Waterbury Democrat., 1902-10-17
FEDERATION OF LABOR.
Strong Resolutions Adopted at Tester
 days Meeting.

Strong Resolutions Adopted at Yester-
 days Meeting.
 Meriden. Oct 1.-The Connecticut branch of the American Federation of Labor, at it's session yesterday, unani- mously adopted some strong resolu- tions, as follows
 Federation Platform.
 l. Dangerous machinery and sani- tary conditions: Remedy, absolute re- sponsibility of employers for injuries sustained by employees at their work. 30 long as the capitalists receive profit from other mems labor, they must be held responsible for accident occurring in their services.
 2. Factory inspection: So long as inspectors are appointed by political favor there is danger that they will cater to capitalist interests as we have observed. They should be responsible only to the class for whose service they exist. As a remedy inspectors to be elected by the workingmen in the vari- ous trades and to have ample powers to enforce the law
 E Absolute prohibition of child labor and prohibition of female labor n dangerous and unhealthy occupa- tions.
 4 A compulsory maximum working day of eight hours for all wage work ers--the reduction of working hours Will increase the chances of employ ment, and will thus help to reduce the competition for work, and make it easier for workingmen to secure in- creased wages.
 2. Pensions: Superannuated work CTS to be pensioned Instead of the poorhouse and potters field. We deem that those who have spent their lives Tn useful labor are far more deserving or public care than those who have been employed in the destruction of ire and property, and that it is not charity. but simple justice for the old age.
 6. The unemployed: Work to be provided for the unemploved The s+ate and the municipalities to undertake whatever source of industry shall he necessary or proper for this purpose. All public work to be done on public account without the intervention of contractors. Union wages and condi. tons to prevail on all public work. ! 1 Strikes and lockouts: The re- sources or the public treasury to be available for the assistance of strikers or lockfd-ott workingmen struggling Tor better share of the product of tnelr labor. At present the powers of the state .are used to help capitalists Ill their controversies with labor. $. Monopolies Public ownership of all industries that shall take the form of moloDoIies. ,. Military companies Whereas the military companies of this country nave been and are being used to break tne ranks of strikers and locked-out l Workingmen. the bone and sinew of the nations productive work. we therefore l request that all union men refrain rom joining voluntarily any state mili- tary company.
 lo. To help accomplish this we pro- pose the initiative and referendum and I proportional representation, already adopted by the A. E. of L., and demand such legislation as will secure such pro- tectlon by law through our legislators as will give the wage working. wealth producing class the full protection these demands call for, and that this | convention go on record as the united wage workers of Connecticut, favoring these resolutions.
 Preferred Claims. I Whereas. The statutes of Connecti- cut rail to make provision giving labor .I preferred claims against insolvent es- rates of deceased persons as it does in insolvent estates of living persons, be it hereby
 Resolved. That we instruct our com. ing lnpislativa committee to present to the coming legislature bill relative to the same with an idea in view of se- curing the deserved rasnlts.
 Free Text Books.
 Whereas The Federation of Labor hos reneated1v brought before the leg lislatrre measures providine for the fur nishing of free text books by the state ard said measures have as often been defeated, be It hereby
 Resolved. That we again direct onr legislative committee to present to the incoming leqislatl1re similar measures providing for the furnishing of free text books bv the state.
 l Also resolutions for government ownership of coal mines and for a fund to defend the Ansonia men en joined bv Tudge Gagar and to make q thornuoh fest of the law.
 Ann+ber resolution adnnted appronri ated 5000 for the benefit of Ihe striking velvet weavers of South Manchester Another resolution declared the yeIyats of the mills ir> South Manchester s'un fair" and Secretary P. IF. Connolly was instructed to renuest the Ameri ran Federation of Labor to take simi Elar action.
 president Sullivan Of Hartford says Ethat he will not accent a reelection. < II Al -.