United labor bulletin., 1911-10-12
ECONOMIC LEAGUE
FILES LIGHT PETITION
League Accused of Graft and
Misuse of Copyright.

labor's Economic League has filed
with the city clerk the petition to stop
the electric-lght-grab ordinance recently
passed by the city council. The petition
contains $4,000 names, more than $1,000
above the number required. This will
make the ordinance imperative until
after the city election in May, unless the
petitions are declared invalid by the
courts at the behest of the corporation
and its paid workers.
Action looking to this end has already
been begun by men believed to be work
ing in the interests of the light company.
When Labor's Economic League de-
cded on circulating this petition, mem
bers of the league went to President
Gabriel of the Direct Legislation League
to get the support of the league in the
circulation Of the petition. The men who
called on Mr.. Gabriel reported that he
said labors Economic League could use
the name Of the Direct Legislation
league and that he personally would cir
culate several Of the petitions. He later
refused to take the petitions.
Attorney Costiean made like state
ment to the committee, they say.
Monday evening, George Eisler,
member Of Typographical union No. 49,
at the meeting OF the Direct Legislation
league called attention to the fact that
labor's Economic League had used the
name Of the Direct Legislation league on
their petition as an endorsement without
the sanction Of the Direct Legislation
league, and moved that criminal proceed
ings be instituted against those RESPONSE
BILE. He was supplemented by p. J. De-
vault, secretary OF the water commission
and a member Of Musicians union. Su-
pervisor McGauran also took the view
that the users Of the name Of the Direct
A. -
and sent to prison.
labor's Economic League has been ap-
prised of these facts:
That Eisler and McGauran have Wis
tied Manager Barker of the light COM
pany.
That the light company intends to ask
that the petition be thrown out because
the names were obtained thereon by mis-
representation.
That EisIer, Meoauran and others
will endeavor TO show that the names
were obtained by misrepresentation by
using the name OF the Direct Legislation
league without authority.
The Direct Legislation League of
Colorado" is the name under which the
Direct Legislation league is ineorpo-
rated, according 10 the papers on file in
the office Of the secretary Of state. Ae-
cording TO eminent authority on law, the
full name Of an Incorporated body must
be used 10 make grounds for prosecution
for use Of a copyright The attorneys
consulted say that The Direct legisla-
tion league" without the use Of "of Colo
rado,r which is a part Of the name Of the
league, does not mean anything. and may
be used by anyone who sees III TO so do.
Again the charge is made that the light
company was visited BY some person with
offers 20 sell the petition for $4,000
this is a fact. II someone did make such
an offer 10 the light company and was
refused. then the would-be biackmaiier
had no reason 10 approach those in
charge Of the petition. The Bulletin
stated In its issue Of Oct that the petit
tion would be filed Saturday, Oct. z, and
the petition was flied. The writer was
one Of those who assisted in circulating
the petition and also bore part OF the
expense, and the petition was circulated
from the office OF The Bulletin; and we
also know that the writer was no, ap-
preached by any offer to stop the circula
ton Of the petition.
When the petition was being eireu-
lated not one Of the daily papers. with
the exception Of the Express advocated
the cause or mentioned the work being
done.
Now that the gas company is inccnsed
at the filing Of the petition the corpora
tion papers are lending their columns TO
the fight being made against the petition
by the gas company and Eislcr and Nc
Gauran.
The Direct Legislation league, or mem
bers thereof, seem to have the idea that
the sole right to use the referendum lies
with their league, and any infringement
on those assumed rights should be at
tackled. and that any proposition to be
referred by any other organization should
be defeated.
The Denver Trades and Labor Assem-
bly, is concerned in the matter In that
the legislative committee of the assem-
bly,, being given power to act. endorsed
the petition and helped in its circuia-
tIon.
The Bulletin believes that the Direct
Legislation league has gone out OF its
way to KNOCK" a cause which II
claims to be In favor Of simply because
on a teohnicallty 1t claims an illegal use
Of it's name In support thereof. oh, you
rcformersl
As to the charges of blackmail. The
Bulletin believes such a thing likely, but
will not believe, until shown, that the
work was done by a member Of lsbor's
Economic League. Since the publishing
of the list Of names to which money was
paid in the gas company franchise cleo
t,on, we believe that the gas and light
company is not past the stage Of oorrup-
ton and ruin Of character, and we also
believe that the work could have been
done by any Of the hundreds Of political
fixers that make a living as go-bctwcens.