Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1910-01-20

Reuther, following the annlla- Gus
tom of the Ohio Valley Trades and
Labor Assembly, read the following
strikingly good report at the Sunday
meeting: ....,
To the oflcers and Delegates Of the
Ohio Valley Trades & Labor As
sefnbly, Greeting:
In accordance with the established
custom, desire as retiring president
of the Assembly to submit a brief re
port of the work done by this AS
sembly IN the past year. !.
Membership. ].
At the close of 1908 there were
43 local unions affiliated with the AS
sembly;. in January 1909, only 20
locals returned and, at the end Of
1908 we find an affiliation of SO local
unions, loss of five locals. 1t is to
be regretted that at a time when, or
ganized capital is exerting all the
power at their command to suppress
and diminish labor unions, that the
members of the various local unions
who have faile dto return to the par
ent body are Indifferent to the inn
pending danger; that do not Seem
to realize or appreciate the value of
the central body in time Of peace;
only, when owing to unfavofable
conditions, insurmountable obstacles
confront them and they feel their in
ability to successfully cope with the
situation then they appeal to the
Right here I would like to impress
Central body for assistance and CO..
operation. In view of the fact that
vast number of local unions in this
valley are not animated with the AS
sembly and believing that their CO.
operation could be secured with little
effort, + most earnestly, recommend
that a committee be appointed to-
visit the different local unions in
question and urge their afiliation.
-. Finance.
u owing to. the fact that the AS
sembly has always to a great extent.
dependen upon the money realized
out of its annual picnic to deffay::it
running expenses, an dinasmuch as.
THE last picnic was anything but a
success from a financial standpoint,
taking into consideration the vast
amount of money due local unions, r
would recommend that the Assembly
raise is per capita tax from cents to-
8 cents per ration membership until
such time that the Assembly has met
it's obligations 49,
Committees. II = -
The Arbitration Committee was
called upon to settle disputes and diff
fculties that had existed between
local unions and employers and were
in most cases successful; an exception.
being to secure the erection of the.
new High school by Union Labor
Notwithstanding the fact that it was
due to the watchfulness Of the Iegis-
lative committee to have the. union
labor clause inserted in the speciffca-
lions, the Board of Educationi
through its attorney, arbitrarily mis-
construed said clause to favor, the
contractor; this occurrence has again
evidenced the fact that the economic
organization of the workers. alone
does not suffice. The legislative COM
mittee has been especially diligent:,
1t was through their untiring efforts
and being always and at All times
watchful and alert, that they were
successful, not only in defeating sew.
eral measures detrimental to organ:
lied labor, but succeeded in having
these measures so revised al. to give
home and union labor recognition
The organization committee was sue
cessful in al leases brought to its at
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