United labor bulletin., 1911-05-18
ASSEMBLY HOLDS
REGULAR MEETING
|, N. STEVENS SPEAKS ON POP
ULAR 6OvERNMEhT"-INTER-
ESTIN6 MEETING.

Assembly sunday was not Idroeiy atte"o
ed, owing principally to the beautiful day
and the desire of the delegates to get
away from labor troubles for day and
enjoy the pleasures bestowed by nature
The meeting was called to order by
President DeIiitt shortly after 2 o'clock.
all officers being present except searg-
ent-at-Arms Mckee, who was In Boston
attending the convention Of the Walters
union. M. q. Emanuel filled the place
The meeting was Of much Importance on
account Of the business transacted.
The Hon. l. n Stevens. formerly editor
and owner of the Pueblo Chieftain. who
had been invited to address the delegates
of the assembly. spoke very interestingly
for thirty minutes. He took for his sub
ject Popular Government" and showed
by his remarks that he is a thorough stu
dent of needed reforms and popular gov
ernment He said that the recall was the
most needed reform measure now being
advocated by progressive thinkers He
urged that the recall should be made ap-
plicable to the judiciary. Mr. Stevens
said that he was at one time prosecuting
attorney for the county of Denver. and
by the knowledge he had gained and
from what he had observed, he believed
that the recall should be made applic-
able to judges If not applied to any one
else He pointed out the important
cases, among them murder cases. that
have been thrown out of court because
the presiding Judge was able to find
some technical error in the indictment as
drawn up when there was no doubt IN
the minds of the people of the commun-
ity that the person so charged was guilty.
Mr. Stevens related one instance where
man was charged in the Indictment
with stealing a piano. The judge discov-
cred that it was a pianola and not pi-
ano that was stolen and said that the
man could not be tried on the Indictment
and turned him loose. The same man
was then charged with stealing plan
ola The Judge then ruled that a pianola
was a piano, and let the man so free on
account of second faulty" indictment-
He related another incident of where
the presiding judge had man before
him charged with stealing hide. 1t was
later discovered that the hide stolen was
calf hide. and because the indictment
did not specify that it was calf hide
instead of the hide of a COW. the judge
let the man so free.
The relating of these incidents created
much laughter among the delegates but
their relating brought out the points OF
Mr.. Stevens arguments.
Mr.. Stevens called attention to the fact
that in states where the recall is in force
all state officials excepting judges may
be recalled by referendum, and judges
He said:
Now, doesn't ii appear ridiculous to
/, the average thinking man and woman
that the legislators may be recalled by
the referendum and judges cannot, while
the corrupt legislators have a right to re
call Judge The people who put an un
tried Judge on the bench have not the
power to retire him If he is found un-
qualified. The people have the power TO
recall all other officials-even the gov
ernor-but only the legislature. the mem
bers of which may be recalled, have the
right to recall the unscrupulous Judge"
Mr.. Stevens handled his subject in an
able manner and his language was such
that brought out his points in clear-cut
manner and left no doubt in the minds
of his hearers as to what he was endeav
oring to convey.
Delegates were seated from Press As
sistants No. IL and Blacksmiths and
Helpers.
Organizer Tustison reported much pro
gress in an organization way.
Chairman Bryan of the legislative com
mittee reported on the Legislation that
had been passed by the recent session of
the legislature and also in regard to the
matter that was brought to the assembly
by President Healy of the Switchmen's
union that one of their members had
been killed by an automobile that was
being recklessly driven The committee
took the matter up with Chief of Police
Armstrong and he informed the commit
tee that additional motorcycle policemen
were being added to the force and that
an ordinance was being drafted by the
city attorney looking to the decreasing
of the speed of motor-driven vehicles in
. the downtown district or on those thor
oughfares where traffic was the heaviest
Delegate Bryan reported that Groth
Bros, proprietors of the Log Cabin sa
loon and of the Foster Building buffet
had employed non-union plumbers to do
their work in the Foster Building buffet
and at other times, after being repeated
ly prevailed upon to employ union men.
The two houses employ non-unon bar
tenders and the assembly declared them
unfair.
Fritz renning. secretary of the com
plant department of Union Label
League. said that the complaint box was
again in working order and had been
placed in the hall He asked that all
complaints be placed therein and he as
sured the delegates that proper attention
would be given.
Delegate Harrison moved to appoint
committee of five to work in conjunction
with like committee from the Associ-
atcd Building Trades to arrange for a
proper celebration of Labor day. The
motion carried and the chair appointed
Thomas Auter of the Stereotypers. Miss
Grace Bucks of the Garment Workers
Fred Vessel of the Bartenders and Mr.
Kandritzer of the Cigarmakers. The
president is chairman of the committee
A motion carried instructing the commit,