New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-16
PLUMBERS IN CONTENTION.

To the National Association of Master Plumb
ers. whose annual convention is now in session
in this city, we Offer tho assurance of our most
distinguished consideration. This would be a
proper thing TO do under the circumstances.
even if our visitors filed an insignificant place
in the order Of creation. for the laws of hos
ptallty are imperative and immuabe. But
when the part which plumbers play in the
tragedy Of human existence is considered il
must he evident to the meanest intelligence that
they are entitled to respectful treatment where
soever they meet and assemble together TO dis
cusS their relations 10 the human race Peer as
one will into the future, there is no time visible
even TO the eye of faith when every man Will
be his own plumber. The craft is here to stay.
We shall always have IL with lis. II has a lead
pipe cinch
Moreover. opponents of the art and mystery
of plumbing are deserving OF attention for other
reasons. From time mmemoral they have fer
nlshcd the material for more bad jokes than
any other element of the population. Gas
companies, icemen and the owners OF peach
orchards though they have been industriously
utilized for this purpose, are not in the same
class with plumbers. II wohd be impossible.
or at lens, ridiculous, to overlook this fact. even
count the additional circumstance that no plumb
er was ever known to resent joke At his eX-
pense how can we express in adequate terms
our appreciation Of such forbearanca and mag
nanimity? 1t is true that some details of the
plumbing industry. doubtless because they are
not thoroughly comprehcnded do tend TO pro-
duce certain measure of suspicion and resent
ment. 1t is no: easy TO understand, for en-
ample just why man who has been employed
to adjust two or three new washers in we'll
lighted apartment requires the attendance of
helper TO hold a candle which is never ignited.
That problem has bafied many a householder
who is ready to acknowledge the sweet reason
ableness of having one assistant to hand out
the washers as they are Eeeded and another
to play with the wrench ut odd moments Bu.
after all, these are trivial sources Of annoyance
in comparison with that incessant affection Of
bad jokes under which the plumber bears up
with marvellous patience and fortitude.
We are not in the confidence of the National
Association of Master Plumbers and have no
means of knowing what they may do in secret
session. We hope, however. that they will con
tinue TO lay the strongest injunction of silence
under gibes upon all the members Of their or
der 1t is dreadful to think Of what n situation
would result if they should fall into the habit
of INDUCING the natural passion for repartec
If in addition to this they should resolve while
charging as much as they can get for work
that is we'll done to turn upon and rend any
one of their number who does a piece of bad
work at any price. they would make their fiji
teenth annual convention memorable. Many Of
Them we are sure, could not be hired to imperil
the health of a patron by stopping leak with
putty, or by any trick which would be cheap
for them and costly for him and his. But they
know that there is a great deal of ignorance
and dishonesty in their business, as there is in
every other. and that they under special
obligation to do good work because Of the ease
with which bad work can be concealed. They
have an enormous field of operations in this city,
which would rejoice to see them handle their
own delinquents without mercy and put the
tribe OF wags to confusion.