The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-15

One hundred delegates to the national
convention of the Amalgamated Associa-
ton of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers ar
rived yesterday. some coming in special
cars. and the remainder of the delegates,
who will number nearly AGO. are expected
to be here for the opening session in
Washington Hall this morning at 10
o'clock. Governor Mount will welcome the
convention on behalf of the State, Mayor
Taggart on behalf of Indianapolis. Major
Perkins on behalf of the American Fedora
ton of Labor and John Blue on behalf of
Central Labor Union. Responses will be
made by President T. ]. Shafer and AS
sistant President b. /. Davis. The morn
ing session will be open, but in the after
noon the convention will go into execu-
tive session, and from that time on the
meetings will be held behind closed doors.
four weeks, and ten days after the meet
ing, joint conference with the iron, steel
and tin manufacturers will be held in this
or some other city to adjust a wage scale.
The officers of the association are: Pres
ident, t. j. Shafer; assistant president.
B. l. Davis; secretary treasurer, John VIII
liams; assistant secretary, M. j. Tighe, all
of Pittsburg, Pa, and eight vice presi-
dents, one TO represent each district. The
delegates are all representative men of the
organization and come here with money to
spend. They earn from s. to SIS day, and
are the highest skilled workmen in their
craft
There are 2O7 unions in the United States,
and all Of these will be represented. Penn
sylvania leads with forty-one unions, and
Indiana comes second with thirty, with
membership of between 5000 and 10000
Ohio is third and Illinois fourth.
Next Saturday, Indiana day, will be a
big event in union labor circles and in the
big parade that is to be arranged, an eff
fort Will be made to have 10000 men in line
who represent organized labor. This will
require the attendance of every local In
the State and all the rolling. tin. iron and
steel mills In Indiana will shut down on
that day to permit their employees to at
tend the celebration In the afternoon a
picnic will be given at Broad Ripple Park
for the visitors, and everything will be
free, SO far as the committee can secure
control According to present plans, Sat-
urday will see the biggest union labor DEM
onstration ever given in Indianapolis.
John Colbert will be chief marshal Of the
parade and delegates from all the labor
organizations of the city will assist as staff
officers on horseback or ride in carriages.
In addition to the picnic to be given to the
visitors Saturday, they will be banqueted
at the Grand Hotel Monday night, and at
sometime during the session they will be
given trolly ride over the city, If not a
ride in carriages. The coming of the con-
vention to this city and State is a feature
looked upon with pleasure by Western
members and is the first time the national
meeting was ever held here. The use of
natural gas is responsible for Indiana S
rapid advancement in this manufacturing
industry and has placed her next to the
top in ranking States. The unusual at
tention that has been drawn to this State
will add largely to the securing Of the ma
tional Headquarters for this city. For sew
eral months the Western men have been
laying plans to have the executive offices
moved from Pittsburg to Indianapolis, and
1t Is hoped that their plans will mature
with the closing of this convention.