The Connecticut labor news., 1921-07-15
A. F. of L. Field Repre-
sentative Finds New
Haven and Entire
State in DeplOrable
Situation as to En-
plOyment - M e t a |
Trades at q StandStiIl.

Conditions as to unemployment are
as bad if not worse than anywhere
else in the country, according to
Emmett L. Adams, field representa-
tive of the A. F. of L., who has been
in Connecticut for the past 10 days
studying the situation and preparing
for an organization campaign to coun-
teract the "open shop" or anti-union
drive Mr., Adams has recently been
in the south and middle west and de-
clared today that he thought condi-
tions about New Orleans and Mil
waukee were bad, but his observation
led him to believe that they are much
worse here.
New Haven is largely a metal
trades industrial town, with distinct
ton" Mr.. Adams said, "and as we
from the idea of the use of guns, ex-
cept perhaps hereafter in a sporting
line, that part Of New Haven's indus
try seems to be pretty well shot up
\ our big Winchester plant seems to
have taken up hardware and sporting
goods lines and there is very little
call for either as yet because of build
ing and other business depression
Consequently the workers there are
yet out of work.
Then your building trades here
seem TO be at a standstill except for
what work is going on in smaller
way. True most Of the tradesmen
seem to be employed but there are no
really big works going on that will
ensure continuity of this employment
The contractors and material men are
largely to blame for this. People will
not build, especially in a large way
until prices of materials and profits
come down as we'll as the wages Of
the Workingmen.
The larger factories here are also
doing nothing to speak Of Why
hear that one of them that has never
had a shut down before (Sargent's
Hardware shops), is also hit by the
depression and many Of its hands laid
off with others on short time. In fact
the entire, district seems to be in a
slough of depression. | am told it
will soon let up and it seems as it
will have to, unless a very serious
condition is to develop. Actually
conditions here seem TO me to be in
terrible way"
Conditions generally throughout
Connecticut are in a similar war, ac-
Cording TO reports gathered by Mr..
Adams. Skilled workers, most of them
unorganized, are walking the streets,
he finds, while many unskilled and
therefore cheaper help, are being en-
ployed on what they can do and what
there is to do in the factories. Lack
of orders is the excuse given for the
slump, he is told, and agrees with it,
for people will not order until the
funds to pay for what they order will
Ia hat
hibtive.
Some little relief was afforded in
New Haven during the past week
when the Candee Rubber works re-
sumed. This employs about 1900
hands and will relieve the situation
that much at any rate. Tie rubber
industry was severely hit some
months ago in the general business
depression but as stocks must be on
hand for the coming Wini er, the fac
tories are to go ahead on this ex-
pected demand.
Unemployment throughout tie
following report received today by
The Labor News from the department
Of labor at Washington indicates. 1t
says:
PAY roll figures for the month
ending June 80 were collected from
1923 firms in 65 industrial centers.
Each center normally employs more
than 800 men, or total of I,0OO, 900.
These figures show net decrease
on the pay rolls Of 46,4I4, or 20
per cent. The decrease since January
81, is IoIIoo, or OF per cent"
Causes for the 'protracted indus
trial depression and the mounting
tide of unemployment" are described
as follows:
"Continued unsatisfactory condi-
tions of transportation, with freight
rates in many instances considered
almost prohibitive; lack Of anything
like normal foreign market; low
value of farm produce; stagnation in
iron and steel; high costs of Construc-
ton and general duIlness Of the re-
tail trade"
The almost nationwide housing
shortage still exists, the report states,
although there are scattered indlCa-
tions Of a resumption Of building op-
erations on restricted scale.
HATTERS WIN STRIKE.
New York, July I5-More than
1000 organized hatters have defeated
a 10 per cent wage cut after three