Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-22
DROP BUSINESS FOR NIGHT
Plumbers Enjoy Themselves at a Banquet
in Dellons Eetel,
VISITORS COMPLIMENT THE CITY
Day T. Occupied in Discussing Amend
ments TO the Constitution
Beneht Clauses Are
Adopted.

OtltBhleS 10 the flumDeTS lnteTnatlOnA
convention went a banqueting last night.
Local union No. 16 was the host and its
members entertained over 200 guests, COM
pletely filling the dining room Of the Dellone
hotel, where the banquet was held. Pipes
were laid to a we'll OF good time and every
pipe sprung a leak in the banquet hall.
Among the main pipes present we're the
presidents of the Building and Trades coun-
Gil and local anliated unions, the president
Of the Central Labor union. Mayor Frank E.
Moores. Edward Rosewater, President Cliff
ton Of the local union, National Organizer
Spencer and others. The march to the din
ing hall began shortly before 10 o'clock, and
from that time on pleasure ran riot.
The guests we're welcomed by President
Clifton Of the local union, who introduced
A. S. Kelly Of Chicago, who presided as
POSTMASTER. In his address Mr.. Kelly
stated that in all his experience with in
ternational conventions he had never seen
delegates more Hospitality entertained than
the delegates to this convention. He highly
complimented the city Of Oman and its peo-
pie on the wonderful progress of the town.
Speaks Well of Plumbers.
Mayor Moores was introduced by Mr.. Kelly
in a very eulogistic speech and made a
characteristic talk. He called the plumb
ers millionaires. he said, because J. p. Nor
gan did. lie joked the delegates about the
high prices they charged and concluded by
telling them they were the j%olliest crowd he
had been one OF for many a day. The mayor
was at his best.
William Merrick, president Of the Inter-
national association, made a short talk on
the benefits Of the union and paid many
nopap1frnonfo 70 tbo npaoka IaaoI n,d a.. A.
Omaha people. He was followed by Edward
Rosewater, at whom the had
thrown many bouquets in introducing. Mr..
Rosewater stated that he did not know why
he had been introduced into a plumbers
union in such a way, unless it was that he
had always been a pipelayer. Mr.. Rose
water then referred to labor organizations
and the interest that he had taken In them.
County Jailer Thomas Flynn congratu-
lated the member OF local No. 16 that the
best and most prominent citizens of the
city were its guests, and spoke at length
of the stand Mayor Moores had always
taken for the woTkingmen and for organized
labor. He was followed by various local
speakers, all of whom were we'll received
and heartily applauded.
The committee who had the banquet in
charge was composed Of p. T.. Green, A. G.
Kugel, Harry McVea, J. L. Lynch, Charles
Grandeene, d. p. Clifton and 1. c. Lynch.
Discuss tSe Constitution.
Both the morning and afternoon sessions
yesterday we're devoted to the discussion
Of the constitution. This was taken up by
sections and almost a third Of the new con-
s~titution was adopted, including the sick,
death, strike and benefit clauses. Late in
the afternoon reports Of committees were
read. These, mostly, were in regard to
the condition Of the various locals through
out the country. Since the last convention
seventy new locals have been organized and
5000 new members have been taken into
the association.
The benefit clause provides that a certain
amount OF money be paid to a member who
is incapacitated for work by injury or sick
ness. A member who has been in the organ
izatton for twenty years and who is As
years Of age, by this section Of the constitu-
tion will receive a yearly pension.
This clause" said President Merrick, sis
a very important part of the constitution.
1t not only means much to the members
individually, but 1t means much to the or
ganization as a whole. It will be the means
Of increasing our membership and it will
encourage member to remain in the or
ganization. l consider it very important
and very. essential to the unions. In our
business a man Is liable to accident any
time, and there should be something for
his protection. And then, after a man fol-
lows this business for twenty years, 1t is
not infrequent that he is broken down in
health and unable to work. for It takes a
strong. active man to do the work."
Today the convention will take up the
naturalization work and and will hear the
reports of as many committees as possible.
1t is likely, though it is not assured, that
the work Of the convention will be COM
pleted by Saturday evening. The last work
Of the convention will be the election of
officers. This evening the delegates will be
entertained at Labor temple.