Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-05-22
THEA. A. OFF. IS. W.

Cleveland Yesterday 80 The Busi-
ness Session Devoted to the Read
ing Of President Garland'S Report.
Making information Hard to Get
Cleveland, O., May 21.-Delegates to
the annual convention of the Amalga-
mated Association of Iron and Steel
Workers Of America were arriving in
town all yesterday and to-day. The
convention is now under way. Dur
ing the past year the membership Of
the association has increased from
1000 to 10000, but Notwithstanding
this fact, the convention is not as
largely attended as it was a year ago
Secretary J. c. Kilgallon explains that
because of the hard times in many
localities where there are two mills
they combined to send a single dele
gate in place of two us formerly.
There are many questions Of import
ance which viii be brought before the
convention, but there is one which
oyershaddows all others, and that is
the adoption Of the wage scale. 1t is
probable that the convention will de-
eide upon an increase in the present
scale. The increase will not be a large
one, but it will probably be a substan-
tial one. Sentiment among the dele
gates who are upon the ground now
seems to indicate that the wage scale
may be increased in some particulars,
and unchanged in others. It is be-
lieved that the Gear rate will be in
creased. 1t is announced here that
the new schedule vii. propose the
adoption of a new system which will
be as advantageous to the mills as to
the workmen. What the new scheme
is. is not divulged, but a delegate says
several mill men have given assur-
ances that the new system" will be
given a fair trial The pudding rate
viii also receive much consideration.
This is now ST. The majority of the
delegates are in favor of a S. rate, and
a stand will be taken for the amount
The convention viii also wage relent-
less warfare upon the employment of
women in the tin mills. The new scale
will not be presented to the convention
until the latter part of this week, but
i'm the meantime there is a great deal
of speculation as to what it shall be.
At II o'clock this morning Presi.
dent Garland raped the annual con-
vention to order in Memorial Hall. The
convention went into executive ses-
sion at once. There were 115 dele
gates present. It was the programme
that the morning session should be
devoted to the informal addresses
which are given each year Mayor
McKisson was expected to deliver an
address Of welcome, which was to be
followed by a short address by James
II. Hoyt. The latter gentleman sent
word that he would not be able to at
tend the opening of the convention.
The opening addresses were conse-
ouently postponed until after the noon
adjournment
The executive session was occupied
in the work of organization. 1t is eX-
Dected by several delegates that the
subject of taking in several non-union
PENNSYLVANIA mills will be thoroughly
discussed. Delegates, as a rule, are Of
the opinion that several mills in the
keystone State are tired Of nOn-union-
ism. 1t is said the Pittsburg delegates
came to the convention loaded to the
muzzle with some plan Of taking into
the Amalgamated several hundred non
union men.
President Garland was shown the dis
patch sent out from Pittsburg this
morning to the effect that an organiza-
ton embracing the skilled employees Of
five steel plants of the Pittsburg dis
trict had secretly organized to secure
an advance in wages Mr.. Garland eX-
pressed the belief that there was moth
ing in the report. He believed that it
was merely a preliminary step on the
part of the movers to get a foothold
in the Amalgamated Association. The
President of the Amalgamated Ass0ci-
alton appeared to be somewhat pleased
at the disposition Of the Pittsburg dis
trict workers to form a union and be-
lieved the Amalgamated Association
would be glad to hear that their pro-
posed action was successfully cOnsum-
mated.
Mr.. John Peel, of Pittsburg, in speak
ing of this movement, said: 4 believe
the step is in embryo. In my opinion
IL would be in the highest degree indis-
erect for the employees Of the five large
steel plants in the Pittsburg district
to organize an Independent union to
fight to a higher rate Of wages. The
mill operators would seek to crush the
movement just as quick as they posi-
bly, could. Their organization would
not compare in strength to the Amaiga-
mated by reason Of the fact that all
the leading steel mills in the country
are worked by members Of the Anal
gamated Association. If the men
wished to Join a union they would join
the Amalgamated.'
Among the rules adopted to govern
the convention was one which provides
that anv delegate other than the sec
retarv upon being convicted of giving
ont information concerning the work
of the convention to the newspapers,
shall be liable to expulsion.
President Garland appointed commit