From the union officials we secured the following data on the minimum wages per day for each occupation:

While we were there they were asking for 32 francs per day for cut-glass goblet blowers, 34 francs per day for cut-glass blowers, 35 francs per day for gaffer on large shop, 27 francs 50 centimes for packers. Cutters receive on an average of 38 francs per day. Following is a list of a few articles, the number made per day, and wages paid skilled members of the shop:

1. Balloon-shape egg glass with foot and plain straight stem_

2. Ballon-shape egg glass with foot and balustrade stem__.

3. Port-wine glass, plain

4. Sherry-wine glass, plain. 5. Port-wine glass, cut..

6. Sherry wine glass, cut..

7. Claret-wine glass, plain stem_.

8. Claret-wine glass, balustrade stem_

9. Coffee glass---.

10. Fluted liquor glass.

11. Tall egg glass--

Per day.

On the above list the workers are asking for the following wages per 100 for the blower, plus 50 per cent:

1

2.

3.

4.

5

6.

7

8

9

10.

11.

Item.

Receiving. Asking. Receiving. Asking. Receiving. Asking.

Shops making glasses for cutting are composed of a blower, gatherer, bit gatherer, and carrying-in boy. The average wages of a gaffer on a large shop is 48 francs per day. The large shops are composed of a gaffer, blower, gatherer, a large boy, a bit gatherer, two warming-in boys, and one carrying-in boy. Following is a list of a few articles made by the large shops and the numbers to be made each day in order that the gaffer will earn 48 francs per day. This production will give the blower 45 francs 60 centimes, and gatherer 35 francs 50 centimes per day:

We were informed the blower received 96 per cent of gaffer's rate and gatherer received 78 per cent of gaffer's rate, but the figures previously given of 45 francs 60 centimes for the blower per day and 35 francs 50 centimes per day for the gatherer represents, respectively, only 95 per cent and 74 per cent of the gaffer's rate of 48 francs per day. We have concluded a slight error has been made in the percentage given for the blower and gatherer.

Goblet shops are composed of two blowers, each one working for himself. They have a cutting-off boy and a boy with a tray that carries in two or three shops. A goblet blower can earn 33 francs per day,

HOLLAND.

and

This

Leaving Belgium we proceeded to Holland, where Mr. Clarke presented letters of introduction to Mr. S. P. Baart, president. of the Glassblowers' Union of Holland; Mr. T. August Lausberg, secretary; Mr. F. Ripper, assistant secretary. This organization is composed of both pottery and glass workers, the president and assistant secretary being potters, while the secretary was a bottle blower. The membership is composed of 800 pottery workers and 2,500 glassworkers. Bulbs and bottles is the chief' glass production. Glassworkers have no summer stop. A limited production of other glass lines is made. Glassworkers' wages average about 45 gulden per week, which at normal rate of exchange amounts to $18 American money. At the prevailing rate of exchange when we were there, this is equivalent to $14.49 per week. They work 45 hours per week. Eight hours per day constitute a day's work and five hours on Saturday. In the bottle industry the blowers are paid one-third of their wages if the factory is closed for any cause. does not apply to the glassworkers in other branches of the industry. Where pot furnaces are used an extra furnace is held in reserve, so that when one burns out or is forced out of commission for repairs the one in reserve can be lighted and production can be continued uninterruptedly. During the four years from 1916 to 1920 wages increased about 125 per cent. They received a 20 per cent increase during 1920. Night work has been abolished in the industry. They have a child labor law that prohibits the employment of children under 15 years of age. In pot factories the work of pot setting is performed by laborers. They use American coal in the factories which cost 90 guldens per metric ton. At normal rate of exchange this is equivalent to $36 per ton. At prevailing rate it equals $28.80 American money. Before the war the manufactures used Belgian coal at a cost of 9 guldens, or $3.60 American money, per ton. They export some glassware to Sweden, but are feeling the effects of competition from Germany and Czechoslovikia in their own markets. The Government does not subsidize manufacturers engaged in the export trade. All work in the glass industry is performed on a piecework basis.

GERMANY.

From Holland we passed into Germany, December 20, 1920, and arrived at Dusseldorf at 7.20 p. m., registering at the Breidenbacher Hof. The gentleman with whom we had some correspondence, and who was to meet us, was not at the hotel. We learned next day he was absent attending a conference of workmen and manufacturers, and would not return for several days. This meant a serious loss of time for us, but we could do nothing to avoid it. Before entering Germany, and up to the present the question of the manner in which we would be received by the average native German was a frequent subject of discussion between us, and also the peoples of other countries who knew of our intention of visiting Germany. Doubts were expressed on the wisdom of our determination and on several occasions we were flatly advised not to go into Germany. Peace had not yet been declared, and technically both countries were yet at war. Under these circumstances, it was but natural we should have, at least, some slight doubts and misgivings. We were in Germany for three weeks, during which time we came in contact with many people in all walks of life-bankers, manufacturers, labor leaders, workmen, and business men-and it is but a simple act of justice to say any fears we may have entertained as to the manner in which we would be received were quickly dissipated by the genuine spirit of hospitable welcome extended and the many courtesies shown us wherever we traveled. The welcome given and the courtesies shown were not the result of a studied effort to please or curry favor, but were, in the opinion of the writer, the manifestation of a natural attribute. Everywhere we went we were made welcome and extended every courtesy. This spirit of hospitality and friendliness was not confined to any one locality or class of people, but was manifest everywhere by all with whom we came in contact. It was evident to us the people we met were fairly representative of the nation, scattered as they were in different parts of the country and that their former leaders were guilty of a monumental crime in causing those acts to be committed which appalled the world and placed these people in a false light before the bar of justice of the nations of the earth and for which they and their unborn offspring must pay. Notice of our intent to visit Germany had preceded our arrival. Information had been sent from London, England, to German glass manufacturers that we were coming to

pry into the secrets of their industry. The information given to the German manufacturers was misleading. The facts concerning our mission were distorted, with the result that when we arrived in Germany we found the manufacturers had become alarmed and had notified the officials of the German glassworkers' union that permission to enter their factories would be denied the writer, but Mr. Clarke would be given permission to enter them. At this point is where the strength and weakness of the relative positions of Mr. Clarke and the writer was forcibly brought to our attention. Mr. Clarke's position was strengthened and assured by reason of the fact he carried letters of introduction and had a corresponding acquaintance with the leaders of the labor movement in the various countries we contemplated visiting, while the writer, with the exception of England, possessed no acquaintanceship, nor carried with him any letters of introduction from the manufacturers of this country to the manufacturers of other countries. Under these circumstances it was impossible in many instances to correct the wrong impressions, already engendered in the minds of the German manufacturers by a distortion of the facts concerning the mission of the representative of the American glass manufacturers to their country. This was the situation as we found it. It was unfortunate, but at the time nothing could be done to overcome it. Subsequently, however, in conversation with a number of manufacturers who opened the doors of their factories and extended us the courtesy of a visit to their plants the writer took the opportunity of explaining our mission and, in every instance, was assured there was no objection to the writer visiting the factories. Speaking with the director general of two of the largest glass plants in Germany, the writer expressed the opinion there were questions of common interest to both American and German manufacturers upon which views could be exchanged that would be of mutual benefit. To this thought both gave ready acceptance. Had our organization been in touch with the German glass manufacturers' organization it would not have been possible to distort the facts concerning our mission. They would not have been, as they were, unnecessarily alarmed and would not have arrayed themselves so solidly against admitting us as they were when we arrived.

Finishing our work at Dusseldorf, where we met Mr. Emil Hoffman, secretary of the seventh district, of the Glassworkers' Union, who assisted us very materially, we arrived in Berlin and went to the headquarters of the Glassworkers' Union, where Mr. Clarke presented letters of introduction. Here we met Mr. Emil Girbig, president of the Glassworkers' Union. Mr. Hermann Grunzel, vice president, Miss Elsie Leutel, stenographer and interpreter, and other prominent officials and members of Mr. Girbig's official family. Mr. Girbig, in addition to being president of the German Glassworkers' Union, which position he has held for 25 years, is also a member of the Reichstag, and for about 9 years has held the position of president of the International Union of Glassworkers. He is quiet and unassuming, but possesses a keen analytical mind and quickly grasps the facts of a problem. He is well and favorably known throughout the industry and enjoys the esteem and respect of both workmen and manufacturers. To his desire to assist Mr. Clarke and his persistence and resourcefulness is due the credit of our finally securing permission to enter some factories in Germany. His views on the glass industry are constructive and his opinions on the labor question in general are surprisingly moderate, not being greatly at variance with opinions held in America by conservative thinkers. Mr. Grunzel, the vice president, is also a well learned man. He speaks English very well and is a valuable assistant to Mr. Girbig. To him also is due credit for many courtesies received by Mr. Clarke and the writer. To Miss Leutel fell the work of translating our questions into the German language, Mr. Girbig not being able to speak or understand the English language. She then translated Mr. Girbig's answers into English. This work she performed very efficiently and rendered us very valuable assistance. She is, without doubt, of great value to Messrs. Girbig and Grunzel in their official work.

Leaving Berlin we visited several factories accompanied by Mr. Girbig and Miss Leutel. Miss Leutel acted as our interpreter on the trip. We visited one factory containing 14 furnaces of 8 pots each. Each pot held 1,400 pounds, was filled in and worked out each day. This company operates a total of 30 furnaces throughout the country and makes a general line, including pressware, iron mold ware, paste mold ware, punch tumblers, stemware, vases, lamps, thermos bottles, bulbs. and tubing. All shops using molds operate them on a dummy, including iron-mold shops. All blowers gather and blow their own glass. On punch-tumbler shops two gatherers gather balls for three

blowers. Tube shops have four men and two boys carry their glass 30 to 40 feet from the furnace to the "alley," and pull 350 to 400 pounds per day. They reheat their gathering in the pot mouth. Two boys gather balls for three blowers blowing thermos bottles. Thermos blowers received 30 marks per 100 of combination inner and outer pint bottles. They work piecework. Bulb blowers gather and blow their glass and receive 10 marks per 100 bulbs, piecework, for a bulb about the size of a 19 or 21. The sorting is done in the factory, but the men receive pay for cordy and stony bulbs. Punch blowers earn from 600 to 700 marks per week. Bulb blowers gather from 6 to 15 times on pipe before cleaning off iron. Six men gather out of one pot and two men work in one mold and produce, in 8 hours' work, 700 to 750 good bulbs. The company's loss on bulbs is about 6 per cent. The company refused an American order for 50,000,000 bulbs the day we were at the factory. While we were at this town a conference between a committee of the manufacturers and workers was in session and the bulb workers were granted an increase of 40 per cent in wages. At this plant they employ 72 skilled stem workers and turn out, per day, 13,000 to 14,000 pieces of ware. They work unlimited, but have a secret understanding among the workmen not to produce too many.

This company uses all open top pots. This is the prevailing type of pot in use throughout the country. They use 20 tons of brown coal for each furnace per day. The coal is very soft and resembles turf more than it does coal. It is said to contain 56 per cent water. Factory laborers receive 48 marks per day. In this factory they have a system of employing cutters which we subsequently found to be the custom throughout Europe where we found glass cutting. They employ a master cutter who works piecework and is held responsible for the work turned out. This master, in turn, employs two or more helpers who are paid day work.

The master lays out the work and it is to his interest to see his helpers are kept employed, as the more good work they turn out, the larger is the master's income. The master cutter also works on the wheel when he gets work enough laid out to insure his helpers will be kept constantly employed. This arrangement makes it unnecessary for the manufacturers to have a foreman for their cutting shops, and consequently saves them that expense. The master cutter earns about 500 marks per week while the helpers, who frequently do more cutting than the master, from 220 to 260 marks per week. Eight hours constitutes a day's work. Before leaving this town we visited the home of one of the workmen. The buildings are neat and attractive in appearance and are cut into suites of two and three rooms for each family. The home we were in consisted of two rooms and a kitchen and was occupied by a man and his wife. It was wired for electricity. The home was neatly and well kept. This man paid 4 marks 6 pfennig per week for the house and 8 marks per month for the electricity. The company owns the houses. Visiting another town we found the working conditions about the same. Here, however, the company which is owned by one man, had larger suites for his workmen. They consisted of three to five rooms each, except in two cases where the buildings were older and the suites consisted of two and three rooms. The suites of two and three rooms in the older building cost the occupant 3 and 5 marks per month. The larger suites in the new buildings cost the occupants 20, 22, and 25 marks per month.

We visited several other plants in all of which we found the system of work and working conditions about the same. In the plant of Schott & Genossen at Jena, however, which we visited after our final departure from Berlin, we found the system and conditions of employment different.

This company has 20 furnaces and tanks and employs 1,500 people. The glassworkers at this plant work two 8-hour shifts per day with one-half hour out for lunch, making 71⁄2 hours actual work. They work a total of 43 hours per week. They start to work at 4 a. m. each work day of the week and work until noon except Saturday. This turn starts to work Friday at midnight and works until 6.30 a. m. Saturday morning. The second turn starts to work at noon of each work day in the week and works until 8 p. m. except Saturday when they start to work at 6.30 a. m. and work until 1 p. m. Both turns Saturday take one-half hour out for lunch and work only 6 hours. They work piecework. If a necessity arises the workmen will work night turn in which case they will receive extra compensation for night work. Workmen get a two weeks' vacation with pay during the summer months. In addition to the regular

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