The morning journal-courier., 1908-01-16
Given the Privilege of Making Statement to State Branch, American Federation
 of Labor.
MEASURES HE INTRODUCED
Did So While in the Legislature at the Instance of New Ha- ven Business
 Men.

Bridgeport, Jan. 15.-At the after
 noon session of the Connecticut branch
 of the American Federation of Labor
 Edwin s. Thomas of West Haven, sec letary of the Democratic State Central
 committee asked from the Federation the privilege of making a statement The request of MT Thomas was
 granted, business suspended and MT.
 Thomas given the floor. He said he
 had come to this city to-day to make an
 explanation in regard to the action of the federation four years ago in cen-
 surfing him for his attitude while in
 the state legislature on certain meas ures considered unfair to organized la
 Dor. MT. Thomas stated that the par ticular measure to which objection was made at the time were introduced by
 him at the request of the New Haven Business Mems association and with out any knowledge of their merit He went on to say that he had always been friendly to organized labor and had learned only two weeks ago that his attitude had been the subject of discussion and action which might be detrimental to him.
 If my conduct at that particular time" he continued, twas against the best interests of organized labor I sin- cerely regret 1t, and l wish to impress upon this body the fact that I sincerely regret the incident which moved this body to take it's action ''
 MT Thomas remarks were heartily applauded and a resolution was unani- mously adopted acquitting him of all blame in the matter and absolving him from any censure involved in the pre- vlous action During the discussion of the resolution 1t developed that the rec ords of the previous action of four years ago could not be located and many of those present could not recall the nature of that action.
 The report of the committee on reso- iutions was presented and adopted by the convention favorable action having been recommended on the resolutions concerning employers liability, taxing of fraf chises for their actual value, postal savings bank, direct primaries initiative and referendum and the elec-I ton of United States senators by the people directly.
 In discussing the employers liability resolution Delegate Nance of Hart ford said that the idea was not simply to adopt the resolution but to have the various local unions take the mat ter up and also to let the little giant, Morgan c. Bulkeley. see that we are alive to the situation"
 During the discussion of the report 1t was also disclosed that the Central Labor union of Bridgeport at its last session adopted a resolution providing that after May 1 of the present year no delegate shall be permitted to sit In the Central Labor union unless all pf his wearing apparel shall bear the uni on label. This action was ex- ola,ined by State Organizer John J. | DNSeill. who is also a former presi- | ietnt of the local Central Labor union | The resolution concerning the anti l saloon crusade was not reported by | The committee this afternoon, but is expected to be brought in tomorrow, and 1t is believed will be the signal | For vigorous discussion in the conven- Eion. This resolution was to the ef- | Feet that the federation is opposed to | Ehe anti-saloon crusade, this being | submitted in behalf of the Barten- slers' union.
 The resolution favoring the estab- Hishment of tuberculosis hospitals and | better sanitary conditions in factories Rwas also adopted