Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1918-07-12
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION
OF MACHINISTS

OF our ASSOcldIlOIl, SSpSCldlly CiO0O
who have followed closely the reports
of our general officers, organizers
and business agents. Numerically
we have increased our membership
by approximately 25,0O0 since Jan.
/, and during the same period have
added more than one hundred new
lodges to our roster.
That the growth of our Association
is general is evidenced by the fact
that new locals have been instituted
in practically every state in the Union.
Pennsylvania leads with eighteen new
lodges, followed closely by Ohio,
where twelve new locals have been
organized during the past five months.
Thirty years ago, or to be exact,
May 5, 1888, a few railroad machin-
lists in the city of Atlanta, Ga, organ
lied Atlanta Lodge No. l with nine
teen charter members, naming their
organization "The United Machinists
and Mechanical Engineers of Amer
ica." From this small number of
one of the most powerful and infiu-
entail labor unions in the United
States-the International Association
of Machinists, 175,000 strong.
From its inception the organization
has been militant in character, over
coming almost insurmOuntable OBJ
stacles, laboring under most trying
circumstances, facing opposition on
every hand; often on the verge OF
bankruptcy, many times without a
dollar in the treasury. Through storm
and sunshine-good times and bad
battling always for right and justice,
the Association has gone steadily for
ward until today it is one Of the most
influential labor organizations in the
world.
Primarily membership in the Inter
national Association of Machinists
was restricted to those who had serv-
ed regular apprenticeship, or had
worked four years at the trade.
Gradually, however, these restrictions
were removed until today its aim IS
"To bring within the folds of this
Association all machinists-male or
female-who are actively engaged in
the trade, or otherwise connected
herewith"
One of the great principles con-
tended for by the Association is the
establishment of a minimum wage;
in this it has been largely successful.
| Through its untiring efforts the
Eight-Hour day has become almost
universal. It's influence in securing
the enactment of remedial legislation
for those who toll has been untold.
It's relation with the affiliated organ
izations in the American Federation
of Labor have on the whole been
most cordial.
Perhaps one of the greatest ambi-
tions of the Association was to organ
ize the machinists employed by the
PENNSYLVANIA Railroad Whether this
could eventually have been accom-
plished had not the Government as
sumed control, is doubtful, owing tC
the absolute domination by this roaC
of the territory it traversed. That
it's employees were susceptible to or
ganization, however, is shown by the
fact that the shop trades of this en-.
tire system have been organized. Al
Altoona, Pa, where the largest shops
of this company are located, the In
,ternational Association of MachinistS
has local with a membership Of
, nearly 1,500.
While the work of organizing the
Pennsylvania system is continuing
other roads which have bitterly op
posed organized labor are receiving
attention, notably the Erie, the L. &
N, the Santa Fe, the Illinois Central
and the Southern Pacific. Report!
are most encouraging from those en-
trusted with the work Of organizing
|, the above mentioned railroads, and /
is safe to assume that ere the Close
of this year the shopmen of ever!
railroad in the United States will b.
thoroughly organized.
With increased membership viii
come increased influence. May it con
truth and justice: and the principle
tutrh and justice: and the principle
for which the International Associa
E ton of Machinists stands be establish
ed throughout the length and breadtl
, of America, when its mission to Sc
cure for the workers the right to en-
joy to the fullest extent the wealtl
created by labor will have been ac
Observation-Disclosures Journal.
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