The Connecticut labor news., 1921-02-18
O'MEARA ANSWERS EMPLOYERS ATTACK
 ON LABOR UNION
President of c. F. of L. Gives Workers Side Before Wesleyan
 College Society.

n On Tuesday evening of this week President Patrick F. O'Meara of the Connecticut Federation of Labor, ad- dressed one of the societies of Wes- leyan College, at Middletown, on the Closed Shop in Industry" The invita- ton to speak came through the Middle town Central Labor Union. President O'Meara told his auditors that a labor union without the closed shop being its fundamental aim was similar to an army drilled to go into the field to fight the they would be worthless.
 MT. O'Meara answered President Hubbard of the Connecticut State Manufacturers, who addressed the so- ciety previously. MT. O'Meara stated that the impression given by employers that labor unions have consistently re- fused to permit the public to be repre- sented in the settling of labor disputes was false and he cited the wonderful work done by the War Labor Board which had public representation on that board 1T, the persons of Frank F. Walsh and former President Taft. He told his hearers that the greatest and most con- structive legislation on the statutes of this and other countries was proposed and fostered by labor unions
 He criticised the employers of this and other states in their attempt to low CT wages at this time, and cited the eff forts of the various members of Con- gress to have their salaries raised, and also of the many judges and court at torneys of this state to have their sal aries increased instead of lowered at this time, and also of the successful effort of MT. Hubbard of the state manufacturers not to have his salary cut at this time from the munifcent sum of $40 per day.
 He stated that while trolley fares, which have been raised 100 per cent, laundry work increased 100 per cent, rents III great many instances 150 per cent, milk, 50 per cent, coal, 125 per cent, and other commodities in propor- tlon, that any effort on the part of the employers at this time to reduce wages, would be strenuously combatted by the members of the labor organizations.
 He stated that the employers are not willing to meet with their men and women employees to settle differences in most cases, but instead have adopted g the old time-worn method of attempting to settle these disputes to their own satisfaction, which will never settle any thing. He told of the conditions now existing Ill this state where women and NLlIuI SI are eIIlpIOyeQ WHICH mas cast a shame on the good name of the state, and that Connecticut instead of having laws upon its statutes books that are for the benefit of the human beings of the state is away behind in this regard.
 He stated that there are certain groups of employers in the state that have shown a disposition to meet with their employees from time to time, and to ar range matters whereby the very best condition to industry would be obtained. and to make ifes the happy condition that would be wished for, but that these employers have generally been hamper ed by employers not of this belief. Mr. O'Meara cited the testimony of the president of the steel interests in New York, i'll order to force the wage earn CT to subsist like hogs instead of the right accorded to him by the Creator. He told of the position taken by Or ganized Labor in the war, and also of the effort to have matters adjusted through shop committes, and stated that these shop committees were nothing new for the Cigarmakers International Union had this method of shop adjuts- ment in vogue for years past.
 At the conclusion of his remarks a discussion was entered into by those present, some of whom were of the fac ulty of Wesleyan College, and vote of thanks was then passed to the Mid dletown Central Labor Union whose officials attended the meeting and also 4N