McLaughlin Glass Company, Los Angeles, CA

LOS ANGELES, CALIF.

By J. M. Price

I will furnish some news for the November magazine as I failed you in the October issue. First, I desire to say that our Labor Day get-together picnic, I am led to believe, was a success as I have heard no complaints. The committee on arrangements did fine and the local union gave them a vote of thanks. There were 110 members and their families present and everybody seemed to enjoy themselves. Marty Conroy, with his nine children and wife, led in the largest family contest. The least said about the ball game the better for the mould makers led by Captain Cree Daley took us hot metal workers like Grant took Richmond, the score being 19 to 9.

At this writing old man prosperity is still around the corner. The Crystalite is operating again. The Technical has been down for some time. At the McLaughlin plant the press shop has been working fairly well while the other shops are not doing so well. The Forger plant has been working a couple days a week. Mould makers at Maywood, Latchford's and Long Beach are working full time. At the Brock Glass Company, Santa Ana, at last report they were working two days a week. From all the repots the prospects do not seem very bright for the hot metal departments in any factory at present.

Rex Aldridge is working at the Latchford mould shop at present. Brother Zimmer has transferred from Long Beach to the Maywood shop. The Bates Brothers are at the Latchford shop. I have been unable to get around to see Sam Woods and Leonard lately. I understand they are going pretty good. Come up to the meeting, brothers, and let us know how you are.

We were all sorry to hear of the death of Brother Joe Bloomgren's brother, Edwin, in Toledo, Ohio. Brother Carlson is still on the sick list and not improving. As usual I have to dig upt he news. On Labor Day, September 7, 1931, there arrived at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Glassen, one baby girl. Brother Glassen some time ago informed me that the happy event was going to occur but since it did occur he has been mighty mum, no cigars or anything has passed this way. Of course a joyful event like that is liable to make a fellow forgetful.

Ed. Stipes is still with us working in Santa Ana. Well, maybe things will brighten up out this way as the city voted a bond issue of $220,000,000 in September to bring water from the Colorado river. Now if the contractors will be satisfied with a fair return and give the working man a chance at some of that dough, it will do some good. If it goes to the masses it will circulate but if it goes to the classes, well, you all know that story. With the wealth of the nation in the hands of a few and with the aid of machinery, it looks like a tough future for the working class. Am I wrong in thinking that the working people who are the backbone of the nation are to be beaten down by reductions in wages which curtails their buying power? Reducing the buying power must change the living conditions to a lower level. I am asking, are these things going to prevail until there will be only two classes, the rich and the poor? Have we been too boastful of the living conditions of our workmen and their families that a little jealousy has been aroused and some think it would be better if our living scale be reduced? Maybe the workman has been standing up a little too straight and looking everybody straight in the eye. There are some, no doubt, who don't like that straight look and would like to return to the old days of the "bowed head," hat in hand and "yes sir" on the lips of the employe. I am just asking.

Of course all the members of the Local Union No. 141 were sorry to hear of the misfortune that overtook our bank. We feel assured our officers will do all in their power to save what they can. Now is the time for the rank and file to put their shoulder to the wheel and remember that what our forefathers suffered to build up for us must not be torn down through this misfortune. We will build again and better.