The Connecticut labor press., 1919-05-24
BARRIERS LISTEN
TO SPEECHES And
MUSICAL PROGRAM
Ira M. Ornburn Chief Guest and
Speaker at Social Session
in New Haven.
M'CABE'S FUNNY STORIES
President Joseph Attanasio Is
Presiding Officer in His
Buffalo White Vest.

1t when you got shaved Yesterday
morning and your barber did not have
his usual light touch with the blade it
was because his hands were swollen
from applauding the speech of Ira M.
Ornburn at the social session of the
New Haven Local of the BARRIERS
Union at its headquarters in the Gamble
& Desmond building on Thursday night.
And if he was a trife hoarse it was
from cheering some of the speeches
and classical songs. And if he
told some new stories while welding
the lathering brush, he got them from
Francis P. McCabe, the well-known
sergeant-at-arms of the New Haven
Trades Council, who: followed Mr.
Ornburn on the program and gave the
BARRIERS some of his new crop of yarns
for the BARRIERS to mix In their conver-
satlon while shaving customer with
their ideas about prohibition, the ice
question, Jess Willard and Chief Myers
and his ball tossers.
1t was great night In the history of
the New Haven local and the organiza-
ton has been In existence nearly 20
years as President Attanasio said In his
Introductory remarks. It was the reg
ular meeting night of the Local bit all
business was suspended except -he
trifling matter of stepping up to the pur-
sur, Anthony Merl1no, and handing
over your dues just as if it was reg
ular meeting. Mr.. Mer1ino had his
doughbag on a table and there was
such large attendance and the money
came in SO fast that he was obliged to
remove his coat to get the air.
There is large blackboard In the
room but there. were no figures or
demonstration on it. only the word
were relays of BARRIERS disguised as
walters passing 24 per cent. beer, and
mountaineering ham and cheese sand
witches
President Attanasio wore the white
vest that he is going toswear as one of
the delegates to the annual convention
of the Journeymen BARRIERS Interna-
tiona1 Union of America at Buffalo
earfv IN September. In welcoming the
members and guests he said the New
Haven Local ranked first in frhis state
IN membership and It was neary 20
years old. The BARRIERS Union in Con-
necticut ranks 18th among the states.
President Attanasio, in his opening re-
marks, spoke of the fine career of Sol
Sontheimer, formerly an active worker
in organized labor In this state and now
an international organizer of the Cigar
makers Union engaged In the great
forward labor drive In Utah. In intro
ducing Ira IL. Ornburn, president of the
New Haven Trades Council and secre-
tary of the Connecticut Federation of
Labor, as the principal speaker and
chief guest of the evening, he paid a
fine tribute to his abilities as an organ
izer and active worker.
Mr. Ornburn spoke principally on or
ganization and rehearsed the progress
of the organized labor movement in this
state. He told the members that their
social session was an admirable under
taking and advised them net to stop
with just the one session but to hold
similar ones frequently. The speaker
advised his hearers to give a helping
hand to union men engaged IN other
lines of work and said that all union
men should work together for the COM
mon interest. He was warmly ap-
plauded for his remarks.
Charles A. Ciof6, the cartoonist of
The Connecticut Labor Press, who is a
barber in private life, was present after
a long absence from the city. He has
been engaged in painting portraits in
Perth Amboy, N. J. Providence, Bos-
| ton, Fall River, Feeding Hills and other
pidSCS. Ald41Y VI LA1C lAIS1AAOOAS 1N@<AAS0
Mr.. Cioffl's excellent sketches made for
The Connecticut Labor Press at 4 the
New London convention.
J. Mazza's orchestra gave a concert
| during the evening and Master Mara
| played a cornet solo. Miss Helen
Reeves Crane, soprano, sang two solos.
Signor Joseph Porto was heard in vio-
| lin solos. Frank Petrullo sang selec-
tons from Italian opera. The orches-
ira made a hit with a potpouru of
southern melodies and national airs,
ending with the "Star-Spang1ed Ban
ner," which brought every one to his
feet
Hugh J. Garland of the Trolley
mems Union was invited to attend but
was unable to be present. Anthony
Mer1ino, business agent of the Union.
did not speak as he is saving his efforts
in this line for Buffalo. President At
tanasio, who is the manager of the chill
dren's barber shop at, Shartenberg 5,
| had some cards announcing this and
they were perfumed with Jockey Club
and not bri1liantine. While Mr.. McCabe
| made a big hit with his stories there
| was some disappointment because he did
not bring his mace with him.
The committee for the social session
consisted of Anthony Merlino, Joseph
| Mazza, Giacinto Grieco, Joseph Attain
asio, F1oren. A1fano Massimino Goglia,
| Ralph Pastore, Leone Marziano, Tony
DeUeruieri Tobn Miller Nicola Tarohelli