Norwich bulletin., 1914-03-02
NEED OF MORE
 ORGANIZATION OF LABOR.
Urged by State A. F. of L. Officers at
 Meeting Under C. L. U. Auspices.


 Under the auspices of the Norwich Central Labor Union a meeting in the interests or organized labor was held on Sunday afternoon at 230 at the Colonial theater Like every other public gathering of the day, the at tendance was seriously affected by the persistent wind and rain storm. and there were only about 75 men and one or two women in the theater to hear the speakers. Swahn's orchestra rem dered an attractive opening pro- gramme.
 President William Fitzgerald of the Norwich Central Labor Union opened the meeting and introduced R. P. Gun ningham of Norwalk, secretary treas urer of the Connecticut Federation of Labor, as the chairman.
 Mir. Cunningham welcomed the au- dience present and outlined the pur- pose of the State Federation in three particulars, viz, the increase of in terest in local organizations.the bring ing of all of them into affiliation with the State Federation, and more am pasis to be placed upon the union la bel. He pointed out that all this would tend to strengthen the hands of the labor legislators. who could then say that they represented the whole force of working people in the state Through this there would be added strength given to the labor legislators in making their claims for labor leg iSlctiOn.
 State Organizer J. J. Roddy was the next speaker, addressing his hearers the necessity for organising the unor- sanized, and saying that he was to be in Norwich fpr the week and his att tentien in that time would be given to organization work.
 | J, Fitzgerald of Cincinnati. vice ,7 r1f rof fst, Buffers. was the following speaker. Te was well known to many in the audi ence. as he was in this city in Connec- ton with the recent wage schedule change for the polishers at the Hop lzins & Allen Arms company.
 Vice President Fitzgerald said that ft was his opinion that no city was more in need of organization than Norwich, and he spoke of conditions in New Britain, where, he said the workingmen are at pretty nearly the level of beasts. for they had deserted their union organization. while the manufacturers had organized and are aiming towards a condition of longer hours and shorter pay.
 He told the audience that Norwich was practically the only city in the country where wages had been re- duced and the reason was the indif- ference of the workingmen and their deseTtion of those agencies which would help them.
 MT. Fitzgerald went into details re- garding labor troubles in the polish CTS line now existing with a motor cycle factory, where a strike started on January 9th. The wages in this factory had been higher than in oth- CTS in New England. and on the sug- gestion of other manufacturers. ME Fitzgerald said. that this was bad for the trade. all efficiency expert was brought in and a plan was introduced which was q wage cut. The polishers are still maintaining a peaceful pick ct on the motorcycle factory, and are issuing their warnings everywhere as to the unfair conditions at this Spring stieid factory,
 Mir. Fitzgerald said he did net have te tell these things te- the Norwich poiishers. whe knew what had hap