that through their energy and activity we will be able to reach an adjustment in the near future.

I visited Brooklyn and the officers of the Cut Glass Manufacturers' Association. The members of the New York Board of Arbitration assisted me in an effort to settle the contest. We were told that there was no need to settle as the bad conditions of the trade did not warrant them operating and they could not give our members employment if an agreement was reached.

I am hopeful that we will be able to adjust this trouble when trade improves, or when the holiday season's work com

mences.

The Thomas Shotton Company at that place employed three alleged "gun men" to lead the non-union men to and from the shop. Detectives recently arrested the three men on a charge of violation of laws and one of them was found guilty and was given an indeterminate sentence from three and onehalf to seven years. The other two were acquitted and are again employed by the Shotton concern.

At Valparaiso, Ind.-Pitkins-Brooks Trouble.

Conditions at this shop were the source of continual trouble. The men complaining that the prices were so low that capable cutters were working 50 hours for $9, $10 and $11 a week.

The men demanded an increase in wages and back wages alleged to be due them. The company refused to concede the request and trouble ensued. Organizer Luckock did his best to settle the matter and failed.

Twenty-three men and three boys were involved. Three men and one boy are now on our relief roll. There are no prospects of a settlement as the company is operating with non-union men, boys and girls.

The Columbia (Pa.) Lockout.

Eighteen cutters were organized in Columbia, Pa., on May 7th, and immediately upon Roye Brothers, the owners of the plant, learning that the men had joined the union, they were locked out.

A grievance was presented to our trade in Circular No. 16 and the trade sustained the men in their efforts for union conditions.

We are doing our best to place the men at work at other shops, as they are competent light-ware cutters. We now have

14 men on the roll at that point. The men are actively engaged in trying to defeat the employers' efforts to operate with boys and girls.

This concern is known as the Susquehanna Cut Glass Company.

Organizer Luckock endeavored to adjust the matter and he was promptly told that they did not want any outsider interfering with their business. The contest continues.

The Grafton Affair.

The members of Local Union No. 43 of Grafton, W. Va., a few days following a visit of Vice President Gillooly, and after which he had settled all their grievances, dropped their tools and left the factory, contrary to our laws and rules.

The Columbia Tile Company took offense at such conduct, absolutely refusing to further deal with our officers, and started to operate non-union.

We refused to sanction the action of our members, or send their grievance to our trade, but we did submit a proposition asking the trade to give us the power to select a committee of members in Grafton to assist us in combatting the efforts of the company to operate non-union. The trade voted in favor of the proposition and we placed a committee in charge. After several months' conflict the factory closed and went into bankruptcy.

This plant might have continued operation if a little more discretion had been exercised by our members.

Marion, Ind.

The Marion members were ordered placed on our relief roll by the Rochester convention and their grievance submitted and approved by the trade.

The men involved were discharged for joining our Union and we were not in a position to make any effective demands on the company for their reinstatement. We are doing our very best to place those men at work and it has been difficult to find work for them owing to bad trade conditions.

Tulsa and Sand Springs, Okla.

The Tulsa and Sand Springs members were placed on our relief roll in harmony with the Rochester convention resolution and the trade has voted to sustain the grievance of Local Unions No. 87 and 100.

Action of this kind was really necessary to maintain our movement in the western district, where we have made many attempts to extend our organization. Now that we have two substantial local unions, we must assist and encourage them to the best of our ability.

The trade has voted to sustain their grievance and it is our intention to visit that district and endeavor to convert the two factories from non-union to union and have our conference agreements observed before a strike is declared. We sincerely hope that we shall be successful in our efforts.

One of the grave obstacles to overcome at the Tulsa Glass Company and the Kelly-Hubbard Glass Company is the fact that they have been working the unlimited system of production and apparently that system is more satisfactory to the company and men, because of the greater production and higher wages mutually enjoyed.

The Association's Expenses.

The year's expenses exceeded those of any year since 190506, as you will observe by the financial statistics contained in the report of Secretary Clarke.

During the year we paid out for relief the sum of $185,291.14, but during the same time there was returned "excess relief" amounting to $129.78, leaving a net expenditure of $185,161.36, as follows:

*NOTE: While we charge Marion with $8,834.70, in reality they received but $8,365.70; Sand Springs securing $168.00 and Tulsa $301.00, bringing the total up to $8,834.70.

Estimated Future Weekly Expenses.

Based upon present conditions, our weekly expenses for relief will be as follows:

Organizing the non-unionists is an imperative necessity and the stronger and better prepared we are to preserve our interests the more favorable are our chances for success.

Lockouts, strikes and efforts of this kind cost money, as you know the employers generally resist advances of this nature. If our financial condition is weak, we may be treated with contempt. If our resources are great, they may give us consideration.

You must realize that strikes and lockouts are sustained by our membership and our members involved are placed on our relief roll by their approval. When our expenses are heavy it is due to the support given to the striking members by our general membership.

You must also bear in mind that we have a number of members scattered throughout our trade who appear very game and apparently anxious to make demands, and who frequently condemn the officials of our Association for trying to accomplish our objects without resorting to a conflict. When trouble occurs, these same characters complain of expenses, vote against an increase in assessments and some of them sacrifice their membership rather than pay the increase in assessments. Then they condemn the officers for getting the Organization into trouble.

I certainly believe in avoiding a strike or a lockout, if we can do so with safety to our interests, and I always exercise my best efforts, where I have an opportunity, to secure results without a conflict. I believe that to be the better course for us to pursue and I have experienced many opportunities to enable me to judge such matters.

It is very easy to institute a strike or provoke a lockout. Reaching a settlement is quite a different point.

The officers of our Organization cannot declare off a strike without the approval of the General Executive Board. The delegates to this convention can declare off any, strike or lockout prevailing.

The conditions of each contest pending are quite thoroughly covered in the reports of your officials, yet if there is any further information that you wish and that we can give you, do not fail to call on us. We will cheerfully endeavor to give you all the facts that we possess in each case.

The responsibility for declaring off or continuing our present conflicts rests with you. If you decide to continue the present strikes you should support them to the full extent of your ability.

We have the men organized and demands for the unionization of the factories will be made at other localities. A strike or lockout may ensue, as the trade has voted to sustain our members in Tulsa and Sand Springs, Okla., and we are expected to execute the wishes of our members in this respect. As a result, therefore, our expenses are liable to increase, unless, we succeed in reaching a settlement in some of the prevailing conflicts.

In addition to the western war clouds, we are doing our best to completely unite the men in the employ of the MacbethEvans Company and when we succeed and feel that the time is opportune, we intend to approach that concern with a request that their factories be reunionized. If they refuse to consider it, we are very liable to get into more trouble and add to our present expenses.

Cutting Department Affairs.

In 1907 we had 451 members. In 1911 we reached our highest point of members to date. 2.258. At the present time we have 1.620 members in the Cutting department, the second highest number of any department of our Association.

In all campaigns of this kind, where the growth has been as phenomenal as shown in this department, there generally follows a loss-the chaff drops until the numbers rest on a substantial growth.

The progress of this department has been remarkable when all points are sensibly considered. Greater progress can be made if only the proper disposition is displayed.

Our members and the non-unionists should know that we are engaged in an effort to improve conditions in this depart