The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1911-07-21
HEROIC STRUGGLE.
Some Early History of the Ma
ChiniStS' Union.
BESET BY DIFFICULTIES.

irrational President Elected In
1898 Compelled to Mortgages Home to
Save sanization-Steady Growth
Recorded.
The struggle Of the early organiza
ton of machnlsts Is both heroic ana
pathetic With all the history written
and yet to be recorded there cannot be
marshaled together any combination
of circumstances that will rival In In
terest the heroism and self sacrifice Of
the men who set themselves the task
of building the organization 1t mat
tiers not what objects may be sought
to be attained or how promising the
inducements offered the actual ac-
complishment of uniting wage ealnerS
into organizations for their own pro
lection requires ability Of a peculiar
sort. A knowledge Of human nature
In broad sense and the faculty to
successfully harmonic disCOrdant ele-
ments are necessary characteristics.
The laying Of the foundation of the
International Association of Machin-
lists met with obstacles at every step.
In 1893. at the convention held at In
dlanapolis, Ind, where its active his
tory really began, the association was
confronted with an empty treasury
There were also two large strikes in
the trade. on the Union Pacific and the
Santa Fee. and as a consequence there
was no money with which to assist the
strikers and the organization was
heavily in debt. Fortunately, however,
the strikes mentioned were soon there
after settled.
At this convention James O'Connell
was elected president and has held
that position ever since. President
O'Connell upon assuming office was
compelled to personally borrow money
to meet the convention expenses and
other obligations until the membership
in the regular way paid its interna-
tional per capita tax. If the money
had not been advanced the organiza-
ton would have been compelled to
suspend operations for the time being.
The salary Of the president was only
$1,000 per year, with no allowance for
travelling expenses except railroad
fare, and as the duties of the presi-
dent required him to constantly visit
various sections Of the country the
salary was hardly sufficient to meet
the necessary expense incurred in the
performance of his duty.
The membership in 1893 consisted
Of $500 members, with the local lodges
paying to the International association
Is cents every three months barely
enough to pay the running expenses
and at times funds were SO necessary
to maintain the very existence of the
organization that President OConnen
on two different occasions mortgaged
his modest home, then in Oil City. Pa.
to provide money with which to assist
the international organiza ton
In 1898 the local dues of members to
local lodges were so cents per month.
with % cents per quarter to the grand
lodge while the present dues mini
NUM- of local lodges are ST per month.
and in many sections $3.50 is paid
The grand lodge now receives 10 cents
per month
The wages Of machinists in 1893 did
not average % cents per hour while
lhe average now Is 80 cents per hour
The hours of labor were from ten to
twelve, while at present they are nine
hours or less.
The International Association Of Ma