The Washington times., 1912-02-13
MACHINISTS VOTE
TO RETAIN GENERAL
OFFICES IN CAPITAL
International Associations S
Convention Action Is Over
ridden in Referendum.

Members of the International Asso-
ciation of Machinists have settled by
referendum vote, that the headquarters
of the International Association shall re-
main in Washington. This means that
the general officers and clerks will con-
tinue to dwell in this city, that the
banking business of the association will
continue to be done here, that the
Machinists Monthly Journal still will be
published in Washington, and, in short,
that annual disbursements amounting to
approximately 100000 will be made from
Washington. The result of the refer
endum was announced today by Cen
eral Secretary and Treasurer George
Preston.
While the vote is two to one in favor
of keeping headquarters here, a ma
jority of about 1000 having been rolled
up on the proposition, Washington has
had narrow escape, as headquarters
were actually voted away from this city
few months ago.
Taken Away Once.
When the International Association OF
MRchinists was holding it's annual con-
Vention at Davenport, Iowa, last Sep
tember Thomas Grant, of the Chamber
OF Commerce, and delegates from Co.
lumbia Lodge were in attendance lobby
Ing to get the next annual convention
here. Secretly a movement was set on
loot at the same time to get the head
quarters moved, and Washington not
only failed to get the convention, but
the resolution to move headquarters car
ried. Washington men at the conven-
tion returned somewhat downhearted,
The next step in the proceedings was
y contest between st. Louis and In
ulanapolis for the headquarters. A ref
erendum was taken and st. Louis won
But after this Columbia Lodge started
referendum proceedings to have rescind-
ed the action of the convention. To get
referendum on this 1t was necessary
TO obtain the aignatures of fortv lodges
no five of which could be from any one
state. Columbia Lodge men secured the
necessary number, the petition was pre-
sented to the grand lodge, and the
referendum ordered for the month of
January.
Votes have been coming into the
Ieduquarters here the past month, and
nave just been checked up, and the ret
suit announced as overwhelmingly in
favor of Washington.
Johnston's Statement.
This means that headquarters will
stay here and that talk of moving
them is over" said President w. NJ.
ton this morning. The result is high
ly pleasing to the grand lodge officers
here. Washington is the most desira BILE
place for many reasons. Seventy-five
per cent of our membership lives within
radius of 800 or 600 miles from the
Capital, and this is the center of legls-
lation besides, New York Is within easy
distance also;s and conferences there can
he easily. arranged" 4.
Besides President Johnston there are
stationed here Vice President P. j. Con-
Ion, Secretary Treasurer George Pres
ton, and Assistant General Secretary
Fred Hewitt. The editor of the Journal
d. Douglas Wilson, lives here, and there
are thirty clerks in the headquarters.
The payroll of officers and clerks alone
comes to approximately $50, 900 a year
Disbursements by the grand lodge for
the six months ending November 30
amounted to $431, ,310.22.
Officials of the Chamber of Com
merce expressed great pleasure today
over the news that headquarters will re-
main here.