366 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[April 1. 1913. 



man in their employ. On account of the rapid growth of the 

 work, the immense amount of new machinery that has been 

 invented and placed in the factories, the great diversity of 

 labor, where si.x years ago one man completed a whole article 

 himself, this same article at present may be made by at least a 

 dozen persons. This has caused a constant change of work and, 

 consequently, a change of wages and many times a shifting of 

 labor and many new laborers, so that this is now impossible for 

 the employer; and no matter how determined and careful he may 

 be to bring about a maximum of efficiency, and at the same 

 time the greatest comfort for his employes, many causes 

 for grievance have arisen, which are generally of minor im- 

 portance and would be readily overcome and provided for 

 by the manufacturer, if they were specifically and clearly 

 called to his attention. The officials of the various rubber 

 factories have stated time and again that they would be 

 glad to discuss with any of their employes any differences 

 they may have and, if possible, settle these grievances 

 amicably and satisfactorily to both the employer and em- 

 ployes. This sometimes has been impossible on account 

 of some sub-foreman or inspector who was arbitrary and over- 

 bearing, and, to make a good showing for himself, would 

 not report these small differences to his superiors, and if 

 he did report them, would do so in an untruthful manner. 

 This strike no doubt has called the attention of the rubber 

 manufacturers to many of these small grievances which they 

 will remedy, and would have remedied even if no strike had 

 occurred, if they had been properly placed before them. 



The American Federation of Labor in no way sympathizes 

 with the I. W. W. and gave them no support in this strike, 

 the principles of the two organizations being diametrically 

 opposite. 



The strikers, through the I. W. W., after almost two weeks 

 of meetings and argument, sent a scale of wages which they 

 desired, which called for from 25 per cent, to 100 per cent, 

 increase, which demand was absolutely refused. 



The Senate of the state of Ohio appointed an investigating 

 committee, which has been taking testimony in Akron for 

 several weeks, both sides being represented by attorneys. 

 As a result of this investigation it was brought out that the 

 average wage of the Akron rubber worker is something like 

 $2.60 per day; that the average wage paid in the United 

 States is about $1.40 per day; that a few of the girls working 

 in the rubber factories receive small wages, but that this is 

 the exception rather than the rule; that the wage of the day- 

 worker in the Akron rubber factories is practically the same 

 as that of the average day-worker throughout eastern Ohio 

 and, if anything, the work more steady; that there are some 

 lines of rubber work that are not the most healthful, but 

 that the factories have done their utmost to remove, as far 

 as possible, these unhealthful conditions; and that the fac- 

 tories have tried to provide safe and suitable places to work 

 and surroundings for their employes. 



On March 24, at least three-fourths of the rubber workers 

 were back in their places working and many more going 

 back each day, and a number of new men have been hired 

 who will necessarily need to be trained, so that the maximum 

 efficiency of the rubber plants cannot be expected for several 

 weeks and perhaps a couple of months. 



The consensus of opinion among the I. W. W. leaders is 

 that the strike will be declared off by them about April first. 

 The rubber companies so far have refused to re-hire the 

 active participants of the I. W. W., believing that they may 

 follow the teachings of tlicir leaders and put in effect 

 sabotage, which is the revenge of a lost cause inflicted upon 

 the material and machinery of the employer. 



The basis of the I. W. W. movement is that all wealth is 

 created by labor, that capital has no rights whatsoever, that 

 the control and ownership of all factories should be given 

 to labor and that this should be brought about, if possible. 



by peaceable means; if it cannot be brought about by peace- 

 able me-'wis, then by any means whatsoever. This doctrine 

 IS revolutionary and anarchistic and is wholly opposed to 

 the principles upon which our government is based. The 

 writer believes that strong laws should be passed that where 

 violent acts are the result, or probably will be the result, 

 at speeches setting forth such doctrines, that the instigator 

 should be punished at least as severely as the perpetrator. 



Tlie writer suggests that, as it is to the advantage of the 

 rubber manufacturer and the public, as well as the employe, 

 labor should secure a fair and reasonable wage; that wage 

 reductions generally are caused by the fierce competition 

 in the rubber trade, which competition is becoming more 

 severe from year to year; and that the rubber manufacturers 

 should, among themselves, adopt a minimum wage both for 

 men and women, under which tiiey will not go, and thus 

 avoid future wage reduction — the natural result of increased 

 competition — and the strikes that such reductions are always 



liable to provoke. 



* * * 



Akron was visited by an unprecedented rain of over three 

 days' duration, which made every brook a running river. This 

 created an immense increase in the Little Cuyahoga River, and 

 at least forty homes and business places were washed away and 

 destroyed as if of so much kindling. On account of the vigilance 

 of the city fire and water departments, only two persons lost 

 their lives. 



The rising of the waters caused The Goodyear Tire and Rub- 

 ber Co. and the Buckeye Rubber Co., the Akron branch of The 

 Kelly-Springfield Rubber Co., to suspend operations for a few 

 days, the water having reached their engine rooms. The water 

 stopped the fires in the power house of the N. O. T. & L. Co., 

 so that the city was without car service and in darkness for two 

 days and a night. 



Over half the bridges and culverts in the county have been 

 washed away, and for a short time railroad and street car serv- 

 ice to all outside towns was suspended. 



The large reservoirs which supply the rubber plants, with the 

 exception of the Big Reservoir, remain intact, and the Big Res- 

 ervoir, on account of an overflow at one of its feeders, was low- 

 ered about nine feet. 



THE RUBBER TRADE IN TRENTON. 



By a Resident Correspondent. 

 'T'HE past month has been an exceedingly active one with the 

 •'■ Labor Union advocates, and strikes have occurred in more 

 than a dozen plants and trades. The rubber industry has not 

 been hit as hard in this respect as was first anticipated. Not- 

 withstanding the strikes and the strike talk, many plants are 



working day and night shifts. 



* * * 



Former Mayor Frank .A. Magowan. who in former years was 

 a power in the rubber world in this section of the country, is 

 back in town planning to launch a half-million-dollar tire-making 

 company. He states that he has subscriptions to stock to the 

 amount of $150,000. Judge Richard Peck, of New York City 

 and Atlanta, is interested in the proposed venture. Mr. Ma- 

 gowan states that he has been granted a patent on a stitch tire 

 which he proposes to manufacture. Some time ago he organized 

 the Braender Rubber and Tire Co., of Rutherford. New Jersey, a 

 $90,000 concern, and placed an order with the John E. Thropp & 

 Sons' Co. for tire equipment. The order was filled by the 

 Thropps. 



Mr. Magowan and the heads of the Thropp concern were to 

 have had a conference March 25, but a fire in the Thropp plant 

 on that day interfered. The fire destroyed the pattern shop. The 

 exact amount of the damage has not been ascertained, an inven- 

 tory now being taken ; but many devices for making tire moulds, 

 vulcanizers and other tire equipment were either destroyed or 

 damaged. 



