Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-04-22

assorters, bot and cold straighteners, wire
drawers, tackers, spring makers, spring mt
tsrs, axle turner's, water tenders, riyet men
axle makers, their heaters and helpers
gas workers in crucible steel and iron
works after they have been working at the
business one year; shearmen working by
the ton; engineers and blacksmiths directly
connected with iron, steel or tin WORKS;
also stokers, chargers cupalo tenders,
Speigel meters, runnermen, Yesseimen'
bottom makers, ladlemen, pitmen, cinder'
men, stagemen. and blowers working by
the ton, and pipe filters connected with
Bessemer steel works
One of the greatest institutions OF the
Amalgamated Association is
1.-The Sliding Scale"
This is a scale of wages agreed upon be-
tween the association and employers de-
pending upon the price of the manufac-
tured goods, iron or steel. The scale
fixes certain wages that shall be paid when
the goods manufactured are selling at GER
tain figure. If prices advance wages ad-
vance in a corresponding scale; II prices
decline wages must come down. This, on
its face, seems to be fair way OF regulating
matters. 1t appears 10 be guard against
unjust discrimination on either hand ana
apparently makes capital contribute part
the workmen, and on the other hand COM
pels the workman to bear part OF the loss oil
capital when prices are depressed What,
ever may be said against this system, 1t has
clearly proved itself to be great preven-
tive OF strikes There is no insurance lea
ture connected with the association, though
attempts have been made at the last three
conventions to Introduce 1t.
The association is entirely divorced from
politics and religion, which removes q
fruitful source of discord, which exists IN
many organizations.
Its Whole Aim
is set forth in the section of the constltu-
tion above quoted. and ii confines itself
solely to the attainment OF the objects
therein mentioned. At the last general
convention it was agreed to admit cOlOred
men to membership in the association and
o number Of these have joined it. This was
the cause of some trouble at Beaver Fails
and in this city, where the whites refused
to work with their colored brethren, but
they were compelled to do 50, and matters
were smoothed over without serious rup-
ture. During a strike the strikers are
maintained out of the general funds Of the
association, which in a time Of general
activity among the trades grows quite large
from the contributions of the different
members. During the long strike in Gin
cinnati, which lasted from the first of
June until the first OF November, several
thousand strikers and their families were
supported in this way. This was striE-
ing Instance of the power of the association,
which in the end triumphed.
| have now briefly sketched the history
OF the Amalgamated Association, its mode
of government and it. principles, what re-
mains to be said | will leave to others.
The following is portion of an inter
view had yesterday with
Secretary Martin.
aSkcI him:
In what way has the Amalsamated AS
sociation benefited its members"
In many ways" he replied. at has
enabled them, through combined effort, to
obtain many rights they were denied as in
dividuals Contracts have been enforced,
wages have been more justly regulated,
obnoxious rules and many systems OF in
justice have been eradicated.'
What has been its measure of success
we have been eminently successful in
whatever we have undertaken as an asSoci-
alton. In almost every instance in which
we have had controversies with employers
we have triumphed. because we had the
right on our side. In some instances 1t
has been said We were defeated, but i'll all
these We gained what we deemed a victory,
and a settlement which finally resulted to
our advantage.
DO you honestly believe that the Anal
gamnted Association has been a good thug
for the country at large
81 do. Strikes arsta great evil to both
workmen and capitalists. The Amalga'
mated Association deprecates strikes on all
occasions. and only consents to them as a
last resort. Prior to the organization OF
this association strikes were both numcr'
Gus and lengthy. Since its existence and
under its rule, statistics prove these evils
have been very much less numerous, and
of much shorter duration. In this way it
has benefited the whole country, rs it has
also by elevating the position OF its mem
beTS and maintaining their hest interests
Presidenl Jarrett.
in an interview. expressed about the same
views as Mr.. Martin. He was asked;
will the Canadian iron workers be taken
into your association" to which he replied
They were taken in on probation at the
last convention ut Cleveland. Whether
they will be finally received is for the next
convention to determine or course,
could not say positively. Our association
is now national In the event of their ad'
mittance it would become international.
do you believe your association will go
into the proposed federation OF all the
unions
This is a question it would be improper
for me to answer. The matter rests entirely
with the Convention.
What has been the growth of the aSsocia
tion since its Organization?'
1T has grown very rapidly and now
:. Oh, ral -,
this country"
W.. Joseph ID. Weeks,
Secretary Of the Western Iron Association
and associate editor OF the Iron .tgc, was alSC
interviewed Mr. Weeks has made study
of the iron business and the labor connected
Herewith. from all its standpointS. In
1875 Mr.. Weeks was sent as Il special com
missioner from Pennsylvania to England tC
make a report to this commonwealth upon
the practical operation OF arbitration and
cOnCiliatiOn in the settlementof differences
between employers and employees in Eng
land. There is not in the United States q
man more competent to speak on this sub
jeCt Mr.. Weeks was asked
What is your opinion Of trade and labor
unions
Il am in favor of unions upon general
pTluClplc, alllONSu 1 NOulu not De uuuer
stood to say that everything a union does
is right 1t is better To have organized
labor. which is always somewhat conserya
tive, than disorganized labor which is
radical. and which, when ituniteS, becomes
a mob, with no past TO conserve and no
future for which to provide. Unions are
beneficial TO the community, to the manu-
facturer and to the members. They guard
the community against the evil effects OF
unorganized labor in case of disturbance,
they give the manufacturer a responsible
body TO deal with, body with an honor to
sustain. and with power to enforce its de-
CisionS, they secure to the workman all the
benefits which usually arise from unions.
What doyou think of the Amalgamated
Association in particular?
1t is one of
The Very Best OF Our Trade Organixa.
tions.
1t has an honorable past, is ably conduct.
ed, and has been of benefit TO its members
and to the manufacturer. l do not know
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