New Britain herald., 1926-08-31

through with the others, and said,
Everyone else has accepted the re-
duction. so you must" But the min
ers couldn't see how they could ben
eft conditions in the country by still
further reducing the purchasing
power of the people. They we're
forced to strike, right in the midst
of that period of depression and de-
flation, in 1921 and 1922. the speak
er said.
Because they were organized, the
miners were able to resist the pro-
posed reduction. They had to go
without some of the necessities of
life for awhile, but they finally won,
said the speaker, who is a former
coal miner.
And then the scaled turned. said
Mr.. Wallace. The miners set the
pace and from that time on con-
ditions began TO get better. Con
ditions in this country are improving
since better wages have come about.
The men who have the intelligence
to organize are setting the pace for
higher wages and a few more of
the good things of life, asserted the
speaker.
People say. You are SelfIsh"".
said Mr.. Wallace" but get together
a group of six or seven working
men to discuss current problems and
l will show your more intelligence
than there would be among a group
of bankers and employers gathered
together for the same purpose. The
only solution OF the problem OF over
production they could suggest was
the cutting of wages. It's ridicu-
lous," he cried.
I'VE have a high standard of
wages and of living because our pep
is so great that this must be done
in order TO keep up with our pro-
ducing power" was one of the
statements mady by Mr.. Wallace.
II don't know how conditions are
in this city, but in unions in other
cities there is not an affective or
ganization. by that l mean an or
ganization to bring about a spread
of the work for which the men are
gathered together.
Here we see a group of honest
men seeking to bring about a So
luton of current problems of labor.
Are they receiving proper support?
One delegate to a Central Labor
Union in a town like this is not
enough. There should be three dele
gates, all of whom should take an
active part in the work of the or
ganization."
A legislative committee should be
appointed by the Central Labor
Union to go before the city council
when there are matters Of interest
to labor, he said. The committee
should be composed of representa-
tives from all the unions, picked
from the membership of the Central
Union, because II the Central Union
should back up matters of that sort
the word would obviously carry
more weight than If only one or two
of the unions were represented.
Mr.. Wallace described the work
of getting measures through Con-
gress. He said that 1t Is his duty to
meet representatives sent to Wash
ing by the people of this country.
ut makes no difference what a con-
CHEESEMAN'S political affiliations may
be, IL he comes from a section where
the people are alert and where the
men are informd, he will do all IN
his power to helf. II he knows that
his constituents are in position 10
learn, he will aid" asserted the
speaker.
Fears Compensation Law Threat.
Even after the laws are passed,
the Labor union must be to the fore
lust as much as it was when work
ing for their passage, he declared.
Unless enforcement is insisted upon
these laws become dead letters, he
said. He characterized the compen-
sation law in Connecticut as being
a particularly good one, but warned
those in attendance at last nights
that the occupational dis
ease clause will be attacked unless
Labor is on its toes all the time.
Laws are no good wheremen are
not organized, argued Mr.. Wallace.
He said that factory laws are en-
forced only to the extent that Or
ganized labor is able to bring about
their enforcement. What use is the
law, he asked, If the
boss says to an injured man, IF you
insist on having what the law allows
we'll not employ you, or your rela-
lives either" And that situation
happens time and time again, said
Mr.. Wallace.
Among other things the speaker
said that the influence of the Amer
can Labor movement is greater than
s the labor movement in other coun-