New Britain herald., 1916-05-12
LABOR LEADER RAPS
 SEN. kLETT'S RECORD
Stremlau Plays Local Legislator for Attitude Toward Labor

Admonishing his auditors against
 forgetting the record of Senator G. w.
 Klett in the recent session of the legis-
 1ature, State President Julius Stremlau
 of the Connecticut Federation of Labor, delivered an address that was
 full of enthusiasm from a labor union
 standpoint, also containing some tart
 criticism for the local legislator who
 was alluded to as no friend of union
 labor, at the open meeting of the Gen.
 tral Labor Union last evening in Ma
 chinists' hall. The hall was taxed to
 Its capacity when the meeting was
 called to order. .<
 Well VerSed in the various tranSac-
 tions that pertained to any movement
 in regard to labor, President Stremlau
 took up the actions of Senator K1ett,
 riddling them full of holes until, at
 the close of his address, the record of
 MT. Klett resemb bled a sieve. The principal matters that pertained to
 beneficial results for union labor were the esta b1ishment of a factory inspec- tor and the bureau of statistics, which, through the efforts of Klett and Senator Peaseley of Waterbury were later placed under a labor com- mission, at the head of which was a Manchester lawyer, giving the manufacturing interests more power over them, MT. Stremlau said.
 Always turning a deaf ear to the re- quests of labor men, Senator Klett was a man who the labor interests should look after if" he attempts to come before the public at any election later on. At no time, the speaker said, I has Senator Klett showed any interest or inclination to be of assistance in the cause of union labor, during his tenure of office as senator from this district. z.5'r. s4
 This is the second time within few months that the record of Senator Klett in the legislature has been crit fcised. Sol Sontheimer, at a meeting of the Bakers union, severely cen- sured the local legislator for his at titude toward labor interests. Judges Get Bumped.
 Jasper McLevy of Bridgeport, first | vice president of the Connecticut Fed eration of Labor, spoke at length on | the manner of enforcing the compen- sation law in this state and Massachu- setts. In the latter state, occupational | sickness is recognized as cause for inn mediate compensation, but in Con- necticut, where it was intended to car ry out the provisions of the law along the same lines, influential judges have interpreted the law in a manner more beneficial to the manufacturers, MT. RMcLevy said. The speaker rapped the method of appointing judges, stating that it should be left to the wisdom of the people.
 Hot Shot for Others. |
 One of the best addresses of the evening was delivered by General Or ganizer Wickham of the Machinists' Union. MT. Wickham. said on arriv- ing in this city several weeks ago he saw pasted throughout the city signs Help the Boy" If the manufacturers would pay a more reasonable wage to the father, the boy would be able to continue in school longer and receive a better physical and mental training. and there would be no need of looking for charity, he said. The speaker said it has been oftentimes remarked that workmen were the cause of many of the gigan- tic strifes and troubles that occur. Citing an incident in New Haven, MT. Wickham spoke of alleged efforts to create dissension there by MT. Whit ney and MT. Kelly of the Hartford County Manufacturers association and their talks were of a nature to draw down a severe rebuke from the Elm City manufacturers who as- sured them that things were progress Ing peacefully and there was no need of their interference. In Springfield the interfering manufacturers were accorded the same treatment. He re- ferred to the efforts such as the Boys club campaign as sop to ease the conscience of the troubled manufac- turers who after feeling the bangs of for the poor wages paid their take this medium of reliev- ing themselves of some of their wor ries. Good positions are found in charitable institutions, the speaker said, $18,00O,OOO being received for this work in this country during the past year. of which but $3,000,00 was used for that purpose. the remainder being paid out for official salaries.
 Thomas Crosby, Sr.. spoke on the benefits derived by the Typographical Union through its eight hour day, the pension fund, the home for aged printers and the $400 mortuary ben eft.
 Mayor Quigley also spoke.
 The entertainment consisted of ] solos by Bob Andrews and Jack" recitations by J. J. Bonney, and piano selections by Professor