Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-03
TAKEN BY SURPRISE.
William Martin of the Amalgamated
Association Presented
WITH A HANDSOME TESTIMONIAL
On His Retirement From the Office Of
General Secretary.
A SURPRISE PARTY At THE OFFICES

The officers Of the Amalgamated Associa-
tion have witnessed many gathering of
earn est workers, many hard fought discus
sions on trade matters, but the dual routine
and record of business was broken in upon
last night by an occasion of a festive char
ac ter, and one which reflected as much
credit on the projectors as on the popular
officer who was so fttingly honored.
Mr.. William Martin, who has filled the
onerous Office of General Secretary to the
Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel
Workers of the United States for period of
IL years, was presented with handsome
testimonial in appreciation OF his services,
and further compliment was paid the pop
ular gentleman in that his wife was simi-
larly hoDored.
The affair was conceived without the
privacy of either Mr.. Martin or his family,
and it was therefore with no small degree of
surprise that he found himself last evening
in fair way of being very thoroughly testi-
monialized.
TAKEN BY SURPRISE.
Being requested to withdraw within the
committee room for moment he was con-
fronted by the following gentlemen, who had
gathered to do him honor: Chairman james
Penny, Secretary, J. G Kilgallon. John
Preice, Ed Keil, Edward O'Donnell, John
Cunningham, Robert Moore, Wallace
Cready, Reuben Martin, Florence Sullivan
and Stephen Madden. besides W. j. Bren-
men, Esq. Mr.. Bremen, addressing Mr..
Martin in a neat speech, referred to his hon.
orable services as an officer of
the association; spoke with feeling
of the regret existing in consequence
of his withdrawal from office,
and paid a tribute to his zeal and efficiency
as an officer only equaled by the warmth Of
the eulogisms which he bestowed on the
gentleman's personal character as we'll
esteemed citizen and a man. Mr.. Bremen
then presented Mr.. Martin, on behalf of
the Advisory Board of the Association and
by authority Of the fifteenth annual conven-
tion, with solid gold watch and chain,
with keystone charm appended. The watch
is Howard movement, beautifully fin
ished, and had inscribed within the case:
Presented to William Martin in appre-
citation of the II years of faithful, honest
and efficient service rendered to the Anal
gamated Association of Iron and Steel
Workers of United States as General Secre-
tary, and by authority OF the fifteenth an
nual convention, June 25 1890, this testi-
monial is presented to William Martin on
his voluntary retirement from office"
HIS FRIENDS AFFECTED.
Mr.. Martin replied in appropriate terms
and then had to submit to the warm
Acknowledgements of the friends who
pressed around him. The full meaning of
the occasion was present to all, for behind
the friendly reunion inspired by the pur-
pose, appeared a time when the we'll es-
teemed officer and friend would be known
in that Office no more. Everyone was affected,
and big Ed Keil, in trying to express his
sentiments toward his old friend, broke
down, and could not gain his voice for sew
eral minutes.
The acknowledgment of her husbands
worth rendered to Mrs. Martin consisted of |
a solid silver tea and coffee set of II pieces, |
chased and beaded on frosted |
4 eround. Each piece contained the letter |
"M." Mr.. Martins retirement from office |
is regarded in the light of calamity for
the association for which he did
such good work, and his many out-of-
town friends will be glad to know that his
from Office has not passed over
unsignaiiZed by some mark of recognition
of his untiring efforts on behalf of his fellow
workers. The regret with which his depar-
ture from Office is accompanied by his
friends In the association, is shared by the
with whom he came In busi-
ness contact. Mr.. Martin has an intimate
Of the iron and steel trade and |
his experience in arranging facts and figures |
for ready reference, as well as his conserva-
tive counsel in cases of dispute, made him |
many friends among manufacturers.