Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-01-23
$4,000 IN DEBT,
And 10 q Fair Way to Go to
Pieess. =
Some Facts About the Amalgamatsd Asso.
citation That Leaked Out Ia Street
Corner convefsat;oa-kar.
tins Conversion.
THE SECRET OF ITS DOWNFALL.

PrrrssuReH, January 22-Ths following
Is from the Commercial Gazette:
"To tell you the truth, gentlemen, I
think its usefulness ls about ended"
The speaker Vas one Of group Of mem.
bers Of the Amalgamated Association. They
were standing at the corner Of Fifth avenue
and Wood street on Saturday night and
rather indiscreetly had commenced to talk
about Association affairs. The person
whose remark Is quoted did not finish with
that, bat continued In this strain: Tho
trouble with the Amalgamated Association
Il that Il has outgrown the clothes prepared
for Il by It's projectors. Originally. when
only vorkmcn who were paid BY the Ton for
their work were eligible 70 membership. the
Association was an organization beneficial
alike to Its members and their employers.
But within the last two years, In order that
It's strength might b increased numerical
ly, all classes OF workmen employed about
mills have been admitted 10 membership.
Instead OF adding to the strength OF the As
sociatlon these varied interests have weak.
ened it Ifit had not been for these black.
smiths, engineers, and other men who arc
paid % much week for their work. the
taken place. The Association msds de-
mands fully M radical In former ycars, but
the conservative members were not over.
ruled by those who had nothing at stats,
and when Il became apparent that We could
not get what We wanted either comprom-
ise was effected or the demand was with.
drawn"
"Well, there won't be another strike"
remarked another member Of the group,
land that for more reason than one. In the
first place the manufacturers learned last
summer what they never knew before
tbut II they combined and kept faith with
eat b other they would BE- invincible and
that Il would be impossible for any orsan!-
zation OF workingmen 70 stand against
them. Thers are doubtless many mill
workers who DO not realize this, but they
are Of the class who will not realize any.
thing that 10 not pounded into their
heads. Enough do believe II firmly, how.
ever, to defeat any attempt at general
strike. They will be strengthened
that the Association broke faith with
them last year. One OF It's rules Is that
while on strike its members shall receive
a per week. This was carried out only TO
the extentof paying zach member " dur.
ing the sixteen weeks Of the strike. The
ANocietion 10 now In debt to ib mensrs
$3.50 600, and there are several thousand
members who will not run any more risk on
thst account. The resuh is that q general
strike could not be inasgurated for any
purpose. II anything Of that kind Is a..
tempted IL will precipitate disruption In
the organization. That 10 soon 10 come In
any event, and u may 70 TO pieces sooner
than most persons expect. Jarrett and
Msrtin are not TO blame for this state OF
affairs, save that they migt,t possibly have
prevented II by raising their voices nj the
proper time"
Martins Csvssstsn.
--.f wonder what induced Bin Martin (the
Secretary To make such radical change of
base on the manner In which-disputes be.
tween employers and employees should be
settled" remarked third man. Before the
Amalgamated Association Was organized
YOU will remember, the fnishers always
settled their disputes by arbitration aud
strikes hardly ever occurred. In the conyen.
ton nt which the Amalgsmated Association
constitution was adopted, Martin was a
delegate and made bitter fight for aVbitra.
ton. A compromise was aareed upon. and
from that the Association has drifted by
one change In the constitution after IN.
other TO be more radically opposed 10
arbitration than any labor organization OF
which ! have any knowledge. Martin.
too, has been converted, and will no more
think OF arbitration than Of flying. agree
with the rest OF you that the days Of the
Association are numbered. After the crash
possibly before--the finishers will effect
an organization that will have for its car.
dinnl principle the settlement Of differences
by mutual concessions"
After this remark the conversation turn
ed TO other topics. Neither SECRETARY Mar.
tin nor President Jarrett were In tL, city
last night, consequently their opinion on
the statements made must be obtained ~
another time. A gentleman who 10 very
well acquainted with the workings Of the
organization, while refusing 10 talk OF It's
probable dissolution, stated thst 10 was true
that the Association 10 largely In debt, bat
10 making payments every month.