Flint Glass Workers Convene at Sea Isle City, Cyrus Herron Secretary of Machine Jar & Bottle Dept.

FLINT GLASS WORKERS

CONVENE AT SEA ISLE CITY

Solons of the A. F. G. W. U. Get Down to Business in Good Shape and

Make Commendable Progress. — Secretary Clarke's

Annual Report is Read and Approved.

By H. W. Gauding.

The thirty-fourth annual convention of the American Flint Glass Workers' Union was called to order last Monday, morning at Sea Isle City, N. J., President T. W. Rowe, Vice President W. J. Croke, Secretary W. P. Clarke and Assistant Secretary McGrail being in their respective places. The sessions are being held in the Excursion House auditorium, one of the coolest and most commodious halls the Flints have ever had at their disposal for convention purposes. Promptly at 10:30 Ralph Barber, of the Flint convention committee, called the meeting to order and in a few well chosen remarks introduced Mayor Steinmyer, who made a brief address and welcomed the delegates. W. J. Hampton, chairman of city council, was next introduced and in a short talk pointed out the advantages of Sea Isle City, concluding by stating that local citizens were pleased to have the opportunity of again entertaining the Flint delegates. Next Temporary Chairman Barber introduced Jos. Dallas, chairman of the citizens' convention committee, who made an extended address and complimented the city's guests for the record the delegates made during the 1906 convention. In a fitting manner he reviewed the progress made by organized labor as a whole and expressed the hope that this would prove to be the best convention ever held by the A. F. G. W. U. socially and in the matter of enacting beneficial legislation.

President Rowe responded on behalf of the organization and in a felicitous manner conveyed the appreciation of the delegates to the speakers. He cited the fact that all were pleased during their stay in Sea Isle City five years ago and stated that he felt satisfied that their stay this year would be equally pleasant. He next renewed the question of capital and labor at some length and his remarks were followed closely by his hearers, who frequently interrupted with outbursts of applause. President Rowe called attention to the yeoman service performed by the Millville members, who attended to all the preliminary arrangements incident to holding the convention and complimented them highly on the success which attended their efforts. At the conclusion of his remarks the speakers retired and the work of the 1911 convention was taken up.

President Rowe next appointed the credential committee, John E. Smith, of Local Union No. 1, Brooklyn, N. Y., chairman, and Jas. A. McAfee, secretary, after which adjournment was made until the afternoon session, when the committee reported seating all the delegates who were in attendance, there being no contests for any of the seats.

The committee on rules next submitted their report, practically adopting the Toledo convention rules except that Roberts' rules of order were substituted for Cushing's. Frank C. Hackett, of L.U. No. 13, was chairman of this committee and H. S. McCluskey, of No. 68, Brooklyn, N. Y., acted as secretary.

The next business in order was the announcement of the various trade and working committees by President Rowe, the following being at the head:

Lamp Chimney Committee — John Armstrong, L. U. No. 3, Alexandria, Ind., chairman, and Geo. E. Snyder, L. U. 73, Toronto, O., secretary.

Press Ware — Wm. J. Troll, No. 64, Philadelphia, Pa., chairman; Harry Cook, No. 13, Bellaire, O., secretary.

Paste Mold — F. H. Cupps, No. 80, Coraopolis, Pa., chairman; Frank E. Sigward, No. 1, Brooklyn, N. Y., secretary.

Iron Mold — Tim P. Kaye, No. 36, Monaca, Pa., chairman; Harry Calmus, No. 107, Dunkirk, Ind., secretary.

Electric Bulb — Jos. Quill, No. 81, Toledo, O., chairman; Lawrence McElroy, No. 31, Fostoria, O., secretary.

Caster Place — M. J. Kane, No. 46, Millville N. J., chairman; C. W. Brown, No. 37, Cumberland, Md., secretary.

Shade and Globe — Simon Burkhart, No. 82, Washington, Pa., chairman; E. F. Swansey, No. 80, Coraopolis, Pa., secretary.

Moldmakers — Jerry Marts, No. 7, Millville, N J., chairman; Fred P. Houck. No. 53, Wheeling, W. Va., secretary.

Cutters — P. J. Maguire, 28, Toledo, O., chairman; Jas. Gerard, 68, Brooklyn, N. Y., secretary

Punch Tumbler and Stemware — M. J. Bilz, 9, Wheeling, W. Va., chairman; Alex. McKenzie, 136, Rochester, Pa., secretary.

Engraving — Wm. A. Wassmyer, 59, Moundsville, W. Va., chairman; Jacob Beiswenger, 58, Wheeling, W. Va., secretary.

Machine Jar and Bottle — J. F. Tobin, 2, Muncie, Ind., chairman; Cyrus Herron, 23, Muncie, secretary.

Committee on Officers' Report — Ralph Barber, 46, Millville, N. J., chairman; R. M. Levis, 67, Rochester, Pa., secretary.

Committee on Law — Chas F. Green, 19, Toledo, O., chairman; J. F. Tobin, 2, Muncie, secretary.

Grievance Committee — M. J. Kane, 46, Millville, chairman; Clyde Lappert, 13, Bellaire, O., secretary.

Estimating Committee — Jos. Schachern, 15, Martins Ferry, O., chairman; P. T. Sullivan, 10, Moundsville, W. Va., secretary.

Next, an invitation from the local Women's Civic Club was read, extending courtesies to the wives of delegates and on motion the invitation was accepted with a vote of thanks. All the visiting ladies attended a reception held at the club quarters on Monday evening and were entertained in a royal manner.

A request from the Bastow Mfg. Co., Weston, W. Va., to operate during the summer was next brought before the, convention, and on motion the matter was referred to the lamp chimney committee for action.

On motion The Glassworkers' representative was elected as honorary delegate by unanimous vote and was presented with a delegate badge.

Announcement was made by Ralph Barber that Sea Isle City citizens would give a smoker in honor of the delegates on Thursday evening of this week and that an elaborate sea food banquet would be tendered the city's guests on Thursday of next week. There being no further business before the house convention adjourned until Wednesday morning in order to allow all the delegates to participate in the observance of the Fourth of July, an elaborate program having been prepared for the day by the local arrangement committee.

On Tuesday morning at 10:30 a. m. a unique Flint parade, headed by a brass band, was one of the features and was participated in by most of the delegates. The rest of the day was taken up in carrying out an elaborate program of aquatic and athletic sports.

Convention reassembled on Wednesday morning, and after roll call the chimney committee submitted a partial report recommending that the request of the Bastow company to operate during the summer stop be not granted. An interesting debate ensued, during which a number of important points were brought out. When the question was finally put before the convention the recommendation of the committee was concurred in.

A communication from Maspeth, N. Y., regarding machinery to displace small help on a shop was referred to the paste mold committee for consideration.

A letter signed by Paul Albert Dinger and Secretary Thornton, of Wheeling, W. Va., officers of the Glasshouse Employes organization was next read. They stated that some arrangement was desired where-by the organization could be made a part of the A. F. G. W. U. On motion the matter was referred to a special committee of five, composed of Ralph Barber, of Millville, chairman; John Minkemyer, Wheeling; John E. Smith, Brooklyn; F. H. Capps, Coraopolis, and George Deiderich, Bellaire.

An invitation from Millville Elks for all delegate members to attend an initiation and banquet on Wednesday evening was accepted, and quite a number signified their intention of taking part. M. J. Kane, the veteran delegate, was one of the large class of candidates who were to be instructed in the secret work of the order.

Next excuses of locals for not being represented at this convention were brought before the house. These included L. U. No. 11, St. Louis, Mo.; 20, Port Jervis, N. Y.; 21, Pittsburg, Pa.; 33, Shirley, Ind.; 41, Charleroi, Pa.; 54, Ottawa, Ill.; 87, Tulsa, Okla.; 102, Mound Valley, Kan.; 105, Newark, N. J.; 106, Glassboro, N. J.; 109, Minneapolis, Minn.; 114, Lansing, Mich.; and 126, Wellsburg, W. Va. In practically every case the locals were excused by vote of the delegates.

Jos. Schachern, of L. U. No. 15, as captain of a base ball team representing the western delegates, next issued an official challenge to the eastern delegates for a game Saturday afternoon, to be played for the world's championship, the only stipulation being that all firearms and other weapons be discarded by the participants for the protection of the umpire. The challenge was accepted and the battle will be waged on schedule time.

During Wednesday afternoon's session the question of establishing a superanuation fund was brought before the house and after considerable debate a motion prevailed to refer the matter to the committee on law. This committee, will probably be ready to report next Tuesday or Wednesday.

Chairman Jos. Schachern, of the national auditing committee, next read the result of their findings and the report was adopted by unanimous vote. The other members of this committee were Chas. F. Green, of Toledo, O., and Jas. J. McKay, of Moundsville, W. Va. After disposing of this report the convention adjourned until Thursday morning to allow the different trade committees to organize.

The printed report of the national auditing committee shows that the accounts of Secretary-Treasurer Clarke are in excellent shape and they commend him for the splendid manner in which the books are kept. The summary was published in these columns in a recent issue when Secretary Clarke issued his quarterly and annual report, so duplication at this time is unnecessary. The balance in the treasury on June 1, 1911, amounts to $105,848.70.

Secretary-Treasurer Clarke's Report.

In Secretary-Treasurer Clarke's annual report reference is made to the Owensboro, Ky., bank failure and an extract from a letter sent by Receiver T. A. Pedley states that about 10 per cent will be all that will be realized when affairs are settled, if that much.

Expenses of Flint organizers and their assistants during the past year amounted to the sum of $11,168.93, and a table submitted by Clarke shows that the organization has paid out for organizing expense, and relief due thereto, from July 18, 1908, up to and including May 31, 1911, the sum of $106,030.21, and in the same space of time there was received (from all sources) brought into the organization through this movement the sum of $22,146.26.

On May 31 there were 249 men on the relief roll, including members at Marion, Ind.; Charleroi, Pa.; Brooklyn, N. Y.; Huntington, W. Va.; Tulsa, Okla.; Hawley, Pa., Lancaster, O., and Rochester, Pa.

The past 12 issues of the Flint magazine shows that the average expense is $316.61 per issue.

The last convention re-enacted the loaning of car fare to members. During the past year $4,542.87 was advanced for this purpose, and $1,548.98 was collected.

June 1, 1911, the locals were indebted to the national union $3,415.52, while the national union owed local unions $17.87.

Thursday morning's session was very brief. After roll call a report from Secretary Harry Corcoran, of Wheeling, W. Va., was read covering the progress made in reference to the Polleck monument fund. The report stated that the Flints had contributed a larger sum than any other organization and hearty thanks were tendered by Mr. Corcoran. In the afternoon a committee, composed of Messrs. Sweeney, Dougherty and Driscoll, of Philadelphia, appeared before the convention and requested a donation on behalf of the Baldwin strikers. On motion the sum of $300 was donated, with the stipulation that the proposition be ratified by a vote of the trade with the privilege of increasing the sum to $500 or $1,000 if the trade so decides. There being no further business before the house, adjournment was made until Friday morning.