The Connecticut labor news., 1923-09-15
Cigarnakers
(Continued from Page One.)

of fine upon a member of the union because of the introduction of the mold system and rolling up, 1 voted against the imposition of the fine. 1 felt, as I feel now, that there has come into our trade change with which we are compelled to reckon. bottle blowers He gave graphic de- scription of what occurred. That or ganization has dwindled, but in addi- ton it has made every automatic bottle blowing machine operator, every man who operates one of those machines mortal enemy of the organization.
 President Perkins adds at this time to my remark, and I want to incor- porate it as my own, giving him credit for his statement, that they will not come into the union now.
 The water carriers of Egypt pro. tested when pipe lines were being laid to carry water to some central parts of the cities because it did away with their trade of carrying water The rickshaw runners of China raised a rev. olution because horses were put to wag- ons to carry people. In some of our cities hack drivers protested against the erection of railroad stations near the cities because it took away their jobs.
 Some years ago I had occasion to travel in the southern states, and there I saw in the middle of the rivers col ored men who were dredging with buck cts and long poles. They were get ting 20 and 30 cents a day. Where ever men are cheap no machinery is used Ill industry or any other way. It is only when men are dear and wages are high that machinery is brought in.
 The Typographical Union has been mentioned. I had the great pleasure of having the opportunity to meet the late William B. Prescott, then presi- dent of the international Typographical Union; his office and the office of the American Federation of Labor were in the same building, the De Sota Block Indianapolis, Indiana, and I talked to1 him on this question. With his coura- geous spirit he went before the people and pleaded with them to recognize the Mergenthaler machine, and instead of what would have occurred that girls running typewriting machines to operate the Mergentha1er typesetting machine chance to learn the trade over again What has been the result? Wages higher in the printing trades, hours of labor lower, the eight-hour day pre- vall1ng Tn the industry and on the news papers the 44-hour week. and the Inter national Typographical Union, to secure the 44-hour week for the printers in the book and job trade has expended more than $15000O00, And it has more members and more money in its treas ury than before the strike took place.
 The garment workers sewed with the needle, and then there was a riot and revolt when the sewing machine came in. Ther are now many tailors who do nothing but make fine clothes by hand sewing. But what has happened to the men in the garment industry? Work ing instead of in the o1d-tine sweat shop, in sanitary factories, working not more than eight hours a day, working not more than A hours a week, and a better organization than ever obtained in their history
 The miners of old worked with the pick nd shovel, and they were slaves in the mines. From miserable condi- tions, slavish conditions, electrical pow CT has been employed and the men are earning more wages, working shorter hours, not because they opposed the ma chine, but because they accepted it.
 The shoe workers, the old cobbIers that made shoes before the time of many of you, worked long hours and for a mere pittance, The modern shoe in dustry requires about GA operations GA different people to do certain parts of it | before the shoe is completed.
 I don't want anyone to infer from what l have said that I am content with | the conditions those men enjoy. There 1 isn't anything in this world or beyond 1t that I do not want for the work CTS of America to have. I have gone through many of the struggles for the cigar makers of our country In 1864, 1 first became a member of the inter national union, and then but 14 years of age. 1 have not joined the union many times, I only joined it once, but 1 stuck. l have always believd it was our. imperative duty, duty which we can not shirl, to organize every wage earner, l do not care at what he works | Every man or woman who works for wages should be organized 1t is not only his right but his duty to become = member of union to protest him from the exploitation of the employ CTS 1 also hold as an equally positive duty and obligation that no union" has the moral right to deny or close its doors to any man or woman who works in the industry.
 l want to ask you men and women in this convention what are you going to Io