New Britain herald., 1916-03-04

MACHlN|STS' SPRING
 CAMPAIGN OPENS
Organizer Talks to Small Crowd
 on Benefits Of UniOniSm

tendance at the first of the open meetings of the Machinists' union last evening. Owing to labor troubles in Boston, Nlce-president Frank H. Jennings, who was scheduled to ad- dress the meeting, was unable to ap- pear, and instead Frank Morris of Worcester, an organizer for the h. ternational Machinists union, filled the role of speaker John F. Quinn presided at the meeting.
 Tn his opening remarks MT. Quinn told of the success that the local union has attained in the few months of it's existence, picturing the fine quarters which are open to the mem- bers at all times, and urged that all men employed at machine trades join the union and assist in the fight for the eight hour day.
 Predicts Fight This Spring.
 Organizer Morris said that the International Machinists union of the United States has commenced a campaign of education in the eight hour day and hoped to enroll all men immediately in the fight to be Waged this spring for the demands of a shorter day. In speaking of the cA rlachinists should take advantage of the opportunity that is open to them at present, and not pay so much at tention to the sort of preparedness that is preached by the loud mouthed politicians" Workmen in this coun- try, the speaker said, are confronted with one of the strongest com pines, the National Metal association, they have ever faced.
 Ashamed He Was an American.
 ''Flunkets' or "1ackeys' in the role of foremen in factories, are constant ly working up a state of nationality strife, by approaching different nationalties and telling them that they are superior to the other fellow in skill as workmen, he said. Morris said that despite the fact that he was an American, he was forced to feel ashamed of his nationality the strike in Lawrence, Mass, five years ago, in which of 1000 workers, in cluding 17,00O men and women of foreign birth. more than 90 per cent of the strike breakers were Ameri- cans.
 The speaker said that at present conditions are better than ever be- fore for securing shorter hours on account of the demand for muniti ons and machinery to manufacture the same He said the sweep which started in Bridgeport had practically taken in most of the New England States. He spoke of a system of in dividual method of paying workmer in the Brown & Sharpe company wherby men did not get the same Ii lf nrly C if one told another what he received it was ample cause for immediate discharge The recent eight hour wave, however, has been instru- mental in Wiping out this method from the concern, he claimed
 In PittSburg and SurrOunding 2 towns, Morris said there is an un- derstanding between the manufact- urers that after a man has reached the age of 45 years he is let go, for the company figures that if he has worked as hard as he is supposed to do under their system he has reached the limit usefulness, and if his hair has not turned gray it is an evidence, the factory owners, feel that he has shirked his duties, and he is let go, just the same Morris said that he Knew of many cases where workmen have dyed their hair so as to try and retain their method of livelihood.
 Are Working Men Afraid?.
 Chairman Quinn said he was sorry that so few put in an appearance to hear the speaker. He intimated that workmen were afraid to take a chance to attend a labor meeting, fearing the wrath of the local manu- lecturers. The union has planned a number of similar meetings and at the next March 8, Daniel Donovan, one of the ablest labor organizers in the country will address the men. The benefits derived from the union, MT. Quinn said, should appeal to every man who is eligible. When the recent strike occurred, none of the Workmen were prepared, but through the strike benefits of SS to married men and $6 to single men. they would be better prepared to put up a fight when the demand was made for eight hours.
 It is said that within the past few