The Providence News

PLUMBERS MEET IN CONVENTION

The first annual convention of the Journeymen plumbers of the New England states was held yesterday, sessions being on both in the morning and afternoon, and a permanent organization being formed.

The call for the meeting was issued some time ago by local 28 of this city and after the responses the committee having the arrangements in charge went to work to prepare for the entertainment of the guests. The delegates came from all over the New England section and when the credentials were presented at the opening of the meeting there were 33 locals represented.

Christopher M. Dunn of local 28 called the meeting to order about noon yesterday and the credentials of the delegates were received. In opening the session he delivered a short address of welcome telling of the purposes of the call to convention and the needs of such an organization. There was a brief response after which the business of the morning was begun.

Brothers Bartley of the Lynn local and Alpine of the Boston local were appointed a committee on credentials after which a recess was taken for luncheon. After the recess the session opened again and Francis G. Merriwether was made chairman and the real address of welcome was delivered.

After Mr. Merriwether had set forth the purposes of the meeting it was unanimously voted to make the organization permanent, and the following officers were elected: President-T. H. Maddox of Local 6, Hartford, Conn.; vice president-John C. Keyes of Local 349 of New Haven, Conn.; treasurer-James Shields of Local 12 of Boston, Mass.; secretary-Charles Leroux of Local 256 of New Britain, Conn.

James H. Coleman, business agent of Local 28, and District Organizer Alpine of Boston, were appointed a committee to draw up a constitution and by-laws, to be submitted at the next meeting, and the following were appointed to serve as a committee on resolutions: C. M. Dunn of Local 28 of this city, William Bartley of Local 77 of Lynn, Mass.; T. H. Maddox of Hartford, Conn., District Organizer Alpine of Boston and John Galvin of Local 448 of Natick, Mass.

During the day the various matters mentioned by Mr. Merriwether were talked over, and with the exception of the recommendation concerning the redistricting were continued to the next convention. In this matter it was voted to petition the United association to do the redistricting on a pro rata basis.

It was voted to indorse the strike benefits and to send financial aid to the locals in Hartford, Springfield and Bridgeport.

Before the convention adjourned it was voted to hold the next meeting and complete the organization on the first Sunday in March. The place where the convention will be held will be determined by the vote of the various locals making up the convention.