New Britain herald., 1915-09-08
STREMLAU TALKS /. ON S-HOUR DAY
Nearing Goal States C. E.
 L. President Legislation Review


 ; of the trade union movement for a shorter work-day," said Julius Strem- lau, president of the Connecticut Fed eration of Labor. in his annual ad- dress to the delegates today, shortly after the second days session opened. At least we can see that there is a dawning of the eight hour day for ,employes in industries he added amid enthusiasm.
 / President Stremlau's Report.
 President Stremlau spoke in part as follows:
 To the officers and delegates of the Thirtieth Annual Convention of the Connecticut Federation of Labor:
 Fellow Trade Unionists:
 It is with pleasure that I submit to the Thirtieth Annual Convention brief report as President of the Con- S,necticut State Branch of the A. F. of L..
 We are again assembled for the purpose of discussing and perfectlnS . plans for our future. Each year brings for the trade union movement new tests and new problems and the year just closed has not been without its hardship and it's disapp ointme and yet not discoura ging, for the past {. year with it's severe trials has passed and we have not lost in strength, in- 6uence or organization, in fact, the past year has been one of most grat- flying progress and steady growth for the trade union movement in Con- necticut and the Federation has shared in the progress. While we have not secured quite as many To- .-cals in aff1liation as we did last year or as we had hoped for, nevertheless a steady gain has been made and the Federation is today larger and of greater influence than ever before.
 It is of the greatest importance that you, the delegates to this 1915 con- vention came to it's session fully aware of the great responsibility and duty 1which rests upon you, that you came ready to consider and decide all mat ters purely and wholly from the standpoint of human welfare. Let all things be- done in the spirit that will make this gathering one that will inspire new courage and love for hu- | manity and prepare for still more l glorious success for the trade union movement. eA-@ o%r &.,.,s,. l ~ Legislation.
 In dealing with this phase of our work I shall not attempt to discuss in detail our action in the General Assembly. II purpose to direct your attention only to such issue, as are most urgent and fundamental. -.s,
 From the beginning of the session of the General Assembly we realized 'that our fight would be an uphill one. Our first disappointment was the makeup of the committees. We had hoped that the committee on la bor would be selected of men that were interested in the bills that come before that committee, or ,at least, of men coming from industrial cen- ters that would be sufficiently in touch with laboring interests to impartially fudge the merits of the bills intro aauced in behalf of labor. The com mittee, with the exception of Hon. Martin German of Danbury, was made up of men coming from districts wher there was little or no chance for them to understand the labor problem. s.~s .la=-..
 To this committee the majority of the measures that we were interested, a number of bills that had been in- troduced, dealing with the shorter work day that is so much desired, 8was we'll attended. Our case was well presented by many members of organized labor especially the Textile { Organization showed up we'll and put up convincing plea for the shorter work day, as well as the ladies of the Connecticut Woman's Suffrage As- sociation and Professor Willard c. Fisher, but all in vain, as the commit tee reported every bill dealing with the reduction of hours unfavorably.
 The Polishers' and Buffers Bill.
 The Polishers' and Buffers Bill, : which is most desirable, as it would prohibit the employment of women and minors at this most unhealthy oc- cupation, was also presented in a most able manner by members of organized ] labor by Professor Willard c. Fisher, Attorney Thomas Spellacy, Vice-Pres- ident John J. Flynn of Cincinnati, all producing statistics showing it to be a. most dangerous occupation for wo- ! man, but this was also reported un- favorab1y as were many other de- sirable bills rejected by this commit tee. .... .,.. ...... ...."....-
 The Judiciary Committee had re- ferred to it, many bills that were of great importance, but like the Labor Committee, appeared to think that the condition of the working class was s bed of roses. The plea of our mem- bers was in vain on such bills as The Trades Dispute Act amending Section 1296, The Advertising for La bor During Labor Troubles; The Hiring of Armed Guards; The Repeal of the Personal, Tax; The Plumbers Bill; The Old Age Pension Bill; The Establishing of a State Printery; The One Days Rest in Seven. All the