The Connecticut labor news., 1921-09-23
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
 STARTS FUND TO TAKE
 CARE OF THE PIONEERS
MasOns to Provide All Over $2OO in Annual Receipts Nucleus to Purchase Permanent Home That Will Be Self Sustaining. and Give Members Some thing to Do.

The establishment of a home for their superannuated members, a home, preferably farm, that will be self sustaining and not a bur den in any way upon the rank and file of the union members, has been determined upon by the state conference of Bricklayers, Ma sons and Plasterers, held here last Sunday. On motion of Charles P. Dunlay of this city, treasurer of the state conference, all moneys in excess of $2O0 will be turned into the fund to provide for the home and 1t will be started as soon as the fund can be gotten together. It Is intended solely to be a place where the old members of the union in Connecticut, which is the oldest organization in the country, can spend their remain ing days and have something to do instead of going about idle and living on the pension allowed by the union.
 The movement for such a home was started by Mr Dunlay two years ago but because of rush of business then and later because of lack of business action was delayed. Mean time many more older members were forced to quit the strenuous labors on the line and the plastering tools and retire on the pension list Most of these are men whose families have grown up and gone to other parts and all they had to do was live in g furnished room, sit in the various parks and otherwise just exist. After life of hard work this became sc irksome that protests were made and demands put in that they be given somewhere to go and something tc do. E,%
 When the matter was brought uI last Sunday MT. Dunlay explained the farm proposition where these old mer can raise chickens, till the soil anc keep themselves busy and in addition to their pension live lifes of useful ness. This would also keep then busy and together with their pensions make them self sustaining and group ed so that like the old soldiers of in dustry they are, could talk over the battles of the old days and be con- tent. To carry out the idea of com mittee to be known as the Directors and. Trustees of the home is to be raised and they shall add to the fund from time to time all surplus anC other moneys that may come into the state treasury and are not automati Cally diverted to other purposes. One member of every local organization in the state shall be a member of this committee so that at all times every union shall have inside knowledge o the workings of the fund and farm and. be able at any time to provide for local members who desire to gc there. The movement is the first 1T the country to provide such a place for these old members. The report of the treasurer shows a balance O. more than $500 on hand leaving { substantial sum on hand now to star the movement.
 Election of officers for the ensuing year was also held and resulted 1T the reelection of Louis Corr O. Waterbury as president, R. Mccarthy of New London as first vicc-presi dent, George Watson of Hartford second vice-president, James Gaffney of Bridgeport, third vice-presiden Carl Hanson of Middlctown fourt1 vice-prcsident Ernest J. Meakins O New Haven, secretary, and Charle: P Dunlay of New Haven, fnancia secretary and treasurer. The office of fifth vice-president was left to the executive board to fill. New Londor was selected as the place of the nex