McLaughlin Glass Company, Los Angeles, CA

LOS ANGELES, CALIF.

By J. M. Price

I thought my letter to the Flint for October finished my job as press secretary, but at our meeting we had so much business that this job was overlooked, and I don't want to have the members think that we do not appreciate the magazine. So we will give the trade at large the news from the West Coast.

At present the factories out here are working good and our members are sure smiling. The mould makers at Latchford's Glass Containers, Maywood Glass Co., Owens-Illinois, and Lyn-Woods shops have been working steady. A couple of new mould makers have arrived here and will try to get their names later. The Crystalite in Glendale has been having quite a good run. The Technical on 48th Street, the punch and stem shops lost some time while the company was making some repairs. They are all back at work and making good time. The Forgar plant has reopened after being closed for some time. The McLaughlin Glass Co., the oldest plant here, I understand has been leased by some new people. They are making quite a lot of repairs and it looks like this plant will be working good again, which will be good news to all of us who have been employed by this company. So, from the looks of things here on the coast, we may not have two cars in the garage but we may be able to pay for the one already there and be able to have some of that ham or bacon on the table once again.

Where they are and where they were: Ray Chilcott, mould maker, has left the McLaughlin plant for Seattle, Wash., to manage the factory there. Good luck to you and the wife, Ray, in your new location. Art Fleming is back at the Glass Containers. Art is some traveler. Claud Peterson is back again. Brother Kramer, from points east, is also a new member. Brothers Shulick, McKenzie and wives called on the writer. Come again.

It is pretty tough to get news of the members out here for they sure keep to themselves. Unless you visit the factory where they are working you don't see some of them for moths, as they never come to meeting. They are not interested in the union only as something that provides them with a job at good pay. They are pretty good critics of the officers and members who consider it their duty to look after the interests of the local union while they sit back and reap the benefits. Maybe some day they will get a shock that will wake them up.

Our ex-president, T. W. Rowe, was a visitor some time ago, looking after the interest of the Owens-Illinois Co., with which he is now connected.

I understand the factory in Midvale, Utah, has been closed, but is expecting to resume operations soon. We may also have a new factory up here soon if what I hear can be relied upon.

Now, you members in the east, after reading my account of conditions out here, don't get the impression that there is plenty of work out here. These conditions are subject to change very quickly, which some of us can vouch for. You can use your own judgment, but any time you have an offer of a job out here, my advice would be to contact our secretary, Bert Anderson, 1503 Liberty Street, Los Angeles, Calif.

A word about union labor in California. It is making gains all over the state. At the state convention held in San Diego there were about 500 delegates, and I want to assure the rank and file that they were not there for a good time. They were there in the interest of the working class, and I wish to state that if the rank and file would take the interest in their union the delegates do, it would not be long until the work of union labor would be much easier.

Hello, Ross Ayers, how is the old Goats' Club in Lancaster? Harry Hepler, Frank Mille, Claud Dale, Clark Pence. How are things along the Hocking?