Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1916-02-17
Pres. Higgins Report

IS not dropped if the United Mine
| Workers will do their part. would
recommend that the Assembly again
end every assistance possible, both
morally and financially, and spend the
i everal hundred dollars raised during
he summer, through. contributions
rom organizations throughout the
| ;ountry, for the purpose for which 1t
was intended.
Labor Day Picnic.
The Labor Day picnic and, demon
stration was complete success In
every particular, in spite of the many
obstacles and strong competition OF
the State Fair. Several hundred dol
lars were added to the treasury. !
would recommend that these affairs
be continued.
Labor Press.
Too much cannot be said of the i'm
i portance> of the labor press. The
Wheeling Majority is the only paper
in the vicinity in which labor can
voice its sentiments; by proper CO.
operation the workers could make the
Majority a DAILY instead of week
~ paper.
Harmony Committee.
Il A number of cases were taken up
by this committee during the year OF
which little is known to the public. ow-
ing to the manner in which the cases
were handled. l would recommend
that this committee be maintained;
their efforts oftimes have prevented
serious breaks between employees and
employers.
! Pollock Memorial Committee.
This committee is about to complete
It's task, the material is on the grounds
and with favorable weather conditions
he monument will soon be completed.
would recommend that when the I'M
yelling takes place it be made the ban
ner day of the Labor Movement of this
Valley, it being the first event of this
kind that has taken place in this
country.
Union Label Committee.
Too much cannot be said of this i'm
portant subject If every wage work
er carrying Union card could learn
the import nee of demanding the UN-
ION LABEL upon all his purchases,
and that in a UNION STORE, it
would be more effective than all the
Emoney that could possibly be raised
flor this purpose and in very short
time, We would be able to, secure a
good selection of UNION LABELED
|GOODS. I would urge renewal of
this important work as outlined by the
last Assembly r.
Strikes.
At the beginning of the term we de-
cided to make a final effort to organize
the Wheeling Traction Company in all
it's branches. Through the co-opera'
ton of all crafts employed by said
company and the Building Trades de
: partment, after a six weeks strike Of
the Building Trades we were able to
sign all contracts for crafts involved;
too much credit cannot be given the
Building Trades for their assistance
in this controversy. This was follow
ed closely by. the Carpenters strike
: which was won in a very few days
n due to the able manner in which i
was conducted by the members Of thu
Carpenters union. This strike wa
Id followed by the strike of the Cal
Workers who engaged in strike with
0 out organization. They appealed t.
the Assembly for assistance whicl
is was granted and the organization com
mittee was placed on the job and sue
80 ceeded in organizing them. After
strike of six weeks a settlement wa
l
wages, shorter working hours an,
v complete recognition of their Union
During this year a joint agreemen
was entered into by the Butchers
Firemen and Engineers which wa
signed by representatives of each OF
ganization; being closely followed b,
| a strike of the Butchers at six Of tn
Packing plants. The assembly beinI
asked to assist, rendered all assist
ance possible, placing the Presiden
on the job with instructions to rende
all possible assistance.
Affiliation With. A. r. of L.
During the year the. Assembly as
well known received a charter Of aft
liation with the greatest organization
of Labor in the world, the great AM
powerful American Federation of La
Dor. This was made possible by tn
amalgamation of the National Stogi
Makers League with the Cigar Max
ers International Union of America
Secession Movement.
During this year dissatisfaction
among some members threatened Il
cause a split in the ranks of the Cres
cent and Belmont Lodges of the A.
| of l. S. & T. W., but after careful
and prompt action Of officials AM
members of the movement, the seces
sion. was successfully blocked.
i Organization Campaign Fund.
During this. year the organization
campaign failed to arouse from it
| slumbers If it be the desire of tn
delegates to discontinue the campaign
/ would recommend that the balanc,
of the money, If any, be turned int
| the treasury of the Assembly to b,
used for the purpose for which # wa
| intended.
| Prevention Of Militia Organization.
| After repeated attempts to organic
| a company of State Militia in thi
| vicinity, the Assembly through pFomp
| action was able to once more proven
| its organization.
| Legislation.
| Owing to the success of Labor's lob
| / by in the interest of Labor legislation
| II would recommend the continuance
of same during the next session o
I lIoOialafr1ro and iirgo all affiliated Ia