United labor bulletin., 1910-08-11
tey FoRMea sscaGrAaY 3. E. caoskEY


anti-boycott law; also the shopmen, ma
chinists, boilermakers, blacksmiths and
pipemen working on the entire Denver
& Rio Grande railroad were on strike
for recognition of their contract that the
company had arbitrarily declared dis
solved. The largest assessment ever
levied by the federation on its member
ship, so cents for the shopmen and 10
cents to fight the antiboycott prosecu-
tion. was proposed and sent out to the
referendum vote. This carried and some
$4,000 was raised by this assessment for
these purposes.
A definite legislative program, the
best ever put forward by any convention
of the federation. was agreed upon. This
program included the primary law, ini-
tiative and referendum and other meas
ures that were put into the Democratic
state platform and became the so-called
Platform Measures; In addition to
these. largely through the valuable as
sistance. born Of ripe legislative expert
ence. given the gathering by Edwin ".
Brake. the present deputy labor commits
sioner. the foundation for the establish
ment of a genuine labor department of
our state government has been laid by
passage of some of the measures en-
dorsed by this convention. President
Hally was endorsed for any Office he
might seek at the then coming political
state convention: it being understood
that he was a candidate for the office of
secretary of state. that being the one
office that labor is especially interested
| in on account of the secretary being the
ex-oficio head of the labor department.
The old officers were reelected, HaIly
and Garman, and the place Of holding
the next convention fixed at Lafayette.
the first time in the history OF the fed
Grafton that It was taken north of
Denver.
The Lafayette convention was not very
well attended, 1t being called an soff
year. In addition to this fact. the fac
vention followed the officers all through
their term of office. numerous unions
withdrew on this account and still more
numerous unions withdrew rather than
pay the co cents assessment levied by
the referendum vote for the assistance
OF the Rio Grande shopmen and the
anti-boycott case in Denver. Notwith-
standing these causes of disaffection.
during the year the federation had done
more to advance the cause of the work
ers than was the case for many years
preceding They had realized from the
many cases OF persecution of many un-
ions. especially of the building crafts
OF Denver. under the anti-boycott law,
that this relic of barbarism was being
used by unscrupulous employers backed
by the Citizens Alliance of Denver. to
harass and attempt to destroy the
unions by keeping their officers in the
courts and compelling the members to
continually pay assessments to defend
them from. in many cases, manufactured
suits. The only way to remedy this con-
dition OF affairs was to change the COM
,,lexion OF the State Supreme court and
ge, come honest men elected to fill the
places OF the corporation tools that
formed the majority of this court. The
officers OF the federation therefore adopt
ed the slogan. Organized labor demands
a fair Supreme court and upon all oc-
casions this doctrine was preached to
the workers OF the state; badges were
printed and spread broadcast at the
Democratic convention bearing this
legend, and to this one fact can be
greatly attributed the breaking of the
corporation slate on Supreme court
judges and the nomination and election
of men who at least are fair and do not
wear the corporation collar. Since the
assumption of office of these judges. the
petty prosecutions under the anti-boycott
law have ceased. which conclusively
proves that the action of the federation
officers was correct.
President Hally and Secretary Cros-
key declining to again become candi-
dates for their respective offices, John
McLennan, of the United Mine Workers
of America, was elected president. and
william T. Hickey. Of the Web Press
men OF Denver. secretary-treasurer.
Grand Junction sent two "live ones" as
delegates to this convention with In
structions to bring the next gathering
to their town. They were successful.
and we are now down to the coming con-
vention at Grand Junction.
The past year has been an unusual
ly good one for the federation. The
present officers have, by the promotion
OF harmony in the union ranks and by
their hustling qualities. succeeded In
more than doubling the number OF affilia-
tions that the federation had at the La
fayette convention. Thus they have
proven just the right men In the right
places and there is little doubt but that
they will receive a unanimous re-elec-
ton should they desire 1t. Thus we shall
not be bothered with the numerous
caucuses and electioneering that always
goes on when the election OF the presi-
dent and secretary is an open one, and
we can get down to real business of the
convention. that of taking some action
that will benefit the conditions OF the
wageearners Of our state.
The main buEiness Of the Hathering |