United labor bulletin., 1913-10-25
Ed Anderson Shows
True Union Spirit
WRITES OPEN LETTER TO HIS
MANY SUPPORTERS.
DiscIoses That the Miscellaneous
Trades Are Giving United Sup
| port to Striking Miners.

Ed Anderson, member of the Bar
bers' Union and assistant superintend-
ent OF the Pueblo Free Employment
Bureau, has written the following
open letter to the thirty unions which
indorsed him for president of the
Colorado State Federation of Labor:
Pueblo. Colo, Oct. IS, 1913.
Dear Sir and Brother:
l have been notified by Bro. w. T.
Hickey, secretary of the Colorado
State Federation of Labor. that have
received thirty nominations for the Of
flee OF president of the Colorado State
Federation of Labor, your organiza-
tion being one of that number.
While at this time l am pleased
and highly honored by the expression
Of loyalty of my many friends in the
organized labor movement of this
state; yet, feel that can best serve
my friends and the organized labor
movement of Colorado by declining
the nomination in favor of Bro. John
B. McLenran. the present incumbent
of the honored office.
| l have but one reason for declin-
i ing the nomination which l value SO
highly and l believe / owe you, my
friends. an explanation. When 1 en-
tered the race for president of the
Colorado State Federation of Labor /
did SO with an honest conviction that
my twenty years of service to the or
ganizer labor movement of the state
of Colorado warranted my action, and
at this time declining the nomination,
| hfo1 r.
ton, to prove to the organized work
ers of Colorado party loyalty, and to
the enemies and foes of the organ
lied labor movement, that we are one
in a common cause.
The United Mine Workers of Amer
lea are engaged in a bitter war with
the mine operators of this state; their
cause is just, their fight in the inter
ests of struggling humanity is a no
BILE one, their demand for recognition
of their union and the right to organ
ize; we never wish to see them sur.
render and the organized labor move
ment Of Colorado will, / am sure, be
the last to place an obstacle in the
successful path of their organization.
Brother John B. McLennan, the
present incumbent of the office and
an executive member of the Colorado
miners, is a candidate for reelection.
Were / to enter the race against him
my motive might be misunderstood.
1t would give the operator" a chance
to say there was a division in our
ranks, and that we were not in har.
mony with the attitude and stand tax
en- by the United Mine Workers OF
America. For that reason and no 9th.
er, l am setting aside the ambition OF
a lifetime The success of the miner
in his struggle is dearer to me than
any office within the gift of the or.
ganized workers of state or nation
am a firm believer in the notices
An injury to one is an injustice to
all" United we stand and divided We
fail. So again, my friends. l thank
you for your honest loyalty, and !
hope my honest motive in declining
the nomination at this time will be
understood
l will again be a candidate for re
election to the office of first vice
president of the Colorado State Fed
eration of Labor and IL elected l will
faithfully serve you in the future as
l have done in the past. If when the
miners fight has been won, and, il
will be won. and you still have the
same confidence in me, / will gladls
accept at some future election, YOU
support for the office of president
which covet, but decline at this tins
in behalf of honest solidarity and trut
trade unionism.'
With kindest and best wishes fol
the success of your union and it.
members. am
Fraternally yours,