factories in different parts of the country with a reported annual output in 1925 of sixteen million dozen pairs of canvas gloves. It is difficult to record in a report such as this the endless details in connection with the negotiation of wage scales where in instances the bargaining has to do with adjustments which have to take into account mills rather than whole pennies, or even half pennies. During May I spent a week in Minneapolis assisting in the renewal of a wage agreement covering one of the large canvas glove factories. While we are not regarding the wage scale in the light of what it ought to be, we nevertheless achieved important gains in the way of working conditions and improved methods, which we believe will find reflection in the workers' pay envelope. Among the workers in this factory are approximately two hundred very young girls, and in one department employing a little more than one hundred, 47 were married. One Day Institute on Trade Union Organization: At the January, 1926, Board meeting I urged that early in this convention a day be set aside for discussion of organization work and methods, and that the convention delegates analyze the so-called "new approach" and the "new technique" held so necessary in our organization campaigns of today. The thought behind this suggestion, it was pointed out, was that the results of such a discussion could go to the convention committee on organization, to whom such material would prove very useful in preparing its report to the convention, and further that out of all the ideas expressed might come valuable material which could be printed in a concise pamphlet and prove of value to those engaged in trade union activities. After careful consideration the Executive Board authorized the appointment of a committee to plan for a One Day Institute on Organization as a feature of this convention, this committee to arrange for the compilation of material necessary for the discussion. The committee members appointed were: Rose Schneiderman, Mabel Leslie, Matilda Lindsay, Mary Van Kleeck, Sadie Reisch, Agnes Nestor and Mary Haney, the National President and National Secretary-Treasurer being members ex-officio. This Institute Committee in the course of its conferences had the counsel and advice of economists and industrial experts to supplement its actual experience findings. Meetings were held in New York and in Chicago and the National Training School students, under the direction of Miss Hill, contributed a special piece of research work, using as a basis the file of National and International Unions' convention proceedings. Much earnest thought has gone into the program for the One Day Institute, planned for the second day of this convention. For organizing the maze of material gathered by the committee we are indebted to Miss Mary Van Kleeck, 'who has accomplished admirably the difficult task of turning it over to the leader of discussions in a form permitting of adequate presentation. Our Responsibility to the South: I cannot conclude the report of our organization activities without reinforcing the plea contained in the National President's address that we consider extending our work into the South and I sincereley recommend that this convention consider favorably the appointment of a national com mittee to study how best this might be done. Meanwhile the carefully directed distribution of literature should interpret in simple language the need for trade union organization, and why the workers should interest themselves in this kind of economic insurance. Moulding public opinion, conciliating the opposition-these are but by-products of the organization work itself. We are called together in convention primarily that we may confer with each other and for this we have but a brief week. In convention, the delegates representing the membership are the directing force of our organization and determine the character and extent of the national program, and this program becomes the responsibility of the National Executive Board which has as its task the guiding of the League's affairs during the months and years that intervene between conventions. The task assumed by the Women's Trade Union League is too great to remain static. We must once more, therefore, measure our equipment for meeting its changing aspects, weigh possibilities of adjustment to its new requirements and coordinate our efforts toward the larger accomplishment it demands of us. This means adding the sum of past experience to today's need and with the result, hewing a path for tomorrow. Respectfully submitted, Miss Christman, in commenting on the finances, stated that she had in hand the report of the Finance Secretary, Mrs. Dorothy E. Meigs, which together with her supplementary re ELISABETH CHRISTMAN, marks, was to be submitted to the Convention Finance Committee. The report of the Finance Secretary is here given in part. REPORT OF THE FINANCE SECRETARY Covering the Period from June, 1924, to April 30, 1926 Madam President and Delegates to the Tenth Biennial Convention of the National Women's Trade Union League of America: Although I shall not be meeting with you in Kansas City, I know that you will devote a little time to the unpleasant subject of Finance and so, at the request of your Secretary-Treasurer, I am sending from New York this brief report on the work of the Finance Department as carried on since my predecessor spoke to you at your Ninth Biennial Convention in June, 1924. You will recall her definition of the two-fold job of the Finance Department,-first, to see that there is enough money to meet the running expenses of the organization and, secondly, to raise funds in such a way that the League may be on a secure financial basis. And perhaps you will remember that she made various recommendations after analysing the difficulties of achieving this second object. Claim to success in attaining the first object was very aptly described as "momentary" because a few months later the League found itself working under the handicap of a deficit. It was under such inauspicious circumstances that I began my official duties with you on December 1st, 1924. Doubtless you all appreciate that it takes money to raise money, and so with the handicap of a low treasury, it was not until April that we were able to clear this deficit. But on April 30th, 1925, we almost rejoiced at being able to close our books for the fiscal year with a bank balance of more than $5000. On May 1st we celebrated the new year by moving the finance office from the 42d Street quarters to the Bible House on Astor Place, thereby reducing our office rent by more than one half. Additional equipment enabled us to install a more adequate filing system and labor saving devices so that we could soon offer to handle from the finance office solicitations for memberships as well as contributions, and release for administrative work part of the services of a member of our staff who had previously devoted most of her time to this work at the Chicago headquarters. So, at the outset of the fiscal year 1925-26 we were encouraged by what seemed an opportunity to work more efficiently with a nestegg in the bank and several new contributions. And between scrambles to meet our immediate needs, there was an opportunity of viewing the League's financial problem in perspective and of studying the situation as a whole. I presented the results of this study to the members of your Executive Board on the occasion of my first meeting with them in September, 1925. I then pointed out that we must not be deceived by our state of comparative affluence into thinking that we were in a secure position. (Of what comfort was a bank balance when the audit showed our expenditures were $2057.74 in excess of our income for the year!) I endeavored to show from an analysis of the sources of our income and a study of the cost of our present method of raising this money, that we were indeed leading a hand to mouth existence. I presented to the Executive Board for consideration certain main facts out of a maze of data and tabulations in support of several definite conclusions and recommendations. First I urged that the Board members define the financial goal towards which the League was presumably working, and that they determine on the basis of that objective what changes might be desirable in the distribution of financial responsibilities as shared by trade unionists and "allies." My own recommendations included the following: That as soon as possible a trade unionist be put in charge of the finance work, and that such preson be not handicapped by the title of "Finance Secretary," or by the isolation which an office apart from the administrative headquarters implies. It is my recollection that this report was received as "a keen analysis of the situation" but, as far as I could learn, no definite action was taken on any of the important suggestions which were accepted rather as "something to work toward." Although I then urged that at least a tentative date be set as the desirable time for such reorganization of the Finance Department, this was not done even at the next meeting of the Board in January, 1926. So I am presuming that these suggestions were being reserved for Convention deliberation and decision. You must bear with me a little longer, therefore, while I try to show that these recommendations are still valid since the conditions on which they were based continued to prevail throughout the fiscal year 1925-26. On April 30, 1926, we closed our books with a bank balance a little under our customary $5000 and again the audit shows that our expenditures exceeded our income, but, fortunately, this year by less than $400.. It is my opinion that our efforts to cultivate new givers are wasted unless preceded by adequate publicity as to the purposes and accomplishments of the National Women's Trade Union League. The public today is weary with a multiplicity of "drives" for funds. And with the increasing number of national organizations it is natural that competition for support is very keen. But we have more than our share of difficulties! For instance, our program does not offer sentimental appeal and much of it is in a controversial realm unpopular with the public at large as well as with so-called capitalists. This program carried out by an Executive Board the majority of whom are bona fide trade union women should have more room for allowing the actual participation of allies through personal service in addition to financial help. Personally I believe the League's strength lies in the fact that its policies are framed by trade unionists. But at the same time this fact distinguishes us from other organizations in that we have no "Board" of wealthy folk who are personally interested in underwriting the expenses of the League or coming to its rescue in emergencies. Then too, probably the principal basis of support for most social organizations lies in the so-called "Foundations." In one or two instances, I have suggested the feasibility of our applying for aid for our educational department, or for a special piece of work-to certain of these foundations. . The League does not claim to be a "charity" and yet there seems to be no real possibility of its ever becoming entirely self-supporting. Though the income from local branches to the parent organization contributes a certain small per cent to the annual budget, the new basis of payment by per capita tax instead of by quota yielded less than the year before. I presume, however, that the gradual reduction in financial responsibility assumed by the Local Leagues for the national organization has been planned with the object of strengthening our local branches. . So it seems that we are forced to give special scrutiny to the remaining source of our income-the trade unions. During the past year we were stimulated by a conditional offer of $2000 from the American Fund for Public Service, Inc., to match our growth in trade union support Personally I think that development of support from trade unions and trade unionists should be the most vital concern of the League at this time. Because I wish to precipitate definite action on my recommendation for a complete reorganization of the Finance Department, I have submitted my resignation to the Executive Board along with more detailed data and suggestions for transferring the financial responsibilities to trade union auspices immediately. My proposal for concentration on fostering trade union support does not necessarily mean any decrease in present "allied" support. No "ally" who has contributed through faith in the organization will withdraw support because the League is focusing attention on its main problem. There should even be a development of income from this field if an adequate publicity program is put into operation. It is my earnest plea that any one responsible for the raising of funds for the League be very closely associated with the Administrative Department. In fact the happiest arrangement would be, in my judgment, to have the responsibility of securing the League's funds shared by a full-time National President and the SecretaryTreasurer. In any case a separate office for the finance work should not be maintained in New York or elsewhere apart from National Headquarters. From the finance standpoint great benefit would result if all three offices of the League were consolidated and National Headquarters established in Washington, D. C., in proximity to the headquarters of the American Federation of Labor. I trust that from this tedious review of the struggles of the Finance Department to operate successfully on the present basis, you will agree with me it is now time to give another scheme a trial at least. I sincerely hope that whatever plan your Convention Finance Committee finally presents for your approval, will be adequate to give you the support you deserve in meeting the challenge and opportunities which face the National Women's Trade Union League today! (Believe that my best wishes will always be with you although I may appear to be a very "distant" person trying to say "Good-by" before I have had an opportunity of saying "Hello"). Respectfully submitted, DOROTHY E. MEIGS, |