|
Most
regional chapters of the NCU-FONI combined their memberships,
except for the international chapters: these all were grouped
together, along with those American FONI chapters who wished
to remain separate, as Local 404 - the local chapter for all
itinerant and international nonconformists. Lawrence C. "Noodles"
Fagan and his wife Elsie were made leaders of Local 404.
Under
this arrangement, the like interests of all organized Non-Conformists
were supported. Competition ceased. The Fagans were left to
pursue their personal goal - the assembly of all individualists,
throughout the world, in one group of like-minded people.

They
continued in this course for the next six years until the death
of Mr. Fagan in Marseilles, in 1931, of typhoid fever. Mrs.
Fagan returned to the United States and remained the nominal
leader of Local 404 for years afterwards. After she stepped
down a succession of prominent nonconformists took on the leadership
in Mr. Fagan's wake.
Throughout
these years - through the Great Depression, the Second World
War, the 1960's and beyond - the tides of nonconformism have
risen and fallen with world events, and Local 404 has risen
and fallen along with them. While recent years have been hard
ones for organized nonconformists, we remain mindful of our
chapter's proud history and we maintain our dedication to the
cause.
In
recent decades the Non-Conformists Union (as its name was shortened
in 1937) has had the bulk of the publicity associated with our
movement. But we of Local 404 have a proud and different, though
complementary, history. We itinerant and international individualists
will always remain faithful to the original principles on which
our chapter was founded. Individualism will not be secure
'til all are unique, as we are!
|