The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-09-26
TOBACCO G
WORKERS
CONVENTION
Second Day Devoted to Hearing the
Presidents Report-In the Af-l
ternoon the Delegates
VISITED BLOCH'S FACTORY.
Fifty-one Delegates, Among Which
Are Two Ladies', Present-To-
RI days Programme.

The hfaeth annual session of the In
tcrnationul Association Of Tobacco
Workers got down to real work at Odd
Fellows, hall yesterday morning. Pres
ident Fisher called the assembly to or
der at 1o.o'clock and the roll call show
ed all the delegates present, the nbspn-
tees having arrived Monday afternoon.
The first matter to come up was the
report OF the president OF the associa-
ton. The report showed growth Of
200 In the past year, a flattering show
ing. The report showed IN increase Of
% per cent In, the past two years. The
report stated that the work Of the or
ganization had been very successful NIL
over the country and especially in the
south, where the organization made an
especial effort to form local unions.
There Is a lack u education among the
employees in the factories Of the south
and in many. Of. the factories, the re-
port stated, there wac a total ignor-
apce.t
The report was referred to commit
tee, who will refcr-it back to the con-
ventlon to-day. a delegate speaking on
the report stated that In one OF the
large southern factories in which he
was employed there was only one man
with even, the rudiments of an educa-
tlon, that he himself wus not even
fairly educated, being scarcely able to
read and write. The Inability to read
nmong the great part of the workmen
was due to the fact that there were but
{ few schools and these were In session
but few months in the year, and the
teachers were NOT the best.
This delegate though claiming to be
possessed OF hut little education, had
travelled to considerable extent, and
had acquired worldly experience
which, to some extent made up for his
lack OF book knowledge. He is an en-
tertainins conversationalist. and one
would scarcely consider him unlearned.
This delegate stated that President
Fishers report told the truth when 1t
stated that negro cheap labor and the
practice of the lower class of white la
borers In the south working for mere
plttance was menace to the stability
of the organization. Few labor unions
had been organized in the south. he
said but IN the past three years they
were manifesting some interest in
unionisrn. They lacked knowledge OF
the principles of the organization and
It was doubtful If they would stick to-
getler. The great need in the south
was to organize and TO educate the
men to understand the principles and
purposes of the organiza ton. The fac
tories there paid wages ranging from
sixty cents to 81 IS per day for the
highest skilled labor. The average was
about one dollar per day.
The secretary began his report after
the reading OF the presidents report,
but 1t was not completed at the noon
adjournment. 1t will be taken up again
this morning. The treasurer's report
Will also be tnker up ct to-day's sess-
ion.
The committee on grievances met last
night. but nothing would be given out
considering the matters considered
there. They will make their report to-
day.
There was no afternoon session yes
terday. The delegates accepted the In
ritntion of Bloch Bros. to visit their
factory. and most Of the afternoon was
devoted to viewing the various depart
ments of this factory and the delegates
enjoyed the visit to the utmost.
The delegates, numbering flfty-oue,
are all on hand. There are two ladies
among the number and many OF the
delegates, especially those Of the south.
are colored.
The convention will likely conclude It's
labors this week, though there Is n
probability that the work will carry 1t
into. next week. Heretofore the work
has been completed In six days md
the delegates expect to leave for their