The sun., 1892-07-10
THE AMALoAMt ED AsSocIi7IoN.
History OF tho Great Organization of Iron
ard steel " orkrrs.

Hirtory OF tho Great Organization OF Iron
ard steel W orkcrs.
The origin OF the Amalgamnted Association
OF Iron and Steel Workers. OF which tho
strikers Mt Homestead nre members dates
back to 1853. when lodge OF boilers and
ruddlers known as the United Sons OF Nul-
can" was formed in Pittsburgh. This lodge
was organized at meeting OF men employed
In the boil ng Department OF the iron mills Of
Pittsburgh which was held on April j. at n
place known as Our House." on Diamond
| street.
Tho meetings OF tho lodge were secret. In
1851 1t was rcorganizcd. A flutform Of prin-
ciplcs and Il constitution were adopted. nnd
in August 1861. Miles =. Iumrhrcys was
elected Grand Master. Tho breaking out OF
the war Of the Rebellion and tho Passage Of
the tariff Of 1871 were followed Ivy greater NC
tivity in the trade. and the organization dc,es-
opcd into the National Forge. with s.v",a
subordinate lodges. which was formed
In Iittsl urGh on seit. Z. 1862. wi h
Miles s. Humphreys as President. benevolent
aud protective icptut es were added 70 the Ma
w"te q gan izcd in iennsylvania, ohio. sew
aNdMa'', ,ianl. Strikes wcrn,I aIe at this time
for an ncrGasc Of wages; ma the iFcr'mse was
ptoduccd what is known as the scale Of
prices sys"m, Of arsu!asllE @rl:rs the wages
while il teinal dissension. srra e W. in the
orCani2a,ioH. local forces got behind with
inc entire National Fplge and ihr,ateanrd to
srnk it p s hc F@rEs Fdsrs socn ray ran ct
money. ard the treasury pre-, ntlS showed q
winch h. mon sometimes Won. hut often lost.
5SH aGh it Wade against chi.sss labor in in
strikes. which raridly drained the resources
ofthe National Forge,
aHH sS Mst Tie 'fn1ns and Ste Steel ho ands
linton" which was organize, n.ont 1870 1,t BY
Associated brotherhood q Iron and steel Rail
Heaters was formed in 1877. with M number ni
Naiicrs. composed OF a few local lodges. but
never organized into a national 10 'Er:
Hands Inion wns. held At Columbus. o., in
April lS74.lt which tn" first steps we're taken
N mt M ~ u"oan on, IN hH r3n Mns hc
gamated ASS hriuton Of Iron and Steel Work.
Joseph Bishop was elected President at
grew until 1877; when several strikes depleted
it Treasury. here were even more stikrs in
year said W" nav. not ~ "een m without Strike
single day during the year
Tho strike, broush. tie association rapidly
down until t wns In danger OF culapsng. and
the bad times attcr 1919 nearly caused its ex-
tinrtion. As tiale began to improve moro
strikes were ordered. They ended almost in
variahy n the defeat Of the men. The only
men who were successful were d lew in tho
Western mills.
In the mean time the Presidents salary had
been reduced "a 500. hut nt the Convention
hcl! IN Cleveland. Ohio. in August. 1S>l. it
was incrca Sod 10 ST.. u". and the r"cretary's
salary was fixed ut Sl.:Ou. in August. 1852. q
series # ,trikes t"ok I.ac" in NewbMrGh. Erie.
Phpnixville. and Homestead The only
strike in which the men i:ained anvthinG
was Tor an advance Of 10 rcr cent. in
wages. and by the more moderate Of the labor
leaders was regarded as ill-advised.
William Wcke the present PRESIDENT Of the
assuciat on. was elected in, Philadelphia in
1873. The annual C Inference between repre-
sen atvcs Ot employers and employees to fix
II scale OF prices at Homestead was agreed
uron few years ago and continued until
1S!W