20 5J THE BENEFIT SYSTEM JZ 



a national fund would " act as a drag on the progress " of 

 the organization, and that any plan for the collection and 

 disbursement of the funds by the national lodge would be 

 " so extensive and complicated in character that consider- 

 able annoyance and dissatisfaction would . . . result."^ 

 As an alternative plan, he suggested the payment of one 

 hundred dollars either by the local forge of which the de- 

 ceased was a member or, in the case of forges having few 

 members,by the combined resources of several small forges, 

 grouped in a district, so that the assessment would be uni- 

 form and not exceed one dollar per member. Surplus 

 funds were to be used for the benefit of widows and or- 

 phans. The proposal for a national system of benefits 

 failed but there is evidence that the more prosperous lodges 

 were paying benefits during these earlier years. 



In 1878 the Mahoning Valley Mutual Relief Association 

 ofiFered to admit members of the Amalgamated to member- 

 ship on the following terms : forty per cent discount from 

 the regular membership fee ; a member of the union was to 

 be trustee ex officio of the Relief Association and another 

 member general agent; collection of dues to be deferred in 

 case the union became involved in a strike or lockout. The 

 proposition was accepted, and Edward McGinniss was 

 elected general agent. But it is doubtful if many availed 

 themselves of the offer. 



For twenty-five years, the question of benefits was dis- 

 cussed in the annual conventions. But the Association 

 steadily voted down all proposals for a national system. A 

 local union frequently paid $50 in case of death of one of 

 its members. Sick and disabled members were aided by 

 voluntary contributions. For example, in 1880. a member 

 was permanently incapacitated for work by the loss of sight, 

 and he received donations to the amount of about $2000." 

 Another got $1000, another $500 and so on. In 1882 there 

 was raised $8,466.96 " for disabled members and persons 



"Ibid., December 1872, no. 11. pp. 20-21. 

 * Proceedings, 1880, pp. 388-389. 



