New Britain herald., 1916-11-13
Eight Hour Law.

Ine PREDATORY interests OF the COun-
try"
Eight Hour Law.
Speaking Of the eight hour day law
passed by congress to avert the re-
Gently threatened railroad strike the
report says, For nearly a century
the labor movement Of America has
conducted a campaign for the estab-
l1shment of a maximum eight hour
work day" and characterizes the leg
lslation by congress as "a notable
movement" 1t says the eight hour
day was established "as a primary
step in conserving the lives and the
working power Of wage earners.'
In taking the position that the
principle of the eight hour day should
be conceded as right that ought not
be arbitrated, the report says, Mel
Their President Wilson nor the railway
brotherho Gods rejected the principle Of
arbitration as the railroad presidents
have wrongfully claimed. These
matters are arbitraDle which concern
property and property rights
Discussing President Wilson's pro-
posals for legislation the report says
an essential figure was the creation
of compulsory governmental insttu-
tons to regulate industrial relations
in an occupation not owned or oper-
ated by the government itself 1t is
a revolutionary proposition totally out
Of harmony without prevailing insti-
tutions and out Of harmony with our
philosophy of government"
THE wage earners of the United
States will oppose any proposition to
impose on them compulsory institu-
tons which disguise involuntary serv-
itude. They hold that the principle
involved in voluntary institutions is
the key to personal and industrial
freedom and that this principle is Of
more Importance to them than any
other consideration. Involuntary and
compulsory labor once enforced even
for single hour, Will not halt at its
temporary enforcement but will go
and become permanent"
"splendid record Of achievem ant"
in legislation, through activities Of the
federation by "positive participation
in politics for the purpose Of securing
the election Of those in favor Of the
aims of the labor movement and the
defeat of those who had demonstrated
their hostility to the case of labor is
set forth in detail.
In connection with proposed voca-
tional education legislation the report
recommends that any board created
to administer such law by non-par-
tlsan in character and represent agri-
culture, labor, commerce, industry
and education and that it not be per-
m1tted to become a mere political
adjunct Of the party in power
The right of labor to participation
in matters affecting it is insisted upon
with the statement: "the basis for
representation and participation in
the affairs of organized society is man,
not property. The workers, the
masses Of the people, therefore, have
a right to participate and will insist
upon this participation in the deter
mination and control Of all that con-
Germs all their lives and the lives of
generations yet to come"
Objection to government censor
SKIP Of moving pictures is registered
on the ground that it would inter-
fere with proper freedom Of express
sion and action and by the rank and
file of the federation is asked to sup
port this view.
The opposition Of the organization
to compulsory social insurance is de-
tailed as requiring something to be
uOle Iol o1heiS WlInOuL consuming
them, which would prevent workers
doing these things for themselves and
! maintaining their own Institutions
Contributions to help the Danbury
Hatters pay the damages to D. e.
Loewe and Company in connection
with the successful anti trust suit
against their organization were an
nounced at $158,730.
Special efforts have been directed
to the organization Of women work
ers and attention has been paid to
organizations Of boys and girls to
train them in the fundamentals of
unionism.