Connecticut workman., 1901-10-24

one cent of which should go to said fund and for no other purpose.
 While the constitutions of all our in ternational unions forbid politics en- tering our meetings, yet I feel com pelled to say that here in Connecticut organized labor must in some way as- sert it's strength to secure just and equitable treatment at the hands of our state government. From personal observation, I am convinced that the laboring class will receive recognition only in proportion to their demands. These demands GC rot, and never will, receive prc2cr recognition from the majority of our legislators after elec- tion.
 There can be no doubt that the pres ence of a representative of the organ ized labor of the state was great benefit to the working classes in pre- venting vicious legislation and in as- sisting in the passage of the manufac- turers' liability act and the free em ployment bureau act. .... V The report of your legislative chair
 han will cover thoroughly the work of the committee, also that of others who assisted them at hearings, and should be carefully considered.
 Our present constitution may have bean all sufficient when drafted, but in m kdgment it has now outgrown it's | good Wofk, ahd 1y!le) Y -f1ade1u unte for present exigencies. I strongly re- commend complete revision of the constitution at this convention.
 There is no uestion of the necessity of state organization to-day in Con necticut, and no organization can be conducted successfully without proper l laws to govern the aims of it's officers and to safeguard the welfare of our members and assure future and per- manent success.
 The necessity being apparent to all who have studied our laws, it be- | hooves us now to immediately under l take the task of reconstruction. Let our efforts be consistent and our work | we'll done. According to section 16 of the con- stitution, I have the honor to submit
 the following recommendations:
 As the membership of the state
 branch increases so must there be an l increase in the clerical work necessary
 to conduct the business, and I would recommend an increase in the salary paid the secretary-treasurer, and that
 a salary be paid the. president. To
 successfully administer the affairs ot l the state federation the president must devote a great deal of time and attention to the performance of his duties, and while the present incum- bent and all former presidents have l entered upon the duties with full 1 knowledge of what might be expected
 the condition of our affairs to-day re- l quires so much sacrifice of time ano labor that neglect of duty upon the part of the president cannot be charged in the absence of just remun eration.
 !! CHANGE OF NAME ADVOCATED. | We should change our name to tha of "Connecticut Federation of Labor. We should provide ways and means whereby mass meetings might be helt in all cities and towns of sufficient size and speakers provided to address ths
 same during the winter season. This II believe, would tend to elevate thu
 State Federation and all local union: and great benefits would result.
 The executive council should consis , of the president, first second and thirt
 vice presidents, and the secretary
 treasurer. The presidents official titl } should be president and general or ganiZer.''
 To promptly cement the ties whicl bind us as a unit and one union 7 is necessary that we exchange and in , terchange ideas with our fellow crafts } men and tradesmen. We should en deavor to draw in close relations tn state federations, and to accomplish this end, which I believe would resul in great benefit to all bodies concerned would recommend that fraternal del
 egates be sent to conventions of tn
 Massachusetts and New York Stat
 Federations, the delegates to be elect
 ed at our annual election of officers.
 The greatest assistance which can b
 rendered by individuals in advancin
 the cause of labor is by demandin goods bearing union labels, which ty
 pify the highest skill in the labor field and also highest prices paid for labor In the advancement of unions throug a consistent and stable demand fo
 goods bearing the union label ever member of the family can render in
 valuable assistance, and the teachin
 of our children to discriminate be tween union and non-union goods i
 the first step toward creating in thei