Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-22
SOME BITTER FIGHTS.
Vim. Weihe Accepts the Presidency
of the A. A. of !. & S. w.
MARTIN REELECTED In ACONTEST'
A Struggle for the Different officers of Vice
Presidents.
IRON WORKERS CONVENTION CLOSES

William Weihe will remain at the head OF
the Amalgamated Association, notwithstand-
ing his emphatic refusal to be candidate for
| reelection. VIM. Martin will continue as sec
retary and Stephen Madden will retain his po-
sition as assistant both men having overcome
very determined opposition.
The session of the convention yesterday was
the liveliest ever seen and some very bitter
stabs were made, but it wound up in a love
feas: and all the delegates departed well pleased
with the result. 1t was the last day of the
fourteenth annual convention and the dele
gates were weary with their labors, and some
of them asked to be excused. None of them
were permitted to retire, however. and had to
remain until the close of the session. In order
to hold the delegates together it was decided
not to adjourn for supper, but to wind up the
business. The members were furnished with
sandwiches for lunch in the hall and no one
was allowed to leave if he had his hat or coat.
Many of them borrowed hats outside and took
walk around the block.
The first business brought before the conven-
tion yesterday was the report of the Committee
on Grievances Among other things consid-
cred was the suspension of Good Intent Lodge,
No. As, composed of the men employed at
Moorhead Bros. & Co., VesuviuS Iron Works,
at Sharpsburg. This lodge was suspended for
insubordnation, but at their request were re-
1t was decided to assist the members who are
fighting for the scale in the East and large sum
OF money to support them was ordered.
THE MOST INTERESTING YET.
After settling the minor details of the con-
vention, paying the foreign delegates their
mileage, ETC.. the convention closed business
by the election of officers. This was, without
doubt, the most interesting contest held since
the formation of the association, and there
were many surprises Some members whose
names had not been mentioned publicly for
any of the positions but who had been making
"still hunt" came out and developed re-
markable strength. many of them winning,
and old members were compelled to take a
back seat.
There were several candidates for the presi-
dency as Mr.. Weihe bad refused to run again,
but they had instructed the members who were
to nominate them, to wait until Mr.. We1he had
declined the nomination. When the election
was opened the President arose and began to
make a speech to the effect that there had
been some dissatisfaction with his rulings in
several cases, and that he preferred to retire
from his office and take job in the mill The
main complaint was made by Good Intent
Lodge.
MI Weihe was not allowed to continue his
speech. He was howled down, cheered. There
were yells and an election at once. The dele
gates refused to listen to anything he had to
say, but proceeded to re-elect HIM by acclama-
tion. Several times Mr.. Weihe attempted to
there was nothing else TO do but to declare him
elected. Mr.. Weihe finally accepted the office
as he could not well refuse.
1t was thought there would be no opposition
to the reelection of Secretary Martin, but
when the polls were opened it was found he
had
A VERY FORMIDABLE RIVAL
in the person of Stephen Madden, the assist
ant Secretary. A ballot was taken and the re-
suit was in doubt for some time, but Mr.. Mar
tin landed winner by vote of III to 20.
The Secretary has the appointment Of his as
sistant, and when he proceeded to make his
announcement there was trouble Such a scene
was never witnessed on the floor of an Anal
gamated convention. Mr.. Martin announced
ship. and howl was raised at once.
Some of the delegates claimed that he
would not reappoint Mr.. Madden be-
cause he had been his opponent. There
was considerable wranglng over the
matter, and, in order to restore harmony, Mr..
Madden was reappointed Secretary. Martin
that he was looking to the best interests of the
Association. He is very friendly to Mr..
Madden and appointed him to his present posi-
tion without solicitation several years ago.
there being about dozen candidates for the
three places. Several ballots were required
before the trio was selected as follows: Ed
ward 9 Keil, Of Allegheny, John Pierce, Of
lie
of Philadelphia, The two last named
Nut Nut and Charles II. kaufman, who refused a
reelection. Mr.. Mutt will leave the mill and
accept a position under Carroll D. Wright in
the Labor Bureau. The other candidates for
trustees were Patrick Wilson, James Grundy,
Frank McEvoy. Patrick Farrell and F. NJ.
Schaeffer.
There was no opposition to James Penney for
Treasurer and he was elected by reclamation.
1rrr n .yopu cprprr
The election for Vice Presidents of the differ
ent districts was rather spirited. there being
opposition IN every case. William T. Roberts
of the First division, First district,
landed winner on the second
ballot He was reelected, although
three strong men in the division opposed him.
Florence ]. Sullivan defeated the present in
cumbent in the second division of the First
district, Jonathan Davis. In the Second dis
trict Harry Hooking defeated Dennis O'Leary,
who has held the office for several years.
Reese w. Prosser of New Albany, was elected
in the Third district in place of James Grundy,
who declined a reelection. Walter ]. Tormey,
of Milwaukee. was elected in the Fourth dis
trict in place of James F. Cooter. William
Whileman. of Terre Haute, was reelected in
the Fifth district, John Miskell in the Sixth,
NJ. E. Wins, of Gates City, Ala, in the
Seventh. and John Gallagher, of Philadelphia
in the Eighth. The Seventh district is a new
one, and comprises the Southern States.
The following named delegates were elected
to represent the association at the next an
nual convention of the American Federation
of Labor to be held in Boston in December: ].
c. Killgallen, F. NJ Schaffer and William T.
Roberts.
The convention finished the work about 9
o'clock and regular love feast followed. Diff
ferent delegates sang songs. others made
speeches and after hand-shaking all around
the petty quarrels that occurred during the
past three weeks were forgotten and the dele
gates retired.