Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-05-20
BUILDERS OPEN
Up CONVENTION
President Fitzgerald Presides;
Rev. WiIbert WestCott
Makes Opening Remarks.
ELECTION ON WEDNESDAY
About $50 Delegates Expected
at Sixteenth Annual Event
in Eagle Hall.

| The sixteenth annual convention OF
| the New Jersey State Building Trades
Council was started this morning
shortly after ten o'clock with a large
number of delegates from all sections
| of New Jersey present. The conven-
| ton is being held for three days in
Eagle Hall at LAG Smith street with
President r. A. Fitzgerald presiding.
| Following the calling of the conven-
! ton to order by President Fitzgerald,
prayer was offered by Rev. Wilbert
| Westcott, pastor of the Simpson NJ. f.
Church. Mayor John F. TenBroeck
was scheduled to make the opening
address of the convention. but having
been called hurriedly to Trenton was
unable to be present and this honor
also fell to Rev. Westcott, who never
fails to stir his audience to enthu-
siasm when the opportunity presents
| and his talk this morning was no ex-
ception to this rule.
Rev. Westcott said in part 1T gives
me great pleasure to stand before Il
band of men who know what it is to
work" He told of life as printer
before he entered the ministry. He
carried his hearers through the time
| he was a printers "devil' up to the
time he left the large law publishing
plant where he was employed untn
he first went out to preach. He said
that he came to be preacher through
the fact that he was associated with
men who spent all their money for
drink and he saw nothing ahead but
following in their steps if he continued
the way he was going.
He then greeted the men in the IN
terest of the city, and told them they
would like the city because there are
no "Highbrows" here. 1T is the most
democratic city in the State of New
jersey" said Mr.. Westcott.
| Rev. Westcott had finished his ad-
Dress but several of the delegates
asked him to go on and soon the cry
was taken up about the room and amid
applause he granted their request and
them that God isn't on either side God
! did not start this war. The nation
| that wants God on their side or the
| man that wants God on his side has
| only to follow the ten Commandments
| He then told of the drink evil, and
| how the war would wipe it out for all
| times. He spoke of how this city has
been closed up on Sunday, and told
of seeing yesterday, man going about
! the streets looking for a drink, ana
being unsuccessful. In closing his re-
marks Rev. Westcott said. I'VE have
entered this war and we are going 10
win. There never yet has been free
people who have been crushed and
I stayed crushed"
| Following the address, the formal
| business of the convention was au-
nounced and names of those on the
committees who have the business in
charge read. The president then be-
gan the reading of his annual report.
Asks Recognition.
! AS he closed his report, which went
minutely into the work of the New
Jersey State Building Trades Council
| for the past year, President Fitzgerald
thanked all the organizations affiliated
with the Council for the work done
during the year and the interest taken
! by them. Following the reading OF
! this report Fred Muse of Paterson,
was given the floor. He stated that
the Laborers and Hod Carriers or
ganization wished to join the state
| council and also the Federation OF
| Labor. A telegram was sent this Or
| ganization requesting the president OF
| it to report at once at this convention.
| The session was then adjourned to
meet again at l o'clock, at which time
reports of committees will be received
and business outlined for the follow
ing year According to the present ar
rangements the election of officers for
the year will take place on Wednesday
the last day of the convention. Many
| of the delegates have not arrived as
yet but are expected at anytime.
The present officers of the organiza-
/ tion are: President, R. A. Fitzgerald.
| of Jersey City; vice president, O. II.
Temple of Paterson: financial and re-
cording secretary Henry Sands Of
| Newark: treasurer II. s. Derfiinger of
Plainfeld is not present being in the
service of the United States.
| The members of the executive board
and the Building Trades Councils they
represent are: Hudson County. r. A.
Fitzgerald of Jersey City; Bergen
County, G.. H. Frank of Rutherford;
Atlantic County, II. H. Freed; Orange
and Montclair. Henry Sands of New
ark; Paterson, Q. H. Temple, Newark;
J. Roeskle. Elizabeth, p. Tansey;
Plainfied, II. S. Derflinger, now in ser
vice; New Brunswick, Martin Flynn;
Somerville. ], E. Hoff; Dover. /. c.
Gutshall: Trenton. H. s. Warren;
Perth Amboy, William Doyle.
Male Stenographer wanted in VI
cnity for work in Ordnance Depart
ment. Communicate with Ordnance
Department, 406 Essex Bldg. Newark,