United labor bulletin., 1913-06-28
Guard Against
Petitioners"
Attempt Being Made to
Nullify New Labor
Laws
Resolutions by Assembly Should
Be Read by All Workers
Before Signing

particularly the women, are being be-
guiled into signing petitions to refer
measures adopted by the last Gener-
al Assembly. Men and women are
canvassing for signatures at the rate
OF five cents per name, and appeal to
friends and strangers alike to sign SO
they can get the money. This is the
weak spot in the present initiative and
referendum law. as no penalty is pro-
yided for circulating fake petitions or
compelling proposers to declare them
selves in the open. No petition Of this
character should be signed without
first being read.
During the past few days petitions
have been circulated to refer the as
sumption OF risk law. which makes
employers responsible for injury to
employees. and the deputy sheriff law.
which provides that each "gun man"
hired in case OF strikes shall give a
cash bond of $1,000. No one seems
to know VINO is responsible for this
work or is paying for the five cents
per name. Petitions are also out to
refer the public utilities bill. Orga-
nized labor has been working for ten
years to secure these laws.
May Hold Up Two Years.
II sufficient signatures are secured
to refer. the effect win be to withhold
the operation of these laws until the
next general state election.
Sunday afternoon this matter was
considered by the Trades and Labor
Assembly, and resolutions adopted
that should arouse the people to the
dangers OF the plan being pursued by
those adverse 10 the interests OF labor.
The first MEs proposed by the Build
ing Trades Council and unanimously
indorsed. as follows:
Whereas. there are in circulation.
at the present time. petitions to refer
the lption OF risk law and the
law plnte the appointment OF
Depud 1eriffs. and
y Wht cas-. the above mentioned cir
cuinuon. could not have as its spon-
sors. other than the selfish corporate
interests OF the city and state, and Il
is for no other purpose than to defeat
the will of the general public in refer
ence to the protection OF the working
people: therefore. be II
Resolved. that the Denver Building
Trades Council. In regular session as
sembled. do condemn the actions OF
the circulators and these petitions.
and that we request all laboring peo-
pie. and their sympatnizers. to not
only withhold their signatures from
the above mentioned petitions, but
from all petitions. until such time as
action has been taken thereon by the
recognized central labor bodies of the
city"
Want to Make II Felony.
The second resolution was proposed
by Delegate J. II. Mitchell of the
Yl.athers Union. Some objection was
made to the last clause making
II n felony to circulate such anony-
nous petitions. but after an hours de-
bate 1t was adopted. This resolution
reads
Whereas, there are quite few pc
titions being circulated at the present
time for the purpose OF referring laws
that were passed at the last session OF
the Legislature, and
whereas. there are apparently no
reasons advanced as to why these pc
tltions are worthy of voters sigma
ture: and almost invariably, 1t is i'm
possible to learn who is responsible
for the printing of the above men,
toned petitions. also who furnishes
the money that is paid for securing
the required number OF signatures;
therefore, be II
Resolved. that the Denver Trades
and Labor Assembly. In regular ses-
sion assembled. do hereby condemn
the action of any person or persons.
who circulate petitions and withhold
the above mentioned information; as
1t is the opinion OF this body that
certain per cent of this work is being
done for no other purpose than to in
cur an Indebtedness on the part of the
State of Colorado that will be great
enough to cause the repeal OF the
1niatiative and Referendum. because
of its efficiency In carrying out the
Will of the common people.
Resolved. further. that we also go
on record as favoring n law that will
make 1t felony for both the person
who pays and the person who receives
n monetary consideration for the cir
culation of any petitions that effect
the Iniatiative and Referendum laws"