United labor bulletin., 1911-08-03

Not a single voice among all the "Old
Guard" present was raised in objection
to this disgraceful resolution. All those
in an official position at the convention
were conversant with Stephens record.
The Bulletin likes the progressive
even the young progressive-even the
dreamer.
The dreamer will not get anything past
the "Old Guard" but it is the thoughts
of the progressive and the dreamer that
takes the labor organizations out of the
rut and places them on a higher plane
The writer will long remember an ad-
dress of the late Senator Hughes at the
Auditorium in behalf of W. ]. Bryan in
the last presidential campaign. He said
that those opposed to Mr.. Bryan called
him a dreamer. He remarked that all
the great things of the world have been
accomplished by dreamers The world
would be better if it had more dreamers
to think out new things for civilization:
to dream over new inventions, of new
plans of taxation, of new courses for
labor organizations to get away from
the ways of the "Old Guard
The State Federation needs a progress
sive-and the delegates might be willing
TO try a dreamer to get out of the old
rut and endeavor to accomplish some
thing.
t
tell you that the organization is at pres
ent larger than ever before. That asser-
ton is well founded, and The Bulletin is
glad to note the growth
But what has the State Federation of
Labor accomplished in the past two
years beside spending the per capita re-
ceived from a hundred new affiliations.
as well as the old ones?
The Bulletin claims comparatively
| f.lp hos
is no use of the laboring people sitting
idly by and gloating over great successes
in Colorado the past two years
What has been accomplished?
Impeachment proceedings were instf-
tuted against Judge whitford through
the State Federation by the initiative of
the leaders of the United Mine Workers:
but that was a failure. The Federation
people grabbed decoy witness in the
person of Margaret Miller, a former en-
ploye of the mine owners of Cripple Creek.
and she ruined their whole case by con-
Tossing to perjury, and came very near
landing all the labor men connected with
the case behind the bars. Even the men
sent to the legislature by the "Old
Guard, and who were on the committee
that heard the testimony against Whit.
ford. voted for Whitford.
! The only other argument for the ad-
.
/ ing is that much legislation of con-
structive nature was passed by the last
/ legislature.
Some good legislation was passed, but
can We claim that the two paid LOBBYISTS
/ from the Federation accomplished all
| this. Let US be fair with ourselves. and
not deceive ourselves into humble sub
/ mission.
Beside the president and secretary of
] hE
| department OF labor was ever busy for
the legislation passed; many other la
] boring people were working along the
same line; the labor press of the state
was advocating the desired legislation:
the daily press, such as the Denver Ex-
| pres, was hammering away all the time:
| the Trades and Labor Assembly legisla-
1 tive committee spent much at the work;
and We must not forget the "Old Guard"
who put few labor representatives in
the house and senate by promising much
to corporation leaders in the "old line"
parties.
After the convention at the Springs.
the labor department will tell you that
it secured the legislation passed: but,
honestly, is it treating those who pay
the per capita tax right to say that two
men from the State Federation had all
this legislation passed, when the "Old
Guardists in the house could not he
prevailed upon to pass the amended
eight-hour bill for women that had passed
the house and was slightly amended in
the senate and passed with the under
standing that it would be killed in the
house when it was returned there for
concurrence in the amendments.
Would it be fair to our constituents
to claim that two men had all this legis-
lauon passed-and Special Correspond
ent Croskey does this-when the mine
inspection bill was foisted upon the labor
lobby at the instigation of the mine own
ers' lobby and it was not known until
after the legislature adjourned that it
contained joker that would cost the
mine workers over $3.50, 900 a year.
committee was appointed to investi-
sate the conditions in the northern coal
field. yet the committee never met, even
when miners We're languishing in Jail in
sight of the state house
Let us be fair with ourselves Let us
say that the labor lobby did all in its
power for good legislation while the leg
islature was in session, but there was
other forces at work TO secure results
Why build up a large organization
simply to pay officers? Let the State
Federation be progressive. Let us con-
slider new timber to replace that which |
may have gathered moss and become !,
water-soaked. Any member OF an organ
ization affiliated with the State Fedora
tion has a right to be a candidate for
these offices. and We should not listen to |
the standpatist's claim that il is against |
all precedent to replace a State Fedora |
tion official unless revolution should !
hit the state organization.