The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-10-19

c. 0. P. Precedent
 There Is an insinuation that the governor is candidate for re- election on some sort of under standing that he will, if elected, at some time resign and turn the of- flee over to the neutenan-gover- nor, provided the right man Is elected to that office. An action similar to this was indeed taken not long ago by Q Republican who was elected governor and, after serving one day, resigned in favor of the lieutenant-governor. am not disposed to follow the Repub- lican precedent. If reelected, i shall be, as I always have been, the governor of the state in fact as well as in name. So far as can be determined I have suffered since l became governor no iIl- pairment in physical or mental health. l still keep my hair on my head, and of my four wisdom teeth I have lost only one, which disappeared sometime in my youth.
 Apparently the Republicans don't quite like 1t that am on friendly terms with the American Federation of Labor and Labor's Non Partisan league, which, 1t Is said, is @ representative of the Committee for Industrial Organiz- ation. So to offset the views of labor organizations, 1t is said that l have done nothing for labor ex- cept to make promises. All this opens a most interesting scene. As some of you may remember, 1 remarked when I was first elected governor that l would be governor of all the people of the state without reference to their various walks in life. To this rule I have strictly held.
 Addresses Federation
 The year I became governor l was invited to address the Con. necticut branch of the Federation of Labor. I accepted the invita-. ton. When l appeared I was told
 by the president that I was the first governor who ever addressed the federation, some others de. clining on account of previous ei. agreements. I have since met with the federation six times, giving the members my opinions on the problems which they regarded as of immediate interest as well as my views on wider issues. On none of my visits did meet any one of the new ardent political friends of labor. l don't remember see- ing any of my Republican critics there. After the election is over I am to address Labor's Non-Par- tisan League.
 For my first commissioner of labor, I chose Joseph Tone, c member of the American Fedora. ton of Labor, who has built up one of the outstanding depart. ments of labor in the United States. Last year selected Thomas Shea, then president Of the federation, for appointment as one of the five unemployment compensation commissioners. He has done an excellent job. During the years I have selected consider able number of labor men Tor other positions. For example, in 1886 I appointed William Belanger of the Textile Workers organic ing committee on 0 commission to study conditions in eastern Con- nectlcut and last spring l ap- pointed Bernard schub of the Inc ternational Ladies' Garment Workers Union to be 0 member of a special committee to study the welfare laws of the state. No one of them has ever failed me.
 Labor Disputes
 For settling labor disputes l presuaded the general assembly in 1885 to revise the old board of ] mediation and arbitration which had been defunct for thrty.six years, never having done any thing. As amended, the board has been of very great use to employ CTS and employees. During the last three years the board has set- tied 2i6 cases involving 276 dif- ferent employers and some thirty nine thousand employees. There have been comparatively few strikes or lockouts. The board as now constituted has contributed largely to industrial peace in this state. All its work has been done quietly with very little publicity as should be the case.
 began my legislative program in 1881 by submitting to the gen- eral assembly Q state pension sys- tenn as security against want in old age. After two failures there was enacted in 1885 an old age as- sistance law which has brought happiness to thousands of men and women as they faced the set- ting sun of long lives.
 By 1883 l was ready with Q minimum wage act which, though 1t passed the general assembly in 1888. was hampered by lack of an appropriation until 1887. An ap- propriation of only $5,000 Q year which was then granted for this purpose has, of course, been in- sufficient to give full force to the act. Nevertheless three intra- state industries have been brought under 1t and progress Is being made in several others. An ex- tensive program will be submitted to the next general assembly to cover large number of industries. Only twenty-five states, Porto Rico, and the District of Coluni- bia have provided legislation of this kind.
 Women Workers