New Britain herald., 1916-09-04
Head of American Fedora ton Declares Republican Party Ignored Union WOrknen When Asked to Declare Itself While Dem- Ocrats Took Definite Stand.

eration of Labor, has made public a Btatement on "Labor's Achievem ents and Issues" for 1916, in which he - characterized the past year as re- markable one in the progress of the labor movement, especially in the shortening of the working day and in general labor legislation. The state ment in full, is as follows:
 Labor day, 1916, brings to the workers of America the right to cheer and confidence in the trade union movement. There have been tests and crises that have proved it's Fundamental principles; there have v been opportunities that have tested It's practical efficiency. Through them all the trade union movement has made sure progress and gained in confident vision for the futurei
 Every national and international local union affiliated to the American Federation of Labor has made de1- nite progress in securing for it's mem bers greater advantages in those things which are fundamental of bet Y terment in all relations of life. In some organizations the success has been phenomenal.
 Taking the labor movement as a whole there has been greater progress in securing the eight-hour day or the shorter workday than in any other similar period of time. The meaning s of these victories can interpreted only dn the light of full understanding of the meaning of the eight-hour day. The shorter workday Is omething more than an economic demand. It is demand for opportunity for rest, recuperation and development; things which make life more than mechani- cal drudgery
 '"The workers whose whole periods are short are essentially different from those who are so worn by toll that they have neither energy nor mind for other things in life. They become more energetic, more re- sourceful workers with keener men tality and greater producing power. It inevitably follows that the shirt hour workers are the best paid work CTS. With every reduction in hours there is always a corresponding h. crease in wages. Wherever demands for the shortn" workday and higher 1 wages hay peel4 resented and urged l by organ 1ed worker during the past 1 year, they have me- with success. l These economic gains have a potent 1 relation to the social side of life.
 "Shortening the period of work lengthens the period of development and for all of the ether activities that Belong to the normal individual. In- / creases in wages give the workers the means for taking advantage Of the increased opportunities of the shorter workday. The workers of short hours and better wages become very d1tfer- ent citizens from those who are so exhausted by the daily grind that they have neither the time nor the energy for thought nor aspiration. l. h n ter food, better clothing; time and op- portuniuy for the cultivation of the besc and the highest that is possible in the life of man.
 'FFcOnOmic achievements are the basis upon which the workers can se- cure social and political progress. The power which secures these achleVe- " menlx is the power that will secure justice Scr ttepc in every other rela- tion. Shorter hours and higher wages give the opportunity and the means to live better, more purposeful lives.
 Power through economic organ1- P zatton means political power There must be an economic basis in order to give political activity reasons for ex- s- istence and a program. By organiz- ing it's economic power to secure po- Iitical protection and by adherlng strictly to a non-partisan political program, the American Federation of Labor has won glorious legislative victories.
 '"The object of legislation which or eanized labor has sought to obtain is always to establish larger and better opportunities for life and freedom Organized labor does not seek through legislation to do things for the workers that they can do for them selves It only seeks to establish for them opportunities This principle applies to workers in private industry. In the case of workers in govern mental employment where the gov ernment is the employer and con- ditions of employment can be fixed %~cnly by legislation, then the or ganized labor movement seeks to do something more then merely establish opportunity. It must secure legisla- tion regulating conditions of employ ment.
 "The record of the legislative achievem ents of the labor movement since 1906 when the non-partisan political party was tnaugurated is one $of splendid victories. The two most important are the Sea1nan's act and the labor sections of the Clayton antitrust law. The greatest thing in both of these acts is the advance nlent of human freedom.
 "The problem of human freedom was not ended by the work of Lfn- ~coln. There still remained a class .1bound to involuntary servitude, the seamen The Seamen's act brings freedom to these workers. It makes American soil sacred to freedom, country upon which a bondman may not step without losing his legal fet- ters. Freed and given an opportunity