WITH

WITH an attendance much in excess of one thousand persons, the thirty sixth annual convention of the National Association of Master Plumbers, recently brought to a successful and satisfactory termination in the hospitable city of St. Louis, will live long in the memory of the trade for its many unusual features. The business sessions of the convention were held in the exhibit building June 4, 5 and 6. The board of directors met at the Planters Hotel on June 3, and the various committees were early at work in an endeavor to have their respective important affairs in hand for smooth service at the opening.

The local association members, with the ladies' auxiliary, left nothing undone that added to the pleasure, happiness and comfort of their thoroughly delighted guests. The entertainments were all that could be desired. The vaudeville, mov

ing pictures of the paraders to the convention hall, the banquet at Sunset Inn and a host of other equally diverting and refreshing items kept the visitors joyfully busy while not engaged in the more serious matters requiring attention and study.

In the plumbing trade hall of fame in golden letters will be inscribed the names of the St. Louis committees and membership, each and every one of whom constituted a powerful and resourceful unit for the physical and mental happiness of their army of friends from all corners of the country. Truly does St. Louis know how. Its renowned hospitality was given varied and continuous expression. Successful achievement brings its own sweet reward.

With due respect to the excellent efforts of other centers, it is certain that no display of trade fixtures and accessories, such as we were privileged to witness in the exhibit building, ever before marked an annual convention of the craft. The decorations, the beautiful and

VICE-PRESIDENT FRANK B. LASETTE, NEW YORK

TREASURER C. J. HERBERT, CHICAGO

inspiriting folds of Old Glory, added that patriotic touch which awakened in us all an honest pride that we are sons of Uncle Sam, in whose marvelous care we have developed so greatly since the inception of our beloved organization in 1883.

A dash of novelty likewise was interjected in the many apt slogans upon the subject of sanitation which awakened the populace to the urgent necessity of improved sanitary surroundings in the homes for the protection and continued good health of their loved ones. Placed high above the head so that all might read as they passed, these slogans surely did their bit, so to speak.

For several days the Planters Hotel, headquarters of the convention, had been a veritable hive of happiness. Delegates, with their wives and sweethearts, arrived on each and every train from all sections of the country, and were greeted by the earlier transients, and reminiscences of other previous meetings of the National Association were told and rehearsed with good-natured rivalry. Without question, when you look us over we are really a fine set of fellows and, like all good things of a permanent and

enduring nature, we are improving with age.

On Tuesday morning a military band of national renown placed itself in front of the Planters Hotel and rendered a concert of patriotic and popular music, while the delegates, their ladies, and guests fell into line behind President L. McNamara, Vice-President Frank B. Lasette, Treasurer Charles J. Herbert, Secretary A. A. Zertanna and the national directors, and, to a lilting tune, soon were off on an impressive parade through the immediate vicinity and on to the exhibit building.

A rare treat for the populace, which entered into the spirit of the occasion, dignifiedly tipping their hats as Old Glory caught the breezes and applauding the marchers on their way to plant another milestone on their road to sanitary perfection.

In the vanguard was a platoon of mounted police. William E. Goodman, former national treasurer for fourteen years; former National President John Trainor, and Fred Abel, only surviving St. Louis delegate to the first national convention of the organization in New York City in 1883, rode in a barouche at the head of the procession.

For the first time in the history of the organization a moving picture was taken of the parade and later shown at the exhibit building in connection with the vaudeville entertainment given Tuesday night.

President L. McNamara was vigorously applauded when he called the meeting to order at 10.45 a. m. Jeremiah Sheehan thereupon presented the popular chief executive of the National Association with a large basket of Killarney roses, the signal for another outburst of applause.

Miss Jean Weber, bedecked in the national colors and waving an American flag, sang "The Star-Spangled Banner," while all present arose and joined in the chorus, producing a most effective and patriotic scene.

President McNamara introduced Mayor Kiel, who stated that he was glad indeed to greet so impressive an audience, and because of the many ladies present he knew the convention would be a howling success. A hearty welcome was extended by the Mayor, who in his talk patriotically referred to the sacrifices we should all so cheerfully make for the boys who are sacrificing their all "over there." Do not spare yourself, said he, for a guilty conscience is a terrible accuser, whereas there is no such peace as that which will come to us at the sight of our boys victoriously returning from the other side when the war is won, in the knowledge that we gave till our hearts said stop.

Fresident McNamara then introduced what he called his silent workers, the boys who accomplished the great, big, fine things on view at this most successful convention. Accordingly, N. J. Seibel, Jr., local president, in a brief speech cordially welcomed all the ladies and gentlemen to the city of St. Louis, and he bespoke the finest kind of hospitality upon the part of all the members of the

local association, the ladies' auxiliary and the citizens of St. Louis.

Rev. Dr. Z. B. Phillips delivered the invocation, in which he prayed for divine guidance during the deliberations at the convention. He besought protection and enlightenment from Providence for our National Executive, Woodrow Wilson, the Senate and House of Representatives during the present international difficulties, and closed his beautiful invocation with the Lord's Prayer.

Major Bahrenburg, of the Health Service of the United States Army, made an interesting and lengthy talk upon the national housing problems. The difficulties encountered by manufactories in properly housing the men were laid before us all, and the plumbers present were urged to do their very best so that sanitary surroundings of the most approved type might better qualify the workers of the nation to advance the work of the Government so that the war would be quickly won, and won by the right side. He spoke of his personal contact with members of our profession upon Government work, and he hoped that the present relations between the physicians and the plumbers would advance and expand so that the betterment of humanity might always be subserved.

He urged us all to make permanent exhibits of the very best plumbing equipment in our stores and shops so that we might better educate the public to the advantages to accrue from firstclass sanitary installations of the modern manufactures.

Mr. McNamara Responds

President McNamara in an earnest and soulful speech thanked the previous speakers for their words of wisdom, enlightenment and encouragement. He dwelt upon the magnificent co-operation, which word, said he, was the greatest in the English language. He was proud that St. Louis had invited the national convention to his city; was proud of the super-excellent sanitary educational exhibit; and particularly pleased at the large attendance and the presence of so many beautiful ladies.

The son of the veteran sergeant-atarms, David Collins, was selected to serve in the capacity so ably handled for so many years by his deceased father. A cheer was given when David Collins, Jr., was mentioned as mace bearer of the convention. Delegates to serve upon the following committees were then appointed by the chair:

Credentials-W. W. Hughes, Minnesota: J. C. Cunningham, Missouri; Joseph Netzer, Texas: John J. Vogelpohl, Ohio, and John E. Dugan, New York.

Resolutions-A. C. Eynon, Ohio; J. C. Naughton, Illinois; B. Newman, California: George E. Smith, Colorado, and D. F. Carroll, Massachusetts.

Auditing Edward Cox. Massachusetts: Edward F. Roberts, Pennsylvania, and William J. Lang, Illinois.

When Jeremiah Sheehan, St. Louis, former national president, and one of the old war horses, was introduced by President McNamara he was accorded a

great reception. The band put its vigor into the "Wearing of the Green," and pandemonium reigned for several min

utes.

Mr. Sheehan said: "We are going to take the very best care of every man, woman and child at this convention. We have been requested to conserve our resources, and not spend too much money, and we will follow the instruction to a certain extent only. If there is anything you want just ask for it and it will be secured. If the ladies wish for anything let them consult with Mrs. McNamara, wife of the national president, and Mrs. Zertanna, wife of the national secretary, respectively president and secretary of the Ladies' Auxiliary, and every wish shall be gratified." The mention of W. E. Goodman and "Bill" McCoach, who were always on the firing line with the other veterans when any work was to be done, was the signal for a round of applause for the Old Guard. To the younger generation he gave words of advice, and urged them to emulate the example of the tried and found true pioneers of this magnificent organization. He closed by stating that he was in the service, having been drafted in 1885, 1904 and 1918, and was proud of his associates from all over the land who had given up the best years of their lives to make the organization what it is to-day.

President McNamara's introduction of Mr. Goodman was greeted with a standing salute upon the part of all present. This grand old man, whose five grandsons are in the army in France, and who said that he would gladly shoot the Kaiser if he could and, while not a drinking man, would willingly celebrate after, was the cause of prolonged laughter. Mr. Goodman told how one year before the birth of the National Association the Milwaukeeans, seven strong, got together, hired a room, furnished it, split up the gas bills and rent, etc., since which time the Milwaukee local has grown to 142 members, which comprise one of the finest local associations in the country. Many of the boys had gone to the front, said he, but when they return, unharmed, he hoped and prayed, they would be received back into the fold just as they had left, without initiation or any other fees.

James S. Cassedy, the distinguished former national president from Cambridge, Mass., was introduced, and delighted us with a patriotic address of great fervor. He showed his impatience with the compromising citizen who knew that we would win the war, but at the same time credited Germany with doing great things. Let us get behind the effort of our Government in a wholesouled fashion, more earnest and sincere than ever before, and make up our minds that our place in this war of nations is God-given, and that America the resplendent, America the victorious, and the only worth-while place on the face of the globe, will do its job skilfully, quickly and completely, so that victory will perch upon the banners of the Allied armies.

Contractual relations between architect and sub-contractor was

the

the

theme splendidly developed by John Lawrence Mauran, former president of the American Institute of Architects. Copies of the new contract form may be secured by all those who wish to peruse same from headquarters in the Octagon, Washington, D. C. Mr. Mauran made a distinctly favorable impression, his fairness and sincere desire to work for the protection of all trades being immediately manifest. In closing he said the architect was always glad indeed to labor with the plumbers to create worthy monuments in their respective callings.

Reading Clerk Cannon, Chicago, read a telegram of felicitation from former National Presidents Daniel Finnerty and David Craig, Boston, Mass., which earned the applause of the delegates assembled.

At the request of President McNamara, just before adjournment, one verse of "America" was sung, whereupon the motion to adjourn was in order.

W. W. HUGHES, for the credential

⚫ committee, opened the business at the Tuesday afternoon session. He

read the names of delegates from the various State and local organizations, until it was patent that a quorum was present, whereupon, on motion of Jeremiah Sheehan, the further reading of the credential committee's report was deferred.

President McNamara announced that as Francis J. Torrance, vice-president of the Standard Sanitary Manufacturing Company, of of Pittsburgh, Pa., was obliged to catch an early train, he would ask the delegates to listen to this popular manufacturer, who has been intimately acquainted with the plumbing field of endeavor for the past forty-five years, and who personally is acquainted with perhaps more plumbers than any individual in the country at this time.

There were approximately three hundred delegates in their seats at 2.45 p. m., when Mr. Torrance addressed them. His talk was punctuated with humorous stories emphasizing the points in his interesting speech. We are privileged to present his remarks herewith, all of which were given the delegates' most earnest attention.

facturer and the plumber occupy opposite sides. If we hold opposite sides or interests it is only up to a point, at which point we automatically and naturally blend into one common stream, to the mutual benefit of both, whose interests, I contend, are one.

"I think we will both concede that the plumber of the past was not just as fair as he might have been in the matter of giving full credit to the enterprising manufacturer in the latter's attempt to exploit a line that might have been jointly beneficial. I will not say 'might.' I will say 'would have been.' The manufacturer at times, we will also admit, was selfish in not granting full recognition to the rights of the plumber, upon whom he was so dependent for the careful and successful installation of his inventions or material. This friction, I repeat, was expensive to both sides. I show in this, to my mind, a concrete example of where mutuality of interest and consequent benefit is apparent. The loyalty which the manufacturer and dealer have accorded in the matter of protection to the master plumber is proverbial. I do not recall another single trade or industry that has been so protected. It was done,

"THE opposition of the Scotch to writ

ten notes or manuscript is well known. As I stand before you to-day my mind goes back to the days of those worthy Scotch plumbers, such as Thomas Gibson, Hugh McCullon, James Graham, David Grewar, James Hay and James Muir, worthy representatives of the 'Land of Cakes,' 'who builded in their day better than they knew.' Most of these worthies have passed to the Great Beyond.

"Man is gregarious. It is his natural instinct to associate with his fellow beings. This instinct is derived from a selfish motive. He does it for his selfprotection and for his desire for sociability and the creature comforts that are obtained by association. As time rolls along we become more favorably impressed or, in fact, more convinced that more is to be gained through co-ordination and co-operation than by independent action. The absence of harmony, which always results in increased friction, is expensive in all avenues. Ignorance would teach that the employer is the natural enemy of the employed, and likewise that the purveyor of materialsmanufacturer and dealer-must, perforce, hold a natural antipathy to the plumber, or, for that matter, any artificer the country over. An intelligent survey of anyone sufficiently interested, making a careful comparison of what this friction has cost in the past, will realize what its elimination means in the future. The manufacturer and dealer are the natural friends of the master plumber. No matter how complete and how thorough a manufacturing problem is exploited through to the final degree of the finished article, it is worthless or profitless until it is installed. The natural outlet of the

It was essential to the upbuilding of the industry and the careful installation from a sanitary point of view. The manufacturer did not want his goods improperly installed, else their effectiveness would be minimized. On the other hand, the plumber did not want incompetent people in the trade. So we built up, or at least are charged with having built up, a sort of mutual admiration society or close corporation.

"The immensity of the growth of the industry represented by this convention and the gravity or importance that it is to the public welfare is best known to ourselves. Even as late as 1889 the subject of plumbing supplies was not of sufficient volume or significance to warrant a separate classification in the industrial census of the country, but was combined and absorbed with kindred lines. In 1889 is recorded the first appearance of plumbers' supplies as a distinct item or industry, at which time 122 concerns and less than 5,000 people were engaged in it. The horsepower employed aggregated only a little over 3,500. The capital employed was a little less than $10,000,000. The wages paid aggregated $2,650,000, and the volume of business in the aggregate amounted to $12,000,000. "The latest published census report1914-shows that 260 concerns were engaged in the business at that date. The wage-earners numbered over 18,000, the capital employed over $48,000,000 and the value of product about the same amount.

"The importance of man-power is shown when we realize that the result of these many thousand men and the vast amount of capital must flow through the hands of the class here represented in this convention.

"From the most reliable source of information I understand that even the important figures set down for 1914 were doubled in money value in 1917. This assumption may only be a guess, for there is no data collected from which to