The Connecticut labor press. (New Haven, Conn.) 191?-1921, 1920-02-14
William j. Sullivan Retires as
President After Five and One
Half Years Efficient Service and
Is Presented Handsome Token.
Meeting Adopts Several I'm
portant and Far Reaching Reso-
lutions-Fine Banquet Winds
Up Most Harmonious Session
Ever.

Bridgeport, Feb. 13.-Undoubtedly
the best and most harmonious meeting
IN Its history was held this week by the
Connecticut State Council of Carpenters
and lo1ners when it met here Monday
and Tuesday in its 24th annual conyen-
ton. From start to finish every dele
gate We'd with the other to promote the
harmony and best interests of the craft
and the affair wound up with a banquet
at Lehmann's shore house that was "a
feast of wit and joy forever"
The convention was marked by the
retirement of President William ]. Sui
l1van of New Haven who has guided the
councils of the craft for the past FIVE
and one-half years or since 1914 Mr..
Sullivan believed that some other should
be given the opportunity to assume the
leadership and therefore declined to
stand for reelection. His determine
ton had been understood beforehand
and in appreciation of his untirinp ef-
forts the convention presented him with
handsome gold ring with the emblem
OF the craft inset in jewels At the
banquet further appreciation was ex-
pressed and considerable merriment
had upon the Presentation of a beauti-
fully embroidered piece of woman's
lingerie to Mr.. Sullivan.
In the elections which followed 7. P.
OBrlen, Jr, of Hartford, was chosen
president to succeed Mr.. Sullivan.
Other officers were elected as follows:
Thomas Law, Bridgeport first vice
president; John L. Richards, New Ha-
ven, second vice-president; George
Chandler, Greenwich, secretary; E. c.
Sllveria, New London, treasurer; these
ofhcers TO comprise the executive board.
In the election of delegates George
+. Mordecai of New Haven was chosen
to go TO the International convention at
Indianapolis in September. Former
President William ]. Sullivan of New
Haven was sent to the New Jersey state
convention; Charles Stout of Bridge
port to the Massachusetts convention
and Robert McNeeley of Norwich to the
New York convention
The convention was opened on Mon
day morning with an address of well
come by Edward Breen, president of
the Bridgeport Council, who then in
troduced Mayor Clifford B. Wilson.
lieutenant governor of the state, who
also made an address, First General
Vice President, J. T. Cosgrove of In
dianapolis and T. M Guerin, member
OF the national executive board, were
present and addressed the convention on
the general conditions of the trade
throughout the Country, Mr.. Guerin Law
ing particular stress on the organization
movement and working Conditions.
Fraterna1 delegates from New York,
New Jersey and Massachusetts, were
also present and told of the conditions
IN their states and remedial legislation
secured or to be sought at the coming
legislatures.
Resolutions instructing the executive
board to start the creation of a defense
fund for Connecticut to further and
protect the interests of the craft: en-
dorsing daylight saving and instructing
the executive board to endeavor to Sc
cure Its re-estab1ishment, and instruct
ing local unions to appoint executive
boards which will carefully scan and
wise clearance cards of members and to
also appoint special local examining
boards who shall pass upon the ability
of every applicant for journeyman's
cards, were adopted Another resolu-
ton pledging the convention and local
unions to work for universal and uni
form wage scale of ST an hour and for
amendment to the compensation law
were also adopted. A resolution by
which card secured in one town would
be good in another without seeking
u dSlSl p1INACSCS was I6COmm1TreQ TO
the committee, the delegates being of
the opinion that such action would not
be fair to the local unions.
Ira M. Ornburn, secretary of the
Connecticut Federation of Labor, ad-
dressed the convention on various state
matters, laying particular stress on the
activities of the Manufacturers asso-
Citations in endeavor to discredit organ
lied labor and the need therefore of all
organized labor to more closely affiliate.
He also urged greater interest in public
and political affairs so as to secure more
just compensation and other laws.
Frank A. Fitzgerald of New Haven,
member of the State Building Trades
board and the Hosting Engineers
Union organizer, also addressed the
meeting on state issues. He reported
that despite protests organized car
penters and joiners in Meriden per-
sisted IN working with non-union engi-
neers to the detriment of both and asked
action to stop that performance
The convention voted to hold the next
convention in New Haven and instruct
ed the executive board to proceed with
the issuance of an official year book
and souvenir of the State Council. Miss
Olga Stremlau, stenographer for the
L: +. of l., acted as official secretary
<1f flo