The Connecticut labor news., 1923-10-06
LABOR BANKS.
THE VOLSTEAD ACT.


 constitute NO remedy.
 THE VOLSTEAD ACT.
 "The Executive Council believes that the Volstead Enforcement Act must be modified An exhaustive in vestigation of the effects of the Vol stead Act has shown that there has been:
 CT. A general disregard of the law among all classes of people, includ- ing those who made the law. L-
 "2. Creation of thousands of moon sinners among both country and city dwellers.
 g. Creation of an army of boot leggers.
 A. An amazing increase in the traf- hc in poisons and deadly connections and drugs.
 5. An increased rate of insanity, blindness and crime among the users of these connections and drugs
 '6. Increase in unemployment due to loss of employment by workers in 45 industries directly or indirectly connected with manufacture of li- quors.
 v. Increase in taxes to city, state and national governments amounting to approximately one thousand mn- lion dollars per year.
 Having in mind these results of the extreme interpretation of the prohibition amendment contained in the Volstead Act, as well as the enormous expense of the attempt to enforce that unenforceable legisla- ton, 1t is our conclusion that the acy is an improper interpretation of the hot social and moral failure, and that 1t is dangerous breeder of discontent and of contempt for all law.
 BEER AND LIGHT WINES.
 ''We, do NOT protest against the Eighteenth Amendment to the Con stitution, which now is part of the fundamental law of the land We urge, rather, that all citizens in every walk of life demand from their RepA resentatives and Senators in Wash ington immediate relief from the un- warranted restriction contained in the Volstead Act; and we likewise sug- gest to the citizenry of the country the wisdom and advisability of bear ing in, mind the attitude toward this issue of ofhceholders and aspirants to office in coming elections, that there may be restored to the people the lawful wines, which, under the pro- visions of the Eighteenth Amend ment, can and should be rightfully de- clared as non-intoxicating liquors.
 / POLITICS.
 "The American Federation of La Dor non-partisan political campaign committee directs the attention of wage-earners. and their sympathizers to two principles that should be fol- lowed in the next campaign. These are:
 "No freedom-loving citizen should vote for a candidate that will NOT pledge himself to oppose any form of compulsory labor law.
 No justice-loving citizen should vote for a candidate for any office who will NOT pledge himself to op- pose injunctions and contempt pro- ceedings as a substitute for trail by jury
 Let your slogans be- >
 No judge-made laws; abolish the abuse; make iustice blind in fact as we'll as in theory; no compulsory labor law; no sales tax; no subsidies for the privileged few, and no remission of fines to food pro hteers. l
 WOMEN IN INDUSTRY.
 "Women workers are permanent l members of our various industries and | have been notably increasing in num- ] bers Unorg ganized they constitute a l menace to standards established l through collective action. Not only | for their protection but for the pro- tection of men in industries, there | should be organization of all within | the industry Because there are spe- cial problems of procedure in this field we recommend that the presi- | dent of the A. F. of L. call a con- ference of officials of such organiza- lions as are particuary concerned with the problem of organizing wom en wage-earners in order that a more thorough organizing campaign be planned and inaugurated.
 AMERICAN LEGION.
 The relations between the Amer can Legion and the American Fed ration of Labor have continued dur ng the year to be cordial and help Ill. We recommend continuation of he friendly and cooperative rela- ions which have been so beneficial in he past not only to the members of he two organizations directly in- olved but to our citizenship in gen. ral