The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-12-24
GLOWING very interesting annual re.

| such as ours should give an account ot
his stewardship At the close OF his term
OF office, and It affords me great pleas.
ure to be able TO state that, notwith-
standing the unprecedented industrial
depression that has prevailed during
the whole OF the past year, the constit-
uency Of the assembly has increased,
and its delegate membership has been
enlarged. Blu one organization has left
US, while on the other hand many sub.
stAntial additions have been made 10
our membership.
The report OF the secretary will con-
tain detailed statement OF these mat
ters, in connection with other valuable
information relative to the numerical
strength and the financial condition Of
the assembly, and my report is there.
fore necessarily confined TO the limits OF
4 general review OF past enactments
and recommendations in connection
with prospective legislation in the in.
terest OF labor. These opinions arc at
least the well.msAnt expressions OF one
who has the interest Of your cause at
heart, and ask for them serious Con-
sideration at your hand.
Arbitration.-The matter OF arriving
at proper conception OF the duties de-
volving upon the arbitration committee
| ol this assembly and the task OF carry.
ing out the SAME has been o mixed
| question for the past wear. Several
changes OF the laws regulating this de.
partment have been made, but no satia-
factory solution Of the problem has yet
been effected. In my opinion It would
be the policy to so frame tho laws con-
trolling the workings OF this committee
that the Trades Assembly shall be COM
pletslv divorced from all connection
with the inauguration Of boycotts or
strikes, thus placing the responsibility
where 1t belongs--on the local union
directly interested. When s local needs
the assistance ot tho arbitration COM
mittec, and is willing to abide by its
action, then its services should bo grant
ed without regard to the merits OF the
case, and at once, without waiting for
the permission OF the assembly. OF
course 1t should be stipulated that when
a case is once given into the hands OF
the arbitration committee 1t shall have
full power to act in tho premises, and
any method OF prosecution or terms OF
settlement adopted By the committee
must be accepted by the local union in
terested. This plan Is presented as the
one originally adopted Dyt the assembly,
aud which operated for several years
with lees friction and better results
than any OF the more complicated meas
utes which superseded it
Organization-Owing 10 unavoidable
changes in the personality OF the COM
Al u,arlr II RdItan I.au
been somewhat retarded, but notwith-
standing this drawback, substantial re-
suits have been achieved. With the
advent OF the industrial boom" that
ia predicted. and for the more Substan-
tial reason that new lines Of labor arc
taking the initiatory steps toward or.
ganization, it can be safely predicted
that the coming year will witness a
considerable increse in the constituency
OF the assembly.
Boycotting-ft is the generally ae.
cepted opinion oil all well regulated
labor associations and conservative
labor advocates that the boycott should
be n weapon OF last resource. and am
pleased to note q gradually growing ten
dency on the part OF the assembly to
rigidly investigate before committing
the unions comprising this delegate
body to its application. This Is in
favorable contrast to the old-time
methods and indicates that education
ha. followed in the footsteps OF organi.
zation. The assembly cannot anticipate
or prevent the inauguration OF a boy
colt by local, but it can refuse to as
sist Ia the prosecution oil boycott that
has been, In its opinion, unwisely or un-
Justly commenced. l do not wish to be
Understood as advocating opposition to
boyco,ting in all cases. or in any case
where it is deserved and can be applied
with some prospect OF success, but do
contend that great care should be exer-
ci4ed ia bringing into use this weapon
of labor warfare that needs careful
handling In order that Its effectiveness
NAV not be weakened or entirely des-
troyed.
Politics.-Partisan polite, has na-
turally no place in our deliberations or
LEGISLATION, but the assembly is TO be
congratulated over the iact that politic-
nj questions involving the welfare OF
our labor unions or the personal inter-
ests OF our mUmbers are no longer re.
garded as dangerous shOa.s upon which
the ship OF organized labor may be
wrecked. Continued progress in this
direction may in time effect change oil
opinion in the minds OF those who now
80 fiippantly ASSERT that Labor men and
labor measures get but scant support
from the members OF labor organizations
themselves. The tide Is turning TO-
ward a common.sense visw oil this
matter, and worklns smen are opening
their ewes to the necessity OF securing
adoption Of favorable laws and the
repeal OF Objectionable ones through the
medium oil re representatives. from their
own ranks to legislative bodies. It Is
ridiculous to prate about oppressive
msa, a,ures while We persi-tantly support
for office the parti.ans who framed
them. ani this view Of ihI case Is
gradually dAwniug upOn the working
people oi this aud other localities.
Labor Legislation-There having been
no session OF the legislature du ing
the past year. no opportunity has
O .ered for the presentation or atop-
t IN of labor leg station at the handa
Of the state, but the legislative
has In course OF pTepAra-
lion a number Of bills covering needed
LEGISLATION for the ameiura;ion OF the
iuOoring classes, and, in addition, con-
tomplato sucn action as will endcavor
10 SECURE the proper enforcement OF The
labor law4 now upon our ute books.
Labor Day-rhe adoption by the Con-
gr.ss ol the United States OF law set-
ling apart the first Monday in SenteIn-
Der in each year as a national holiday,
to bc known us Labor Day." prompta
me TO suggest that the assembly change
I II. 10 annual V0Fu,Vn