The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-09-08

& III E | in the industries, and who are the | states best assets, to make their bur l dens lighter and their lives happier | But let us not lose courage. It is our work and our duty to continue the | advocating for better laws to protect ! and improve the condition of man. kind Our best efforts should be that such men are nominated and elected as will give labor's interest fair con-
 sideration in this good old common wealth of Connecticut
 UNION LABEL.
 l At each of our contentious it Is our duty to again pledge ourselves to go back to our locality determined to carry on an effective campaign for the union label Every effort should
 be made to bring forcible attention of all members that the strongest weapon for organization is the pur- chasing of union label products and | patronizing the places that display 1 union store or shop cards or buttons. It is our duty to see that only union labor is employed.
 ORGANIZATION.
 This part of our work is. indeed, l of the greatest importance, especially at this time It is more and more recognized that organization is neces- sary for the protection and uplifting of the working class. Only through organization can we hope to have a voice in determining wages and con- ditions under which we work. Or ganfzation gives the right of choice, choice of freedom. The organizer of the Connecticut Federation of Labor has been doing splendid work jointly with the organizations that are at the present time in our state. Their ac- comp1ishnents are commendable- I should recommend that the executive council should continue the organizer in the field until the industrial condi- tions in this state through organi- zation are so improved that the toiI- CTS will receive fair wages and req sonab1e working hours
 EIGHT-HOUR WORK DAY.
 We are today nearer the goal of the ambition of the trade union move ment for a shorter work day, the agi- tatton for the eight-hour day that has been carried on for many years. At last we can see that there is a dawning of the eight-hour day for the employees in industries. The United States Com mission on Industrial Re- lations, under the fearless leadership of the patriotic chairman, Frank F. Walsh, in making it's report says in brief the following: The physical welI-being, mental development and recreation needs of every class of population demand that under nor nal circumstances the working day should not exceed eight hours This coming from such a Commission that has inpartially investigated the con- ditions in a large number of indus- tries should be convincing to all that the eight-hour day is imperative
 FRATERNAL DELEGATES.
 At our last convention we received a visit from President Alden of the Massachusetts State Branch. A F. of L., as a fraternal delegate, with greetings and good wishes from our neighbor state. As result of his visit a. resolution was, adopted at our last convention instructng. your presi- dent to attend the Massachusetts State Branch convention. In accord ance with that resolution did attend the twenty ninth convention of the Massachusetts Federation : I tried to represent our federation in a credita- b1e manner in my address to the con- vention. I spoke of our aims and our accomplishments. The q convention from the day 1t opened it's session un- til it closed was of good instructive value to your delegate The splen- did represent of the men and women at the convention, the able delivered to the conventio on by many state and city officials were of great interest, their praise for the organized labor movement for the
  ed and the good wishes for the flu ture of the labor movement was very encouraging It inspires a man with new courage and hope. would recommend that the sending of a fra ternal delegate to our sister state be continued. We learn from one another and nothing but good can come from such visits.
 NATIONAL MOMENTS TRADE
 UNION LEAGUE.
 In accordance with the resolutio on adopted at the last convention. that the president of the Federation at tend the convention of the Women's gate, did attend the fifth biennial con vention, which was held in New York city, beginning June z, and closed its sessi on on June 12. ~s
 The convention was a representa- tive gathering, delegates (mostly From the opening of the session until 1t closed was one of interest. Every phase of the labor movement was most thoroughly discussed The ag1- tatfon for the union label. the or gantzation of all employees. the building of Labor Temples, the train ing of women for organizers. in fact, every economic question was debated at length. am sure that the organ ization will be of great benefit to the labor movement and every encour- agement should be- given to this or ganization of women. AFFTIIATION-DU
 At the close of the last conYen- ton your executive council decided that they would visit each one in his locality, the organizations that were not affiliated with the Federation, with the hopes of br1nging about the ah1liation of all organizations with the Federation. We were not as successful as we had hoped for. We have gained about 2,o00 new mem bers the past year. z7he reason that was given to your officers for not af- f1iating was that the organization could not afford to pay the per cap- ita. Quite a number of the locals