The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-08-12
Congressman CltrOn In
Radio Address Reviews
Legislative Record

address Monday evening Over
station WNBC CongressFnan Will
liam CltrOn Of Mlddletowm refer
red 70 his efforts IN protecting
'slldc.f fastener" industries In this
state. Waterbury Is particularly
interested In this measure ~ the
most vigorous protests have orig
mated here. The congress IN his
address defended civil and rellg.
lOus liberties and assaiIed growing
evidence Of intolerance IN various
parts Of the world.
The congressman spoke In part
as follows:
Civil and religious liberties are
fundamental rights and not gifts
TO the people from any govern
Inent or privileged class. ] have
on numerous occasions denounced
the violation Of those fundamental
human rights which are set out
In the Bill Of Rights Of our Con.
stitution.
on many occasions have pro.
tested, by introducing resolutions
and by speeches against religious
and racial persecution, no matter
where II exists, In Mexico, Ger
many, or elsewhere. ! believe that
the voice Of the people Of this
country should be expressed In
such matters through the proper
officials. That we must also zeal
ously guard oil OF the priceless
liberties OF our own citizens Is an
axiom Of my political philosophy
Intolerance
And at all times must We be
conscious OF the danger Of the
spread OF intolerance which finds
expression In mob violence and
lynchings. I have, therefore, ac-
lively supported the antilynching
legislation In congress.
I have advocated that In time
OF war for the defense OF our lib
critics there should be q corscrip.
ton OF wealth, as well as OF men.
When we were considering the
tho Mcswain bill 10 prevent war
profiteering, o national policy with
which I am In complete sympathy,
I introduced an amendment TO
exempt the press from the licens-
Ing provisions, lest our zeal TO
prosecute q war might cause us TO
forget the Importance OF o free
press. My amendment was
adonLed.
/ have consistently advocated
and voted for old-age security
and unemployment insurance leg.
islation. II Is true that we have
not provided complete protection
for the aged and unemployed. But
we have made O start, and as wc
learn by experience we will be able
TO extend and modernize pension
and unemployment compensa alton
laws In this country.
Rights Of Labor
Our statutes now recognize the
fundamental rights OF labor 70
bargain collectively through repre-
sontatiVes OF It's own choosing.
I favored the Wagner-C onnery
labor disputes adjustment bill be-
cause II recognizes the equal rights
OF the laborer and the employer
10 adjust their differences by ne
gotiation and u, therefore. befie"
fetal TO both.
Some OF the most progressive
legislation OF this session OF con.
gress came out Of the House OF
Judiciary Committee, OF which
have the honor 10 DO O member.
This committee approved, ana
congress passed, the law prohibit.
Ing the interstate shipment OF
armed guards TO interfere with
peaceful picketlng.
We have thus abolished o no.
torious system whereby % Few
racketeers were making money by
shipping armed thugs around the
country TO cause disorder ana
riots.
I introduced O bill 10 prohibit
the government from contracting
for supplies from manufac-
turers who employ child or con-
Wet labor.
Child Labor
Tho judiciary committee fins
ally selected the best provisions
Of this and similar bills and in-
corporated them In the Healey
Government contract bill, which
reouireS contractors with the
government TO covenant that they
they do not employ child or con"
Wet labor, use Sweatshop methods,
or employ workers over 40 hours
per week or Q hours per day with
out paying them for such overtime.
utilize the indecent "kickback"
system, or exploit labor by paying
less than the prevailing rate OF
wages In the community.
II Is O bill which protects the
manufacturer of Connecticut,
including those In the textile In
dustry, against unfair competition
and low wage and labor standards
In other sections.
I have advocated decent wages
for labor and the inherent right OF
citizens 10 obtain work and 70
receive adequate remuneration 10
maintain themselves and their
families.
That Is why I proposed, when
the Merchant Marine Act was be-
ing considered on June %, 1885, Q
prevailing wage rate amendment
for workers engaged In shipbulld-
ing. The amendment was adopted
Farm Veto
on March 30, 1885, I proposed
an amendment III. J. Res. $500 70