Gilpin observer., 1902-06-05
LABOR CONVENTIONS
ORGANIZATIONS MAY UNITE.
Western Labor Union and Western
Federation of Miners in Session at
Denver-Steps Being Taken to
Consolidate the Two Bodies.

convention of the Western Labor Un-
ion looking to its consolidation with
the Western Federation of Miners The
scheme contemplates the calling in of
charters held by both and the issuance
of new charters to the consolidated
body. The principal cause assigned
for the proposed change is that 1t
would cement the labor organizations
under one head.
Delegate William Cunningham OF
Butte offered resolution embodying
the plan and after some discussion the
| Western Labor Union to which he be-
longs, appointed a committee consist
ing of himself, Delegate William
Leahy of Montana and Casper Wright
of Denver, to confer in regard to it
| with a committee which the Western
Federation of Miners is expected to
appoint. Sentiment is divided in re-
gard to the consolidation.
| Originally the Western Federation OF
| Miners controlled the western labor
field, and its leaders n few years ago
| concluded to organize all trades fol-
| lowed in mining camps, and the West
Dern Federation of Miners has contin-
\ ued to be the more influential of the
organizations in many localities, and
while having two separate sets of Of
| ficials, each working tremendously
with one another, it\has seemed incon-i
| gruous to the miners federation that
| the Western Labor Union should stand
as the superior in power to grant char
| ters.
The Western Labor Union appointed
a committee, to act with a COMMITTEES
| from the Western Federation of Min.
ers, to devise ways and means for
| conducting a newspaper or magazines
| Jointly in the interests of both organ
iZations. The miners federation al
ready has a magazine but the West
ern Labor Union has none.
A resolution was adopted, declaring
all products of the George ]. Kindel
mattress factory unfair"
A resolution was adopted declaring
all beer unfair that does not carry a
union label. This is blow at eastern
manufactured beer, in the interest of
| the western product.
The committee, appointed Friday to
interview TIE George ]. Leyner Drill
| Company, reported having settled the
strike inaugurated almost year ago
| by the blacksmiths in the employ of
| that company. The company's prod
ucts were placed on the fair list by
| the convention
In the Western Federation of Min
ers' convention between 3 and 4O'clock
in the afternoon, during which the or
| der of business admitting discussion
of all questions was reached, the rec
ommendation by President Boyce that,
| the order embrace socialism consumed
considerable time. Some of the dele
gates advocated the forming of a polit-
ical party, while others objected. The
chief division is regarding how far the
organization shall commit itself in this
direction.
new scheme to be known as the
stamp scheme" was adopted for issu-
ance of members due receipts.
President Boyce was authorized to
! employ an editor for the Miners Mag
azine. the official organ
| A letter was received from Paul Cor
coran, who was one of the active par
ucipants in the Occur d'Alene strike
three years ago. and who was SEN
fenced to the penitentiary of Idaho for
| his part in the trouble accompanying
it. He thanked the Federation for its
efforts to secure his pardon. which
was granted last August by Governor
Hunt. The Federation then adopted
resolution, thanking Governor Hunt
and Secretary Jules Bassett of Idaho
for Corcoran's pardon. Another reso-
| luton was adopted. censuring and con-
demning Attorney General Frank Mar
tin of Idaho for working and voting
against Corcoran's pardon after hav-
ing, it was alleged by the resolution,
secured election under pledge to assist
In freeing the prisoner.
| Discussion of the contract system in
r..tV. t..I t..
ton condemning this method of oper-
ating mines as injurious TO the inter-
| ests of workingmen.
The convention authorized the Off
GERS of the Federation to retain an at
torney permanently.
1t was decided to maintain the head
| quarters in Denver for another year,
but nothing was done toward perma-
nently locating headquarters in this
city.
Plans for more extended organiza-
ton were adopted but the details were
| kept secret.
President Boyce's recommendations.
that provision be made for the cree
tlon of monuments to the memory of
former Governors Davis ii. Waite of
Colorado and John Z. Altgeld of ILL.,
nois were discussed but not acted on.
A committee was appointed to con-
slider President BOyces recommended
tion for the organization Of state min
ers' unions as branches Of the Western
Federation.
The convention listened to addresses
by members of n delegation headed by
Mrs. Mia T'upper Maynard and Mrs.
Mary G. G. Bradford. They urged del
egates from states not having woman
suffrage laws to support woman suf-
frage. The delegation was informed
that every affiliated branch has al
ready adopted resolutions pledging
support Of woman suffrage.