The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-09-10
GoDernQr;s Address
 To Labor Delegates

without compulsion the tifne-hon- ored right to strike. Do not think the Connecticut Compact for Vic- tory. which you signed through your worthy President, was of signifi- canoe only to us. Throughout all of this country it heartened all friends of freedom. It supported the hand of our great commander-in- chief. It showed all Americans that labor was willing to give up its most precious possession that the war might be won.
 It meant much to others too. To those who sought to seize upon the war to engineer reactionary movement in America, the Victory Compact of Connecticut was an ob- stable that stopped them; for it nullified any argument they might have adduced for restrictive legis- lation. To Hitler and Hirohito, the Victory Compact shattered their evil dream in which they pictured America as place of dissension and civil strife.
 It meant most to me, however, for personal reasons. To me it meant that the organized workers of Connecticut had accepted me as their friend. To me it meant, that Connecticut Labor believed in me and trusted me. was aware when I asked you to sign the com pactt hat I was asking for your con- fidence, that was asking you to give up your only safeguard against injustice. Tn return, promised that as long as was your governor, justice would always be done. am proud of your trust and confidence and I stand here today before you in the full knowledge that as far as know I have never once vio- lated that confidence.
 All of us in Connecticut, govern ment, labor and industry, have shown the world what unity really means. We have shown that upon foundation of trust and goodwill and utter patriotism we have been able to achieve the most outstanding record of war production in the entire nation. Your share in that record will never be forgotten.
 What you have done and accom- plished since our nations crisis first began was for that world of which I spoke in which the promise of democracy will be given the op- portunity of ever-richer fult1llment. We must never forget that that has been our great aim ever since this country was founded. We must not try to avoid the responsibility of extending democracy even now, even as we are fighting to save 1t. That too is a responsibility you and I must share, for here in Connecti- cut, with that spirit that produced the Compact, we can continue our march towards a better and richer life for all.
 With our common goal in mind, I stand with you in complete loy- alty to President Roosevelt, not only as our Commander-in-Ch Chief, but as the creator and leader of that move ment in government which seeks to make the American ideal a living reality.
 I stand with you behind the pur- pose to keep open the gateway to progress and security in Connecti- cut.
 stand with you for the enact- ment into law in our state of la bor's right to collective bargaining through representatives of its own choice and of labors right to enjoy decent standards of wages and hours. I renew my pledge that as long as I am able, I shall support and sponsor such legislation until it shall have passed. You will re- call that when I had the oppor- tunity, asked the General As- sembly to adopt such legislation That it was defeated simply means that the effort will have to be made again with renewed vigor.
 I stand with you for prompt and effective action in the direction of adequate housing measures and more extensive social security. Here, too, especially with respect to re- lieving the housing shortage, re- newed effort must be made. For reasons beyond my understanding, measures proposed to alleviate this shortage during the last session were defeated.
 I stand with you for a further liberalization of the workmen's compensation act and for other just protection to which the wage-earn- CTS of any progressive state are en- titled.
 I stand with you, sharing the hope that the people of Connecticut will enjoy, in eyer-increasing measure, all of the benefits of civilization and of freedom to which they aspire.
 All people of goodwill in Con- necticut must work together, uni- tedly, to make sure that We do not lose the peace in winning the war. We must continue to be Vigilant against any individual or moye- ment that would try to shut the door on further progress. We must join together. using all of our intelli- gence, all Of our will in planning for the era after the var, and we must be prepared to enter that era as a triumphant democracy in which none Of the qualities of freedom. justice and equality has in any way been diminished.
 We viii win the var. There can be no doubt Of that; but we must never forget that for which We are fighting. In support Of those aims I stand as one Of you, determined to d0 everything in my power that we may achieve them in Connect,