l8 ASSOCIATION OF IRON, STEEL AND TIN WORKERS [15O 



Puddlers' Unions. This feeling soon disappeared, and the 

 Roll Hands in 1874 sent a representative to the Heaters' 

 convention at Covington, Kentucky, in July of that year, 

 for the purpose of effecting a consolidation of those bodies. 

 Committees representing the Heaters and Roll Hands met 

 ht Indianapolis, Indiana, August 3, 1875, '^"<^ after four 

 days adopted a constitution and by-laws. The Sons of 

 Vulcan at the time were assembled in convention at Phila^ 

 delphia. Although the question of amalgamation had re- 

 ceived favorable consideration in the Youngstown conven- 

 tion of the previous year, no definite action had been taken. 

 The Heaters and the Roll Hands, uncertain what action 

 the Puddlers would take, decided not to wait. On August 

 23, 1875, however, a communication was received from 

 the Sons of Vulcan stating that favorable action had been 

 taken. A meeting of the three committees was held in 

 Pittsburgh, December 7, 1875, and a constitution and a 

 code of by-laws for the government of the proposed Amal- 

 gamated Association were adopted. Copies of the new con- 

 stitution were printed and submitted to every lodge and 

 forge throughout the country. Delegates were instructed 

 by the local organizations and sent to the conventions of the 

 three unions which by arrangement met simultaneously in 

 Pittsburgh on the first Tuesday of August, 1876. 



Each organization met in separate session, voted to amal- 

 gamate, and, after disposing of such business as pertained 

 to the individual society, announced its readiness to enter 

 into a joint session to consider the subject of amalgamation. 

 On August 3, 1876, the delegates of the three associations 

 and one from the United Nailers met in Emcrnld Hall, 

 Pittsburgh. Only two amendments were made to the pro- 

 posed constitution which was then adopted as a whole. On 

 August 4, 1876, the delegates "declared themselves an 

 amalgamated body," and the Amalgamated Association of 

 Iron and Steel Workers of the United States was formed. 



The Association was generally successful until 1892. In 

 1878, however, the price of iron fell and there were many 



