This sad experience stood him well in hand and seasoned him so he could stand as an unflinching apostle in defense of legislation calculated to lessen the burdens that would come to the youths of this and future generations, were it not for the dauntless courage of those who suffered and who lived and acted so that such cruelty may not be imposed upon the present and future of the race.

His career in our Association began when he was a young man and he remained a prominent figure in the councils of our institution until his end. At the age of twenty-three he was a delegate to our Baltimore Convention, and three years later, at the Marion Convention, he presided over the "Committee of a Whole," an honor that came to few men, as few men were capable of caring for such an honor.

His long years of experience in the trade proved valuable to the union. He had attended seventeen of our Conventions, which in itself was a great schooling.

I have been with him in the hours of struggle-hours when the patience of man was tested to the extreme, not alone by the perplexity of the problems in hand, but connected also was the burden added to the problems by the intentional and uncalled for acts of an individual or a set of individuals, but in all our trials I rarely heard him speak unkindly of his fellowman and only once can I recall words coming from his lips that might be termed stern censure when applied to another.

When the history of the present generation is reviewed, its successes and its failures recorded, its progressiveness in the way of law and order that shall ultimately bring happiness and comfort to the children of those who toil, and they are reaping its reward, then will the credit that is due Trade Unionism come to be given and the activity and aggressiveness of such men as Brother Croke shall be recognized.

Brother Croke was a man of unusual attractive personality. The rich and the poor, the high and the low, the mighty and the humble, alike found at his hands a gentle reception. He himself is his most eloquent eulogy and to me is only left the regret that he should have been cut off at the very time in life when his mental powers were in their fullest fruiting. We do not claim that he was without fault, but in the greatness of his virtues the smallness of his faults has been lost forever. His ideals were high, his purpose was noble, and his heart was clean. His memory will be helpful and encouraging in the days to come, for he taught by his life that the love of humanity is the highest and noblest of all virtues and that honesty of life and of purpose is ever a shield and protection against slander and calumny.

I admired him as a man-I miss him as a colleague-I mourn him as a friend. He endeavored

"Not only to keep down the base in man,

But teach high thoughts and amiable words
And courtesy and love of truth,

And all that made a man."

Gentleness and kindness were visible expressions of his great humanity. He was as gentle as a child. The affliction of a friend brought him sorrow, while the joys that came to an associate bathed him in sunshine.

I shall always think of him as one whose central idea was man's uplift and his life will hasten the day,

"When each man seeks his own in all men's good
And all men work in noble brotherhood."

His life furnishes a splendid example of what can be accomplished by the young man who is true to his own and labors for the advancement and upbuilding of what he believes to be for the good of all the people. During his illness, which extended over a period of nine months, on more than one occasion he stated to me "I am not afraid to die." In fact his disposition all through his prolonged illness is well expressed in the following:

"Whichever way the wind doth blow,
Some heart is glad to have it so:
Then blow it east or blow it west,
The wind that blows, that wind is best,
My little bark sails not alone.

A thousand boats from every zone

Are out upon a thousand seas,

And what to me were favoring breezes
Might dash another with the shock
Of ruin on the hidden rock.

And so I do not dare to pray

For winds to waft me on my way,

But leave it to the higher will

To stay or speed me, trusting still

That all is well, and sure that He

Who launched my bark will sail with me

Through storm and calm and will not fail,
Whatever breezes may prevail,

To bring me every danger past

Within His sheltering haven at last."

The life of Brother Croke told better than any words can describe the faith that was his and which was the sustaining power and consolation that remained with him until life ebbed away.

When life's journey is over and the trip has been made so that we are enabled to look back over the road that we have trod and observe the flowers of love, justice and mercy planted by our hands to blossom and bloom for those who trail in our steps, then our journey shall not have been in vain.

This tribute can be of little value to the departed, but it does record justice and may inspire the living to emulate his virtues. Death drives from the heart selfishness and frees the mind of anger and holds out to us the solemn fact that after all life is too short to carry a spirit of revenge, envy or ill-will-a thing that was farthest from the thoughts of our beloved dead.

"Gone, gone, gone is the light of a noble age,
And the grasp of a genial hand;

But beyond the night there breaks the light
On a soul in the better land."

Expert Accountants.

In my Quarterly Report ending February 28 I suggested the wisdom of securing experts to audit the accounts of the National Secretary-Treasurer. It was my intent to submit an amendment to the constitution dealing with this subject. When I began the preparation of my proposed amendment I found that Local Union No. 74 had submitted an amendment that would meet the requirements. This made it unnecessary for such action on my part, but in order that you may know my views on the subject I reproduce the article presented February 28, as follows:

The constitution specifies that three members of the Union shall be elected during the month of May to audit the accounts of the National Union. Nominations must be made during the month of March and no member is eligible to nomination unless he be in good standing in the National and Local Union.

I entertain some ideas whereby I believe the work of auditing the books of the National Union can be done in a more businesslike and systematic manner and with better results. The present method of doing this work is simply a checking up of the accounts. This is all right so far as it goes, but in order that the work may be done in a manner that leaves absolutely no doubt as to the results, it appears to me that the inspection should be made by experienced accountants.

Were I to leave my present position and be called on to make recommendations for the betterment of the department of the institution that I now represent, the first recommendation that I would feel justified in offering would be that an expert be employed in the auditing of the accounts of the National Union.

Let it be understood that my only motive in referring to this subject at this time is to avoid, at a later date, the possibility of my position being misunderstood. I have no complaint to offer against any man that has served as a National Auditor, and in making this suggestion prior to receiving nominations, it prevents anyone entertaining a feeling that the recommendation, when made, is directed at any individual or set of individuals that may be selected for the ensuing year.

If one is ill he consults a physician, who is a specialist; if one is charged with violating the laws of the land he consults an attorney, who is a specialist; if a glass manufacturer desires the services of a presser you rarely ever find him selecting a blower to do the work, but he secures a presser, who is a specialist; if the state or nation wants a certain class of work done, and they desire it done accurately, they select men who are skilled in such work, and when the members of the American Flint Glass Workers' Union want to know if the finances of the National Union are properly conducted they should secure the services of men that are skilled in the auditing of accounts. Why should we be an exception in a matter of such vast importance to the stability of the Union?

No doubt this suggestion will bring forth views in opposition to that which I entertain, but if they are put forth openly and above board we will be glad to consider them at the proper time and place the convention. Whisperings and backbitings should not be considered when a matter of such significance is under consideration, so beware of him who sees all sorts of injury in the suggestion offered.

Car Fare Collections.

In the past twelve months we have only secured $170.08 to be applied on debts for loans for car fare, yet notwithstanding this fact we observe that an attempt will be made to re-institute the system of advancing loans.

I believe that if those who advocate such a measure will study the history of the organization, and the sad experience that our record presents, they will hesitate before asking that the loaning of car fare again be sanctioned by law.

Should favorable action be taken on the proposition that has been presented, then I fervently advise that some drastic and definite laws be enacted having for their object the collection of moneys that may be advanced. The better plan, howeve, is to allow our present law to stand and reject the proposed amendment.

Average Wage.

It is a very difficult task to make a fairly accurate estimate of the earnings of our members. If I take the record appearing in the last four Quarterly Reports I find that we have had reported an average of 7,654 members employed at the trade during the past twelve months.

We have had 2 and 3 per cent assessments which contributes to our difficulty in forming an estimate. However, I have endeavored to draw a line between the two rates of assessments and my deductions warrant me in believing that each member earned on an average of $725.00 during the past twelve months.

These figures are considerably less than those reported one year ago, but it must be borne in mind that trade conditions have been extremely bad.

Figuring that an average of $725.00 was earned by each. employed member, and calculating on fifty weeks in the year would make an average earning of $14.50 per member per week.

Interest

During the year we collected $8,533.41 for interest on our funds. Our treasury account has been reduced to such a point. that we will be deprived somewhat of a continuation of this income.

The American Flint.

To publish and distribute The American Flint for the past twelve months has cost $3,751.66, or $312.64 for each issue.

Office of Financial Secretary Bonded.

As promised, while addressing the Rochester Convention, I executed an agreement with the American Surety Company on July 22 whereby the office of Financial Secretary of each Local Union was placed under bond. The bond in each instance was fixed at $500.00.

Financial Secretary and Treasurer.

The question has been asked: Can a local financial secretary fill the position of treasurer while serving as secretary? We replied by saying that we deemed the suggestion a logical one, still we doubted the wisdom of such a practice unless the laws were changed to permit of it.

All financial secretaries are under bond to the National Union, and the suggestion was based on the idea that the one bond could cover the two offices, which is true, providing both offices were filled by the one person, making his title "Financial Secretary and Treasurer." We would like your opinion.

If you favor this idea then our constitutional law should be changed to permit of this being done.

MEMBERS DRAWING RELIEF