United labor bulletin., 1910-08-11

covered at length, noting the victory for
the Bakers.
| In regard to legislation the president
| says, In part:
Among the most important are the in
itfative. referendum and recall. Direct
legislation has always been one OF the
fundamental principles of organized la
Dor. We have tried representative gov
| ernment and found it wanting, from the
fact that SO many representatives refuse
| to serve their constituents after they are
elected. In so many instances, for per-
sonal preferment and gain. they sacrifice
the welfare of the people they represent
! to serve the special interests or political
bosses. The only remedy is for the peo-
pie to take back the power to themselves,
that they have delegated, and use it in
| their own interest. Direct legislation
with an effective recall will be one Of
; the greatest influences that can be
brought to bear in correcting legislative
abuses, and securing legislation in the
interest of the workers. If the special
session of the Legislature decides to sub
init this issue to the people there will be
desperate efforts made on the part of the
interests to defeat it at the polls and it
behooves us as representatives of organ
lied labor to use all the energy at our
command to secure its adoption.
employers liability is measure Of
paramount Importance to the man who
] tolls.
4 IAN effective liability law that will re-
move the restrictions on the liability OF
employers for injuries sustained by their
employees is one of the most important.
If not the most important, that we have
| to contend for"
| A. better child labor law is suggested.
"The eight-hour law is one that has
been before the people of this state so
long, and one that the corporations have
always so strenuously opposed, and up
to date have been successful in prevent
| ing the passage thereof that it is not
necessary for me to do more than men
tion it as one or organized labors impor-
tant demands. This also includes the
women's eight-hour law.
Better ventilation laws for the mines,
| better laws for the protection Of life and
| limb, and enforcement Of existing mining
4, laws are absolutely necessary for the
protection of the miner.
Union Label.
| "It is not necessary for me to dwell
upon the importance of the union label;
the important part 1t plays in advancing
the principles of the trades union move
ment and the fact that it is the only
guarantee that we have that the article
upon which it appears is made under fair
conditions, but I want to suggest that
more efforts be made in pushing the Ia
bel to the front.
"At the present time there are but two
label leagues in the state-one in Den
yer and one in Pueblo-while there is
quite a number of towns that could and
would maintain a label league IL the
! proper interest was taken in the matter
There is no better way OF keeping ur
the label agitation in a town than hav.
ing a good live label league, whose spec
ial business is to look after this part OF
the work, and would advise that special
efforts be made to establish label leagues
in the various towns throughout the
state
Conclusion.
'The labor department. through z. "
Brake and his deputies has at all times
rendered us valuable assistance, not only
in looking after the interests of labor
unionists generally, but in helping to
build up the membership of the State
Federation. James B. Pearce, secretary
of state, has been friend of our move
ment. and has fulfilled the prediction
that was made in regards to him by the
president of this organization. in his re
port one year ago.
"Fraternally submitted
JOHN McLENNAN,
president Colorado State Federation oi
Labor"