62 ASSOCIATION OF IRON, STEEL AND TIN WORKERS [I94 



by special assessments, but only slight relief was afforded. 

 The difficulty of collection and the delay in receiving returns 

 made the assessment method of raising funds peculiarly 

 unsuited for strike financing. Such levies frequently did 

 •not bring returns until the occasion for them was past.^' 

 . The need of a strong national reserve fund, because of 

 the existence of manufacturers' associations in the trade and 

 the possibility of general strikes, was apparent to the lead- 

 ers, but the members had to learn the lesson by experience. 

 The big strike in 1882. which included three districts, was 

 lost because of lack of funds and the inability of the assess- 

 ment method to supply them. The union then decided to 

 build up a permanent reserv^e fund. The revenues applied 

 to it consisted of a quarterly per capita tax of seventy-five 

 cents.^* When the protective fund was " depleted by a 

 long and continuous drain," it was the duty of the president 

 to levy a special assessment to replenish the fund. 



The amount of this assessment varied. In 1893 the presi- 

 dent was empowered to levy an assessment of from one to 

 five per cent of earnings for a period of one month, when- 

 ever the amount in the fund fell below $25,000. Even this 

 was insufficient in the tin-plate strike in 1894-1895. In 

 1902, after the big steel strike, an assessment was provided 

 for every three months until the reserve fund reached the 

 sum of $200,000. This provision was annulled the follow- 

 ing year, and the matter of assessments was put in the 

 hands of the advisory board. In 1905 a percentage system 

 of assessment was established, graded in accordance with 



" Proceedings, 1880, p. 355; 1882. p. 922. Secretary Martin, in his 

 report to the convention of 1880, said : " It is high time the Associa- 

 tion got down to plain practical working in tliis regard, and devised 

 ways and means for the accumulation of a contingent or strike fund, 

 so that when necessity required wc would be prepared to financially 

 sustain a strike of a thousand members for a year at least." 



^^ In 1903 the capitation tax was decreased to sixty cents, but in 

 1906 it was increased again to seventj'-five cents. Men working in 

 the East and in unorganized mills are exempt from the assessment 

 for the protective fund. In case of strike they are entitled only to 

 such support as the National Lodge is disposed to afford (Constitu- 

 tion, 1916, p. 24). 



