 1914 Money 1914 Money 1920 American Money 1920 Name of articles be, S a) Ph 50 Bread per 4 lbs Butter per lb 1.20 Cheese per lb 1-20 Meat per lb. - 1.00 Potatoes per lb 04 Lard per lb 50 Oleomargarine per lb 90 ■Qolt npr IV) .10 $ .12 .29 .29 .24 .01 .14 .21 .02 9.00 35.00 30.00 20.00 .50 18.00 15.00 .40 2.14 8.33 7.14 4.76 .12 4.28 3.75 .09 58 Sugar per lb .22 . .05 5.70 1.36 Flour per lb 20 .05 7.00 1.66 Eggs per doz ...1.20 .29 30.00 7.14 Coal per 123 lbs 95 .23 15.20 3.62 Soap per piece 10 .02 4.50 1.07 Wool per lb .7.50 1.79 . 75.00 17.85 Linen per meter 80 .19 20.00 4.76 Yarn per 1,000 yards .35 .08 15.00 3.57 Wood per meter ..: 6.00 1.43 150.00 35.70 Gas for 4 hours 10 .02 1.40 .33 One of the great handicaps confronting the glass manu- facturers of Germany is their inability to secure good coal; this being due principally to the reparation clause in the Versailles Treaty requiring Germany to furnish 2,000,000 tons of coal each month to France. At one plant we were advised tha,t an analysis of their coal showed 56 per cent water. In the year 1913 the exported glass ware from Germany — ; this included all kinds of glass — amounted to 146,124,000 marks, or $33,777,512.00. Czecho-Slovakia. While in Germany" we learned that there were two organi- zations of glass workers in Czecho-Slovakia : one comprising 18,000 Germans and Austrians, the other being composed of 17,000 Czechs. The "headquarters of the Austrians is located at Tannwald, and the Czechs have their offices in Teplitz. Our first visit was to the German organization at Tann- wald. We learned that they have about 3,200 skilled workmen, who might be termed flint glass workers. However, they admit to membership all men and women employed in the glass in- dustry save the manager and officials — even the chemist and office help are admitted. The parent organization prior to the war had among its members nine different nationalities, made up of Germans, Czechs, Bulgarians, Magyars, Poles, Ukranians Slovaks, Turks and one other, but the language spoken was German. 59 Prior to 1912 all glass workers belonged to the- one union, but a national feeling was engendered that resulted in the Czechs withdrawing and forming an organization composed of Czechs only, while the parent body retained the Germans and Austrians under the leadership of Secretary Anton Hackel, who has held this office for a period of twenty-one years. The Czechs' organization selected Karl Victoria as their leader. We submitted a questionnaire to the officers of the German organization and they promised faithfully to make answer to all of our questions. The day that the answers were to be formulated, however, thousands of their members were thrown into idleness, thereby depriving the officers of the opportunity of giving attention to our paper. It was agreed, nevertheless, that answers would be made later on and the document mailed to us, but up to the present time it has not been received. The result is the record of our visit to this district will not be as complete as I should like to have made it. In 1914 the wages of the gaffers ranged from 70 to 80 kronin ($14.21 to $16.24) per week, while their wages at the present time are approximately 600 kronin ($121.80) per week. The present wages of the second man on a shop are approxi- mately 400 kronin ($81.20) per week, while the gatherers re- ceive 65 per cent of the gaffer's rate, or $79.17. While we were in Tannwald we were advised by Gustav Newman, editor of the German Glassworkers ' Journal, that the men in the flint branch of the industry work only six hours per day, but they would wait two hours on glass. In no in- stance, however, would they remain at the plant more than eight hours out of twenty-four. In this vicinity are located the plants of Joseph Reidel, but he would not permit us to visit his works. In one plant he has eleven furnaces and in another ten. Before the war he oper- ated twenty-six furnaces, but on the occasion of our visit he was operating only five. Each furnace has from twelve to six- teen pots, each pot holding from 500 to 650 pounds. Note: — See pages 82 and 83 for money values. 60 The Reidel Company owns practically all the ground within sight of their plants, and this is likewise applicable to the properties. They furnish their workmen with free rent, coal, electric light and garden space. If they do not have suf- . ficient houses and workers are required to live elsewhere, then the company pays the rent. • Tube shops are so constructed that they have a boy mount- ^ ed on an apparatus similar to a bicycle so that he can race down the alley with the "post" thrown over his shoulder, the claim being put forth that he 'cannot go fast enough without J this conveyance. Stoppers. From the Tannwald district come stoppers and prisms. Knowing of this competition, I was very desiroiis of obtaining details. Being deprived of an opportunity to visit the larger ■ plants, and persisting in our desire to see this ware produced, we were escorted to a very small plant, where we found stop- pers made in a very queer way. The factory was a shed about twenty feet square. In it was a small furnace similar to a portable glory hole. It was fired by coal. Two men were working at this hole. They had - a. supply of cane or rod, and would have three sticks in the fire at one and the. same time, similar to .a finisher on a bottle shop in a bottle factory. When the piece of cane was in a plastic state it was withdrawn from the fire and inserted in a pair of . tongs, in which the design cf the stopper had been cut. The tongs were then squeezed, the rod of glass drawn away, caus- ihg the glass to be thin near the edge of the tongs, after which the tongs were opened and the stopper severed from the rod with a pair of shears. The stopper was then thrown into a bucket that was placed on top of the "hole" so that the article would cool gradually, and the operation continued. Prisms, ink caps, bobbin holders, toy dogs, monkeys, rab- . bits and similar articles are produced in this manner, samples >> of which I have in my possession and will gladly display them to our delegates. 61 For making a stopper (similar to the No. 175 oil bottle stopper made in Moundsville) the men were paid 10 kronin ($2.03) per thousand plus 350 per cent, or 45 kronin ($9.14) per thousand. They are able to make from 1,000 to 1,200 per day. The John Umann Company would not admit us to their glass plant, but did allow us to go through his cutting shop. Cutters work eight hours a day, taking fifteen minutes for lunch in the morning and fifteen minutes in the afternoon, and cease work at noon on Saturday, making a total of forty-two hours' labor per week. Previous to six months ago they worked ten hours a day. This is the largest cutting shop in the vicinity of Tann- wald we visited. The representative of the company informed us that a god cutter earned from 800 to 1,000 kronin ($162.40 to $203.00) per week, but Secretary Hackel told us that this was an exaggerated statement and he estimated that a good cutter could earn from 500 to 600 kronin ($101.50 to $121.80) per week. Girls employed in the same shop earned from 150 to 200 kronin ($30.45 to $40.60) per week, while a skilled woman cutter would earn 250 kronin ($50.75) per week. The company employed 160 cutters. This cutting shop is an excellent structure. It is two stories high, exceedingly well lighted at the sides and ends, practically all the windows are double, and the walls and ceil- ing are whitewashed, making it a very agreeable place for the workmen. The representative of this concern took pleasure in inform- ing us that they could produce bottles and stoppers in their works, and ship them to America at a price below that at which they could be made in the United States. We were informed also that previous to the war this com- pany shipped ten cases containing 50 to 60 gross of stoppers each week to the Carr-Lowrey Company, Baltimore, Maryland. They had just received an inquiry, so we were told, for an order 62 of 50,000 gross,. but it was doubtful if it would be filled, for the reason that the company, it seems, would require all the stop- pers they could make to complete their own bottles. '- . Many bottles turned out were made unfinished, with a peculiarly constructed blow-over. This blow-over was chipped and the lips ground and cut, making a very attractive finish. In this particular shop they cut door-knobs and bottles in great quantities. We learned that many of the door-knobs were, sent to America, and particularly to Grand Rapids, Mich. There are numerous cutting shops in and around Tann- wald, most of which derive their power from water coming from the mountains. They not only cut down on their over- head expense because of the manner in which they acquire their power, but in addition to this they have two frames oper- ated from the game pulley. In other words, in place of having t^yo lines of frames running through the shop as in American factories, they have four sets of frames, as indicated in the picture on the following page. At the time we watched the cutters in this Tannwald plant they were cutting stoppers, and usually they had at least one in- each hand, and sometimes more. We found many stones in the cutting shops used hori- zontally. This seemed to give the operator greater opportunity ■^0 shorten the time required in cutting stoppers, inks, trays, bottles, etc. There are about 24,000 so-called "home" workers in the vicinity of Tannwald and Goblenz, where they make buttons, beads, ear-rings, stick-pins, prisms, spoons and kindred ware. We visited the homes of several of this class of workers. One cannot appreciate to what degree lamp work is performed in the ordinary home unless you had an opportunity to visit the Tannwald district. In one home we found a man, his wife and three small children living in one room, approximately 12x15 feet. This was also their work shop. This room con- tained a work-table about 3x41/2 feet, lounge, bed., cradle. 63 stove and several chairs. The children were bare-footed, even though at that time the snow was about six inches deep. The father and mother were making hollow prisms for chandeliers. The work-table was so constructed that there was room for two more workers. Glass beads are made on an extensive scale in the vicinity of Tannwald. An ordinary piece of tube is heated over a lamp and then placed in a mould and blown, after which the beads are separated, filed and strun;!'. Before the tube is heated it is treated with acid in order to give the glass a silver effect. A view of the interior of fhe Zahn cutting shop at Haida, Bohemia. To impress on the reader the extent to which trinkets are made from glass in the neighborhood of Tannwald, it may be stated that the. workers have listed 1,600 designs that are cut on a glass bracelet which is made from tube. These bracelets are cased with ruby, white, yellow and other colors. This product is produced chiefly for the Mohammedans. Hatpin ornaments, eyes made from glass, stickpins, writ- ing-pens and an endless variety of goods of this class are made over a lamp in the homes of the workers. Neualt. Among other places on our itinerary we paid a visit to Neualt. This plant is 300 years old. We made the journey from Tannwald. En route we had to traverse over mountains 64 that are so steep that it necessitated a cog engine to draw the train. After leaving the train we were required to walk al- most six miles through snow that was ten inches deep. This plant has three furnaces ; two 10-pot and one 12-pot. Only one furnace was in operation when we were there. At the time it was built the plant was purposely located in a woods, so that the timber therefrom could be easily and cheaply obtained for fuel. In those days they had no idea as to the economy to be effected by locating a plant close to a railroad. The result is that they have had to convey all their raw material and also the finished product quite a distance in order to place it on the market. In this works practically all the shops that were making stem ware, nappies, jugs, etc., used wooden moulds. Some of these were made with a hinge, while others were merely a hol- low block, the latter being used in making punch tumblers and stem ware. A stem shop was made up by one man gathering, blocking and blowing the bowl, after which he gathered the bit with his right hand and held the pipe with the bowl attached in his left. Then he twisted the glass on to the bowl and this glass was used to make the first button on the leg of the article, which button was subsequently cast by the foot-maker. The foot- maker next gathered a piece of glass with his right hand and twisted it on to the leg, which he held on the pipe in his left hand, and then finished the length of the stem. One thing par- ticularly noticeable was that the man casting the stem had an abundance of blocks and paddles which had the design of the stem burned into the wood. These enabled him to make the stems or legs more uniform. After the leg was completed, the article was reheated before the foot was cast, and again re- heated before being sent into the lehr. This procedure may give some indication of the "snail-like" methods of producing at this 300-year-old glass factory. As another example of the medieval methods used I may cite a shop making a paste mould jug in which the handler 65 gathered and made his own punty to stick up the jug in order to shear it. The. handler would take the pipe with the jug from the blower, place it across a "T" stand, and, con- necting his punty to the bottom, knock the jug from the pipe and heat the article in the furnace. After this he would open the lip with a wooden plug, and then shear it. The blower on the shop would then gather a handle, which was stuck at the top of the jug first, and, with the handle swinging, the article would be warmed in the tank and reheated before the bottom stick was made. After the second stick was made and the handle shaped, the jug was again warmed in and heated suf- ficiently to allow the handler to lip it, and then the article was sent into the lehr. A shop in America would make three such jugs while they were producing one. The company at Neualt furnishes the workmen with houses to live in free of cost. It might be well to relate that what we call "table" ware is understood abroad as "plate" glass used on the top of a table or desk. The general designation for flint ware abroad is "white" or hollow glass. Enormous Increase in. Prices. During our stay at Tannwald we secured figures on staple articles of necessity that justify me in recording them here. The following named were some that were increased in price from 1914 to 1920, and the percentage of increase is given herewith : Flour or meal 355 per cent Coffee 2,000 per cent Cocoa .-.- 15,000 per cent Oil (petroleum) 2,855 per cent Clothing 2,900 per cent Collars 2,333 per cent Shoes 2,250 per cent Washing and ironing 2,200 per cent School books 1,200 per cent Kailroad fares 1,200 per cent 66 TLe labor that some men and women are required to do in Czectio-Slovakia is almost beyond belief. We witnessed men hitched to sleds doing practically the work of a horse, and women with baskets made of boards strapped across their backs carrying coal and other materials around a glass works. It was certainly shocking. The men, we were informed, re- ceived 6 to 8 kronin ($1.22 to $1.62) before the war; now they are paid 70 to 80 kronin ($14.21 to $16.24) per day. Since the new republic was created under the provisions of the Versailles Treaty, the names of the cities have been changed. The official language also was changed from German to Czech, and names of railroad stations and cities so altered that it makes travel exceedingly difficult. Haida (Old Bohemia). To understand the ability of the engravers, cutters and decorators of painted glassware that comes from abroad, or to appreciate the training of the men who have come to this country from Bohemia, you must know Haida. This city was incorporated in 1704 and has a population of about three thousand. The suburbs, however, comprise thirty to forty thousand, most of whom either have been,, or are now, connected with the glass industry either in a direct or indirect way. The founder of Haida, so we learned, became interested in glass. Historians relate that he made two trips from Haida to Spain pushing a wheel-barrow containing glass, and out of this venture he acquired sufficient to enable him to make his next trip with a team of horses. This is an indication of the crude beginning and the great progress made in the glass industry in that city. There are only two glass factories in Haida, and only one of these was producing glass when we were there. This was the Hantich Company. Thej^ have one furnace with twelve pots, each pot holding 350 to 440 pounds. As far as the pro- duction of glass proper is concerned, it amounts to little. How- 67 ever, the engraving, cutting, decorating and painting that is done here is another story. Most of their glassware is pur- chased in other cities. In 1868 a school was started in Haida to teach children how to make picture frames, and in 1870 lessons in drawing were. given. This was followed in 1878 by the study of glass decorating and of engraving glass in 1907, while the art of cutting was undertaken in 1908. At the present time they are building a furnace in connection with the school to make glass. The Trade School at Halda, Bohemia, where 250 students are engaged in learning the art of drawing, painting, cutting and engraving. There are 250 students now taking one or the other of the courses referred to. We paid two visits to this school. When a student enters, he or she is first drilled in cutting pictures from books and papers and pasting them on different colored backgrounds. The next step is to use ink with a stick, this bfring the first lesson in drawing. Following this the student is given a brush and begins to learn to paint. In a short time students are competing for prizes and their drawings or paintings deal with glass only. Each student must 68 make his own design, whether it be for painting, cutting or en- graving. One can imagine what this fundamental training means to the child that later follows either of these branches of the trade. Before students are admitted to the school they must have at least a common school education and then spend four years at the trade school. The school is supported by the state and has been since 1868. Many glass manufacturers purchase their designs from^ the students. When students leave the school they either enter some branch of the glass trade, or they take up farming or music. In most instances it has been demonstrated that the boys and girls graduating from the trade school will, to a degree at least, follow up their training. This is the reason that so much ' ' home ' ' work is being done in and about Haida, it being estimated that there are 24,000 house workers in this neighbor- hood. Comparatively few of the workers doing work at home are organized. The Ha;ckel organization has a local at Haida and the secretary, who serves as a business agent, spent two days with us. When we parted with him he promised to fur- nish some data in writing, but it has not yet been received. According to the information imparted to us I feel justified in stating that glass is treated in one-third of the homes in this district ; that is, it is cut, painted, decorated, engraved, enam- eled, or worked over a lamp. This product goes to all corners of the globe. Many of the farmers who till the soil during the farming season devote their time to decorating glass in some manner in the winter, and it's not infrequent that the wife or some other member of the family will be a faithful and efficient assistant at the "home" industry. Cutting frames are operated by foot power in much the same manner as a sewing machine. Many of those who are 69 iccustomed to this method of work will not take a position in I factory where the wheel is driven by power, as in America, rhey claim that they can do better work on a frame operated jy foot. This home work enables aged men to continue work- ng at their trade. There are many men doing cutting and en- graving who are beyond seventy years of age. Many efforts have been made to induce the home workers ;o give up their home labor and go to work in shops instead, Dut without success. At home they are their own boss and they 3an work sliort or long hours, and whenever they feel disposed ;o do so. In many instances they command whatever price they [eel justified in asking. To illustrate: Mr. Rausche, a glass iealer in Haida, related that he had secured a price of 130 kronin ($26.39) on an article, and after taking the order the workman raised the price to 600 kronin ($101.50). Another price of 60 kronin ($12.18) had been agreed to, and after taking the order on this basis the worker raised his price to 300 kronin ($60.90). In both instances the order had to be cancelled. It is freely admitted that when the originators of certain iesigns of engraving pass away that their designs will be dis- continued, reasoning tliat other engravers cannot duplicate many of the patterns that it was our privilege to inspect. It lias taken as long as three years to engrave some of the indi- wlual pieces. Mr. Rausche, who is a very large dealer in glass that is cut, engraved, etched, painted and decorated, informed us that it was impossible for them to send either blanks or cut ware to the United States, but they could send engraved and decor- ated ware, for the reason their designs were original and ex- Blusive, and with this reasoning I very much agree. Mr. Rausche also advised us that the average wage of cutters em- ployed in the district was about 400 kronin ($81.20) a week. The professor at the school at Haida informed us that living zosts had increased 1,000 per cent, and he estimated that the 70 the earnings of the cutters in that district had been increased from 60 kronin ($12.18) to 600, 800 and 1,000 kronin ($121.80- $162.40-$203.00) per week. A man by the name of Zahn operates two cutting shops in Haida. He employs about 200 cutters. This is one of the few large shops of this kind in Europe. Out of those 200 men 30 are "masters." The master cutter earns from 500 to 1,000 kronin ($101.50 to $203.00) per week, while the helpers earn -,from 300 to 600 kronin ($60.90 to $121.80) per week. The master must share with the employer in the expense in furnish- ing sand, light, tools and power ; paying for all the sand and 25 ; per cent of the light and power. Another feature of the plant is, if men are idle for a week, due to illness, they are paid their wages for the week without question, this expense being borne by the employer. A visit to the display room of Karl Goldberg and an in- spection of the decorated glass on display will justify the as- sertion that the Bohemians lead in this class of work. All the -ware that Goldberg decorates is made from crystal glass, but when it is finished one would think that it was colored glass made purposely for decorating. His enamel work is in a class by itself. He employs but 10 decorators in his shop, yet he has 100 or more doing this class of work at home, and in addition to this a good number doing cutting and engraving at home. In Haida they have a museum devoted to the exhibition of glass. This was established by the workmen many years ago. Bach workman was solicited to make a contribution of one piece of glass made, cut, engraved, painted or decorated by himself. Many responded. This encouraged others to con- tribute to the collection. There are some very rare pieces in this collection. We were shown through by Mr. Alex Pfohl, the vice-mayor of the city. He has charge of the museum and is the owner of a decorating shop. 71 The square building in the foreground is the Museum referred to at Haida, Bohemia. Teplitz-Czecho-Slovakia. We were well received and kindly treated by our Czech brethren. They have their headquarters in Teplitz, while their membership is scattered all over the republic. We presented a questionnaire containing the same questions asked of the of- ficers of the union in Gfermany, with the exception that Ques- tions 37, 53 and 54 were purposely omitted. Peeling that a re- production of the questions and detailed answers would make this report tiresome, I have decided to give a resume of the information obtained, as follows: Czecho-Slovakia has 80 plants with 105 furnaces producing flint glass, such as pressed, cut, illuminating, chemical and kindred glass, and 170 large and small cutting shops. Eight hours constitutes a day's work, 45 hours constitute a week in the flint glass industry. Before the war 9% hours constituted a day's work. They work two shifts a day. The workers report 15 minutes before starting time. They work on a piece-work basis. Skilled workmen set the pots and each man is paid 30 kronin ($6.09) for each pot set. Pots are set after regular working hours. 11 If glass is not in condition to work at starting time, then the workmen are paid 80 per cent of their average wage. If they are placed at other work they receive full pay. The head of the shop is not required to do other labor, but the other members of the shop must do the work assigned to them, otherwise they have no claim for pay. Agreements are made in joint conference. It seems that rules and hours are regulated universally, while wages are legislated for in districts. The wages of the workmen in 1914 and 1920 are given in the following table: 1914 1920 Per week Per week Gaifer $10.05 to $12.18 $91.35 to $97.44 Servitor 4.06 to 4.87 56.84 to 71.05 Gatherer 2.84 to 3.25 30.45 to 36.54 Carrying-in boy .- 1.62 to 2.03 18.27 to 22.33 The workers in the Press Ware Department receive a wage in keeping with what is recorded in the foregoing table. They admit to membership all male and female workers of Czech nationality regardless of ability. Even the mana'ger of the plant must be a member of the union, and at one factory we found the manager was vice-president of the union. This organization has a membership of 18,000, which they divide as follows: Flint workers 9,000 Window workers 1,000 Bottle workers 1,000 Cutters, etc 3,000 Other male and female workers 4,000 All the male and female workers employed in the glass industry are organized with the exception of those engaged in the "house" industry. Production is limited by the local organizations and workmen are required to be governed accordingly. When plants are closed to rebuild furnaces and make similar re- pairs the heads of shops are not required to work, but they receive 80 per cent of their average wages, while the other workmen are em- ployed doing another class of work and are paid a wage commensurate with their efforts. There are about 100 idle furnaces at the present time. Note:— See pages 82 and 83 for money valu es. 73 Vacations with pay must be granted. They are regulated by what they call paragraph 17 of their contract, the provisions of which are: "Interruptions of one-half hour's duration or longer during the turn must be paid for, even though it would require two or three stops to constitute the half-hour or more. If a plant closes and the work- men have an opportunity to secure employment in another plant, they must accept. If the workmen are placed at an expense, such as car fare to another city, the employer pays the expense. "If a plant is closed for one week's time, thereby preventing the workmen from following their trade, then each workman is paid an average week's wage equal to his earnings for the last normal work- ing period. If the idleness extends beyond a week and up to the maximum duration of six weeks, then what is called 'boarding' money Is payable weekly. Boarding money, based upon an average weekly earnings for the previous four weeks, will be paid as follows: Average Earnings Boarding Money for previous 4 weeks that will be paid 40 to 7-5 kronin 40 kronin 75 to 100 kronin 60 kronin 100 to 125 kronin 80 kronin 125 to 150 kronin 100 kronin 150 to 175 kronin 120 kronin 175 to 225 kronin 140 kronin 225 to 275 kronin 160 kronin 275 to 300 kronin 190 kronin 300 to 350 kronin 210 kronin 350 to 400 kronin 230 kronin 400 to 450 kronin 260 kronin 450 to 500 kronin 290 kronin 500 to 575 kronin 320 kronin 575 to 650 kronin : 360 kronin 650 kronin and over 400 kronin (A kronin is equal to twenty and three-tenths cents.) "At the end of six weeks every claim to indemnification ceases, and the respective workman who has been forced to lay off receives (if he keeps up his relation as an employe) aid, the particulars of which shall be arranged separately." Children are not allowed to work until 14 years of age, and males and females are prohibited from working at night until they have passed 16 years of age. 74 Provisions have increased in cost frona 1,200 to 1,500 per cent since 1914, while clothing has increased from 2,000 to 3,000 per cent. Wages have not- kept pace, having increased only from 600 to 700 per cent. Rent is charged according to earnings. They have six classifica- tions. Information can be best imparted through the attached table: Average American Average American Class weeklv wage equivalent weekly rent equivalent K. H. 1 lOOKronin $20.30 1.50 $.30 2 leOKronin 32.48 2.50 .51 3 260Kronin 52.78 4.00 .81 4 360Kronin 73.08 5.50 1.12 5 460Kronin 93.38 7.00 1.42 6 560Kronin 113.68 8.50 1.73 K. and H. stand for kronin and hellers. It takes 100 hellers to make a kronin. A kronin is equal to 20.3 cents. At one plant we visited in Teplitz the head of the company in- formed us that his concern furnished its workmen with houses con- sisting of two rooms, each j-oom being 38 to 55 square meters (about 20x20 to 20x30 square feet) in size and a kitchen free of charge. In addition to this the company furnished coal free, but made a charge of 6 kronin ($1.22) per month for electric lights. ■ IJttle work was done during the war, the able bodied men being at the front and the industry handicapped by government laws. The workers now produce more in eight hours than was formerly produced in 9% hours. Ten districts comprise the organization, six of which are governed by their own secretaries, who are paid by the union. Each district regulates local questions, but in general they are guided by the national board. Average wage of workmen employed around a glass works per week was stated to be: Stirrer 200 kronin ($ 40.60) Apprentice 70 kronin ($ 14.21) Mixers 180 kronin ($ 36.54) Assorters 220 kronin ($ 44.66) Glass cutters 650 kronin ($131.95) Form-makers 400 kronin ($ 81.20) Helpers 250 kronin ($ 50.75) Cutters 600 kronin ($121.80) Polishers 350 kronin ($ 71.05) Oven-workers 450 kronin ($ 91.35) 75 Carrying-in boys 70 kronin ($ 14.21) Form-holding boys '. 65 kronin ($ 13.95) Sticklng-up boys 65 kronin ($ 13.19) All these workmen work eight hours daily. Women are employed as packers, assorters and wrappers. For- merly they worked as cutters, but this has been done away with. The wages of women are 20 per cent lower than those of men doing the same class of work. A co-operative works is operated by the workers in which they work for less money and make greater production than when employed by another manufacturer. Glory holes were conspicuous by their absence in some plants, the workers warming their ware in the pot mouth from which they gathered. Every man and woman employed in or around a glass plant in the Teplitz district is a member of the union, with the exception of the president of the company and the directors. Boys and girls paste the moulds for the workmen in the Inwald plant at Teplitz. In this plant an extra wind pipe circled the furnaces and tanks, these being used to furnish an air current for the work- men. This is a modern works. The management informed us that the average wage of the workers in the Inwald plant was: Blower, 540 kronin ($109.62) per week. The blocker was paid 75 per cent and the gatherer 40 per cent of the blower's rate. Where it was possible to do so, all paste moulds were made one meter (39 inches) long. This enables the workmen to make 3 and 4 chimneys at a time, while globes were made from 2 to 6 at a time. The following statement of earnings of the workmen em- ployed in one of the plants at Teplitz was taken from the books of the company while we were in the office. They are being reported in American equivalents in order to avoid confusion : 76 Minimum Maximum Average $.102.72 $162.20 $131.14 106.37 150.83 130.73 108.80 163.42 125.05 116.93 156.72 127.08- The blowers on the shop receive 75 per cent of the gaffer's rate, while the gatherers are paid from 35 to 55 per cent of the gaffer's rate. Passive Resistance. When we were in Teplitz, Czecho-Slovakia, the glass workers were in controversy with their employers, the latter having refused a demand for a 30 per cent increase in wages. The demand was made on January 24th, and the employers were required to make answer the following day. The demand of the workers was denied, so they imme- diately applied what is known as the "Passive Resistance Rule." This meant that production should be promptly de- creased 50 per cent and wages reduced accordingly. Every member of the union was required to reduce his labor one-half. Even the bookkeepers, chemists and manager were so affected. In a conversation with Karl Victoria, head of the union, he declared that the employers would have to give in, and if they failed to do so the following Monday the workers would reduce the production to 30 per cent of the ordinary output. The production was subsequently reduced, but soon thereafter a satisfactory settlement was reached, carrying with it an in- crease in wages ranging from 5 to 25 per cent, and it was made retroactive as of December 1st. The employers were in the position that if they closed their plants the works would be taken over and operated by the government, and this they desired to avoid. The sequence to this situation is that the employees practically control the .government. 77 Cost of Materials. One employer stated that materials now cost from 20 to 30 times more than previous to the war, giving the following comparisons which are set forth in American equivalents : 1914 1920 Potash $ 6.09 $162.40 Sand 6.09 162.40 Soda 2,64 72.90 Coal 10.15 304.50 Italy. Glass is not produced in Italy to an extent that need cause us anxiety. Milan was the only city where we visited a glass works. Here we had the privilege of inspecting a plant where electric bulbs and tube were being made. The workers gathered, marveled, blew, held their own mould, cracked off and cleaned off their iron and made 800 bulbs in eight hours. They worked with a clean iron. They are paid seven to eight lires ($1.35 to $1.54) per hundred. All piece work. They inquired about our method of work. We explained how we used a gatherer and blower. The manager replied by saying that they had worked the same system years ago, but found it necessary to abandon it. The dummy was very small, not over 10 inches high. "Workmen worked on the floor, but had an inclined platform extending about three feet out from the dummy. Pot mouths were divided so that two men could gather at one and the same time. Five to seven men were working from the same pot. Glass was very poor and so was the grade of ware produced. Workers did very little marveling. They went across the marveler about seven inches and back, gave one short swing of the glass and immediately went into the mould. They worked the glass very cold. Note : — See pages 82 and 83 for money values. 78 A day's work consists of eight hours. They do not work at night. The pots hold 1,200 pounds. This company has three furnaces. Tube was made in a crude way. A lamp room em- ploying 600 lamp workers was connected with the plant. "Workmen are furnished homes with rent free. The houses are quite nice, all built of stone or brick. A man with wife and one child is furnished with two rooms — a family with three children is given a house with three to four rooms. If workmen are required to move from one city to another all the expenses of the family are borne by the company. Glass workers are divided into nine organizations. Mario Scolari, secretary of the organization in which, the bulb work- ers hold membership, was formerly a newspaper correspondent. He is what is recognized as a "propagandist." He never worked at the glass trade. A questionnaire was presented to Secretary Scolari, which was translated into the Italian language. He promised to have all questions answered, but to date we have not received the information' promised. France We submitted a questionnaire to the officers of the union in France. Our questions were practically the same as those presented to the officers in Germany and Czecho-Slovakia. It hardly seems necessary to repeat them, nor is the need so great for the reason that the quantity of ware coming to the United States from France is insignificant. Again, the information ob- tained is not sufficiently authentic. However, from the data gathered the following statements are justified : Bight hours constitute a day's work, six days a week, workmen working the same number of hours on Saturday as on any other week day. Previous to the war 57 hours were recognized as a week's work. They work but one shift — day time on]y. Workmen report for work from ten to fifteen minutes before starting time. They work unlimited piece work. 79 The glass trade is divided into nine districts. Wages and rules are made in joint conferences in the various districts— in other words, they make district in place of universal agree- ments : Wages per day Wages per day in 1914 in 1920 Gaffer 10 francs ($1.93) 30 to 35 francs ($5.79 to $6.76) First blower 8 francs ($1.54) 29 to 32 francs ($5.60 to $6.18) Second Blower 7 francs ($1.35) 28 to 30 francs ($5.40 to $5.79) Gatherer 5 francs ($ .97) 22 to 25 francs ($4.25 to $4.83) Presser 7 francs ($1.35) 28 to 30 francs ($5.40 to $5.79) Skilled workmen set the pots at some plants, but in most instances pot setting is done by the laborers. Pots are gen- erally set after working hours. When skilled workmen set pots they are paid 21/^ francs (48 cents) each. Present Wages of Other Workmen. Cutters 25 francs ($4.83) per day Mixers and selecters 22 francs ($4.25) per day Mould makers 35 to 40 francs ($6.76 to $7.72) per day Grinders (women) 12 francs ($2.32) per day Grinders (men) 18 francs ($3.47) per day Furnacemen 20 to 25 francs ($3.86 to $4.83) per day Carrying-in boys 12 to 14 francs ($2.32 to $2.70) per day Window glass wkrs 60 to 70 francs ($11.58 to $13.51) per day All workmen engaged around a plant are admitted to membership in the union. The workmen engaged in making stem ware and table ware are not very well organized. In some localities furnaces are held in reserve to avoid idleness. This is done where they have two or more furnaces. It is customary to have a summer stop of from one to two months, during which time the workmen are not paid. Glass plants operated about one-third time during the war. Children are not permitted to work before they are 13 years of age, nor are they allowed to do skilled work at the trade when less than 16 years of age. Since 1914 living cost has increased about 400 per cent Note:— See pages 82 and 83 for money values. 80 and wages 300 per cent. Rent costs the workmen from 30 to 50 francs ($5.80 to $9.65) per month. Bulb blowers gather and blow their own and each man produces from 900 to 1,000 in eigjit hours. A dummy mould holder with a heel and toe movement, operated similarly to a pedal on a sewing machine, seemed to be a clever contrivance, still it may cause the ankle to become tired. By placing the weight on the heel the mould remained open, but when the weight of the body was thrown on the toes the mould closed. Coal cost 23 francs ($4.44) a ton in 1914, while in 1921 they are paying 500 francs ($96.50). In one of the furnaces we visited in Paris we found the space that would ordinarily be utilized for two pots was par- titioned off and used for glory holes. Wood was used to pro- duce a flame. Secretary Delzant was very kind to us. He was busy with a meeting of his executive board, still he devoted much time to aiding us in our mission. His office is in Paris. Both Mr. McCreary and I were invited to address the ex- ecutive board. The task was undertaken with the aid of two interpreters, but they were unable to translate our statements. Leadership. After meeting and mingling with the leaders of the glass workers in England, Belgium* Holland, Germany, Czecho- slovakia and France, I can say without compunction that the impression I received from those who have been chosen to direct the energies of our brethren abroad is that they are capable, energetic and agreeable gentlemen, who are deserving of the united support of those who comprise the membership of their respective organizations. Europeans Take Life Easy. In studying the characteristics of the people of England and Continental Europe you do not find them active and eager to hustle as are the people in America. They seem to be 81 possessed with the idea that they should take life easy. This was noticfeable in practically all walks of life, and not infre- quently the natives would call attention to our disposition to hasten matters. It was an interesting contrast to ^fateh the men at work in the glass plants that we visited and note how easy-going they are and how slowly they approached their work when com- pared with the American workman, who applies himself to his task with greater rapidity. The Real Evil. In a perusal of the data compiled in this report the reader will quickly discern that the cost of producing glassware in Belgium, Germany, Czecho-Slovakia and other countries is much higher than in America. It is likewise true that the wages paid to the workmen are greater than those paid to the American workmen. But this is readily • accounted for by reason of the very low value of foreign money as compared with the value of the American dollar. When I state that last October the rate of exchange in England, Ireland and Scotland was such that we received $1.37 of English money in exchange for $1.00 of our money, in Belgium $2.94, in Holland $1.24, in Germany $15.47, in Czecho- slovakia $15.83. in Austria $131.95, in Hungary $89.11, in Serbia $6.75, in Italj^ .$5.21, and in France $2.64, then it can be understood what an inducement there is to use American money in the purchase of products from abroad and bring such products into America at a price that American workmen and manufacturers cannot compete with. It is my judgment that no reduction in wages will enable us to meet this situation so long as the value of foreign money remains so low. The rate of exchange is the real evil. 82 Money Values. That the reader may more fully understand the financial situation as it exists between the United States and European countries, and appreciate its seriousness, it should be remem- bered that what was once equivalent to an American dollar was,, on the occasion of our visit, worth only the amounts stated in the following table: England 73 cents Belgium -.. 34 Holland 80 Germany 6 1/2 Czecho-Slovakia - 6 1/3 Italy - 19 France - 38 Another illustration: For 61/2 cents in American money importers can purchase one ($1.00) dollar's worth of German- made goods. Belgian money : One hundred (100) centimes equal one (1) franc. One (1) franc equals nineteen and three-tenths (19.3c) cents of American money when the franc is at par. In Decem- ber the franc was reduced in value until it was only equal to six and one-half (61/20) cents of our money. French money: Computed same as Belgian money, and was equal to about seven and one-fifth (7 I /5c) cents of our money in February. Holland money: One hundred (100c) cents equal one (1) gulden. One (1) gulden equals forty (40c) cents of American money 83 when the gulden is at par. In December the gulden was reduced in value until it was only equal to thirty-two (32c) cents of our money. German money : One hundred (100) pfennigs equal one (1) mark. One (1) mark equals twenty-three and eight-tenths (23.8c) cents of American money when the mark is at par. In December the mark was reduced in value until it was only equal to a trifle over one and one-half (li/ac) cents of our money. Czecho-Slovakian money : One hundred (100) hellers equal one (1) kronin. One (1) kronin equals twenty and three-tenths (20.3c) cents of American money when the kronin is at par. In January the kronin was reduced in value until it was equal to less than one and one-half (l%c) cents of our money. Italian money : One hundred (100) centesima equal one (1) lira. One (1) lira equals nineteen and three-tenths (19. 3e) cents of American money when the lira is at par. In February the lira was reduced in value until it was equal to less than three and three-fourths (3%c) cents of our money. Appreciation. The officials of the organizations in each and every country we visited treated us with the greatest courtesy and considera- tion. In practically every instance we were required to con- verse through the medium of an interpreter, but the constant willingness of the officials abroad to respond was indeed grati- fying, and I take this means of expressing my appreciation for the many kindnesses shown to us. Date Due Mi^^' by sur in ~ nol- ho,A_ of doc" esp- ers HD 9623.061™""""""'"'"-"'™'^ Europe's flint glass industry 3 1924 002 282 477 erred on me "ition. I am _ita collected whieli was ■eatest hope, and figures _ ned in this Lmeriea and " Tlass "Work-