Union meeting of GBBA, Tomlin manager of Brookfield speaks

AN IDEAL UNION MEETING

Men and Superintendent Join in an Evening of Good Fellowship

BROOKLYN, N.Y., Nov. 17—We had a red letter meeting here last Saturday night. All of the journeyman and apprentices employed in this city came out to welcome our president, Denis A. Hayes, who had not visited us for some time. Mr. F.S. Tomlin, now general superintendent at the Bushwick Glass Works, and a former president of our association, was also in attendance. Everyone seemed to be in a holiday frame of mind and were bent upon giving their president a royal reception, and none were more than eager than the well known Thomas Dunn and John Ambert, who induced a wandering band of musicians to enter the hall and open the meeting with a prelude and overture from several "Dutch Operas", but our blood began to flow faster when they closed with the Star Spangled Banner and a medley of popular airs. After the meeting came speech making. Robert Miller, president of the branch, introduced Mr. Hayes, who in a speech of over an hour, reviewed the history of trades unionism and that of the glass bottle blowers especially.

He said that all our problems did not end with wages, apprentices, and the right to organize.; that a trade union was like an individual or a nation, every age or generation presented new problems which it was our duty to meet manfully and so far as possible divert their courses to the interest of labor, and not, as heretofore, by opposing everything that was new in the way of invention or a new departure from our set notion of things, place ourselves in the way of progress and by antagonisms waste our strength, thus allowing capital to gain all the benefits of many things that were intended to increase the happiness of all the people. He then went into an explanation of the old trades unionism and the new and what he thought were the most urgent questions for us to study and prepare to meet. His address was attentively listened to and well received.

Mr. F.S. Tomlin was called upon and spoke very interestingly of organized labor and its relation to capital. He said some pertinent things regarding present day problems, among which he stated the progress was the law of life and that workingmen should go along with it instead of trying, as they had in the past, to bar its way. Mr. Tomlin who referred to the history of the Bottle Blowers Association, he having been its president for a number of years in the east and holding an executive office almost from the time of its formation until he resigned to accept the position of general superintendent for Wm. Brookfield & Sons. He also discussed the administration of President Hayes and heartily commended the same, and to the utter surprise of President Hayes, presented him with a beautiful gold writing pen and pencil combined, upon which is engraved, "To D.A. Hayes, from Branch 52." Saying that it was given as a slight token of the esteem in which he is held by the members in Brooklyn, quoting at the time the famous sentence,

To all men entirely great,

The pen is mightier than the sword.

To the eloquent sentiments expressed by Mr. Tomlin, President Hayes made fitting reply, expressing his warmest thanks for the honor and kindness shown him. Chairman Miller than announced that the meeting would adjourn in order to partake in refreshments, which were there in abundance. Again Thomas Dunn came to the front as toast master, while John Ambert looked after the waiters and kept the table well supplied.

The real object of this article is, if possible, to point out the difference between this gathering and others the writer has attended. Here was a body of whole-souled, loyal trades unionists with their superintendent, who came to hear affairs of their trade discussed. Mr. Tomlin, even though he is now acceptably filling a responsible position for Mr. Brookfield, was as welcome in that meeting as any man there. His presence did not influence anyone from expressing their views or sharing in the festivities afterward. The men had absolute confidence in their manager, and he the same in them., the result of which was not a sign of grievances, ill-will or distrust between any of the members toward each other or their manager. Mr. Tomlin came there to assist them in welcoming their president and showed them that he is still a believer in trades unionism from conviction as well as principal. He with all other sensible men, knows that if capital has the right to organize the same privilege must be accorded labor, else where is our boasted equality of opportunity.

Now the narrow-minded suspicious employer may say that such mingling with the workman may lead to indifference toward authority, and I know a whole lot of glassblowers who would almost feint at the idea of the manager getting into one of their meetings. But let us look at the condition of affairs at Brookfield's. There is no better or steadier glass workmen in the trade then can be found at this plant, everyone of whom speaks a good word for Mr. Tomlin and they are always ready to put forth their best efforts towards making his management successful. He reciprocates the same feeling towards them. There is less time lost at this factory than at any other in the trade, so far as I know. This shows what mutual confidence and respect for each others interests will do. -BROOK.