J- 



ASSOCIATION OF IRON, STEEL AND TIN WORKERS [^164 



executive committee has the power to declare strikes.^ A 

 board of investigation makes judicial decisions, and has 

 been known to make new rules on the ground of expediency. 

 The final authority, however, still resides in the representa- 

 tive assembly. It continues to elect officers, to audit their 

 accounts, and to remove them for misdemeanors or neglect 

 of duty. At the san^ time, the influence of the paid offi- 

 cers grows rapidly. They devote their entire time to the 

 work of the union, and thus gain an intimate knowledge of 

 the conditions of the trade and the internal affairs of the 

 association. The delegates must rely greatly on their judg- 

 ment. Accordingly, by far the larger part of the time of 

 the convention is devoted to the ratification or rejection of 

 the legislative and executive program outlined by the officers 

 in their reports to the assembly of delegates. 



This stage was quickly attained in the union of the iron 

 boilers and puddlers. whose activities increased so rapidly 

 that it was necessary to have one man devote his entire 

 time to the affairs of the union. In 1873, '^^^ power — 

 executive, judicial and even legislative — was vested during 

 the interval between sessions in a single paid official, known 

 as the president. He was voted a salary of $1500 "clear 

 of all traveling expenses." The president acted as financial 

 and corresponding secretary, supervised the publication of 

 the convention proceedings, and chartered new local socie- 

 ties. When time permitted, he attempted to organize the 

 workers in non-union mills. He visited localities where a 

 strike threatened, and endeavored to adjust the difficulty. 

 In the interpretation and enforcement of the national con- 

 stitution, he was at once policeman and judge. As a legis- 

 lator, he advanced new rules not covered by the existing 

 constitution, and broke the rules whenever he thought the 

 emergency called for such action. He could not declare a 

 strike, nor was he entrusted with the care of funds ; other- 

 wise his power was absolute during the period between 

 conventions. 



* The national officers may be brouRht to trial, reprimanded, sus- 

 pended, or expelled by a similar board. 



