The Connecticut labor news., 1921-03-25

When the hearing opened there was hardly standing room in the large old Senate Chamber in which the session was held. Labor representatives from all over the state, representing every craft, workers not affiliated with any or ganlzatlon but keen III their own inter ests and knots of lawyers interested in what portended to be big fight packed the room. When a show down of those III favor of the measure was called about a score of manufacturers and their paid counsel stood up, III great contrast to the horde that rose to its feet when a call was made for a tally of those opposed: The committee didn't even try to estimate the number, 1t was too appar- ent that nine-tenths of those present were against the bill.
 At the outset the substitute bill was offered Ill place of the one published III the LABOR NEWS last week and which had all over 1t the ear1narSs of the drive against Organized Labor The substitute bill was simply skilful shift ing around of all the restrictive clauses contained in the bill sent out broadcast from New York, but even Ill its arrange me1lt the labor men were quick to pick out the dagger points and cast them back at the proponents of the measure In the pamphlet of arguments spread about last week in an effort to secure support for the bill, was several paragraphs sug- gesting an additional section that might be added and which If added and passed would absolutely prohibit unionisrn. The Connecticut bunch didn't quite dare go as far as that, however, but III one or two slips of the counsel, intimated that f +aI q, + now and later, of course, changes might be necessary. The labor men were quick to see in that a threat of the anti-union law next session if the manufacturers get away with the bill proposed.
 Mir. Goodfart opened the arguments for the manufacturers after presenting the substitute and briefly introduced Mir. Merritt. Colonel -Ullman was as busy as a bee during the prelhninaries, lining up those who were figured to argue for the bill during the hour which was allowed to each side. His efforts were wasted, however, as the attorneys took up but about half the time and simply called for a showdown of those in favor of the measure. They seemed to assume the attitude that they had everything fixed and It wasn't necessary to argue at length, so gave the remainder of their hour to the labor men who were present Tn large numbers.
 Mir. Merritt glowing1y told the com mittee how the legislatures of New York and other states had similar bills before them Che might have truthfuly said the same billD and how keen the interest III those states was for its pass age. He admitted representing the League for Industrial Rights, but said nothing about being connected with the kreCtOrs' i citation which recently figured in the Brindell scandal Ill New York. Of r,4rse he denied that the bill wa aimed at Labor Unions and said 1t hit the employers IS hard as the worker as they, too, would be prohibited from locking out their employees, as well as the er1" -es prohibited from striking if 1t
 His remarks were taken with
 lore than the proverbial grain of salt not even the men behind the bill be1iev ing 1t.
 The bill," said Mr. Merritt, simply prohibits the illegiti1nate strike and would make unions avoid violations of moral and other principles laid down in the bill There was nothing in 1t pre- venting man from leaving his work if he chose, he said, but failed to add any, thing about what might happen to him Ii he violated an individual agreement