28 ASSOCIATION OF IRON, STEEL AND TIN WORKERS [l60 



delegates in attendance at the first few conventions of the 

 Association was only about a hundred, there were nearly 

 three hundred present in 1891, and over two hundred in 

 1902. Careful formulation of policies or proper sifting of 

 evidence in judicial cases by such a body is impracticable. 

 In consequence the assembly has followed the practice of 

 creating committees to perform certain duties. The duties 

 of these several committees are not always carefully coor- 

 dinated. For example, the work of the committee on griev- 

 ances and that of the committee on appeals is very similar. 

 Amendments to the rules are drafted and submitted to the 

 assembly not only by the committee on constitution but also 

 by committees formed for wholly different purposes. 

 Amendments are frequently recommended, for example, by 

 the president, one of the several vice-presidents, or the 

 secretary-treasurer in their reports to the convention. The 

 conumittee on officers' reports considers these proposals in- 

 dependently of the committee on constitution. It is not sur- 

 prising, therefore, that conflicting resolutions are occasion- 

 ally passed by the convention. 



The efficiency of the convention as a governmental in- 

 strument is limited by the infrequency of its sessions — 

 once each year — and by the shortness of the sessions. The 

 length of the session, however, has been extended as the 

 importance of its activities has increased. In 1876 the 

 convention lasted three days, whereas it lasted seventeen 

 days in 1902. Two weeks, the average duration of the con- 

 vention, or even three weeks, the maximum period, seems 

 a very short period in which to adopt needed legislation, 

 settle judicial cases, elect officers, levy dues, appropriate 

 funds, audit accounts, and transact numerous other matters 

 of business which accumulate from one year to the next. 

 There must also be taken into account time lost in waiting 

 for committees to report. Little can be accomplished the 

 first day, since the credentials of the delegates must be ex- 

 amined. After listening to an address of welcome by a 

 municipal executive or a local trade union leader, a recess 



