The CIO news., 1944-05-08

Il
charter was taken up between
President William Green Of AFL
and the local organizer. Work OF
organizing in earnest became
reality in November of 1888, when
nine employees enrolled and paid
full application fee of $500. At
meeting held just before Christ
mas, seventeen new applicants
were received into the union, and
the charter was applied for. Holly
Scott, still member, was the first
name on the charter, which arrived
January 6, 1894, and carried the
name, Federal Labor Union No.
1907 (now Rubber Workers Local
26, CIO).
Other names on the first charter
were Paul Amtower, first secretary
OF local; Wayne Browning, John
Davies, James Reed, Samuel Emer-
lex, Nat Athey, Calvin Bucklew,
John Hendley, first president of
local; Ellsworth Lewis, Nj. K. Old
aker, Jesse Merrill, Cecil Grayson,
Ralph Buser, Thomas Buser, Rob-
ert Nixon, James Holsinger, James
Mitchell, Edward Coyle, Frank
STUDY, Eliza Casteel, Wonder Fleegle,
Roy Mullin, NJ. X. Ruckman, r. L.
Fisher, and II. b. Snider
There were few other employees
who had paid part of the initia-
tion fee, and could rightfully
claim a part in setting up the
organization. With the arrival Of
the charter, Federal Labor Union,
Local 1907, of AFL became
reality, and the first set of officers
were elected and installed.
John Hendley (now finance COM
missioner for the City of Frost
burg) was the first president, and
is largely responsible for the or
ganization of Kelly employees, re-
gardless of what makeup. John
Hendley was fearless, conscien-
tious, and was not afraid to speak
his piece, whether in the union
hall, or in conference with man
agement. Paul AmtOwer was
elected secretary. and James Reed,
Ellsworth Lewis and Jesse Merrill
composed the executive board.
This group OF officers were the
men who faced the powers that be,
in setting up the foundation for
the unionization of the Kelly.
Older members of the Kelly work.
ers union will notice a certain
name missing from this report. A
special story will deal with the de-
letion of tn ename in question, but
il can be said here, that the organ
ization of the Kelly plant met bit
ter opposition from all angles, from
the management, as well as local
business interests. 1t was the
activities of company stooge
that made the first meetings of
Federal Union 1907 known TO
management, before sunset of the
day of meeting. When this obstacle
was overcome, the organization of
the Kelly took a new life, and by
April, 1884, the organization set
up grievance committee. that
was received by management as
representatives of the workers.
The early days of organization
of Kelly are among some of the
cherished pages OF labor history
in Allegany County, and some Of
those pages are spread on the
records of the United States
Senate, by Senator LaFollette, in
reporting un-American activities
of big business to frustrate the
right of workers to organize.
company detectives, spies, tear
gas, violence, were all a part Of
the early history of organizing
the Kelly.
The fact that the union is still
In existence, even though 1t
changed its national afiiliation,
owing to a matter of policy. is
evidence enough that the seeds
of organization were implanted
deeply, because of the many
hardships this group Of workers
were asked to bear, when work.