McLaughlin Glass Company, Los Angeles, CA

LOS ANGELES, CALIF.

By J. M. Price

In looking through the May Magazine I find some 58 letters from the different locals. Well, now, that is a pretty fair showing, and I hope it will continue. Every local should try and have a letter once a month, and help Vice President Cook make the Flint one of the best trade magazines. Of course, I know it is hard to get someone to take the job as reporter. One thing I do not like about the job is it keeps in your mind how fast Old Father Time is knocking the months off.

Our Local Union No. 141 had a very fine meeting, May 11th. While the attendance could have been better, still we are glad that there are quite a few that take an interest in the union. Of course, like everywhere else, we have members who on meeting day have so many other things to attend to that it is just impossible to get around to the hall. Then there are others, I think, just have a card because it means a job. Now, if any of you members feel offended at what I have written, I am always ready for an interview with no holds barred. You can always find me at the old hall on meeting day.

I noted the passing of T. J. Conboy. When he and Jack Armstrong of Local Union No. 3 came on a convention floor there were not many dull moments.

Notice in almost every letter something about the fishing skill of our members back east. We have some pretty fair fishermen out here, but they are so modest I cannot get a story out of them. Now there is Chas. Wilson. If I could only get him to talk I am sure he would have some stories that would make I. Walton turn over.

We have had quite a few members on the sick list since my last letter, but I hear they are all O. K. now.

The writer has been having his ups and downs the last couple of weeks, mostly downs. Cannot decide what is the matter, as some of the members say I cannot take it any more, while others claim that nature must take its course, and that it is just old age.

Working conditions in the mould making department are fine. In hot metal the Crystalite is good, the Technical is working pretty good, and at McLaughlin's the insulators are working good.

There has been a new factory started in Utah and I understand some of our members have gone there to work. I will write later on this.

Simon Burkhart, you will have to be careful about those old camping days you recalled along the Ohio. Some of us might think they still exist and come back to see. Al Hochendoner, from all indications. Fred Senn has taken out his papers to become a native son. Cree Daley, our efficient financial secretary, is using the hammer and chisel at Latchford's. Al Greece and Fred Goodnow run a press shop at the Crystalite Brothers Thrasher and Elmore at the Maywood turn the old iron into moulds.

I have no Hollywood scandal for you this month. We have a couple of strikes here, street car and the furniture workers. While there is no doubt that these strikes are justified, I think that some of these organizations should look closer to their financial conditions a little closer. It seems they have no reserves. In several strikes that have taken place here, they were asking for aid before the strike was three weeks old, so it looks to me as they should prepare at least a little bit ahead. I cannot recall of the Flints ever receiving any outside help. It seems some of these strikes are not expected to last long, but just bear in mind that when you go on a strike it is liable to last quite a while, sometimes many years.