Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-05

against its employees for alleged intimida-
tion Of their fellow workmen. A new
Scientific Society formed at Munhall. The
McGow investigation affair still hangs hre.
Ex-Secretary William Martin was the re-
cipient last night Of another expression OF
the esteem and worth in which he is held by
his friends both in the Amalgamated Asso-
citation and out of it. President Samuel
Gompers, of the American Federation OF
Labor, journeyed on from New York for the
purpose of presenting him with the testl-
monial which was embodied in the form Of
full set of table cutlery and equipments OF
sterling silver in handsomely wrought
case of olive wood lined with yellow satin;
a very beautiful onyx mantel clock and side
vases, aud purse.
The presentation took place in Lodge No.
lodge room, corner of Wood and Fourth
avenue, before large number of Mr.. Mar
tins friends, including Messrs. James
Penny, Weaver, John Armstrong, Peter
Shields, Sam F. Luty, 1. B. Johnston, Car
ney, John Kilgallon, Steve Madden and
Richard Davis.
President William Weihe, of the Anal
gamated Association, who occupied the
chair, called the meeting to order at .
o'clock, and in very happy phrase referred
to Mr.. Martins connection with the asso-
citation. He wished Mr.. Martin the fullest
success and introduced Mr.. Gompers as a
gentleman from q distant State who has
been asked to make the presentation.
The committee having charge of the tes-
timonial then ushered Nh. Martin to a seat in
the center of the hall and took chairs on
either side of him. They included Florence
Sullivan, Chairman; Ed Keil, Secretary
and Treasurer; Al Kaighman, james Dash
baugh, Samuel S. Waightman, William
Fraser, James Swatman and John Pierce.
Mr.. Gompers then said:
PRESIDENT GoMPERs' REMARKS.
Mr.. Chairman, friends of the cause of labor.
and friends and brothers of William Martin,
who have come here to honor, not alone him,
but ourselves in honoring him. when invited
here to deliver an address and give expression
in some way to the manifestation OF esteem In
which William Martin is held by his co-labor-
ers l had here mind to beg to be excused,
for it is not in my power to pronounce eulogies
abuses rather than to hold up to view the do
ings OF the good and of the kind. l hope that
my sincerity may be taken in part for lack OF
ability on my part to express my sentiments on
this occasion as would wish.
Mr.. Gompers referred to the courage
which man brought to the front as an of
fetal of labor organization had to exhibit
in face of the attacks and bad treatment
which he was bound to receive at the hands
- Al eid
ago since man who advocated any rights
for labor was liable to social ostracism.
Now it was fashionable to be labor man,
and man cannot stand we'll with his fell
low-men nowadays unless he is a labor man.
He continued: -+
Things are different now. Though the Anal
gamaled Association had not the vicissitudes
to encounter that other bodies have had you
have won over the enmlty of those who yet
sought your downfall. and have now the ap-
proval of those who were your bitter oppo-
nents Your presence here testifies how much
the personality Of an officer tends toward the
success of an organization. 1t has often been
said that labor organizations have been untrue,
but new era has arrived, and Pittsburg,
which has honored the dead in Tom Armstrong
IapplauSe1, now honorS the living IN Bill Mar
lin. (Applause.l
MIR. MARTIN ALWAYS IN EARNEST.
Bill Martin-pardon me the familiarity but
to me he has always been and always is "Bill''
Martin-from his earliest boyhood has always
been q member of the organization of his trade
and to him to be non-union man was to be
dishonorable workman. When called to office he
devoted himself heart and soul: first, to the in
terests of the Amalgamated Association, and
secondly to the great ca use of what is known as
the labor movement, Personally / knew him
only for a few years, but l say to you,
that never in my whole life could grasp a
49, frA tI,o frcN 81
knew him. more heartily, nor could trust him
more thoroughly than did from the first day
met Bill Martin, my friend and colleague. Zap
plausel say to you that doubt if any man
will deny that when Bill Martin shook you by
the hand and looked you in the face that Bill
Martin did not mean everything he said. He
was man of few words, but he impressed
one with the fact that he was in the presence of
Gods greatest creation-an honest man.
Mr.. Gompers continued a lengthy address
bv paying high tribute to Mr.. Martin,
and remarking that those that came in con-
tact with him had much to learn from his
personnel and characteristics. Concluding
his address Mr.. Gompers said:
II have now plain service to perform, and
will do it well as 1 can," and. advancing to
ceive him, he took his hand and continued,
your friends here have deputed me to
ask you to accept little testimonial |
of their appreciation of you. They ask you to
their best wishes and as slight token of your
worth as an officer and man. They wish you |
prosperity and increased honor to your name |
as ex-Secretary of the Amalgamated Asso-
citation and the President of the American |
Federation of Labor. |
THE THANKS OF THE RECIPIENT.
Both the spe aker and the recipient Of the |
handsome gift were much affected, Mr.. |
Gomper's voice trembling perceptibly. Mr.. |
Martin, in replying, expressed sincere ac- |
knowledgements to his friends, and said |
that he regarded the, testimonial as an ap- |
probation of bis services to q great cause, |
which his children will cherish with pride, |
After reviewing the general progress made |
in the labor movement and the spread of in |
telligence and education Mr.. Martin con- |
cluded:
The basis Of wages generally being firmly |
established. your attention must now be turned |
in other directions looking to the amelioration |
of the entire laboring class. for no one union |
can stand alone 1t is needless TO go into de- |
tail. The great majority of you well know my |
sentiments upon the measure to which refer. |
familiarize yourselves with the route you are |
about to take, and above all be sure Won are
right and dare to march on in the line of prog
ress. Keep on with the good work already |
begun in the labor movement. Never tire of |
or shrink from your duty, no matter
what the result. Cry down any at /
tempt TO form factions, which usually create
dsstrust and eventuate in the disruption of any
that encourages them; and while
it Is very desirable to have friends do not allow
to sway you from your duty to and
love Of your organization. To the legion of
friends who have honored me with this beauti-
full and highly appreciated testimonial return
my sincere thanks. can truly say that in no
manner. shape or form, either by word, act or
ing this outburst of popularity and esteem,
which assure you will never abuse or use to