Norwich bulletin., 1916-10-10

appealing addresses on the need of electing representatives from the labor ranks this fall. President William J. Fitzgerald of the Central Labor union presided and in introducing the speak CTS outlined the purpose of the meet
 ing and the immediate need of lab0.
 legislation.
 President Strem1eau said in part:
 It Is with great pleasure that I learn that the working people of Norwich are considering the advisability of nominating men who would be fair, and square, and try to secure legis
 lation in the state assembly for the benefit of the working people. All of you realize that sometimes 1t Is true, our people have not had the desire to hold office in the legislature, owing to the expense. although the state allows certain sum and for that reason our working men have not wanted a seat in the assembly. They know and real iZe that their families would have to go without certain necessary 1uxuries. But today the workers realize that some sacrifice must be made in the flu ture, Those of you who have fol- lowed legislative action must surely realize that legislation is for the inter- est of a certain few. The reason for this can be laid to financial conditions. We claim that the time mas come when we should make some sacrifice and I am glad Norwich has called this meet ing for this cause. As you all per haps know, I was In the assembly in 1918, It is true we had friends in both the senate and the assembly who helped us. but neVerthesess we had to urge those few, At the last session we were less fortunate as we had only one man to get out and work for us. 1 The result was we gained little,
 The Compensation Law.
 ! In the 1913 session we were success l full In the passage of the compensa- l ton law that has meant so much to us, 1 We, the workers, claim the victory and ] that was chiefly due to our friends in | the 1913 assembly. That cOmpensa- l tion law was one we struggled for for years and finally 1t became 8 reality | in the state of Connecticut, It was a step towards the right direction and
 was due to our friends, Fly friends, I am going to outline @ few of the bills
 and then you will see the necessity of
 clecttng men. First of all. l want
 to warn you that If you dc not send
 men strong enough to stand the | chances are they will fall by the way 1 side Your president has stated one bill in particular. Bill No, f296. That
 law is going to remain on the statute
 books until the working man sees Ii
 is removed or amended, I watched and organized the silver workers strike in Meriden and saw men and
 women forced to a strike, They were l loyal to their cause and the company felt Itself slipping ana as soon as they saw the chance of loss they fllec an injunction on men doing picket duty In the court proceedings bill No 129f was referred to and a temporary injunction was granted. If these steps
 were not taken the men would have been at work Now what is true 1T l Merlden is true in other cities.
 The Right to Quit Work.
 The constitution of the United States gives us the right to quit z job at any time because of the need of better working conditions. It is
 true if some one should in the hea'
 of passion call a man a scab because
 he Is doing strike breaking work, ht
 might tie up not only his home anC
 money but also the same circumstance!
 of other members of this particula,
 organization and that Is an injustice
 because one individual breaks the law
 The compensation law enacted il
 1913 is far from the one we wanted
 In 1915 we pleaded for an amendment
 The injustice of the waiting period aft
 CT disability is clearly plain. We clatn
 that the employer of g. corporation i handicapped. His family should no
 suffer It was so unjust that the las , assembly reduced it to 10 days. " kttempted to wipe out the 10 days. w believe compensation should start iron
 the day of injury. We also hope u secure a larger compensation of 66 g. per cent, instead of tne present 5
 per cent. Many of the states have s per cent. whil others have 75 per cent So friends, you see we have got u make special effort.
 OccupationaI Diseases.
 During 1913 we discussed the bill a one time whether the law would in
 clude occupational diseases. We be } lieve the families should not be lief 7 paupers. We arc going to try to amen the law regarding occupational dis eases and establish a state fund. Sometimes labor Is charged with be } ing marrow, but I believe we are broa minded. In the matter of prison re forms we would bring about a change i Today a man in prison Is compelled t
 work for a contractor We believe ou } prisons and Jails should be Of a re , | eormatory nature and try to cure tn l prisoner of his weakness, The con { tractors put the individual to wor 5 without regard to occupation. One 0 the reasons we claim the contracto
 has the advantage of the employe an outside employer Is becauSr of com I petition. In our prison at Wethers ] field they work on shirts. What zoe does that don A big robust man do ing woman's work! It Is also harmfu ] to ones outside the prison. Wha [ chance have women to compete ngains 'AAN 5 with opposition, but our point of vie1 2 Is a broad one.
 r Shorter Working Hours.
 , Another one of our features is t = shorten the working hours of wo1ne g and children. Most of our trades ca ], for eight hours a day. We firmly be
 lieve 1t is time for us to get leglsla
 tion for the woman and children ( this state. It has been tried in man E industries, the eight hour law, and has proven B success. We look upo z our girls, slavlng, and see them tn mothers of the future generation an if we want to have 9 strong futur { | generation we must acti
 Another is of manufacturers adver /. Using for help, not stipulating the fac that there Is a strike. We have see too often manufacturing advertising 1 = papers great distance from the bas' for help. Men go there not knowin | | there is a strike on., It is an injustic , to the men to be nnisled.
 f Don't Want Outside Guards.
 :. We believe also there should be en
 acted another law prohibiting tn
 ] bringing of outside guards into tn
 | state. We believe that the city an
 | ,+o officials eap hand1a stf11afious a n