SIXTH DAY. MORNING SESSION. COLUMBUS, O., July 10, 1915. Convention called to order by President Rowe. Delegates Charles Lustig, of Local Union No. 111, and R. E. Coen, of Local Union No. 96, appointed on the door. Minutes of the previous session read and approved. Card roll call showed all delegates present. Partial Report of Chimney Committee. COLUMBUS, O., July 10, 1915. To the Officers and Delegates of the Thirty-Ninth Convention of the A. F. G. W. U. We, your Chimney Committee, submit the following partial report for your earnest consideration, and recommend the adoption of the following resolution presented to the Chimney Committee by the delegate of Local Union No. 47: WHEREAS, For the past two years our brothers, who were members of Local Union No. 40, located at Weston, W. Va., have used every effort in their power to compel the members of the Lewis County Glass Company to pay them the $2,600.00 which is due them for the last two weeks' work of fire ending June 30, 1913, and have been unable to do so on account of a lack of means to engage proper legal services; therefore be it Resolved, That the convention take this matter up with a view of sending an attorney to Weston to take charge of the case, and in the event of the case being won ten per cent of the money collected to be held for payment of attorney, all other expenses to be paid from the National Treasury. In the event of the case being lost all expenses incurred to be borne by the Association. (Signed) GEO. MCCAHON, President, Local Union No. 47. Motion that the report be referred to the Estimating Committee with the request that any delegate having any informa tion on the subject appear before the committee and enlighten them. Agreed to. Address. President Rowe requested Delegate J. A. Kraus, representing Local Union No. 38, to come on the stage. When Brother Kraus reached the rostrum he was introduced and congratulated due to his reaching his seventy-first birthday, and being hale and hearty. Brother Kraus addressed the delegates, during which time he related that it had been 58 years since he first secured employment in a glass factory, and that he has constantly. followed the trade, with the exception of three years that he served in the Civil war. He related that when he first secured employment he worked six hours for a turn and was paid 18 cents for his labor. He was promoted to the position of gatherer and was paid 45 cents a turn. His remarks convinced the delegates that the glass worker has kept time with the march of progress. His address was well received. There being no further business the convention recessed until 8:30 a. m. Monday for committee work. SEVENTH DAY. MORNING SESSION. COLUMBUS, OHIO, July 12, 1915. Convention called to order by Vice President Gillooly. Delegates Charles Grant of Local Union No. 36 and E. C. Heinrich of Local Union No. 67 were appointed on the door. Minutes of the previous session were read and approved. Card roll call showed all delegates present. Excuses. The secretary read a communication signed by G. T. Batchelor, president, and Timothy Kaye, secretary of Local Union No. 43, informing the convention that Brother James J. Kelly had been elected to represent their Local Union in this convention. By motion it was agreed that Brother Kelly should be seated and entitled to two votes. This action was taken after the Convention had refused to accept the excuse offered by the local union. President Rowe assigned Delegate Kelly to the Iron Mould, Paste Mould, Press and Cutting Committees. Local Unions Nos. 41 and 98 presented excuses for not being represented at the convention. A brief discussion followed the reading of the excuses, after which it was agreed that the excuse in each instance should be accepted. Appeal For Aid. Delegate Roche made an appeal in behalf of Brother John Douglas of Local Union No. 8. By motion a committee of two were appointed to pass the hat. The committee reported having received $21.77. There being no further business on the table the convention recessed until 2:00 p. m. for committee work. SEVENTH DAY-AFTERNOON SESSION. Convention called to order by President Rowe. Delegates Ralph Fousse of Local Union No. 10 and Charles Loeffler of Local Union No. 25 were appointed on the door. Minutes of the previous session read and approved. Card roll call showed all delegates present. Appreciation. The delegates were reminded of the enjoyable visit to the penitentiary on Saturday, after which it was suggested that the secretary be instructed to express the appreciation of the delegates to Warden Thomas. By motion this was agreed to. See communications on pages 218 and 220. There being no further business on the table the convention recessed until 8:30 a. m. for committee work. EIGHTH DAY. MORNING SESSION. COLUMBUS, OHIO, July 13, 1915. Convention called to order by President Rowe. Delegates W. H. Dimmick of Local Union No. 32 and Everett Snyder of Local Union No. 60 were appointed on the door. Minutes of the previous session read and approved. Card roll call showed all delegates present. Sympathy COLUMBUS, OHIO, July 13, 1915. Mr. Joseph Ney, Delegate Local Union No. 101, Convention Hall, City. DEAR SIR AND BROTHER:-Conforming to the instructions of the convention, I take this means to convey to you and yours an expression of sympathy on the tragic death of your niece. Death at any time is sad, but it is more so when it places its cold hand on those in the bloom of youth. On the death of the young, when taken in their innocence, death loses its sting. When it reaches the aged it is looked on as a matter of fact, but when the grim reaper reached your niece it found in her the flower of womanhood, and left a void that cannot be filled. Her death under ordinary circumstances would be sad. This being true, then the tragic end was nothing short of a calamity. In the name of our delegates, I extend to you our deepest sympathy, and I ask you, Brother Ney, to convey to those near and dear to you our heartfelt sympathy. Sympathetically yours, WM. P. CLARKE, Secretary-Treasurer. Appreciation. COLUMBUS, OHIO, July 13, 1915. Mr. Preston E. Thomas, Warden Ohio State Prison, Columbus, Ohio. MY DEAR WARDEN:-The American Flint Glass Workers' Union in convention assembled, and by a unanimous vote, directed its Secretary to express to you the thanks of the officers and delegates who had the rare privilege of being with you Saturday afternoon, and having such an enjoyable time. This task is two-fold-it is a pleasure as well as a duty. First, let me record that few of our delegates ever had the opportunity to visit an institution such as is now under your management, consequently the trip was out of the ordinary. Their curiosity was aroused -they were anxious to see all that was to be seen, and hear all that was to be told. I feel that every member of our party noticed a sombre atmosphere when they passed through the portals of your chamber, and felt a regret that such an institution was necessary. There was a feeling of doubt a feeling that some change should be brought about with the sublime hope of abolishing the many causes for crime. Some members of our party tried to place themselves in the other fellow's position. This could be accomplished physically, but not mentally, and unless one can accomplish the latter one cannot fathom the prison problem from a prisoner's point of view. The members of our party could not be repentant because they had committed no crime, at least they are considered innocent until they are found guilty. They were not disgraced, so they had not the sense of disgrace, and by reason of this fact they could not properly take the other fellow's place. The mental anguish was absent. When departing from your institution a different feeling permeated our party. Having had time to inspect the place; to throw off, as it were, the air of uncertainty, view the surroundings, and watch the inmates enjoy themselves during the game, they became convinced that more liberty was accorded the unfortunates than the general public recognizes. This our men were quick to notice, and we commend you for such privilege. The members of our party, as you will recall, got busy to make merriment for the unfortunates, and while they felt a chill passing through their spinal column when they witnessed the prison team at practice, yet, characteristic of our entire membership, they set about to do their best, even though the inevitable was in sight. They seemed to reason there was victory in defeat. They did not score, but they did inject a little sunshine. They were not able to keep their eye on the ball, but they were instrumental in enabling practically every prisoner to forget, for the time being, that he was confined. The prisoners had the liberty of rooting, and root they did. The excuse for the defeat of our team, if you can call it a team, was that they could not afford to take any chances on being injured. They must be in shape to begin the yearly grind next week, while your team need not worry. If they were injured they would be cared for without the annoyance of who would provide the hash, and they will not be ejected if the rent is not paid. In this respect your charges are more fortunate than many who are at liberty but suffering for the wants of life-this is a condition that must be reckoned with and labor organizations are the only institutions that stand between the wronged and those who stand sponsors for wrongs inflicted. If during our visit any of your rules of discipline were abused, strained or broken by the prisoners, then we ask you to remember the circumstances and be merciful to the individual-just forget it and we will all be pleased. We thank you kindly for the manner in which you entertained us, and are pleased to know that your management is commended by those who understand your duties, recognize your hopes and aspirations, and we bear witness that your aids are deserving of our praise for the consideration that they gave us on the occasion of our visit. The prisoners can rejoice at their triumph. Our fears were, that when they started to hitting, our fielders would be run to death and never be permitted to pose on the bench. For the defeated team I offer this toast: Any fellow can smile who wins And the game winds up his way; But it is only the sport who grins No trick at all to smile and shout When you win out in the game; But here's to the man who, down and out, Respectfully yours, AMERICAN FLINT GLASS WORKERS' UNION, By WM. P. CLARKE, Secretary-Treasurer. |