CITIZENS' INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIA TION OF AMERICA, The. A national fed eration of local employers' associations, citizens' alliances and State and national organizations representative of business interests, organized as the culminating step in the movement for the organization of employers in 1903. Nearly all the large cities, and scores of the smaller ones, during the months following the anthracite strike of 1902, became the centres of consider able agitation on the labor question, and from 400 to 500 local associations sprung into exist ence for the purpose of combating what was termed the lawless aggressions of organized labor. The membership of some of these asso ciations was confined to employers, while others, which adopted the general name of alliances, admitted professional men, and even employees, into their ranks. In cities like Chicago, Saint Paul, Omaha, Kansas City, Saint Louis, Detroit, Cincinnati, Louisville and New York, employers associations were formed, while in Denver and all over Colorado and many other parts of the West, as well, also, in the smaller towns of the. Central States, the alliance was the most popular form of organization. In response to a call issued by a number of the prominent leaders in the employers' movement, a convention was held in Chicago, 29-30 Oct. 1903, which was attended by nearly 300 delegates, who came from all parts of the United States and Canada, cities as far apart as San Francisco, New Orleans, Montreal and Minneapolis being represented. The name cf the Citizens' Industrial Association was con sidered as inclusive in meaning of both employers' associations and citizens' alliances, and was selected by the convention for the new organization. The purposes, as set forth in the
constitution adopted, were those of law enforce ment,. the maintenance of individual liberty, the securing of industrial peace and the perpetuation of free competitive conditions in industry. The organization stood for the open shop and no restriction of output. Its work was largely con fined to that of educational propaganda, and it maintained a publication bureau for this purpose. It did not interfere in any respect with the in ternal government of its constituent associa tions, and the action of its convention or execu five committee was advisory and not obligatory upon its members. The Association formed a central source of information for its members and a directing agency in matters of national legislation in which the associations generally were interested. In the contest in Congress over the eight-hour, the anti-injunction and similar bills, which were fathered by organized labor, the Citizens' Industrial Association took a most active part. The National Association of Manufacturers was a member and one of the principal elements of support in the newer or ganization. The Association has over 500 local societies throughout the United States and is represented by The Square Deal, a periodical devoted altogether to its interests.