United labor bulletin., 1909-12-24

convention was held in the City of To-
ronto. Canada, on Monday. June Sd, 1901,
and continued in session until June 18th.
This was the year that our organization
was conducting the nine-hour movement
throughout the country. great many
strikes being on while the convention
was in session. 1t became necessary for
quite a number of the prominent dele
gates to return to their respective locali-
ties in the interest of the men on strike
The machinery of our organization was
considerably reorganized, and quite a
number of new features added One of
these being the adoption of vice-presi-
dents as organizers.
The next convention was held in the
city Of Milwaukee, Wis. in the year 1908.
beginning Monday. May 4th. and con-
tinued in session for - days. This was
notable convention. being one of the
largest ever held in the history of our
organization. Two more vice-presidents
were added as permanent organizers and
this was the last convention where the
Grand Lodge officers were elected upon
the floor of the convention.
! The next convention was held in the
city of Boston, Mass, This was the first
convention held after the adoption of the
referendum system for electing Grand
Lodge officers. At the time of the con-
vention no result had yet been an
nounced as to whom the new officers
might be Later the Election committee
was enjoined from counting the ballots,
which resulted in many of the present
officers serving four years on a two-year
term.
AT the Boston convention it was de
cided to hold the next convention in the
city OF St. Louis. whenever the member
ship decided to hold convention by ref
erendum vote The result of this vote
was in favor of calling the convention,
which convened in St Louis, Monday,
September 9th. 1907.
This being the 18th biennial conven-
ton of our association it was called to
order in the Druids hall. st. Louis. Mo,
at 10 O'Clock a. m, Sept. 9th. and lasted
to Sept 10. 1907 There We're many
changes made in our laws at this meet
| ing One of the best laws that was
adopted was the Days Pay Assessment,
which was to run for three years. begin
ming with January. 1905. each member
was to pay an amount equal to a day
pay this was to be payable each year for
three years. and at that time our mem
bers were fully employed all over the
land. as the country was at the height of
its prosperity. but the delegates had
hardly reached their homes. and got fair
ly rested up from their trip. when the
panic came on and hit our members
about as hard. if not harder. in some To-
calities. than any other craft, but as We
We're nearing the time for the Denver
convention to be called TO order we
could look back over the past two years
and point with pride to the splendid man
ner in which our organization weathered
the storm. During that time we have
had several expensive strikes TO fight,
which terminated in our favor, We fur
ther paid every obligation that was con-
tracted by our Organization. as Well as
paying several thousand dollars in death
benefits TO our deceased members. and
at the conclusion of the st. Louis meet
ing II was decided that the convention
would convene in Denver. Colo. the sec
ond monday in September, 1909.