CHAPTER III.

WHAT THE
THE WORKINGMEN THINK.

REMARKS AND SUGGESTIONS BY INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYES AND

OTHERS, IN REPLY TO QUESTIONS NUMBERS 27 AND 28,
BLANK NUMBER 3.

BOTTLE AND VIAL GLASS BLOWERS: MILLVILLE-"The causes that lead to financial embarrassment in my trade are the result of immoral habits among the workmen themselves, such as drink, and the desire to live beyond the sphere their wages will allow. In this way they exhaust their earnings and neglect their duties to their families. The great need is education and a higher and better knowledge of our rights and privileges." "Prohibition of the liquor traffic would greatly improve the condition of glass blowers as a body. Great advance has been made in this respect within a few years, but there is room for greater improvement still." "Selfishness is the great hindrance to the progress of the working people; too many look out, as they call it, for No. 1. To accomplish anything of consequence for the improvement and elevation of the working people there must be a sacrifice of self." "Glass blowers' opportunities, in early life, for education have been very limited, but night schools accomplished much for them nevertheless. The League has done a great deal in the way of practical education by bringing the intellectual powers into active exercise, and has given to the members opportunities to familiarize themselves with matters that pertain to their occupation. This has been of great advantage in securing a better rate of wages, so that it is the boast of our members that we have for the past four or five years been paid the highest rate possible under the wage system and the existing conditions of trade. The profits of employers have been reduced to the minimum, and the only hope for an increase must come by co-operation, under which the whole of the profits will be secured to the workers." "Rum is a great curse to glass blowers. I hope to see the day when it will be placed where it properly belongs, that is, on the top shelf in the drug store, labeled poison."

CLAYTON." Among the other institutions of reform, we are largely indebted to Sunday schools for improvements in the morals of the working classes."

GLASSBORO." We have in our trade men who are intellectually equal to any in the professions; but as a rule we are deficient in education. What we want is better opportunities for education." "The moral condition of glass blowers, generally, is above the average so far as this State is concerned." "If glass blowers would practice temperance to a greater extent it would vastly improve them. Entire prohibition of the liquor traffic would be a good thing, more so than anything else at present." "The financial state of glass blowers is improving; many of them own their own homes, and many more have savings invested."

WOODBURY." A strict enforcement of the Child Labor law, with compulsory attendance at school at least three months in the year of all under sixteen years of age." The glass blowers, as a rule, are sober, industrious men, but some of them are addicted to drink; for the sake of their families the liquor traffic should be abolished by prohibition." "An eight-hour law would benefit us."

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SALEM. The glass blowers are intelligent, but few have had the advantage of even a common school education, being deprived of the opportunity by early apprenticeship." "Shorter hours of labor and more time for recreation." "Trades unions to be prosperous should see that the members strictly obey the laws." "I hope to see the wage system superseded by co-operation." "Stopping the sale of rum would vastly improve the trade."

WILLIAMSTOWN." My opinion, after carefully studying the condition of our trade and the amount of money we spend in strikes to maintain wages, is that it would be better, when the employers are not willing to allow us a fair share of the profits, to use our money by starting business on our own account under the direction of the Glass Blowers' League. Twenty thousand dollars used in this way would be more effectual in a strike than to eat it up through idleness. I am opposed to strikes for the reason that they cost too much, but I do not see how they are to be avoided at times, so I believe the best there is to adopt the plan here suggested; and even though the strike fails, our money will not be wasted." Industrial schools for our children would be a great benefit."

WINSLOW." The proper training of our children will greatly improve their future condition. I believe with our present free schools, they have a far better future before them than ours has been." "6 The temperance reform is doing a great work for

the wage-workers."

WILTON." Wages were withheld during the blast by the employer, who failed, as I believe, through his own neglect of business, and the workmen will lose heavily by his failure. The law should compel employers to pay wages in full once every week." "The law should make it criminal for employers not to pay the workmen their wages." There should be a law to compel the payment of wages in full, in cases of failure. We have worked for a year and now have to lose all we have saved." "The firm has failed, and they owe me $400, which I have worked hard for; there should be some way to compel the payment of wages." Weekly or, at least, monthly payment of wages in full, would greatly benefit the working people here." The workmen should take into consideration the subject of co-operation, not stock concerns; the two are very different; the former has the educational feature, which workmen need for success."

FLINT GLASS BLOWERS: MILLVILLE.-"We are fully up to the best of wage workers." We have made our condition by organized effort." The education of our children is the foundation for the future prosperity of the workingmen, and in this way we are making rapid progress." Have not given much attention to these things, but think our elevation lies in education." Workingmen's institutes, libraries and technical schools are among the means to elevate the laboring classes."

"

LAMP WORKERS: MILLVILLE-"In Bohemia they make large quantities of the goods, and produce in private families, in addition to their regular work. This Bohemian glassware is brought to this country and sold at very low rates, which is a great injury to our trade of lamp work, by which many fancy articles of great beauty are made." "The condition of the workers in flint glass has been much improved

on.

financially, intellectually and morally by organization, and the process is still going What we need now is a more extended sphere of organized work, so that all of the operatives in the flint and all other glass industries shall be in a condition to receive the benefits of organized labor. The education of the young is now occupying a great deal of attention, and the next few years will show marked advantages among us in this respect." The intelligence and morals of the hands at these works are of a very high order. There is little drinking, and many own their own houses. Although the blowers are governed by their organization, they seldom come into conflict with their employers. It is probable that the wages are the best the business affords. The organization extends throughout the country and takes in all kinds of blowers, as well as the pressers and mould makers. Not only are the wages regulated, but also the quantity produced, and no blower is allowed to make more than six dollars per day."

WINDOW GLASS WORKERS: MILLVILLE.-"We are improving rapidly."

"What

we need is a thorough organization with all the wage-workers of the world, or go confederated that we can control the wages in all countries." Having fixed and maintained our wages through organized effort is a proof of ability to intelligently control our own affairs."

BRIDGETON."The morals of the working classes are better than the so-called higher classes."

"Public libraries should be Arbitration, as taught by our

MALAGA."The proper enforcement of our present labor laws would do much to improve our condition and that of our families." established in every town; we need one here." organization, is one of the best means to settle difference between capital and labor." "The young in our families are being better educated, and our trade is benefited thereby." We are now amongst the foremost trades in the labor movement, and most of our difficulties with employers are settled by friendly conferences through committees." "There are some among us who are not as moral as they should be, but the majority of window-glass workers are good men, moral and religious." "The window-glass workers, as a class, are moral and intelligent; are also gaining financially." "The window-glass workers generally are sober, industrious and intelligent men; rum is the curse of the few; we hope to see it entirely prohibited at no distant day."

GATHERER." The condition of working people has been vastly improved within a few years; our trade, in particular, is upon a higher standard than ever before." FLATTENER." There are men in our ranks who are as competent to determine what is to our interest, and who are actuated by as high and noble purposes as any other class in society." "A reduction of the hours of labor to eight or nine per day, the abolition of all child labor, and that of young persons, both male and female, under a given age, in factories, will make room for many of our unemployed men, young and old. So will a law to compel all employers to see that young persons in their employ attend school a certain number of hours each day, or week, as well as to forbid the employment of such young person without a certificate of age and of attendance at school the required period. A more stringent law for the protection of workmen against accident, when caused by the negligence of employers, managers or their servants, would, I am sure, prevent much of the loss of life and limb caused by the insecure guarding of machinery and like causes."

GLASS CUTTER MALAGA.-"We owe much of our intellectual, moral and finan

"Our

cial prosperity to organization." “Prohibition and compulsory education.” financial condition, if measured by our bank account, is low; still we are comfortable in our circumstances."

MOULD MAKERS: CLAYTON.-" The various secret and beneficial societies have exerted a good influence among workmen and their families, and have been of great advantage in an educational sense."

MILLVILLE.-Stop foreign immigration by placing a tariff of $1,000 upon any person coming here to engage in any pursuit tending to cheapen our wages; establish the eight-hour system; give us eight hours for work, eight hours for sleep, and eight hours for recreation and study; enforce the child labor laws." "Eight hours for a day's work; restrict immigration by a tariff of $1,000; enforce the child labor laws." "Laws that will give to the children a better education, and the encouragement of trade and labor unions."

STOPPER GRINDERS: MILLVILLE.-"The physical condition of the working people here is not attended to. Gymnasium exercises would greatly improve them in this respect." The improvement of our financial condition has had its effect, and raised the working people in the intellectual scale." Good wages are the foundation of all prosperity to the working people; as wages increase, their condition intellectually and morally is improved." "The condition of the laboring classes must be improved by legislation; this must be effected within party lines."

POT MAKERS: WILLIAMSTOWN.-"The prohibition of the sale of liquor, and compulsory education."

CLAYTON. "At no former time have the working classes stood so high as at present."

Box MAKERS." Co-operative factories would improve our condition." "Night schools have been of great benefit to the working classes in this city, but something more is needed to educate our children, too. Many of our working people cannot live without the help of their children, so they cannot send them to school in the day time. Wages should be high enough to enable the head of the family to provide a living without putting the children to work under fifteen years of age." Fewer hours of work would give employment to more workmen and have a tendency to raise wages." PACKERS." The dissipation and extravagance of the people keep the working people down." "Glass packers' condition could be improved financially by an advance of wages; physically, by cleaner and better hay used in packing; intellectually, by shorter hours of labor, and thus giving more time for self-improvement; and morally, mainly through their own exertions."

We must

MASTER SHEARERS "Eight hours for a day's work would give more time for improvement, and a large number would employ it in that way. Because some would abuse the time gained in dissipation, is no argument against the law. Those who wish to improve themselves and families should have the chance to do so." There is not enough attention given by the leading labor men to cooperation. come to this or go down in our wages." "Laboring people do not hold together as they should. They have not enough confidence in each other. Our condition will not improve much until this takes place." "There are many demagogues among us; we should get rid of them."

SHEARERS." We cannot all be tradesmen, but the laborer's lot is a hard one, on account of low wages." "Among the evils is that of Sabbath-breaking, which has become very common, and should not be tolerated." "There can be little done to

benefit unskilled laborers, unless means are devised to increase their wages; as it is now, it is a constant struggle to keep the wolf from the door."

ENGRAVERS ON GLASS-"The social condition is generally what the family make it themselves; society usually takes the correct measure of individuals." "We have a trade organization, and are making progress intellectually."

GATHERERS. "Compulsory education is the great need at present." "Increased facilities for popular education would benefit the condition of the working classes." WATCHMEN.- Much has been done in the few past years to improve the condition of wage-workers, and I think all that is necessary is to continue the progressive work a few years longer."

CIGAR MAKERS: JERSEY CITY.-" My complaint is an old one; abolish the tenement house system of cigar making and there will be plenty of work." Abolish cheap labor in the State of Pennsylvania so as to give us plenty of work." Abolishment of the tenement-house system would be beneficial to cigar makers; it would help to increase their wages." “Abolish child labor, which, I regret to say, exists to a

great extent in many States." PATERSON." I would favor a law compelling all business transactions to be done for cash, and abolish the credit system. I would have the child labor laws enforced; children are occupying the places of adult labor here. All cigar makers are trades union men and wages are good, all receiving the same rates. As a rule, the men have had some advantages of education, and are generally good men. A few are addicted to drink, which is degrading them. Could we overcome this evil we would be better off. Generally, wage workers in Paterson are poorly paid and are poorly educated. The only way that I can see to improve their condition is to orgaħize them. What little education I have got has come mostly from that source."

IRON WORKERS: PATERSON." The locomotive works in Paterson, at one time employing 3,500 men, has not given work to 500 during the last year and a half. The men seem to be ashamed to tell how much they actually make and how they manage to exist. Many of the iron workers, machinists, blacksmiths, &c., could be seen around the city hose house during the summer trying to get a few weeks' work on the streets at $1.25 per day. But there were always four times more than was necessary. It was a common thing to have the policemen keep the crowds back." Co-operation will be our only relief."

MILLVILLE." Prohibition of the liquor traffic." "Soft money."

NEW BRUNSWICK." If we had had unity and organization we would not have had a 'cut' of ten per cent. in this shop."

FLORENCE." Prohibition and a high tariff." "Our financial condition is better than formerly; still not what it should be."

JERSEY CITY."Stop immigration for ten years."

BURLINGTON." I have no complaint to make. We are doing fairly and our condition is improving." "Public libraries and reading rooms."

CAMDEN." We are doing very well."

WIRE DRAWER: TRENTON.-"Shorten the hours. In our establishment we are put at night work during the busy period."

NAILERS: BRIDGETON.-"We are now organized and the future will be better for us than the past has been." 'We are much improved intellectually, but our financial condition is at a low ebb."

Notwithstanding the long and bitter strike of the Bridgeton nail workers, at pres