New Britain herald., 1914-05-14
BALDWIN ADDRESSES
 MASTER PLUMBERS
R. I. Rock of Bridgeport Elected
 President For Coming Year.

NeW I1aNeIl, May lf'--AItef tue banquet yesterday at the Hotel Taft, which closed the 24th annual conven- tion of the Connecticut Master Plumbers association, the assembly of more than 250 master plumbers of the state was addressed by Governor Baldwin, the guest of honor, and Dr. Frank II. Wright, health officer of this city and Past National President Frank Fee, of New York city. Preceding the banquet held in the ballroom. the election of officers to serve during the coming year resulted as follows: R. T. Rock, of Bridge port, >president; E. F. Judd, New tIa- ven, 1st vice president; C. J. Dick gieser, Derby, 2nd vice president; G. $. Bull, Hartford, secretary; John Troland, Norwich, treasurer; A. J. McManus, Hartford national vice president F. c. Booth, Bridgeport, corresponding and recording secre- tary. w. Fl. Day and August Hein- man of this city, were delegated to attend the national convention of master plumbers to be held in At lantic City, June 16 10 IS.
 Governor Speaks.
 Governor Baldwin spoke to the as- semblage in part as follows.
 Any association which has lasted for twenty-four years has shown that there was a place, and d work for it to do in the world.
 There was very large field ready for the plumbers in Connecticut half a century ago, when We first began the construction of city water works. In my boyhood. New Haven, then as now Connccticut's largest city, was dependent for her water on wells in each separate house lot
 Bath Troubles Eliminated.
 My fathers house was then one of the newer and larger ones in the city, but the only bath tub was SUD- piled by pumping up cold water from cistern in the back yard and lug ging in hot water by the pailful from the kitchen boiler. It was so much trouble to get a bath that the bath tub was finally turned into an aquar- ium for my benefit. We preferred a resort to hat-bath in each Ded- room-a big tin construction some five feet across. looking like wom- ans hat turned upside down such as the dear creatures wore, a few years ago.
 There were several town or city meeting helcd about that time, to act on the proposition to authorize sys- tenn of city water works. One of the old citizens, who used to be called doctor, although I believe he wasn't one, presided as moderator at one of these. The advocates of water works made their arguments. Gen. tlemen, said the chairman, If I may express the opinion of the chair, we don't want them. The chair has not taken bath for forty years
 Was Rough Art.
 Plumbing was rough art fifty. years ago. and even lwenty-four years ago when this association was or ganized. l suppose that the eastern states of the United States lead the world in it now;-lead 1t in making really scientific plumbing fixtures, in- stalled on a really scientific plumb- ing basis; and that they lead it in the number of houses with bath tubs, and the number of bath tubs in a single house. I suppose this could be said pre-eminently of New England.
 'The fact is that the man born in New England has got a magnificent heritage. Because it's history runs back so far, because it has been so long practicing the arts of life. with intelligence, and care. and thrift, it has become place to live in where the public health is looked out for, and public education. and public inn provements.''
 Health Officer Wright was then in- troduced by the toastmaster. Dr. Wright congratulated the association on the great progress made by the trade during the past twenty five years. He drew attention to the fact that at that time only the very wealthy were able to afford plumbin which every home is now equipped with.
 Advocates Sanitary Commission. Past National President Fee, in speaking of conditions in general throughout the state, said that while New Haven itself is in the first rank with regard to sanitation, the sani- tary conditions in some cities throughout the state are to the con- trary. Mr. Fee ended hls address by advocating a state sanitary commits sion.s