New Britain herald., 1915-09-21

l wait for the principal speakers to I put in an appearance a quartet com l posed of strikers sang the following
 ballad to the tune of "Put on our | Old Gray Bonnet"
 Put on your old gray bonnet with
 the eight hours on It
 Don't mind what the bosses say,
 And when the fight is over we will 1 be in closer
 1 For we'll work eight hours day. 1 The song and singers were met with | a storm of cheers, and were forced
 to respond to many encores. Soon 1 a piano was pressed into service and | this tended to keep the crowd in good
 spirits. The singers sang several other ballads but the one that struck l the most melody in the voices of the men was the hour song. The Speakers.
 On the speakers table were be-
 sides the organizers Messrs. Carlson
 Cook of the strikers committee and Sol Southeimer of Hartford, second vice-president of the Connecticut Fed eration of Labor.
 Charles Carlson addressing the au- dience and, requested the strikers an- them," the words being printed on cards advocating the eight hour a day. At it's conclusion MT. Carlson suggested that all strikers should learn it. He said the delay was caused by the, trouble in locating the hall. He then introduced Mr. Southeimer. The speaker said it was very gratify- Ing to see so many at a meeting in the interests of labor.
 He said he had tried to organize a machinists' union here before and failed. He said that the time had arrived and the opportunity good for the machinists to organize a strong union.
 You men have been in the state of apathy up to the present time. The manufacturers and employers of labor are in a position at the present time to grant you the. demands that you ask. "By organizing you will get the eight-hour a day and other advantages as in other cities. Don't be hum bugged by promises of bonuses and other things promised by the factory owners" the speaker pleaded.
 The speaker said by. organization they will get their demands if they take advantage of present conditions. The factory owners do not fear you as individuals, but as soon as you form union, the employers of labor will put on their thinking caps and will come to the conclusion that the work men have come to the state of realiza-. tion that they will have to grant the demands of their employees.
 "The factory men have had it all their own way on account of your in- difference" the speaker said.
 "The manufacturers have all. or ganized, organized into union," and if it is good for them it is good for you," he said.
 MT. Southeimer said it was safe to say that the machinists do not get the pay they are entitled to. He cited the instances of how we'll masons, and other craftsmen are paid, which is due to organization.
 "You will never get such pay and hours until you have joined the In- ternational Association of Machinists ] tradesmen to not leave this hall to- day until you have joined this asso- ciation," the speaker said. The 1 principal speakers will tell you of the l benefits to be derived by joining this l man to express his intention of jo1n- HE t1iC oI Sd1ilAcu pOuy Dy SlSulI1S OA the necessary papers. International ] Organizer Jennings struck enthusiasm 1 into the strikers by the able talk he l gave the men on banding together" State Organizer Larkin also addressed | the men and made final appeal to | the men to affiliate themselves with l the union. ~.
 The strikers discussed the state 1 nent at length made by the speakers and many joined the union. l