The Penn's Grove record., 1882-08-26
The Iron Workers
A Sketch of a Powerful Organization.

A Sketch Of a Powerful Organization.
The Amalgamated Association of
Iron and Steel Workers of the United
States Is one of the strongest labor
bodies in the world. Previous to 1874
there were two organizations among
the iron and steel workers. There
were the United Sons of Vulcan and
the Heaters, Rollers and Roughers'
Association. The Sons of Vulcan
we're the strongest. 1t originated
during the great strike of 1850; it was
then only a local org anization, and
gradually spread until it had considera-
bic of a national footing, yet without
any apparent strength. These unions
did not accomplish the ends for which
it was organized. In several strikes
they were defeated because of a mis-
understanding between themselves.
When the puddlers struck the rougners
and catchers continued to work on
muck iron from the outside furnaces,
and consequently defeated the pud-
oilers. In 1874, at a meeting of the
puddlers In Philadelphia, a committee
was appointed to confer with the Heat
ers, Rollers and Roughers' Association
to effect An amalgamation. A plan
was agreed upon at this conference
and submitted TO the annual couven-
ton of each organic alton, which met in
1875, and ratified the anlalgamation
under the title of the Amalgamated
Association of Iron and Steel Work
ers of the United States, and which
includes nearly all the skilled iron and
steel workers.
The Association has divided the
United States and Canada into eight
districts. The first is located in the
vicinity of Pitts burg, including Nc
Keesport and Homestead, Pa. 1t has
two subdivisions. The first contains
tn rty-one lodges; John NJ. Kelly, of
McKeesport, is Chairman. The second
division contains thirty-eight lodges,
| with r. II. Jones, of Pittsburg, Chair
man, with q total membership of 80,
900. The second division contains
nineteen lodges, with Edwin Rodgers,
| of Wheeling, Chairman. The third
! district Is sub. divided into two dlvi
sions, and is the second largest in the
| United States. The first division o n
taius eleven lodges, Charles Avery, of
Covington, Kentucky, being Chair
man. The second division has four
teen lodges, VIM. White, of st. Clair
ILL.,, is Chairman. In the fourth dis.
trict there are twenty-three lodges p,
G. Summer, OF Joliet, ILL.,, is Chair
man. The fifth district is no longer
IN existence. The sixth district con
tains thirty EVE lodges. John L
Davis, OF Sharon, Pa, being Chairman
The seventh district, which takes in
Harrisburg, has died out, the iron anC
steel workers in that city being non
union men. The eighth district takes
in Philadelphia, Allentown, Pa, anC
Rome. N. Y; Andrew Lee is Chair
man. 1t contains fifteen lodges. Ii
sections not strong enough to be called
districts there exist what is called sis
olated lodges" There are thirteen o
this kind under the immediate juris
diction of the National President ant
Board Of Trustees. These lodges ar
scattered over the whole Uuited State
from Portland, Maine, to Omaha. TIL
total membership is $4,000, and tn
actions of this body, govern the Attain
of over 700 900 engaged in the variou
iron industries. Each district is gov
erned by its district conference whiol
meets annually. The amendments O
by laws and revisions are made by tn
national convention which meet
every year.