New Britain herald., 1918-09-04
EMPLOYERS HIT IN
 MORDECAI'S REPORT
C. P. Of |. President Says They
 Refuse to Improve Conditions
SEES NO LABOR SHORTAGE


 Higher Wage Cause For Indus
 trial Situation, He Belcycs-CaIIs
 Labor's War Record Good.
 New London, Conn. Sept. A. Loyalty of organized labor to the nation and it's response to the calls for men for active service in the fighting line and the support given to the government by those who re- main at home, were keynote utter ances of President George F. Nor decai at the annual convention of the Connecticut Federation of Labor here today. The delegate body was "a large one. The proceedings throughout were expected to be of exceptional interest owing to war conditions which have had their eff feet upon the labor situation in Connecticut industries and of the part taken by the federal government V4 settling wage differences.
 President Mordccai said the past Eear had been an especially trying one for picked men in organized labor were among those who had been taken for service on the battle fields of Europe, already blood soaked. He said that men who had known nothing of tactics in the great game of war had, after a short train ing, become soldiers second to none in the world. Thousands had been taken from lahors ranks and hun dreds have made the supreme sacri- fee.
 "Labor''. he said "should reverently give their utmost support to the government that nothing may inter fere Withc he production of these necessities needed to maintain the men and bring them home quickly in the knowledge that autocacy had been banished and democracy is to rule the world"
 Federation's War Record Good.
 President Mordecai said that the FederatiO need have no fear of it's record. The loyalty of organized labor" he said, "is unquestioned. We are doing everything that labor has within it's power to put down Prus- sianism. But we have oftentimes found that needed cooperation be- tween employer and employe has been lacking, and for any betterment of conditions our organizations can only thank the government. In the fac tories, especially, we find that every effort made toward betterment of conditions has been met with refusa on the part of the employer until such time as tho government has stepped In and made an adjustment We find, too that employers are successfully giving preference to female labor. [ do not wish to be understood as being opposed to employment of women but l am not ready to accept the state ments made that there is a shortage of labor in this state. From my own observs tion in a large munitions dis trict I have seen large numbers of men awaiting employment. None has been forthcoming unless at q low wage. so low that no man could sup port himself.
 Our government has stated that The lowest wage q man could exist on now is 40 cents an hour. Still there are innumerablo cases where men have been ffered 28 cents an hour. No blame can be attached to any man for refusing to accept wages at that figure. The so-called shortage of labor can be placed in my opinion, to
 
 labor This could be overcome by governmental standardization of wages and hours.
 At the present time men are going from shop to shop looking for higher wages which in some cases, has been promised, only to find that such higher wages are a myth, If such conditions continue production will fall off and 1t will have telling effect upon Inc war"
 President Mordecai said that owing 10 Bardens imposed upon workers it has been hard the past year to in crease membership in organizations. But local unions have taken Liberty bonds, and subscribed to war saving N Stamps. and to various funds for re- 1 lief of soldiers and sailors.
 Little Interest ill Politics.
 Making references to the fall e;cc- lions President Mordecai Sald the ex- eeuti*e board deemed advi:ahle to call together representatives Of local unions to form ulat3 q plan through which organi2nd ,9bor may receive
 (Continued on Ninth Psge)