The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-09-04
LABOR IS LOYAL TO GOVERNMENT
 SAYS MORDECAI Head of State Federation of Labor Explains Attitude
 of Organizations.
OPENING OF STATE
 CONVENTION TODAY
Delegates From Every Un- ion in State Attending
 New London Sessions.

New London, Conn, Sept. 3-Loy- alty of organized labor to the Nation and its response to the calls for men for active service in the fighting line, and the support given to the govern ment by those who remain at home were keynote utterances of President George F. Mordecai in opening the an- nual 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 effect upon the labor situation in Connecticut industries and of the part taken by the federal government in settling wage dofferences.
 President Mordecai said the past year had been an especially trying one for picked men in organized labor were among those who had been ta ken for service on the battlefields 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 training, become soldiers second to none in the world. Thousands had been taken from la bor's ranks and hundreds have made the supreme sacrifice.
 Labor he said, should reverently give their utmost support to the gov ernment that nothing may interfere with the production of these necessi- ties needed to maintain the men and bring them home quickly in the knowledge that autocracy had been banished and democracy is to rule the world"
 President Mordecai said that the Federation 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 often times 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 Iac- tories, especially, we find that every effort made toward betterment of con- ditions has been met with refusal on
 
 time as the government has stepped in and made an adjustment. We find, too, that employers are successfully giving preference to female labor. l do not wish to be understood as being opposed to employment of women but I am not ready to accept the state ments made that there is a shortage of labor in this state. From my own observation in a large munitions dis trict I have seen large numbers of men awaiting employment. None has been forthcoming unless at a low wage, so low that no man could sup port himself.
 "Our government has stated that the lowest wage a man could exist on now is 40 cents an hour. Still there are innumerable cases where men have been offered 2S cents an hour. No blame can be attached to any man for refusing to accept wages at that figure. The so-called shortage of la bor can be placed. in my opinion. to a g ing rather than a shortage of la This could be overcome by gov { ntal standardization of wages anu 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 high CT wages are a myth. If such condf- tions continue production will fall off and it will have telling effect upon the war"
 President Mordecai said that owing to burdens imposed upon workers 1t has been hard the past year to in crease membership in organizations. But local unions have taken Liberty bonds and subscribed to war savings stamps, and to various funds for re- lief of soldiers and sailors.
 Making reference to the fall cleo tions President Mordecai said the ex- ecutive board deemed 1t advisable to call together representatives of local unions to formulate a plan through which orga nized labor may receive more consideration by the next Gen eral Assembly.
 "At the meeting an abundance of | enthusiasm was shown but the plan seems to have been overlooked when the representatives returned home as l only fourteen locals, outside of Water bury, have acted upon the matter. The important changes desired in laws are: 1 Inclusion of occupational diseases In the compensation law; increasing com | pensation from fifty to seventy-five per cent. of the wages earned under | that law; to have compensation start | on the first day of injury; and the re- l peal of Chapter 1296 which has been a source of trouble to organized labor. We also should ask candidates to fla vor hour working week for women and children in manufacturing estab- lishments, and to oppose the federal prohibitory amendment which Is a particularly vicious one'."
 | In conclusion President Mordeeai voiced an appeal for greater use and
 of observance of use of the union la
 bel en goods.