ton (before om

Constitutional Law.

I have presented some constitutional amendments, in the amendment sheet, that are worthy of your most serious consideration. I will avail myself of the opportunity to discuss the subject-matter before the committee on law, and, if necessary, before the convention proper.

There is one suggestion that I offer that should receive favorable consideration without unnecessary delay. I refer to the second paragraph of Section 3, Article 14, Page 31, of the National Constitution, which I earnestly recommend to be stricken therefrom. This clause is far-reaching and would have a damaging effect upon our Organization and the members thereof if we became involved in court proceedings.

I am thoroughly convinced that if the delegates to the Rochester Convention realized how far-reaching this clause was they would have rejected the suggestion when it was presented for consideration.

Relief Disbursements.

During the year we paid out for relief, due to strikes and lockouts, $185,291.14. During the same space of time we had excess relief returned amounting to $129.78, leaving a net expenditure of $185,161.36, as follows:

Columbus, Ohio.

This trouble occurred July 17, 1913. Our report to the last convention showed that we had expended $58,000.00 for strike benefits. During the past year we have sent $66,000.00 to the members of Local Union No. 122, making a total expenditure of $124,000.00. The strike is still on with one hundred and forty-eight men drawing relief.

Monroe, Michigan.

A lockout occurred at Monroe on December 6, 1913. Our previous report, made one year ago, shows an expenditure of $6,080.00. During the past year we sent to Monroe $14,838.34. In the same space of time Secretary Wiesenmaier returned $30.00, leaving a net expenditure for the year of $14,808.34, or a total of $20,888.34 paid to the members of No. 123 since the inception of the trouble.

Marion, Indiana.

On June 8, 1914, thirty-four men employed by the Macbeth-Evans Glass Company were discharged for having put forth an effort to form a local organization. This matter occupied the attention of the Rochester Convention. A grievance was submitted by Local Union No. 29 in Circular No. 1, dated August 7, 1914, resulting in relief being paid to the victimized workers. Relief began June 22 and from that date until May 31, 1915, we expended $8,365.70. We still have fifteen men on the roll.

Tulsa and Sand Springs, Okla.

Organizer Elbert was sent to the Gas Belt of Oklahoma to attempt an organization of the men employed in that vicinity. His activity brought about the discharge of several men, resulting in a joint grievance being sent to our trade in Circular No. 15. To May 31, $301.00 was expended at Tulsa and $168.00 at Sand Springs. We are still rendering aid to approximately fifteen men.

Catskill, New York.

On May 14, 1914, the men employed in the cutting shop operated by John Nelson & Company were discharged for attending a meeting where an organization was to be formed. Nineteen men were involved in the controversy. This dispute was adjusted in favor of the Union, pending which time we

sent to Catskill $474.00. We had returned to us $80.50, leaving a net expenditure of $393.50.

Brooklyn, New York.

On Tuesday, August 25, 1914, one of our shop committeemen was discharged by the Shotten Company. A grievance was submitted in Circular No. 4, September 3, 1914, resulting in the Local Union being sustained in demanding the reinstatement of the discharged brother. This trouble was adjusted September 11.

At the Annual Conference held Thursday, July 30, 1914, it was agreed that on the first Monday of October the hours of labor in the Cutting Department would be reduced to fifty hours per week.

The companies comprising the Brooklyn Cut Glass Manufacturers refused to adhere to the agreement and the men employed by the Shotten, Becker, Halter, Kiefer, Campbell, Herfeldt, Kent, Ferstler, Smith, King, Tramantan, Schneider and Kellner companies were locked out.

From September 18 up to and including May 31, we sent to the members of Local Union No. 68, $90,527.05. The lockout is still on with three hundred and eighty-nine men drawing relief.

Newark, New Jersey.

The Crescent Cut Glass Company and the members of Local Union No. 105 became involved in a controversy involving nine men. The grievance was submitted to the trade in Circular No. 13, February 20, 1915. The trade sustained the grievance and from February 15 to May 31, we paid to the members of Local Union No. 105, $546.05. The dispute is still pending with six members on the relief roll.

Columbia, Pennsylvania.

Local Union No. 84 was organized at Columbia, Pa., May 7, and the members were locked out May 11. A grievance was submitted to the trade in Circular No. 16. We succeeded in securing employment for two of the seventeen men involved at an expenditure of $25.72. The trouble is still on, with fourteen men drawing relief from the organization.

Honesdale, Pennsylvania.

On June 25, 1914, we received a communication from Brother Francis McNamara, a member of Local Union No. 92, who contended that we owed him $6.00 for relief from the previous trouble at Honesdale. Upon investigation we found sufficient evidence to warrant us in granting the brother's contention.

Valparaiso, Indiana.

The members of Local Union No. 76 presented a grievance to the trade in Circular No. 8, November 25, 1914. The trade sustained the grievance and the men ceased work December 19, 1914. From that date to May 31, 1915, we sent the members of Local Union No. 76, $1,363.77. In the same space of time we had returned $19.28 excess relief, leaving a net expenditure of $1,344.49. The trouble is still pending, with three men and one boy drawing relief.

Toledo, Ohio.

Trouble occurred at the Corona cutting shop over the discharge of a member of the shop committee. Local Union No. 83 submitted a grievance to the trade. The trade voted in favor of sustaining the grievance and we paid $59.13 to the discharged member, at the expiration of which time we secured a position for him.

Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Some difficulty occurred between the members of Local Union No. 109, Minneapolis, Minn., and one of the small cutting shops in that city. The trouble was adjusted by the organization finding employment for the two members involved at a cost of $45.22.

Grafton, West Virginia.

The members of Local Union No. 43, of Grafton, W. Va., ceased work on August 10, 1914, contrary to the laws of the Organization. They applied for strike benefits and their application was rejected by the National Officials because of their leaving the plant as they did. In Circular No. 4 the officers presented a proposition asking the trade to allow them to make a necesary expenditure for the protection of the organization at Grafton. The trade supported the proposition, resulting in a number of workers being selected to do picket duty, which was continued up to and including March 6, when the company went out of business. This trouble cost the organization $2,571.16.