The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-08-04
MEETING OF SONS OF Toll
ro DELIBERATE OVER EVENTS.
Annual Convention of The AmaiEamatei
Iron and steel workers' AssociH.
tion-Opening Session at :
Pittsburgh Yesterday. .i

PITTSBURGH, August S.-The opening
session OF the fifth annual convention oi
the Amalgamated Association OF Iron and
Steel Workers was held in the Opera
House this morning, and, from the num-
Der in attendance, it is certain that the
important questions which are to come
before 1t will receive closer attention and
be decided more in accordance with the
views Of the great body OF iron and steel
workers than at any convention held here
tofore.
Yesterday morning the delegates began
to arrive in the city, their presence being
noted by the blue badges which they
wore, and most of the day was spent in
social conversation with friends and in
preliminary talk over the work to be act
ed upon by the Convention. At nine
o'clock in the evening nearly all the dele
gates had arrived, and as they were gath
cred at the office OF the Association, on
Smith6eld street, some OF the local mem
bers obtained the Great Western Band
and serenaded them at that place. After
the music, President John Jarret was
called for and responded in neat address.
At ten o'clock this morning, the hour
announced for opening the meeting, the
delegates to the number OF about 225 filed
into the Opera House and took their seats
in the parquette and dress circle, as near
as possible to the stage. They are fine
looking body OF men, most Of them tall
and well formed and their faces show the
ability to understand and reason upon any
question that may be brought before them.
President. Jarrett occupied the chair, and
requested all the Vice Presidents to take
seats on the stage. He then called the
meeting to order, saying that they had met
for the consideration OF some very impor-
tant questions. One year age the
prospects for steady work at good wages
had been very favorable, but the
bottom had fallen out OF the iron boom
aud the promises OF good times had not
been fulfilled. Still the association was
never In better condition than at present
and never had more delegates attend a
meeting. This fact alone showed the in.
terest OF the delegates; but more than that
every man had done his duty steadily
during the year. Theassociation, he con-
tinued, had its enemies, like every other
organization working for great cause,
but they had not been able to do 1t any
harm. A few weeks ago strike had taken
place in the Philadelphia mills, and the
organs OF the manufacturers called loudly
to the owners there to hold out and make
the defeat OF the association final one.
But in spite OF their efforts, in few weeks
the association had triumphed. The Pres.
ident concluded by an appeal to the men
to demand simple justice-nothing more
and nothing less.
The meeting was now announced as
open for business, and that q Committee
on Credentials be appointed, carried, and
seven members appointed for that duty by
the chair. They collected the papers Of
those present, and motion was then made
to adjourn until one o'clock.
A Western delegate objected TO an ad-
iournment, as he wished to get through
with business as soon IS possible.
President jarrett explained that It was
necessary to examine the credentials, and
no business could be undertaken until that
work could be completed. fl
The motion was amended to adjourn un-
ill two o'clock and carried. The President
announced that the Committee on Ar.
rangements would hold a meeting in a half
an hour, and then adjourned the session
until the hour appointed.
The Committee on Arrangements which
had been appointed to take charge OF the
visiting delegates and make preparation
for the banquet at Arsenal Park held q
meeting as announced and oompleted
their work. Al.L. tl-Ls.
The afternoon session was mainly de.
voted 10 reading OF reports Of officers and
appointment OF committees on constitu-
ton and bylaws, resolutions, officers,
&c. The officers reports showed the as
sociation to be in aourishing condition.
The Committee on Credentials reported
200 delegates present. representing Penn
syIyania, New Jersey, Tennessee, Mary
land, Virginia, Mississippi, Illinois, Ohio,
Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin,
West Virginia, New York, Rhode Island,
Nebraska and Georgia. The report was
adopted and no other business OF import
ance transacted. g.s
The convention adjourned at 5 O'clock
and headed by the Great Western band
marched in body to the Sligo Iron
Works. The evening was spent in
committee work and tomorrow the con-
yention will get down to business,
This organization Is one OF the res ults
OF the long strike OF 1874, when 1t was
demonstrated that It was up hill work to
order strike OF the men in one depart
ment Of mill while the others were al
lowed TO work as usual. At that time
when the puddlers struck their action was
OF very little importance TO manufacturers
who had on hand stock OF muck bar and
could employ heaters at the old rates to
work 1t. The men finally discovered that
they were fighting against odds and the
separate organizations began to agitate
the question OF grand association which
should embrace them all. NAt their
annual meeting In 1876, committees OF
conference were appointed from each or
ganization to devise plans for their union,
and the following year they submitted Q
report, which was accepted and adopted,
and the Amalgamated Association oI Iron,
Steel and Tin Workers came Into being.
Joseph Bishop. was elected the first Presi'
dent and held office through the successive
terms until year ago, when he resigned
to accept position as manager In the pud'
ding department Of the Vesuyius Iron
Works at Sharpsburg, Mr.. John Jarret
was then elected to the position which he
holds to-day.