The Connecticut labor news., 1921-07-22

The situation in Bridgeport Is actu- ally one of want, women with babies in their arms joining their husbands in a parade of hungry there few days ago, that made a deplorable sight. Those who witnessed the dem onstration said it was one of the most pathetic and tragic events ever wit messed in America. These thousands of jobless and penniless men gave mute but impressive emphasis to condition that prevails in hundreds of industrial centcrs throughout the country. And the awful tragedy of 1t all is that nothing is being done by those in national and state authority to relieve the situation.
 - There were no bands, no banners, no shouts or threats. But the mes sage was of deep concern to the na- ton.
 Minor Treat, president of the Bridgeport Central Labor Union and world war veteran, as were many of those who followed him in the par ade, after the army had silently dis banded, made this statement:
 "l believe there Is a conspiracy among the great fnanciers and the employers of labor to keep this indus trial depression going as long as pos sible in order to break down the labor unions and force wages to a mere borers who formerly worked for 40 cents an hour with pick and shovel are cut to 25 cents an hour. They can not live on that. The thousands who marched in today's parade are on the verge of starvation. Their children are deprived of the essen tials of life. The situation can not continue"
 Treat said a report of the parade and protest against unemployment would be sent to the national, state and municipal officials.
 New Britain manufacturing con cernS continue to feel the dullnesS of the times and statements of officials Of some of the largest plants in the city indicate that there Is no hope for a return to normal conditions for some time to come. Just how long before the $ and 60 hour week will be brought back, the manufacturers will not even guess, but they venture the opinion that 1t will be for many months to come, and possibly longer. "Rotten," was the answer of one manufacturer to the question. How Is business?" "Of course 1t cannot always be bad" he said, but it cer- tainly IS bad now and 1 will be sur prised if 1t is much better this year. We are all hoping but have no grounds for predicting quick return to normal times"
 Announcement was made by Pres ident A. F. Corbin of the Union Manufacturing Company that the en- tire plant will close down for two weeks, at the end of next weeks work, re-opening Monday, August I5- Asked if business is showing any signs of picking up, MT. Corbin re- piled negatively, indicating that the shut down at this time Is dGc to the falling off in orders. MT. Corbin said that the plant has been operating three and four days per week, de pending on the amount of work. The working force has been depleted con siderably during the past several months and only the absolutely nec- essary hands have been kept at work.
 There was q report about the city that the Russell & Erwin division of the American Hardware Corporation will close tomorrow for an indefinite period Nice-President and Manager B. A. Hawley could not be reached, but l. D. Russell, treasurer of the American Hardware Corporation, of which the Russell &l Erwin division is branch, said he had not heard of the report.