44 ASSOCIATION OF IRON, STEEL AND TIN WORKERS [ 1 76 



tation for industrial unionism, the Association has opened 

 its doors to laborers, thus extending its jurisdiction to em- 

 brace all men in the iron, steel and tin industry. ^^ 



Immigrant skilled workmen have ordinarily been affiliated 



. in separate local unions. Now and then, particularly in the 

 eighties, a cry of protest against the large numbers of in- 



' coming aliens has been heard. In 1879 the secretary com- 

 municated with the Amalgamated Ironworkers' Society of 

 Great Britain concerning immigration to this country, de- 

 claring that "bad results would accrue from an influx of 

 people to our shores, for whom there was no possible chance 

 of employment."" In consequence of the large immigra- 

 tion and importation of laborers under contract, the Amal- 

 gamated Association in 1884. as did many other trade unions 

 about this time, urged upon Congress the enactment of re- 

 strictive legislation.'^ and began to discriminate against im- 

 migrant w^orkmen in admission regulations. A rule requir- 



Electrical Workers jurisdiction over men in charge of the crane and 

 charging machine in the open-hearth plant at Granite City. III.. 

 " simply because the machine had electricity for its motive power " 

 (Proceedings, 1907, pp. 7922-7924) ; and the Electrical Workers did 

 not force their claim before the American Federation of Labor. 

 Also, in 1916, the Blacksmiths claimed jurisdiction over the bolt and 

 nut workers at Kansas City, Mo., but the Amalgamated has held 

 that they are not blacksmiths and will not relinquish its jurisdiction 

 over them (Proceedings, 1916, pp. 11521-11523). 



1* A " Central Secret Lodge " was established in 1904, for the 

 purpose of enlisting as members workmen employed in non-union 

 plants. The following rules, with reference to membership in the 

 Secret Lodge, were adopted: (i) Applications must be endorsed 

 by the vice-president of the district or division. (2) Applicants 

 must be working in a mill where no Amalgamated lodge exists. (3) 

 Withdrawal or honorary cards must be applied for by members leav- 

 ing the locality or the trade through the secretary of the Central 

 Lodge. (4) The initiation fee was two dollars, and the quarterly 

 dues $1.90, payable in advance. (5) No strike benefits were paid, 

 but members in good standing were entitled to death benefits. (6) 

 A member who was suspended and not reinstated was " stigmatized 

 a non-union man." Tiie Central Lodge dates from September 24, 

 1904. and is yet extant. It has not, however, justified the large hopes 

 held by those who advocated its establishment. In 1906 it was de- 

 cided to enforce the spirit of the law that laborers be admitted " for 

 the good of the Association." 



^* Proceedings, 1880, pp. 363, 366. 



"> Proceedings, 1884, p. 1390. 



