72 ASSOCIATION OF IRON, STEEL AND TIN WORKERS [2O4 



delegate to the annual convention, proposed the introduc- 

 tion of benefit features by the national union. This sub- 

 ordinate lodge already had a beneficial society that was 

 operating successfully. 



•In 1870 President Edwards recommended the establish- 

 ment of a mutual benefit society. He proposed that admin-' 

 istrative duties be performed by the local union, but that 

 the dues and payments be regulated by the national lodge. 

 The society was to be styled " The Boilers and Puddlers 

 Cooperative Association." The plan was as follows : The 

 national secretary was to be the executive of the associa- 

 tion, keeping account of all money transactions. Any mem- 

 ber of the union in good standing was to be eligible for 

 membership. Upon the death of a member, the secretary 

 was empowered to draw upon all local forges at the rate of 

 one dollar for each member of the society. The sum of 

 one thousand dollars was to be paid to the widow or heirs, 

 and the balance — in case there was a surplus — was to be 

 laid aside as a contingent fund. The age limit for admis- 

 sion was set at fifty, and membership was not to cease when 

 a member for any reason severed his connection with the 

 union.* 



The scheme did not meet with favor in the eyes of the 

 majority of local forges, and was reported back to the next 

 session as " impracticable." However, the formation of 

 local beneficial societies was strongly recommended by the 

 committee. The opinion of the leaders was divided. Presi- 

 dent-elect McLaughlin was an ardent advocate of a national 

 system, and in support of his argimient cited examples of 

 other national organizations in which the plan had worked 

 successfully. "Aside from the benefits . . . individually," 

 he said, " it will have a tendency to place our organization 

 on a firmer basis and there will not be so many suspensions 

 reported in each report. Then men will have something 

 more at stake and will be more anxious to retain mem- 

 bership." Ex-President Edwards replied, in rejoinder, that 



* Vulcan Record, December 1870, no. 7, pp. 20-23. 



