The labor standard., 1919-08-15
MASS MEETING OF
 UNDERWOOD STRIKERS
Addresses by Vice-President
 Fitzgerald, Organizer George A. Doyle and Mrs. M. Toscan Bennett, the Workers Friend

HARTFORD-A mass meeting of the striking employees of the Under wood Typewriter Company, was held at Parsons theater on Tuesday after noon, August 12. The speakers were John B: Fitzgerald, vies-president of the Polishers' and. Buffers Intern ational Union; GDrge A. Doyle, an organizer for the International As sociation of Machinists, and Mrs. M. Toscan Bennett, treasurer of the Con- necticut Branch of the National Wom- ans Party. Edward R. Bransfeld was chairman of the meeting.
 | Vice President Fitzgerald said, that If there ever was a justified strike, it was this one. Continuing, he said: "We are not in this light for two weeks or three weeks, but forever if necessary.
 "When representatives of a depart ment approached the management of factory asking for an increase and that management brushes them aside workers in that factory have right to leave and to remain out until the manager is willing to do something" "This manager was under the inn pression that the people under him were afraid to rebel against his so- vereignity, and people throughout the country visited that factory to see how it was managed so we'll and they were told that it was because the employees were like one great family. But the management did not tell the whole truth. t.
 ''We know that whenever there is labor trouble the manufacturers get together and plan to prevent the Ixxyc,. fY.oyo 1ofx 41n;, U, have defied them. For years we have endured complaints, have worked for a meager wage-not sufficient to pro- vide necessities for ourselves and fam lilies.
 ''Mr. Rice said when we went to him, I am not to blame for the high cost of living'-we de not blame him for the wages he is paying"
 Strikers Blacklisted?
 MT. Fitzgerald charged that in de- liberate violation of the law, MT. Rice is causing employees on strike to be black-listed and is preventing them getting employment elsewhere in Hartford unless they will return to his factory. But we will not go back" he said. MT. Fitzgerald sarcastically referred to MT. Rice's Charity in granting bonuses. We are strikers and proud of it he said, We have fought other men as stubborn as Mr.. Rice"
 Unsuccessful Manager Dismissed
 "In St. Louis another manager pursued a similar course. The strik- CTS suffered and yet in the end with the commendation of employers throughout the country ringing in his ears this manager was called before his directors who said-1where is our business, and they dismissed that manager-recognized the union, and the manager died in a few months of a broken heart"
 Profteers Scored.
 Organizer Doyle commenced his ad- dress by opening fire on profteers, first attacking the "big five" meat packers. He believed that only through organization could the pres ent situation be successfully coped with, citing the newly formed unions of policemen in Boston and other parts who are organizing and affiliating with Central Labor Unions, and the university professors and scientists employed by the government in Wash ington who recently became affiliated with the American Federation of La bor. The keynote of MT. Doyle's ad- dress was organization-thor or ganization-"a sane starting point for accomplishment" he said.
 Capitalist Class Stupid'
 Mrs. M. Toscan Bennett. we'll known among the workers for the great in- terest she has taken in their behalf, on all occasions, was heartily applauded eI, %o Nfh h. CT things, she said:
 "Now that the great war is over the war for democracy-we haven't gained as much as we expected. am almost glad the employers, the 'capi- talist class generally in this country, have been stupid Instead of feeling the spirit of the <country-the spirit of workers in Russia and in England they established committees to inves- tigate Bolshevism and living condi- tions.
 "Instead of giving concessions, a small increase in wages, reduction in hours, which might have lulled American workers to sleep for fifty frightened-they fought = and new there is a real chance"
 Mrs. Bennett declared that employ CTS try to convince the people of the country that there is wide differ ence between capital and labor. This impression, she said, is false and workers in this country now demand a fair share of the production of their labor.
 "In common decency you workers present who may not be organized, should unionize at once. I wish no rebellion, I wish no war; merely want to see the working people of the country achieve that democracy concerning which we have heard so much"
 "The United States government" Mrs. Bennett said, "is not separate from the American people. "From the President down, ali officers of the government are your representatives, and are your paid employees. Within