Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-12
ACHANGE DEMANDED
State and National officials of the
Mechanics Want a New Name.
TIE ORDER OF UNITED AMERICANS
Is What the National Council Will be Re-
Quested to Adopt.
TWOULD Be A BENEFIT TO THE WEST

The proposed change of name is again
being agitated among the members of the
American Mechanics. By way of reopening
the question for discussion, The american
of to-day contains several columns of inter-
views with State and national officers and
prominent members of the order on the mat
ter. If the opinions expressed is an indica-
ton of what the result of another vote will
be, the future name of the order will be the
"Order of United Americans" dropping
the words "Junior" and Mechanics
State Councillor J. P. Winomer says the
order should have a name which would
represent the meaning of its objects and
principles one which would place it before
the public in its true light, and requires no
explanation. State Vice Councillor Collins
favors a change of name because" ssys he.
"when explaining what our order is, we
must now explain what it is not, viz: That
we are not juniors and that we are not
mechanics. These two words are decided
detriment to the progress of the order, and
prevent us from securing men whom another
name would attract. The scope, aims and
purposes of the order have changed almost
completely since the name was adopted"
NOW BELIEVES IN A CHANGE.
Past State Councillor D. G. Evans, who
has been an admirer OF the present name,
and for years opposed any change, believes
it is necessary for the future benefit Of the
order in the West to make a change. Past
State Councillor Fl. A. Keil says: MY SER
vice as member of the Board of Officers of
the State Council of Pennsylvania gave me
the opportunity of learning what a serious
obstacle in the way of the orders progress
our present name is, and hope it will be
changed"
National Representative Harry r. Peck
believes the interests of the order are
seriously affected by the misleading terms,
Junior and Mechanic" and 1ndorses
the effort made to change it.
W. T. Kerr expresses himself as follows:
~ believe that the present name of our
order is very misleading, and that it is q
hindrance to the growth of our order in
places where there is little but the name to
explain our membership. Were we sailing
under some other name, representing more
accurately the membership Of our order, the
false impression that we are labor organi-
cation of juniors would not exist, nor be
justifable, as it now is.
ANOTHER ADVOCATE OF IT.
National Representative J. G. A. Richter,
of Ohio, also favors q change to something
that will express the principles and objects.
He is indorsed by L. E. Shull, also of Ohio.
s. W. Connor, of Manchester Council,
Allegheny, says: ''There never was the
slightest doubt in my mind but what a
change of name would be beneficial to the
order. Why is it that an order with prin-
ciples such as ours has existed for so long a
time and made such slow progress? The
general belief is that we have been doing
excellently, but it is mistake. We should
have membership four times as great, and
the reason we have not is because of the
misleading nature of our name. 1 do not
make this statement from hearsay, but I
have experienced it and know it to be so."
National Representative Fred J. Shaler,
of Illinois, throws out suggestion that is
worthy of consideration by the National
Council. He says: "Unless a change is
made, the West will ask for a special appro-
priation of funds to advertise the objects and
name of our order, for it is too expensive to
send organizers into the field who have to
devote lwo-thirds OF their time to explaining
the meaning, or rather the meaning which
we place upon the word Junior and
Mechanic"
Many other representative members Of the
order express parallel opinions regarding
the matter, It is singular that there should
be a universal sentiment in favor of a
change, and that nearly all who were inter
viewed indorse tho name of Order of United
Americans.
AN EDITORIAL OPINION.
Speaking of the matter editorially, The
american will say that it "has already e1-
pressed its opinion on the matter, and re-
peats that it earnestly and warmly advocates
a change, believing that the interests OF the
order demand 1t. Our opinion was not
formed hastily, or without study and ex-
animation. We have advisedly assumed
what may be considered an advanced or
radical position, and are willing to main
tain and defend it when the proper time
comes. The question to be considered now,
is whether the National Council will give
the membership an opportunity of again
voting on this matter. We do not see how
they can consistently refuse, as no fair
minded person, whatever his opinion of the
desirability OF a change, would take sd-
vantage of the trust reposed in him to
smother open expression or defeat the will
of laroe uuu her of paoplp -