New Britain herald., 1915-09-08

that such are nominated and elected as will give ,labor's interests fair con- sideration' in this good old common wealth of Connecticut.
 Union Label.
 At each of our conventions it is our duty to again pledge ourselves to go back to our locality determined to carry on an effective campaign for tbe 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 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, of the greatest importance, especially at this time. Ittis more and more recognized that organization is neces- s4ry 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 ganization gives the right of choice, choice or freedom. The organizer of the Connecticut Federation of Labor has been doing splendid work jointly with the other organizations that are at the present time in our state. Their accomplishments are, commend able. I should recommend that the executive council should continue the organizer in the field until the indus trial conditions in this state through organization are so improved that the toilers will receive fair wages and reasonable working hours.
 Eight Hour Work Day.
 We are today nearer the goal of the ambition of the trade union move ment for shorter work day, the agitation 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 empIoyes in industries. The, United States Commission on Indus- trial Relations, under the fearless leadership of the patriotic chairman, Frank P. Walsh, in making it's report l says in brief the following: The physical well-being, mental develop lnent and recreation needs of every 1 class of population demand that | under normal circumstances the
  hours. This coming from such a | vestigated the conditions in large 1 number Of industries should be con- vincing to all that the eight hour day is imperative.
 Affiliaton-Dues.
 At tho close of the last convention | 1 our executive council decided that they would visit each one in his To- cality, the organizations that were not affiliated with the federation, with the hopes of bringing about the affil1ation of all organizations with the federation. We were not as suc- cessful as we had hoped for. We have gained about 2,000 new members the past year. The reason that was given to your officers for not affilia- ting was that the organizations could not afford to. pay the per capita Quite number of the locals charge their mer bers little in dues, and having other trade affiliations to pay, too, that they feel that they could not shoulder any more per capita and to increase their dues would be hard, especially these trades that were af- fected by the depression in business during the tsst year, many of their members having only worked a few hours a week.
 After carefully looking into the matter of getting greater utilization irto the federation, I would recom- mend that this convention take into consideration the advisability of re- ducing the per capita dues to the federation from. six cents per member for the quarter to three cents a mem Der quarterly. I believe that such reduction would bring into the fed- eration most all the organizations that are entitled to be admitted, and there by making our federation of greater influence in this state. I believe with the increased number of organiza- lions that we have gained the last two years, it is safe to try it this year, as there is no session of the general assembly and the organiza- tions that are going to ojin the federation will bring up our funds to the normal amount I am satisfied that with the reduction of the per capita and the agitation for larger and better federation, with the as- sistance of the international unions that are urging their locals to join their respective state federations, we will build up a state organization that in the. future we can point to with pride and say to the next legis- lature that we represent the entire labor forces of the state. I should recommend that each delegate here pledge himself to go from this con- vention feeling that it is his duty to encourage the locals in his locality to affiliate with the Connecticut State Branch of the A. F. of l..
 Conviction of Lawson
 Let us not forget the injustice of the courts not only in this state