The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-05-24
MIR. BLAKE'S ELECTION
Hearty Greeting for New
 Head of United Matters
Danbury News.)


 America, and the majority of the To- cal delegates to the national conven- tion of that organization, returned to Danbury Saturday evening to spend Sunday at their homes here and went back to New York this morning to at- tend the final sessions of the conven- tion. It is expected that the conven- tion will end tomorrow.
 The reception received by MT. Blake after his arrival in Danbury amounted almost to an ovation and he was kept busy as long as he was in town re- spending to congratulations and re- turning handshakes His election to ing to the members of the trade in this district as we'll as to his many friends outside the hating industry and they look to him to do full cred it to the place.
 MT. Blake said to a representative of The News last evening that there was nothing that he cared to say for except that he appreciated the honor that the members of the trade had be- slowed upon him and fully realized the responsibility that accompanied the position, and that he expected to give himself wholly to the work of the position and the welfare of the members of the organization and of the hating industry as whole.
 The declination of John A. Moffit to accept the renomination for the presi- dency when it was decided to elect pf- ficers for the term intervening be- tween the convention and the holding of the national election next winter according to provisions of the referen- dunn plan, was a surprise to many of the members of the convention. It was moved and voted at the Saturday morning session to proceed to the cleo tion of officers. A motion to the ef- feet that the officers should remain in office until new officers should be elected by the referendum system was objected to upon a point of order to the effect that such action would pre- vent the making of further nomina- tions. President Moffitt overruled the point of order and upon appeal to the convention his ruling was not sustain ed. The convention then proceeded for the presidency. Mr. Blake's name was presented to the convention by Thomas Lee of Danbury, and was sec- onded by John M. Blake, also of this city. The name of John W. Scul1y of South Norwalk. was presented by Charles Donegan, of Newark, and sec onded by Michael F. Green of Orange, formerly of Danbury, by Eugene Reil- ly, of Boston and James Byrnes, of Newark, N. J. The ballot. as stated on Saturday, gave MT. Blake twenty eight votes and MT. Scully twenty seven.
 Upon the declaration of the result of the ballot Mr. Scully moved to make it unanimous and the convention did so. President Moffit appointed MT. Scully and Thomas Lee, of Danbury, committee to escort the new presi- dent to the chair The hall rang with applause as Mir. Moffit greeted the new president and yielded to him the chair of the presiding officer MT. Moffitt presented to President Blake a handsomely inscribed gavel that was presented to him several years ago by John Mitchell and has since been used at the, national conventions
 MT. Blake received the unanimous vote of the Danbury delegates. He said last evening that he owed his election very largely to the loyal sup port of the Danbury. delegation and to the work of P. H. Connolley, who threw his strength to him as soon as MT. Moff1tt decided to withdraw. The Newark makers voted solidly for the Danburian, but the majority of the other New Jersey delegates gave their support to the South Norwalk man.
 The election of MT. Blake to the presidency and the adoption of the referendum system, besides various other important changes made in the laws of the organization marks the greatest upheayal that has taken place in the history of the United Matters John A. Moffitt. who is succeeded, had held the position for thirteen years. According to the provisions of the ref election will be conducted, nomina- tions will be made in September and the election will take place on the sec ond Friday in December The off, cers elected then will take office on January 1.
 The recall system. which has been adopted by the convention, requires that the recall of any officer be pro- posed by one local and seconded by eight others, of which more than two shall be in the same state. It will require a total of at least 2,500 votes Tn favor of recall in order to make a recall effective.
 Upon his return to Danbury Satur- day evening MT. Blake gave to Sec retary Shalvoy. of the Hat Finishers' association, his resignation as presi- dent of that organization. Mir. Blake had been president of the Finishers' association since. 1904. He was elect ed vice president of the association in 1903 and performed the duties of pres- illness of Charles Barrett who was then president. MT. Blake is a na- tive of Wilton, but came to Danbury when a boy and has resided here near ly thirty years. He has been cap- tain of the Kennedy Guard since the organization of that company and is a member of the board of trustees of the Danbury Hospital. MT. Blake lives at 401s Keeler street and while his official duties as president of the United Hatters will require his pres- ence at the headquarters of the organ. ization in New York city every day, he will continue to reside in Dan-